Shannon had a follow up appointment with his chemo doctor last week. He was pleased with Shannon’s progress. The doctors are all working together to make sure Shannon has a follow up appointment with at least one of them every couple of months. So far all has been great since the clear PET scan. His next appointment is for his second post-treatment PET scan on May 21 and the appointment to get the results is set for May 23. Waiting for the scans is probably the most difficult thing. We are hoping and praying for another all clear scan.
Shannon has been doing very well with his eating and nutrition. He is very much thinner than he used to be but he feels good at the lighter weight and he is able to maintain. According to most of the charts and things they use these days, he is a healthy weight so there is no need for him to try and gain back all that he lost. He is completely off the Boost and maintaining strictly with what he eats for meals now. That is such a great thing. While his lifestyle is still a bit altered after all the treatments, it is getting more and more normal as time goes on. His progress has been fantastic.
I will continue to post updates when Shannon has had a doctor’s appointment or scan. I am looking forward to being able to continue giving you good news. 
I know it’s been a long time since I have updated our little blog here. I’m very happy to say that it is because things have been going very well. Shannon is doing better and better as time goes by. He is able to eat enough now that he doesn’t need to drink Boost to keep his weight up. He has lost a lot of weight but he is at a good weight for his height and he intends to maintain now and not gain back all the weight he lost. He is feeling better and able to do a lot more than before. We have been out running around and doing things again which is my excuse for not updating here. He is still a bit impatient because all this is happening so slowly but since there is a steady improvement and it’s still going on we are both satisfied. I can’t tell you how wonderful it is to be busy and able to go out and do some normal things again. We are both grateful for every bit of that.
Shannon has a follow-up appointment with his chemo doctor on the 24th of this month. I will be sure to update the blog after we’ve talked to the doctor.
Thank you all again for your good thoughts and prayers. That is what has seen Shannon and me through all this. I hope you will keep us in your prayers that this cancer does not return and that Shannon will continue to get better and better.
I am so pleased to be able to write here that Shannon is still improving. Every day he is a little better and is able to do a little more.
Last week he had an appointment with the surgeon that did the original biopsy and diagnosed the cancer. This was the first time we’ve been to see him since that time. He read all the reports and saw the scans that have been done since then and told us that the cancer is completely gone. He sees no reason to do any surgery at this time but says we need to follow up carefully and often for at least a year. There had been talk of removing the two lymph nodes that were involved in the beginning even if they appear clear now. This is how they used to do this as a routine. Now because of the advances of scans and PET scans they can see if there is even a few cancer cells present so it isn’t necessary to do any surgery unless something shows up. This is such a huge relief to both of us.
Shannon is beginning to be able to eat a little better now too. He is still drinking Boost as a supplement but it is not his main source of nutrition now. We have been out to eat several times in the past couple of weeks. Yesterday we went to the movies together. It is almost like dating again. 
Each thing he is able to do and every time we go out together is a joy. We are having fun!
Once again, I want to thank everyone for all the prayers and the good thoughts. It has meant so much to both of us to know you are all there and that you care. I know that neither of us could have made it through this very difficult time without that.
We have just gotten home from visiting the doctor to get the results of Shannon’s PET scan. It’s fantastic news! There is no sign of the cancer and the lymph nodes are clear as well. This means that it is very likely Shannon will not require any sort of surgery. He will be scheduled for one more PET scan in 3 months as a follow-up to be doubly sure and if it is still clear he will have to have yearly scans to be sure it stays gone.
This is the result we have been hoping and praying for. It is going to take a long time for him to heal from all the treatments and the doctor said that his ability to eat will never be exactly like it was before all this. He might not ever get back full use of the salivary glands and his taste may not ever be the same. The good news is that it will be much better than it is now and much less life altering. It is just a gradual thing and will take a long time. We are still both extremely thrilled with what we heard today. Knowing the cancer isn’t an issue right now is what we needed to hear. There will be time for being patient with the healing process now.
I will continue to update this blog now and then. Especially when there is a scan or a follow-up of some sort but also in between too so please, feel free to stop by and see how Shannon is doing. If you would like to leave us a message, we’d be very happy to hear from you. All your support and prayers is what has seen Shannon through this so far and I want you all to know that it is deeply appreciated.
Tonight we will celebrate. We are going out to dinner.. the first time since this all began.