Medical Check-Up with Dr. Webster

On September 17th, I had my first check-up with my chemotherapy doctor, Dr. Webster. He conducted a thorough physical examination and expressed that he was very impressed with my blood work, describing it as amazing. During our conversation, I shared some of my symptoms, and he explained that many of these are signs that both the radiation and chemotherapy treatments are working. For instance, my left lymph node has become even more swollen and is quite sore; Dr. Webster indicated that this is a sign of the cancer tumor cells being inflamed. He also observed several mouth sores on the back of my throat and tongue, which are side effects of the radiation treatment. Unfortunately, he informed me that these symptoms will likely become worse in the coming weeks. Moving forward, the plan is to stay ahead of the pain by managing my medications, though I admit this has not been easy. I am hoping for better adjustment of my medications next week.

Dental Check-Up and Oral Care

This week, I also had a check-up with my dentist. After her examination, she was pleased with my oral hygiene and rated it as “GOOD” in my file. When I tried to elaborate on my daily efforts to maintain clean teeth, she explained that there are only three categories: Good, Fair, and Poor. Since 90% of patients usually fall into the “Fair” or “Poor” categories, I was thrilled to receive a “GOOD” rating. She was further pleased that I managed to open my mouth wide enough at a second appointment with the dental hygienist to have trays made for daily fluoride treatments. This felt like a real win for me, especially given that radiation puts my teeth at significant risk. I am proud of my commitment to doing jaw exercises three times a day, which helped me open my mouth more fully. Asking for another appointment was also crucial to making this progress.

Reflections on Personal Responsibility

I am reminded of a book I read in 2021 called Second Opinion by Radha Gopolan, MD. The book resonated with me because it advocates for a “BOTH AND” approach to restoring health: Western medicine (30%), Eastern medicine (30%), and “You Power” (30%), which is the responsibility you take for your own health and well-being. The final 10% is left to God, or whatever higher power you believe in. This philosophy continues to inform how I manage my treatment and daily efforts.