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ClassifiedZone 5: PotomacAd Deadline: Monday Noon • 301-778-941121 Announcements 21 Announcements 21 Announcements21 Announcements 21 Announcements 21 Announcements21 Announcements 21 Announcements 21 Announcements21 Announcements 21 Announcements 21 AnnouncementsEmploymentZone 5: PotomacAd Deadline: Tuesday 11 a.m. • 301-778-9411BUSINESS OPPTELEPHONEA great opportunity toWORK AT HOME!NATIONAL CHILDRENS CENTERNo sell! Salary + Bonus + Benefits!301-333-1900Weekdays 9-4ClassifiedZone 5: PotomacAd Deadline: Monday Noon • 301-778-941125 Sales & Auctions 25 Sales & Auctions 26 AntiquesWe pay top $ for antiquefurniture and mid-centuryDanish/modernteak furniture, STERLING,MEN'S WATCHES, jewelryand costume jewelry,paintings/art glass/clocks.Schefer Antiques @703-241-0790.Email:theschefers@cox.net21 Announcements 21 Announcements 21 Announcements 21 Announcements 21 Announcements 21 Announcements☎☎☎☎HOW TO SUBMIT ADS TONewspapers & OnlineCLASSIFIEDDEADLINESZones 1, 5, 6....................Mon @ noonZones 2, 3, 4....................Tues @ noonE-mail ad with zone choices to: classified@connectionnewspapers.com or call Andrea @ 703-778-9411EMPLOYMENTDEADLINESZones 1, 5, 6....................Mon @ noonZones 2, 3, 4....................Tues @ noonE-mail ad with zone choices to: classified@connectionnewspapers.com or call Andrea @ 703-778-9411ZONESZone 1: The Reston ConnectionThe Oak Hill/Herndon ConnectionZone 2: The Springfield ConnectionThe Burke ConnectionThe Fairfax ConnectionThe Fairfax Station/Clifton/Lorton ConnectionZone 3: The Alexandria Gazette PacketThe Mount Vernon GazetteEducational InternshipsUnusual opportunity to learn many aspects ofthe newspaper business. Internships availablein reporting, photography, research, graphics.Opportunities for students, and for adultsconsidering change of career. Unpaid. E-mailinternship@connectionnewspapers.comZone 4: Centre View NorthCentre View SouthZone 5: The Potomac AlmanacZone 6: The Arlington ConnectionThe Vienna/OaktonConnectionThe McLean ConnectionThe Great FallsConnectionThe rewardof a thingwell done, isto have done it.- Ralph WaldoEmersonSince It Ain’tBroken...By KENNETH B. LOURIEApparently, at least in the near term,we’re (meaning my oncologist) not going tofix it. And by fix it, I am referring to my chemotherapyinfusion, which will continue tobe every three weeks, as it has been foralmost six years; save for a year or so when Iwas able to take pills at home, and on-siteinfusions were not necessary. Last week, atmy most recent face-to-face appointmentwith my oncologist, given my higher-thanhoped-forcreatinine levels, (which led to aone week’s delay in my regularly scheduledinfusion), I had inquired about extending myinfusion interval to four weeks to give mykidneys a break. Considering the ongoingdamage these vital organs have suffered aftersix years of non-stop chemotherapy, Ithought – to quote my deceased father, “thatthe idea had merit.” And it does have meritand my oncologist has always been concernedabout the effect. In fact, per hisorders, I had seen a nephrologist (a kidneyspecialist) a few years back. After examiningme on multiple appointments, the doctorsuggested there was no real need for a returnappointment. Though my creatinine levelswere abnormally high, her assessment was,considering my pre-cancer/pre-chemotherapylab work history had been normal, itwould likely go back down if we stoppedchemotherapy; but since it’s highly unlikelythat we’ll be stopping chemotherapy, givenmy diagnosis, there was nothing to be doneother than watching and managing the levelsas my oncologist has been doing. And that’swhat we’ve done and I’ve not been back tosee her since.Nevertheless, it is cause for concern. Thekidney is a major organ. As it goes, so mightyours truly go, and consequently its affect hasbeen an ongoing theme/point of awarenessduring my six years of treatment. Fortunately,miraculously maybe (for all I know), a weeklater the second/rescheduled lab workshowed that my creatinine levels hadreturned to its previous high normal and thuschemotherapy went on/in as semi usual. Andthus begins, according to my oncologist, mynew normal: I will continue to be scheduledfor infusion every three weeks with my prechemotherapylab work completed theWednesday before the Friday. If my creatininelevels are high, we’ll delay, and reschedulethe infusion for a week later as happenedduring this past interval. Now, we didn’t discusswhat schedule we’d follow if abnormalcreatinine levels persist. As has been establishedduring previous conversations betweenTeam Lourie and my oncologist, scenarioquestions are not helpful and we rarely ventureinto any what-ifs/what-abouts until absolutelynecessary.But what we did discuss at this lastappointment was my future, a little bit.Considering the “shrinkage” written about inlast week’s column, my oncologist was veryencouraged and characterized my treatmentgoing forward as something we’re going to bedoing for awhile. But he said it so matter-offact,that we sort of took it for granted. Hedidn’t really fuss about it and we didn’teither. He said it. He didn’t really emphasizeit. But he meant it. It was all good, that’s forsure.On the way home, my wife, Dina and Ireviewed what my oncologist had said andwe became even more giddy at what hadtranspired/been said. It was certainly newswith which we could live and that’s what weintend to do. I’m not about to look a giftoncologist in the mouth. Since nothing seemsbroken, I’m not looking to fix anything.Kenny Lourie is an Advertising Representative forThe Potomac Almanac & The Connection Newspapers.14 ❖ Potomac Almanac ❖ December 3-9, 2014 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com