Well, chemo vacations aren't always what they are cracked up to be. Although my time off allowed my body and mind to rest, it also allowed those bastard tumors to grown and multiply. The only good news from the scan, which I am VERY grateful for is that the cancer is still contained to my lungs...there is no cancer elsewhere in my body.
I'm down, but far from out...pissed at the cancer...want to scream fu@k from a mountain top...cry...and then kick something.
It's currently 11:45am and I'm sitting in the cocktail lounge, also known as the infusion suite getting magnesium, saline, steroids, anti-nausea and Doxil. Come on baby, momma needs a new pair of shoes!
Monday, October 13, 2014
Saturday, October 11, 2014
Wednesday, October 8, 2014 - PET Scan
I arrived at Providence sporting my PET scan attire...heavy cotton pull over (it's colder that a witches boob in a cast iron bra in those scanning rooms), undies, sweatpants and runners. No zippers, pulls, hooks, snaps, jewelry, etc...this makes it so much easier than having to dress down and remove your jewels. These are the words of a veteran scanner.
I introduce myself to the young lady at the counter and let her know that I am here for a PET scan. She tells me she needs to confirm that I have Regence Power Port Insurance and asks if I have my insurance card with me. I was dumbfounded...I'm certain I looked as though I was having an out of body experience. I wanted to laugh out loud...but controlled it to a grin as I explained that I used to have Regence Blue Cross Insurance, but now have Providence (as they know and had confirmed just days earlier on the phone)..and that yes, I have a Smart Port, although that has nothing to do with insurance. Now she is looking at me as though she is having an out of body experience. Next she hands me the canister of hell (the foul tasting crap you need to drink before a scan) and a cup. I ask her how long I have to drink it (time restrictions vary)..she replies, you don't have to chug it. I reply...I know, but how long...15 minutes, 30, 45? Again, she is looking through me. At this point I just turn to walk away and reply, OK, so basically you don't know.
Shortly after enjoying a few sips of my cocktail from hell, the technician calls my name and off we go. Once in the back I confirm I'm me...she starts pulling stuff out of her cart and I start rolling down my top so they can access my port. She looks at me and says...oh, you have a port. Argh! Of course I have a port...It was installed here, access here for other scans, when I spent the night with you lovely people on Fathers Day you accessed it, and again on July 24th when I had my most recent CAT scan done...here! And...I also told the woman who scheduled the ultrasound for my thyroid ultrasound that
I have a port. Bajeezus! So now, the technician has to locate an IV nurse as she isn't allowed to access my port. It just goes to show you Jane, it's always something.
I introduce myself to the young lady at the counter and let her know that I am here for a PET scan. She tells me she needs to confirm that I have Regence Power Port Insurance and asks if I have my insurance card with me. I was dumbfounded...I'm certain I looked as though I was having an out of body experience. I wanted to laugh out loud...but controlled it to a grin as I explained that I used to have Regence Blue Cross Insurance, but now have Providence (as they know and had confirmed just days earlier on the phone)..and that yes, I have a Smart Port, although that has nothing to do with insurance. Now she is looking at me as though she is having an out of body experience. Next she hands me the canister of hell (the foul tasting crap you need to drink before a scan) and a cup. I ask her how long I have to drink it (time restrictions vary)..she replies, you don't have to chug it. I reply...I know, but how long...15 minutes, 30, 45? Again, she is looking through me. At this point I just turn to walk away and reply, OK, so basically you don't know.
Shortly after enjoying a few sips of my cocktail from hell, the technician calls my name and off we go. Once in the back I confirm I'm me...she starts pulling stuff out of her cart and I start rolling down my top so they can access my port. She looks at me and says...oh, you have a port. Argh! Of course I have a port...It was installed here, access here for other scans, when I spent the night with you lovely people on Fathers Day you accessed it, and again on July 24th when I had my most recent CAT scan done...here! And...I also told the woman who scheduled the ultrasound for my thyroid ultrasound that
I have a port. Bajeezus! So now, the technician has to locate an IV nurse as she isn't allowed to access my port. It just goes to show you Jane, it's always something.
