December 15, 2003
“IMPRESSION:
The patient’s primary tumor at the base of the tongue is no longer definitively visualized.”
That’s the important statement after the PET scan by the Department of Radiology and Diagnostic Imaging of the Lancaster Health Alliance. In other words, the tumor in my tongue appears to be gone! My doctor’s words were, “We couldn’t hope for a better result.” He also could no longer see the swelling on the right side of my tongue when he looked at the area with a scope this morning.
Sandy and I couldn’t be happier!
Of course, my condition will be followed closely for years by Drs Eshleman and Belser, frequently at first and then less so. And, there will be more PET scans and scope exams just to make certain the cancer stays gone.
Meanwhile, Sandy and I are getting ready for Christmas and for our ski season which begins just twelve days from today! I’m still doing the training regimen at the health club and making considerable progress. I no longer collapse after twenty minutes on the elliptical machine and the pains from the workouts are mostly gone.
Unless there is some great change, this will be the last update to this list of people.
Again, I can’t thank you all enough for your support through this illness. May you all celebrate a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Love,
Bill Stine