ann wiessner

Sometimes you must start a story in the middle, because that’s where you are.
So, this is the middle of my story – I’ll fill in other parts as we go.

I’m starting radiation and chemotherapy on Thursday, July 6 at Abbott Northwestern.

I was diagnosed with an anaplastic astrocytoma on Monday, June 26, after a biopsy on June 20.
When they first said the name, I thought of plastic astronauts. Animated, like in the Jetsons. 
Turns out it has nothing to do with outer space, but is actually a cancerous tumor, on the left side of my brain.
The biopsy site is on the right side of my head though. Just one of the many confusing things I think about in the middle of the night. The biopsy site isn’t too bad in terms of size, but it feels weird when I roll over at night and sleep on it.

 So – the good news is it’s been diagnosed early, I’m young and healthy (I loved hearing that part!) and I can start treatment quickly.

The bad news is I can’t drink during the treatment. I asked the question several different ways just in case there was a potential loophole.

·       “Do you think it would be better to take the oral chemo capsule with a cabernet or a pinot noir?”

·       “Pinot Grigio would be much lighter – should I go that route instead?”

·       “So, no wine, I get that, but what about a Pimm’s cup with lots of healthy cucumbers and just a splash of ginger ale?”

In the end, I did not win this one. But just wait until I get started on the medical cannabis! 

Feeling good, lucky and blessed. 

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