Today I completed my first round of chemo.
Picard is taking a well deserved vacation from me, which he totally deserves. He will probably spend time on some tropical island, or perhaps just hang out in a drawer at Pacific Oncology, where he will enjoy some respite.
We are free from each other for at least six weeks. Free at last, free at last.
My surgery has been scheduled for Thursday September 16th, so I have a little over a month to recover from round one of the chemo. I’m looking forward to resuming my swimming now that I no longer have to deal with Picard’s fear of water.
On Monday August 16th I’ll have another endoscopic ultrasound. That’s where they cram a hose down my throat and take pictures of the tumor to see if it has shrunk. Since I get to sleep through the procedure it’s not as nasty as it sounds.
On August 18th I go in for a CAT scan.
Dr. Ey wanted to do the more expensive, and more detailed, PET scan. However, the insurance wouldn’t cover it.
We see this as a good sign.
If the PET scan had shown the cancer had spread the insurance company wouldn’t have to pay for surgery. So this implies the insurance industry is so confident the cancer has not spread they’ll risk not doing a scan that would have gotten them out of paying the surgery bill.
If they’re that confident I’m in good shape, we’re confident as well.
So once those tests are out of the way my schedule is free of medical stuff for three weeks. I intend spend the time immersed in a deep denial where I pretend life has returned to normal.
Because, in-spite of what you may have heard, denial can be a good thing.
It’s great to read your positive spin on health insurance denials! They have the numbers, so hopefully they’re right! Enjoy your vacation from Picard and have a great time swimming!
And, when Picard isn’t saying “Make it so”, he surely leaves with the parting words “Live long and prosper”. We’ll take the live long part for you and the insurance companies will undoubtedly take care of the prospering.
Linda – I had considered bagging the PET scan because it is unpleasant and seemed unnecessary. Dr. Ey was OK with that, but after talking with him I decided I wanted to do it after all. I’m not disappointed they switched me to the less obnoxious CAT scan.
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I swam for 20 minutes today. Tomorrow I’ll crank it up to my usual 40 minute swim. It’s nice to be able to do more healthy stuff.
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Marcia – I always found the “Make it so” thing kind of obnoxious, which I guess is a mandatory Star Feet captain personality trait. I know you hated Kirk because he was so arrogant and obnoxious, which I hadn’t noticed until you mentioned it.
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The insurance companies certainly have mastered the prospering part. As to the “live long” part, I think I’m pretty much responsible for that.
Hi Gary,
I knew my fabulous pool joke today would cheer you up!
It was great seeing you swimming today. I am betting on the 80% cure idea!
See you soon, I still swim m-w-f as a rule but may be in Eugene Friday. No more bad jokes, I promise!
I probably won’t see you until Friday.
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On Monday I’m paying a guy to cram a garden hose with a mini cam on the end of it down my throat. On Wednesday I’m paying another guy to let me drink radioactive waste then take pictures of it by putting me inside a big tube. On Friday I can listen to another one of your jokes.
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I’m not sure which of the three days I’m looking forward to the most.