A Constant Reminder

 My cancer journey began in 2007 and in 2008  I began having chemo treatments for non-Hodgkin's  Lymphoma (SLL/CLL) and in 2012 and probably a direct result of my treatment for Lymphoma, I contacted Melanoma (bottom of left foot) and in 2017 found that it had spread to my groin.  

After the fact, my Oncologist informed me that both my Melanoma as well as my Lymphoma had turned aggressive and that he was not sure that he would be able to stop or slow down the process.  It was almost like a HAIL MARY that he combined radiation treatments with Opdivo infusions while maintaining my daily Imbruvica pills.  The Cancer Team at UT Medical was not sure that he was doing the right course of action, but he stood his ground.

AMAZINGLY...  he proved to be right...

I also remember listening to the Surgical Oncologist who had removed the melanoma from my foot who told me that "I WAS LIVING ON BORROWED TIME," and that it was too dangerous to remove the cancer from my groin...  and, that the cancer was all over my body.

TODAY, both cancers are under control...  and every time I feel around my groin area, the dead cancer tissue is still there and is a constant reminder of what I went through.  These lumps are no longer worrisome but at one point-in-time they were.  I will live with these lumps for the rest of my life.

Normal Again: Whatever that is

After several days of staying inside, plus cooler temperatures, and elevating my feet, my left foot and ankle has for the most part returned to normal...  as I can clearly see again the veins on the top of my foot and the swelling is just barely noticeable.  As with every other experience, I learn that when riding in the car for two hours or more and regardless of how I try to extend my left leg, I am simply going to need to wear a compression stocking.  

These stockings are easy to find in Drug Stores even though they are less than medical grade, they still provide adequate compression.  I had purchased a medical grade compression stocking at the very beginning of my ordeal...  that is to say after foot surgery to remove a melanoma in 2013...  and, when the leg did not swell as much as was anticipated by the Surgical Oncologist, I was informed only to wear the stocking as needed.

We were all under the impression at that time my melanoma was gone, but in 2017 it returned in my groin area with a vengeance and obvious bias against my body...  I started infusions of Opdivo and Yervoy and a year later my Oncologist suggested that I undergo radiation treatments that would be accompanied by on Opdivo treatments as the radiation was inclined to supercharge the Opdivo...  the concept worked perfectly in my body but my Lymphedema remained.

At one point I thought my days in the Hot Tub were over but after submerging myself in the hot liquids for 30-40 minutes, my left leg show no signs of swelling, so I continued my ritual of hot water relaxation unless I noticed swelling which was typically caused now by too much sitting without legs elevated.

Too Much Time Sitting

 My wife and I just got back from spending 6 days in Destin, Florida and were able to sit in lounge chairs under an umbrella and watch the waters of the Gulf of Mexico crash into our southern borders.

It took 8.5 hours of drive time to reach Destin from our East TN home plus some additional time sitting in the car or moving slow because of construction, traffic, or an accident so each leg of our driving took about 10 hours to get down there and about 10 hours to get back.

About 8 years ago I had foot surgery to remove a melanoma tumor from the bottom of my left foot and in the process, the surgical oncologist also removed 3 lymph nodes from my groin that had tested positive for cancer as a result of a sentinel node biopsy being performed before the surgery.  Consequently, I experience lymphedema in my left leg which under normal circumstances is very manageable and does not require me using a compression stocking even when I spend every other night in the hot tub for 45 minutes.

However, when I drive long distances or fly in an airplane over two hours at a time, my left leg, around the foot and the ankle swell.  I usually remember to wear a compression stocking when flying but forgot to wear one in our drive to and from Destin.

Now that I am back home, my left lower leg is again swollen from our journey in the car and it will take several days for it to return to normal.  My concern is that one day after forgetting to wear a compression stocking my left leg swells and will not return to normal...  once this happens, my entire lifestyle will change.

Once we arrived at Destin, my left leg did return to normal after a couple of days...  so, I am hoping the same thing will happen now that we have returned home.