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A little more than a week ago, I finished my last treatment, and put chemo behind me. Again, I came through it with flying colors, feeling only minimal side effects, which were very mild. I’ll go for a PET Scan in a few weeks, and as long as it’s clean, I won’t need radiation. That’s the scenario I’m focusing on—gotta keep up that positive visualization—and I think it’s a logical one: since the last scan showed almost nothing, there’s a strong chance the next one will be spotless after two more rounds of chemo. As strange as it might seem to hear, this has been an incredible experience, filled with positivity and learning. To wrap up this leg of the journey, and in the spirit of Thanksgiving, here are a few things I feel grateful for as I look back on the last few months, in no particular order.

The love and support I got from family and friends. I thank you all more than you can ever know, and send it right back at ya. I could not have been so strong without you pulling for me, and continuing to so do so. Special thanks and love to my Mom and Bro for a wonderful homestead weekend earlier this month!

My doctors: Amy Huang, M.D., who is my Primary Care Physician and sent me for that first chest x-ray, just to rule out that there was anything going on inside me—spoiler alert: there was—and  Bruce Raphael, M.D., my Oncologist, to whom she referred me. Both are excellent practitioners, compassionate, and I am 110% comfortable getting treated by them.

My team of caregivers, especially Moira and the nursing staff—my Mom’s an RN, so I have a special spot in my heart for them—whose compassion and skill reassured me that I was in capable hands, every step of the way. Some of them are in the slideshow above, in pics snapped as we wrapped up the last days of treatment. I will come visit, I promise!

The strength that I found inside myself to tackle this head-on. Who knew?!

Naps. Love ’em, took ’em (Dr.’s orders), and look forward to many a winter one.

I’ve certainly got a lot to be thankful for as we enter the holiday season. I will keep blogging indefinitely as my follow-up treatment continues, so stay tuned. Here’s wishing everyone a very happy Thanksgiving, and I will raise a toast to you on Thursday!

Thanks and lotsa love,

Joe/Joseph