When is cancer a good thing?
I’ll tell you when. When it bumps my priority level for a liver transplant into the stratosphere! The scene earlier today:
Doctor: So, why are we seeing you today?
Arionis: Have you seen my latest MRI results?
Doc: Let me look at that right now. *clickity clack clack click* Oh, you got cancer.
Ari: Yup.
Doc: Well then, remember all the times you pushed us to do a living liver transplant and we said no because you weren’t sick enough yet?
Ari: Yup.
Doc: You’re sick enough now. Transplant approved!
That was the Cliff Notes version of what transpired, but yes, it looks like the transplant I’ve been wanting to do for the past three years is now going to happen! I first have to have some radiation treatments to keep this tumor (yes, Arnold, it is a tumor) from getting any bigger and spreading while the work ups are being done. That should take about three months, then the LeeLander is going on a liver transplant tour down to The Lone Star State where my loving sister has graciously offered to break off a chunk of her liver and give it to me. Once they cut that old traitorous diseased sucker out of me and throw it in the dumpster behind the hospital, they’ll take my sister’s chunk and jam it right on up in my chest cavity. There it will grow into a fully functional liver! Sayonara liver disease!
There will be a bit of recovery and anti-rejection drugs to take for the rest of my life, and, unfortunately, I’ll still never be able to drink alcohol again, but that’s a big small price to pay to get my quality of life back and walk among you good people on this good earth for a bit longer.
OK, that is all for now!
19 thoughts on “When is cancer a good thing?”
Oh Lee I’m so glad to hear this! Are your radiation treatments and surgery going to be at the same location? Wait, where are you now, if you’re traveling to Texas for the transplant? Can’t keep up with you!
I wish you the very best of luck and ask that you keep us all as informed as you feel up to doing.
Thank you Barbara. I’m in VA right now so I can see my original liver doctor. The radiation treatments will take place here and the transplant in Dallas where my sister lives. Hope you are doing well!
Great news! You have the best sister. Best of luck with this journey and hope to read about your speedy recovery.
Thank you Kathy and I do have the best sister. I’m glad she didn’t hold all that older brother teasing I did when younger against me!
Wonderful news! Well, not the alcohol ban… but I suppose life is a fair trade off. Start thinking of an appropriate thank you gift for your sister. I’m guessing a Mercedes.
😉
No kidding huh? She’s a Jeep girl though so it’ll have to be something along those lines.
Yay, Sis! If I was her, I’m pretty sure I would utilize “Hey, what am I? Chopped Liver?” often in the future.
Big hugs to you. Hope you roll Carolina way and hit me up sometime. I am a fabulous host, just saying 🙂 We would all frolic.
Linda (Carolina)
Ha! That’s hilarious! I’ll give her the suggestion. You are definitely on my list of future landing spots Carolina!
Sending happy thoughts and prayers to you!
Thank you Boo!
Jeepers, I can hardly offer congratulations to such news, and yet you’ve found the silver lining and I wish you the very best.
Thanks Jay! Weird to congratulate someone with cancer huh?
Oh, that’s so effing wonderful, Lee! Three months from now? That’s going to happen right before Thanksgiving/Christmas-ish, isn’t it? Sending lots of healing thoughts and prayers your way, my friend! Mona
Great news! Your sister rocks!
It’s just sad that cancer had to appear in your liver before they’d approve a transplant from your own sibling. It’s not like you would be taking a donor transplant away from anyone else by doing a transplant “early.”
Good luck with the radiation and keep that positive attitude throughout the transplant process! By next summer you’ll be recovered, back on the trails, and feeling great!
I missed this comment somehow. That was my exact logic but their reasoning early on was that it wasn’t worth the risk to the donor if I wasn’t sick enough, even if the donor wanted to take the risk. I went out on a three day hike last weekend which will probably be my last overnight until after the transplant. I was definitely sucking wind those three days. Thanks Rebecca!
Umm, I don’t know man, not even light beer? That would be a tough call for me. Here’s hoping your planning a major blow-out for the old liver on its way out the door. Just saying.
Seriously, my wife and I will be praying for you, and ButterBean says hi to Finn!
Actually my big blow out for my liver was three years ago in Jamaica just before I learned of my disease diagnosis. Not a drop of alcohol since then. No lite beer, not even an O’douls that supposed to be non-alcoholic but actual has a small amount of it in it. In the last year though both Heineken and Budweiser released a truly zero alcohol beer. It’s not the same but it works when watching sports or manning the grill.
Thanks for the prayers and Finn says hi back!
Congratulations on getting some good news. Hey, there can be a bright side even to cancer! And because of your history at least they could catch it early. The liver’s really an amazing organ too. In school I heard once that it performed 450 different functions. A quick Google search only turned up seven, but that’s still pretty impressive. Take that, thymus!
And even better when this is all over you can give the old liver to Dr. Lecter. I know you said even he wouldn’t want it, but as long as you’re not using it…
Christopher recently posted…End Of The Season.
I’ve learned a lot more about the liver in the last few years than I ever thought I would know. It truly is the workhorse of the body. I just hope it’s not Dr. Lecter that performs the transplant. He doesn’t use anesthetic!