A better kind of waiting begins.

So, yesterday evening at about 7pm(PDT), I head from my radiation oncologist again.  He had had a chance to discuss with the neurosurgeon and they agreed that they did not have enough data to conclusively decide that it is indeed a new tumor.  In fact, they agreed that it is most likely NOT a new tumor, but rather some leftover garbage from the radiosurgery (perhaps a collection of fried cells that have yet to be metabolized completely).  To get a more definite opinion from them, they need another reference point to compare this data with.  So, they're scheduling another MRI for me in about six weeks.  My initial reaction was "holy $#^& that's forever!"  (It is longer than it took to get into the surgery after the initial finding of the possible tumor.)  But then I thought about it for a few hours after the conversation and it dawned on me that, given that they know me now and have spent considerably more time with my information than before I met them, coupled with their professional experience (they do this everyday - often 7 days a week and way more than 8 hours a day - he called me on a Saturday afternoon and a Monday evening, for cryin' out loud) and they said that they were "not worried about it" (direct quote) and that six weeks isn't that long in the development of a tumor.  The doc added that I should still be on the lookout for symptoms that are too familiar and to call him immediately if anything like that should come up.  But his tone of voice had that "disclaimer" kind of ring to it, which tells me that he's quite confident in his advice.  So, I'm glad I'm not writing this from a hospital bed right now and that I get to go to my brother's extremely-after-the-fact wedding reception next weekend.  (They've been married for two years now!)  So, for now, I'm getting back onto my best behavior about diet and time/rest management.  It's my belief nowadays that prolonged high levels of stress are probably one of the most carcinogenic situations we face these days.  It's a shame that "prolonged high levels of stress" can be a euphemism for "adult".