dand's Cancer Blog
Friday, May 11, 2007
| Unbelievable! | Views: 250 |
May 11th
Yesterday was unbelievable. My appointment with the Radiologist was schedualed for 1 pm. I show up and check in and have a seat. All is well so far. A social worker calls me and takes me into a meeting room and we chat for a few minutes.
She asks a few questions about my time in Vietnam.
Apperantly this type of cancer is common in men that have been in contact with Agent Orange. So she said I should file for compensation and gave me the forms to make it happen. She says this could take as long as a year for them to say yes or no. I guess they have to investigate where you were and when. OK some good news. I may be eligible for some money in the future.
We finish our conversation and then I’m taken to the Radiology nurse. Nice lady, cool attitude. Then she asks me for my form. “What form?”
“Your medical history form, didn’t you get one?”
“No”
“OK lets go up front”
She has a short conversation with the guy at the desk and he states that he put it in my folder. Fat lot of good that does because I still haven’t filled it out.
So now I’m back in the waiting room filling out a 5 page medical history form that I had filled out 2 weeks before with my Pulmonary Dr.
Me: “I filled one of these out with my other Dr. don’t you guys put this on my chart or in my computer file?”
Nurse: “No, that’s not the way its done.”
Me: “Maybe it should be.”
OK, its time for me to shut up.
Finally, the Radiologist comes in and says ” If it were my body I would do Chemo first and then the radiation.”
Me thinking to myself: “No s__t! We talked about this a week ago, do you people ever talk to one another?”
OK we’re done. Off I go to the oncology nurse. My claim paperwork is ready. I sign the release and she says the oncologist wants to talk to me. Cool! That was fast. Finally some movement.
I’m sitting in the waiting area and 2 minutes later Dr. Wang comes in, big wave and smile.
Dr. Wang: “How did the MRI go?
Me: Huh?
Dr. Wang; “You were scheduled for an MRI of the brain at 12 noon. Didn’t anyone call you?”
Me: “No”
Dr. Wang: “Come with me!”
Dr. Wang is about 5ft tall and maybe weighs 95 lbs. We march over to the MRI office and there sits a guy that looks like Forest Whittaker.
Dr. Wang: “This is the guy I had you shedule the MRI for. He didn’t get the info to come in. Did you call him?”
Guy: “No, we mail the appointments out”
Dr. Wang: ” You mailed out an appointment yesterday afternoon for an appointment this morning? When and how did you think he would get it in time to make that appointment?”
Guy: “That’s our procedure.”
Dr. Wang: “I want that MRI done now!”
She was pissed. 15 minutes later I was in the MRI having my brain scanned.
I was so tired when I got home. My head felt like it was going to explode. Probably some reaction to the contrast from the MRi. I was in a hurry so I didn’t take any painkillers with me.
OK MRI done. I go back at 2pm on Tuesday the 15th to get the results on the MRI and to sign the release papers for Chemo. Thursday the 17th I get the catheter for the Chemo and Friday the 18th will be first day of Chemo. It will take about 3 to 4 hours to administer.I will be getting two types of Chemo. Cispatin and Etoposide. Hair loss, nausea/vomiting and lethargy. Something to look forward to. I should only be down for the weekend and start feeling better after that. 4 weeks, once a week, intravenous. Week 5 will be daily for 4 days taking pills.
Thats all the news thats fit to print. I will post more after my visit to oncology on Tuesday. Peace and love.
05.17.07 - 
Thanks for your support -
I know how you feel.. During my treatments I got tired of telling my cancer story.. I would get a new nurse once in awhile and they would always have to ask, “When did you find your Lump” blahblah..
I got so tired of repeating my story.
Hang in there with the chemo.. Do what they tell you and it will be a breeze.. Make sure you drink lots and lots of water.. That is your main key to keeping up on your treatment.. Chemo dehydrates you so drink up…... You will do fine. Good luck on your result of your scans…..
I was having my treatment on Monday, and as I looked around, I wished the door to the treatment room would just close, that no one would have to walk through it ever again. But I am here to tell you, since you are joining me on this journey, that there will be good moments, hours and days. And there will be blessings, and that you are loved. Go easy on yourself, and drink a lot of water. And tell your doctors if you don’t feel good, don’t try to “tough” anything out. They have medicine to help with side affects, take it and don’t worry too much. Take a little walk when you can. Smell some flowers, if you’re up to it. Rent a funny movie. I am sorry you’ve joined me, but I wish you many happy days while on the journey.
The doctors at my hospital are some of the best in the country. The admin staff is a whole other story. I have gotten into many fights with them! Thank goodness dr wang is on the ball!
Hey Dan, It sounds like a comedy of errors occured during your appointment, I hope the rest go better than that. That agent orange stuff must have been incredibly toxic, because I’ve had several other friends that have had some bad stuff happen to them because of it. Hang in there my brother!
Dean
Just wanted to welcome to the family. Here we give support to all who come here.
It looks like you have good support from your family. That there is the Key.
Love to you and your family.
Sherri
I know exactly what you’re talking about with the admin staff! I ended up being the biggest pain in the ass…they all knew me by my first name. I never left anything up to the staff; I always called and checked to make sure everything was done right. My big excuse was “I have cancer dammit!” Can’t use that excuse anymore! lol
Thanks for sharing everything with us!
I have an idea. We can make up some flashcards for the top ten most asked questions. We will write the answers in big print on the cards and even include some illustrations for those who are a little slow on the uptake. I will laminate the cards for you and put them on a metal ring. You can just bring them to all of your appointments with you and “flash” the appropriate card at the appropriate time. Think of all the energy that would save you?!
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