Coming Down from Cancer Course

Brain cancer is...

...saying “farewell for now” to the Cancer Center.

Today’s appointment with Dr. Park was short...and sweet.  When we discussed the new four-month scan schedule, Dr. Park remarked, “We won’t see each other much!” (Barring changes.)

That’s true, Dr. Park! We'll see Dr. Park less than we’ve seen him ever in the last four years of our lives. For a while, we saw him weekly in fact.  He’s such a hero in Darrell’s story, starting the day of surgery (this post). 

The title of today's post comes from the fact that Darrell says it takes him a while to process all the emotions that come with Cancer Course, from avoiding catching a cold long enough to make it through the scan (which he did, barely), to waiting for results, to talking with doctors and planning next steps. 

When he's done processing, Darrell lands on "happy." 

Hallie and Ruth found a coffee spot near the Medical Center so they could congratulate Darrell with a hug and Coffee Quest could continue at Javatini's. 

See you in four months, Cancer Course! Here's to happy!

Every Four Months!

Brain cancer is...

...moving to a four-month scan schedule.

Dr. Cloughesy confirmed this morning that Darrell’s brain appears stable.  Big sigh of relief!

Further, because Darrell is almost four years past his diagnosis, Dr. Cloughesy was fine with moving from an every-three-month scan schedule to an every-four-month scan schedule.  

We actually hesitated a little because knowledge is power.  But Dr. Cloughesy has built a reputation with us of being conservative and careful.  So if he’s okay with it, we’re okay with it.  Imagine scanxiety only three times a year instead of four!

Plus, Darrell can always go back to the three-month schedule if it turns out to be too scary to wait that “extra” month.

So, barring any changes, see you in May, Darrell’s Brain!

Because we won’t see it for a while, here’s a parting image of Darrell’s noggin.

The right images are the recent scan.  The white area  is presumed to be tumor site scarring.

Dr. Park is tomorrow.

Happy Sigh-of-Relief Monday, loved ones!  

Tucked in at Tiverton

Brain cancer is...

...ready!

Our room at the Tiverton House here in Westwood was ready early.  Above is the view from our room.  Nice.

We are set for Darrell's 8:30 appointment with Dr. Cloughesy tomorrow morning.

Here are some scenes from a great day.

Lunch at Napa Valley Grille

Ambling through the UCLA Arboretum.

Cheese and Chocolate Board

Packers game?

Ready!

Vicarious Advanced Level Shoe Collecting

Brain cancer is...

...taking shoe collecting/hoarding to a whole new level.

Although I have plenty of shoes in my own collection, I had—until today—only one pair of running shoes. And it was worn out.  

Darrell mostly collects his shoes through one-click shopping.  Today he took me to A Snails Pace, a serious running shoe store, to replace my worn out tennies. Buying shoes at A Snails Pace takes collecting to the advanced level for sure.  

First we took a number and waited for an hour.  Then they sized my feet by imaging them on a glass box.  They then scanned my feet on a walking pad and filmed them from behind while I moved  on a treadmill.  Next they brought out several pairs of shoes recommended given my results.

Eureka!  I have found them! You see one of my two new pairs (I told you! Advanced level! Two pairs!) on the left, above.  

Sure, my shoe is as big, sturdy, and black as a Canada Goose foot...

...but it feels like marshmallows on the inside, it’s so well cushioned.

Way to level up on the vicarious shoe collecting, Darrell!

Sky Marshmallows 

Friday Full Day

Brain cancer is...

...home for the evening after a full Friday.

The day started early with LuAnn.

Our visit ended with breakfast.

I caught her at the beginning of a smile, but you can see there was much to smile about.

Lunch was with Gordon.

Notice anything similar in the two pictures?  Cheers at Village Eatery!

We walked at Yorba with Lennie and Christine and then enjoyed the best park side charcuterie board picnic ever:

Thanks, Mayfields!

We got home after dark, but we didn't come home to an empty house:

To round out Friday Full Day nicely, our porch was full too.

Happy Friday, loved ones!

The Next 5,000 Miles. Sigh.

Brain cancer is...

...beginning the next 5,000 miles.  Sigh.

The journey of 5,000 miles begins with....18,203 steps...apparently.

Great news! 

Only 4,990.86 miles to go! We got this.

5,000 Miles!

Brain cancer is...

 ...the wizard of walking.

As of today, we have walked 5,000 miles post diagnosis.*  We started counting our mileage in December 2016, when we got our current fit bit tracker.  You see the record of our miles above.

Darrell did all 5,000 of those miles with brain cancer.  In fact, he did them all while he was treating his brain cancer, with Optune.  You're a Walking Wizard, Darrell Guillaume!

In a happy accident of timing, Darrell's story came out today in the St. Jude Health Matters Newsletter...as the lead piece.

Darrell's comment was, "There's just no escaping my celebrity status."

They shot photos of us doing what we do:  walking.  Here's one pic from the piece.

And here's a link to the article, if you're interested.

More news:  Today is Darrell's 47-month cancerversary.  Celebrity status?  Firmly cemented.


Walk on, Team D!

*In Point of Fact: We've actually walked more than 5,000 miles post diagnosis.  We were walking somewhere in Chicago in May, 2016 when I lost our first fit bit, so we don't get credit for those first months of miles. Apparently I'm not quite over it.