Friday, October 3, 2014 - Road Trip!
Sharon and I took a road trip and headed up to Seattle, where I got a second opinion regarding treatment moving forward. Dr. D. was great. He feels that my treatment to date has been resonable, and that I have many, many treatment options moving forward. His top three choices for me at this stage are:
1. Doxil - once a month IV treatment, it is well tolerated, and you can be on it long term (Dr. McC. has patients who have been on it four to five years). Hopefully it will stop the tumors from growing, and there is a 30% - 35% chance of tumor reduction. I'll take that!
2. Avastin - also well tolerated. Not a chemo...this drug restricts the blood vessels surrounding the tumors which keeps them from growing. This drug has the potential for serious side effects (high BP, stroke, intestinal perforation...yes, I said intestinal perforation) but they are low. Even lower for me because I have no disease in my abdomen.
3. Topotican - good response, but can have bone marrow issues.
He discussed BRCA testing (gene carrier) which determines if your cancer is hereditary. It can also help in choosing treatment if you are platin (Cisplatin and Carboplatin) sensitive. It's unlikely that I carry the gene as only 10% to 15% of the population do but...it can provide additional information that can assist in therapy. When I was first diagnosed Dr. McC. spoke with me about the BRCA testing...my recollection was that it was only to determine if my female family members were at an increased risk of cancer. I love my girls dearly, but declined...solely from a cost perspective as it was not covered by insurance and the cost was approximately $2,500 - $3,000.
Dr. D. recommended that not now, but at some point in the future I have tumor sequencing (DNA) to learn about my actual tumor...this way they can specifically target treatment. Imagine a customized cocktail. Martini, one onion, four olives...grin.
Lastly, I asked him about my lousy magnesium. He confirmed that it is caused by the platin brothers (Cisplatin and Carboplatin). Seems the platin drugs drain the magnesium from your system and it is a long term, not short term recovery. I asked define long term...he said a year. I wanted to say shit.
He closed by telling me that I need to have a PET scan (already scheduled) and to get back in treatment (also already scheduled). He also said if I thought of anything more, on the drive home, or a few days later, that I should feel free to contact him and that if I had any difficulty getting DNA testing done in Portland, he could take care of that for me.
I really liked Dr. Drescher...too bad Seattle is three hours north. Lucky me, Seattle is only three hours north. Grin. I like knowing I've got an all-star on my bench.
1. Doxil - once a month IV treatment, it is well tolerated, and you can be on it long term (Dr. McC. has patients who have been on it four to five years). Hopefully it will stop the tumors from growing, and there is a 30% - 35% chance of tumor reduction. I'll take that!
2. Avastin - also well tolerated. Not a chemo...this drug restricts the blood vessels surrounding the tumors which keeps them from growing. This drug has the potential for serious side effects (high BP, stroke, intestinal perforation...yes, I said intestinal perforation) but they are low. Even lower for me because I have no disease in my abdomen.
3. Topotican - good response, but can have bone marrow issues.
He discussed BRCA testing (gene carrier) which determines if your cancer is hereditary. It can also help in choosing treatment if you are platin (Cisplatin and Carboplatin) sensitive. It's unlikely that I carry the gene as only 10% to 15% of the population do but...it can provide additional information that can assist in therapy. When I was first diagnosed Dr. McC. spoke with me about the BRCA testing...my recollection was that it was only to determine if my female family members were at an increased risk of cancer. I love my girls dearly, but declined...solely from a cost perspective as it was not covered by insurance and the cost was approximately $2,500 - $3,000.
Dr. D. recommended that not now, but at some point in the future I have tumor sequencing (DNA) to learn about my actual tumor...this way they can specifically target treatment. Imagine a customized cocktail. Martini, one onion, four olives...grin.
Lastly, I asked him about my lousy magnesium. He confirmed that it is caused by the platin brothers (Cisplatin and Carboplatin). Seems the platin drugs drain the magnesium from your system and it is a long term, not short term recovery. I asked define long term...he said a year. I wanted to say shit.
