Monday and Friday were spent at the KU cancer center.  Both days were uncharacteristically long, tiring, and frustrating.  But all was worth it once we got the results of all the testing--nothing but good news.  The primary kidney tumor hasn't increased in size, and no new tumors have developed in the rest of the body. 

Monday I had full skeletal x-rays and CT scans.  Just as we pulled into the parking garage, the phone rang.  The CT scanner was down.  Either I could reschedule or be sent to another facility for the scans.  Since I was already there and the x-ray machine was working, there was no point in rescheduling.  While I waited for the x-rays, I drank the two large glasses of "water" (they always assure me that the liquid is nothing but water, but I remain suspicious) that are necessary for a CT scan and had the IV port put in my arm.  There were 19 x-rays from my head (the first time) to my ankles. 

Then we were sent about a mile away to a new, but rather strange imaging center.  The small parking lot was made even smaller by the piles of snow from our 13" the week before, none of which had melted since we hadn't gotten above freezing in February.  Mohamed dropped me off and went in search of somewhere to park.  The clinic was overwhelmed by their own patients and everyone who had been sent from the cancer center.  We waited and waited.  The IV port bled a little when I'd bend my arm, and I worried that the liquid I'd drunk would wear off and I'd have to drink more--and then wait even longer.  But after a couple of hours in the very crowded waiting room, I finally got in, and the tests went ahead with no problems.  Neither of us had eaten (I couldn't eat before the scans, Mohamed because he'd been at school before we left).  Mohamed was worried about me, so we stopped at the McDonald's (I hadn't eaten there for years), and I scarfed down a quarter-pounder with cheese, fries, and a shake.  Mohamed ate nothing.  Once home, I crashed for a couple of hours, while Mohamed had to go back to school and then stop at a grocery store so that we (and in my view especially he, as an ex-English teacher would say) finally had something for dinner.

Friday, the technological problem was with the computer system with only a few of the computers at the Center working.  Blood was drawn, and then once again we waited and waited.  A couple of hours after the scheduled appointment we finally got in--and got all the good news.  The only anomaly was that the CT scan, but not the x-ray, showed a fractured rib--right side, rear, midway down.  Since I've never felt any pain and haven't fallen or stumbled backwards into a piece of furniture and since even if it was fractured, the doctors wouldn't treat it, it seems safe to ignore this one detail.  Otherwise, the good news was, of course, a relief.  I seem to be some sort of outlier among kidney cancer patients.  I can't attribute my status to clean living or to faith and prayer.  But whatever the cause--I'll attribute it to a combination of Votrient and luck--I'm not complaining.