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Okay, here’s the news, after a brief hiatus.

After turning over every rock in town looking for a doctor and/or procedure to explain why I’ve passed blood in my urine periodically, the general consensus is - I’m appallingly healthy and may never know just what caused this mildly alarming symptom. I was cystoscoped (?), ultrasounded, palpated, x-rayed and MRI’d, and they found nothing even remotely life-threatening. So I can put my paranoia back in park, and carry on with my career as cantankerous cancer survivor.

For the “uninitiated”: one of the myriad of joys that come packaged with cancer survival is that any time you experience any kind of odd oozings, lumps, aches/pains, rashes, digestive issues, etc., you have this soft little voice in your head (well, in my head anyway, and it has lots of company) calmly whispering, “IT MIGHT BE YOUR BLOODY CANCER COMING BACK!!!!!!!!” This is not exactly what you want to hear after going through THAT glorious adventure at least once in your life. But it’s a very effective incentive to make (and keep) doctor’s appointments that you otherwise would’ve blown off indefinitely.

One thing that did turn up was a mildly painful inflammation of the cartilage connecting my ribs to my sternum. According to my primary physician, this condition is a consolation prize from my 30-odd rounds of radiation therapy back in ‘04. He said it may get worse with time, and suggested OTC pain relievers, heating pads and, if all else fails, physical therapy to lessen the discomfort. The inflammation at this point feels like a bruise, as though I’d been hit square in the chest with a softball a few days ago. It’s only noticeable if I bend a certain way or press against the area. I’m hoping it’ll stay that way. Oh, and he said that moving to Florida would help (warm tropical climate and all that). So to all my darling in-laws currently residing in the Sunshine state: there may be a little cranky-yankee stormcloud littering your horizon one day. P.S. the big kid comes with me