The Cancer Spread

After undergoing surgery, iodine radiation, and a radiation scan, I received the unsettling news that there was an uptake of iodine radiation at the base of my tongue, as well as in additional lymph nodes in my neck and the left lower lobe of my lung, just above the hemi diaphragm. When my oncologist called that Monday to discuss my results, he casually mentioned that while some might classify this situation as stage 4 cancer, he didn't consider it truly stage 4 since it hadn't spread to my bones. His attempt to downplay the severity of my condition did little to alleviate my anxiety; in fact, it only deepened my sense of unease. Facing this diagnosis has been a heavy burden, and I find myself grappling with the implications of what lies ahead.