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Monday, March 9, 2009

Haircut and timelines


Until this weekend, I hadn't had a haircut in nearly a year. I am lecturing in Manhattan and I thought the iconic absent minded professor look was not the note I wanted to strike. I left a bit of the curl in the bangs. What do think?

A little more than three year and half years ago, the stubborn lumps I had noticed at my hairline convinced me to get blood work. It would should show the high lymphocyte count, the tell tale sign of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. A month later, the diagnosis was confirmed with flow cytometry.

I have now lived about half the expected life expectancy for some one with my type of cancer. But as we know, statistics are for groups, not individuals.

A little more than two and half  years ago I noticed the spontaneous bruising and red spots that signaled my ITP. It almost killed me four or five times. Those scary days are happily far behind me.

Eight months I had my transplant. About three months ago, it became clear I had lost the graft.

Eleven days ago, I saw the CT images that foretold I will doing the graft dance again.

Life goes on.

4 comments:

  1. You look a bit fearsome but I like the photo! The longer hair was good, too - and the smile.

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  2. Love the curls, but whats with the frown?

    J

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  3. Great haircut! A smile would go great with it!

    xoxoxoxo
    Lezlei

    ReplyDelete