Friday morning, my phone rang.
Caller ID said it was my oncologist’s office.
Now — I already had an appointment scheduled for Monday, so my first thought was, maybe they’re calling to reschedule because of the weather.
My second thought was, or maybe they’re calling to ruin my entire day, week, and remaining sanity.
So I did what any seasoned cancer veteran does:
I stared at the ringing phone like it was a live grenade.
I watched it ring.
And ring.
And ring.
Because once you’ve had cancer, you learn this important life skill: never answer a medical call unless you’re emotionally prepared to spiral.
Finally, I picked it up.
I released the breath I’d apparently been holding since 2024 and squeaked out,
“Th-this is Pattie.”
On the other end came a voice I now refer to as Ms. Spill-the-Tea from the C-A-N-C-E-R doctor’s office.
Yes. She spelled it in my head. Slowly. With dramatic pauses.
I swear I almost stopped breathing, which would have been bad because I really needed to hear the rest.
Because the tea was this:
My PET scan was completely clear.
Completely.
Clear.
That’s right.
Cancer?
Gone.
Bye bye, cancer.
Do not pass Go.
Do not collect $200.
Do not ever contact me again.
I immediately called Luke and told him, and for a few glorious minutes we were both flying high — the kind of high that comes from hearing the words you’ve been begging the universe for six long months to say out loud.
But when I hung up the phone…
Reality showed up.
Not the happy kind.
The sneaky kind.
Because here’s the part nobody warns you about: when you finally hear the good news, your brain doesn’t throw confetti.
It squints at it.
Suspiciously.
I didn’t think, I’m free!
I thought, …are we sure though?
That’s the curse cancer leaves behind.
It doesn’t just attack your body — it rents space in your mind and refuses to move out.
Last time, it took me 20 years to stop worrying.
And then it came back in year twenty-one.
So yes — joy came first.
And then fear crept in wearing sensible shoes and carrying a clipboard.
So now what?
Now this:
No fear. I will not allow fear to drive me!
No regrets. I will do anything and everything I can to enjoy my life!
I’m starting fresh — again — but this time with more wisdom, more gratitude, and absolutely zero patience for bullshit.
I have a whole lot more life to live.
And ohhhh…
the adventures coming our way.
Cancer may have tried to write my ending —
but I’m still holding the pen. ✨💪
Second Battle, Same Me 