WE BEAT CANCER

First a little background/refresher. 2 years ago I was diagnosed with a rare form of bladder cancer. The oncology doc told me it was, “treatable but incurable” and the goal was to keep me comfortably alive for as long as they could”. That expectation was 2 years. Over the last two years I’ve been getting better instead of worse. I have had great support from family and friends and I attribute their love and caring to much of my success. I also have an oncology doc who listens carefully and is not afraid to alter the protocol. 

 About 6 months ago it appeared most of the cancer was gone (in my lymph nodes etc.) and it  was not metastasizing.However, the main and original culprit, the tumor, where my ureter and kidney meet was not going away. What else to do???

There is basically no research on this condition other than one study done in Japan involving radiation. However, there is a young radiologist at my clinic and although it would be complicated he felt sure he could shrink the tumor even if he couldn’t kill it completely.

In early December, I received 5 sessions of high dose radiation treatments. On Thursday of this week, I had a PET scan and the results came back a few hours ago. It worked. Everyone on my “A” team is so happy especially me because the tumor is dead and gone.  Inside, I still have cancer cells like all of us floating around but I beat cancer. I am now cancer/tumor free. 

We (Sal and I) are so happy and are going to enjoy everyday thoroughly! It has been 2 years of awful immunotherapy and then chemotherapy and then radiation therapy and it worked. I attest a great deal of my success to living a fit and health and happy lifestyle — it sure reaps the benefits when a life-threatening incident occurs. 

I can’t thank you all enough for sending me your gifts of energy, cards, gifts, flowers, and more.  You all mean the world to me for that and for helping me beat cancer.

Estelle “The Princess” Gray

January 21, 2023 |  Medford, Oregon