Julie's Web Journal: Bowling/Medical Update

Fresh when it gets here from Julie Barrett
Wednesday, April 8, 2026

Tonight's bowling on chemo with bonus life/medical update!

Bowling was a struggle tonight. The steroids made my fingers swell up and I had a lot of trouble releasing the ball. And yet...

135-165-151=451. I just missed my 155 average on the night by four pins. I'll take it, especially since we took six of eight points from a team we usually struggle against. The games were all close.

There was one odd interaction. I laughed at a joke someone on the other team cracked, and he said, "I can't see you laugh under that mask!" I came right back: "You can't see me swear, either!" He wasn't expecting that, but he did find it funny. So, yay. I guess.

Today was infusion 11/12. One more to go! That one is scheduled for April 29, with disconnect on May 1.

I have a road map for the next five years. Scans every three months for the first year, then fewer the next year, until five years from now. If all the imaging is clear, then I'll be cancer-free! I've also won the bonus round of annual colonoscopies for three years. Joy! After that I'll go to five years.

My oncologist also wants to keep my port in for a while longer than the surgeon suggested. I'm fine with that. He told me that cancer has a greater chance of recurring in the first year, and that it's easier to remove a port than to implant one. Also, the ports are good for at least three years. So yeah, let's leave it in.

Please note: None of this changes my prognosis at all. This is the standard treatment and follow-up for this type of cancer. Let's make sure it's gone and stays gone!

That's all the news that's fit to type.

Filed under: Bowling Life Cancer Sucks

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Julie's Web Journal

Est. 2002