Is this the other shoe?

When I was first diagnosed, I was going through a detailed mammogram diagnostic process as well. Mine was the 1 in 10 pulled for recall, and the tomosynthesis showed cysts, prompting a recommendation for an additional ultrasound. In the end, it was all summarized as ‘bilateral simple and complex cysts, benign.’ A relief, but in the moment, it definitely felt like waiting for the other cancer shoe to drop. I’m learning that a CLS diagnosis is a little bit like déjà vu.

At the end of January, I met with my radiation oncologist and graduated from six-month to twelve-month surveillance. After my thyroid specialist had done the same in November, this felt like progress. So I didn’t think much about scheduling my next mammogram and colonoscopy. They were just more items to check off on my surveillance list.

But then my colonoscopy referral got lost somewhere between my clinic’s fax and the machinery that triages referrals in Quebec. I found myself back at my clinic: new bloodwork was ordered, and my doctor completed a new referral, triaged as ‘suspect’ because three months had elapsed, and he felt bad that a baseline colonoscopy wasn’t in my brand-new Cowden-like profile.

In a rare instance of the healthcare system working, my colonoscopy appointment was only 10 days later. I liked the doctor immediately. She was calm and efficient, and she asked smart questions about Cowden’s and how it affected my surveillance. She quickly connected the dots, understanding she was the newest member of the specialists club that is my medical team. The procedure was uneventful. I was awake throughout and far more oriented than I expected with the sedation.

Then things took a serious turn. A small, flat lesion presented itself in my ascending colon. Two distal tattoos and the removal of two inflammatory-like rectal polyps later, and we were done. The note on my report said a follow-up CT would likely be required, and I should expect a call to schedule an appointment in two weeks. No one was overly fussed, but it was clear this wasn’t ‘routine.’

When my CT was scheduled barely more than a week later, I had the feeling that my diagnostic tests were being fast-tracked. By comparison, routine CT surveillance appointments are scheduled within three months following a visit with my gynecologic oncologist.

Pathology roulette

I try not to get sucked into Dr. Google rabbit holes. Gemini and Claude have only made this worse because I’ve come to treat Claude as my desk-side companion, turning medical reports into plain English, and having a project-based view of my results, often more comprehensive than any of my specialists.

Still, in the three weeks since my CT, I’ve learned that right-sided lesions, predominantly adenocarcinomas, are one of the most common second primary cancers for endometrial cancer survivors. And that while they are usually highly treatable, my EC history and Cowden-like profile mean that if the pathology confirms it, then surgery is likely in my future.

A lot will ride on whether my pathology shows this lesion to be benign, a new, colon-specific adenocarcinoma, or metastatic endometrial cancer.

It’s mental gymnastics to hold these varying scenarios in my head while I wait for results. I try to remind myself that this is all diagnostic, and what is happening just needs to be understood so we have a path forward.

My body will tell us what the next steps are, and all should be revealed on Thursday when I talk with my colorectal surgeon.

Running in place

The chaos of the last few weeks has disrupted my training rhythm, and a 10k in a little over four weeks felt like too much to aim for right now. So I’ve switched up plans and signed up for the Beneva Spring Run Off—a virtual 8k that allows me to pick a day in April when the weather is great, and my legs feel good. If everything aligns, it may be my first run on the mountain of this season.

I don’t know yet if I’ll push for a fast time or just use the occasion to celebrate moving my body, but I do know I’m looking forward to adding a new medal to my collection for 2026.