He closed by telling me that I need to have a PET scan (already scheduled) and to get back in treatment (also already scheduled). He also said if I thought of anything more, on the drive home, or a few days later, that I should feel free to contact him and that if I had any difficulty getting DNA testing done in Portland, he could take care of that for me.
I really liked Dr. Drescher...too bad Seattle is three hours north. Lucky me, Seattle is only three hours north. Grin. I like knowing I've got an all-star on my bench.
Friday, October 10, 2014
September 28, 2014 - End of Summer
Sad to say with the end of summer, also comes the end of my chemo vacation. It's been just under three months since I have had chemo. It has been a lovely holiday, even if I did spend three mornings a week at Compass getting magnesium infusions. I am still coughing a fair amount...but I knew I would. I feel like I have regained some of my stamina. And I know that my blood work has improved. Today I have labs, vitals, see Dr. McC. and of course...a magnesium infusion.
It was good to check in with Dr. McC. as I have not seen her in weeks. She is only at the Rose Quarter office on Mondays, and for my past two appointments she has been out of the office. Dr. McC. and I talked about treatment moving forward. Her first choice of treatment is Doxil, which is also my first choice based on what we talked about previously. I also talked with her about me choosing to get a second opinion (which happens this Friday, Oct. 3rd)...she was understanding and supportive. She is scheduling me for a PET scan next week, and a follow up appointment with her on October 13th.
So about that PET scan...a very nice man phones from Providence to confirm my doctors request for the PET scan and to provide me with some instructions for the morning of. He tells me when he is done he will transfer me to the scheduler. This is where the fun begins....and let me just start by saying...holy Mary, Mother of God. Drive your own health care people...otherwise there is going to be a multiple car pile up! She begins by saying hi, my name is --- and I am going to schedule the ultrasound for your thyroid. WTF? I explained that she had to be looking at another patients file as I was being scheduled for a PET scan. She asked to put me on hold, came back, then she asked to put me on hold again as she was having trouble with the calendar...finally I said...why don't you call me back when you are ready. She agreed and we disconnected. When she phoned back she confirmed that I have Providence Insurance...and wanted to know if I had a history of cancer. Gee...let me think
on that. I told her I have a port (remember this...it will be discussed later...lol)...that seemed to complete the conversation. My PET scan schedule for Wednesday, October 8th...just hope I'm not scheduled for an ultra sound of my thyroid.
It was good to check in with Dr. McC. as I have not seen her in weeks. She is only at the Rose Quarter office on Mondays, and for my past two appointments she has been out of the office. Dr. McC. and I talked about treatment moving forward. Her first choice of treatment is Doxil, which is also my first choice based on what we talked about previously. I also talked with her about me choosing to get a second opinion (which happens this Friday, Oct. 3rd)...she was understanding and supportive. She is scheduling me for a PET scan next week, and a follow up appointment with her on October 13th.
So about that PET scan...a very nice man phones from Providence to confirm my doctors request for the PET scan and to provide me with some instructions for the morning of. He tells me when he is done he will transfer me to the scheduler. This is where the fun begins....and let me just start by saying...holy Mary, Mother of God. Drive your own health care people...otherwise there is going to be a multiple car pile up! She begins by saying hi, my name is --- and I am going to schedule the ultrasound for your thyroid. WTF? I explained that she had to be looking at another patients file as I was being scheduled for a PET scan. She asked to put me on hold, came back, then she asked to put me on hold again as she was having trouble with the calendar...finally I said...why don't you call me back when you are ready. She agreed and we disconnected. When she phoned back she confirmed that I have Providence Insurance...and wanted to know if I had a history of cancer. Gee...let me think
on that. I told her I have a port (remember this...it will be discussed later...lol)...that seemed to complete the conversation. My PET scan schedule for Wednesday, October 8th...just hope I'm not scheduled for an ultra sound of my thyroid.
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