Anyone going to be in New England over Thanksgiving? I’m celebrating and I want everyone to come. Turning 60 is a big friggin’ deal, especially when at 50 I wasn’t sure I’d make it.

My old friends and readers know the story, but I’ll provide the Cliff’s Notes for those who are new to the blog. Just shy of my 50th birthday (actually, 10 years ago this week) I was diagnosed with CML, or Chronic Myeloid Leukemia. I was pretty sure I was the butt of some big cosmic joke – 50 and leukemia at the same time? Really? And just a few years prior to my diagnosis people were dying of this disease. There was no treatment and certainly no cure. Thankfully a researcher in the Pacific Northwest developed a targeted oral medication that for some patients suppressed the disease, and the prognosis continued to look bright as other drugs were developed that worked better for those patients who had no response or couldn’t tolerate the initial drug. Still, as with any new medication the long term side effects remained unknown. So every day became a good day to be alive. 

After 10 years on the medication the doctors began experimenting by taking some patients off of the drugs. Lo and behold, some had achieved a full molecular remission. Others regressed and had to restart drug therapy. I am in the so-far-so-good category, with no evidence of cancer in my system after 5 months without medication. And I feel terrific, with the exception of what I’d refer to as “normal wear and tear”. So while I still don’t know how 10 years of meds may affect me in the future I’m sure as hell gonna celebrate my 60th birthday.

How, you ask? A dance party – and I want you all to come.

Friday, November 24th, 2017, 8PM

The VFW Fort Phoenix Post at 109 Middle Street, Fairhaven, MA 02719

Music by The Parts Unknown Band 

THERE WILL BE CAKE!

Let me know if you can make it! Leave a comment, e-mail me, message me on Facebook, send me a tweet @deborahdishes. I want to make sure we have enough cake. And bartenders!

Deborah

This weeks Standard Times column is on a fall favorite – Pot Roast! Get the recipe here: Southcoast Today