Krebs

There are certain things in life that you never forget. Like where you were when you heard that Elvis had died or the shock of seeing that home pregnancy test create a pink plus sign. Almost exactly 8 years ago I was emptying the dishwasher, and thinking about the fine needle biopsy on my thyroid that had been done that day. I will never forget the thought that went through my head: "I can't have cancer. That's ridiculous." Well... unfortunately, I did have cancer, but it was the "good" kind, papillary thyroid cancer. It wasn't caught particularly early (thanks for doing a crap job, Mr. Radiologist) and had metastasized, requiring some lymph node removal as well as targeted radiation, but it was very treatable. Flash forward to the present. I've got this growth, or mass, if you prefer, on my parotid gland. It is small and it has not yet been determined what it is. This time though, I don't have that same sense of impossibility since I've already been wrong before. It just seems more ridiculous to think it isn't cancer this time around. So, if you see me around in the next couple of weeks and I'm acting a little carpe diem-ish, just join me for a drink or a walk or a moment of fun. And if I seem a little crabby be aware that in German, krebs=crab or cancer and I'd rather behave a little crabby than have krebs. Or crabs.