Healthcare in the US

I just had to share this . . . I opened the mail today and it was a bill from the hospital for my PET scan. It had not yet been turned into insurance. Guess what the total was . . . . . $16,722.00!!! Can you believe that?!?! It makes me wonder if the test is really that expensive to give or is it the "system" that makes it cost that much? It's really sad how expensive it is to be sick these days. I know one chemo session is $6000 and one CT scan is $3000. I'm not sure how I feel about the whole health insurance reform going on right now with the government. But I do know something needs to be done and soon! It truly is a crisis!

1 chemo down, 17 to go!

I went in at 9:30 for my chemo and got done at 3:15. I went immediately after that to radiation. After almost falling asleep in the waiting chair, I got called back and was finally done with everything and home by 4:30. A looooong day of toxic exposure!

The chemo went really well. About 2 hours were spent getting everything set up, paperwork, explanations, etc. A normal treatment should last 4 hours tops - 10 minutes inserting IV line + 40 minutes pre-meds (anti-histamine, anti-nausea, pepcid, and steroid) + 10 minutes of wash/rinse (flush out the line) + 1 hour Taxol + 10 minutes wash/rinse + 1 hour Carboplatin + 10 minutes wash/rinse + 20 minutes of fluids.

She thought I had a central line/port-a-cath, but I've managed to avoid that so far. She said we'd wait and see if I needed to get one down the road. Chemo hardens your veins making it difficult to get an IV in. Now this is just me, but I would rather have a few minutes of digging in my arm with the needle once a week than wearing a device under my skin permanently. Everyone has their gross out meters, mine is port-a-caths.

I really, REALLY like the infusion center at this hospital. I had my own cubicle with a curtain if I wanted privacy. No one sitting arm's length away. No "Nosey Rosey's" asking questions constantly. No annoying overhead music. And no "sterile, medical" feel. I had my own TV (I can't remember the last time I had a TV all to myself!), and the ambiance was so cozy. Granite counters, fancy light fixtures, natural lighting from large windows, and everyone was so friendly. It's truly going to be my spa time, in a twisted way. Because except for the poisonous and highly toxic chemicals being pumped into my body, it was very relaxing. I think from now on, I'll just pretend the HazMat suit the nurse puts on before administering the chemo is just her strange choice of style!

The radiology oncologist, Dr. Levitt, finally met me today. He was on vacation at my first appointment. He thinks an additional five days will benefit me. So instead of 10 radiation treatments, now I'll be getting a minimum of 15. We'll see from there if I need more. We are hoping the tumor will shrink enough to alleviate the pain in my neck and shoulder and make that nerve go back to normal. It's really weird not sweating on the left side of my head. When I'm outside working in the yard, my hairline will get wet only on the right side, like I've been swimming the side stroke on one side only! Kinda freaky!

Well, we'll see when, no IF, the side effects will begin. I'm definitely not going to give in to them, if I can help it! This cancer is not going to take one minute away from me that it doesn't have to!

The Chemo Spa

So I went in today for my pre-chemo bloodwork. It was the first time I had the chance to see the new infusion center at Northside Forsyth. All I can say is, ooh la la! Before, I had my chemo in a large open, very sterile room with recliners in a circle, nothing fancy, just a few crackers and drinks in the corner. This place I'll be going to now has a private cubicle for each patient, each with its own window giving a great view from the 3rd floor, and a TV! Not sure about wi-fi, but I wouldn't doubt it! Now, I just need to get a Latin hottie named Pedro to bring me margaritas and give foot rubs . . . si senor!!

I've been reading about lifestyle changes that can help prevent/cure cancer. I've read Dodie Osteen's Healed of Cancer that a dear lady loaned me. It was a wonderful inspiration about faith healing. Right now I am reading The China Study, it's telling how animal proteins have been linked to cancer. One book my dr recommended is Anti-Cancer, New Way of Life by David Servan-Schreiber. Another is The Anti-Estrogenic Diet by Ori Hofmekler. I'm checking into the local libraries and bookstores to find these two. If anyone has a copy I could borrow, I would really appreciate it!

At any rate, I'm going to try to make some changes that can't hurt me and might just make this cancer thing go away for good!

In the meantime, this t-shirt sums it up for me . . .

Isn't it great! And so true - girls rock, especially fighters!

They're taking away my hormones!!!

I called my dr this morning with a concern about the hormone replacement I've been taking since my hysterectomy. I take biodentical natural estrogen and progesterone. At the time of my original diagnosis, I asked if it was okay to take these hormones since HRT was linked to cancer. I was assured that estrogen along with progesterone was safe, and that at my age (37 at the time) the risks of not having hormones - osteoporosis, etc. - was greater than having them.

Well, the call back this morning confirmed my fear - I have to stop taking them. I feel like a sitting duck waiting on the menopause symptoms to begin. Before I found the right HRT, I had horrible hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, the works! Ugh! I know menopause symptoms are better than cancer, but geez, how much can one person take . . .

Strike that! I know I can handle it, I can handle anything. There is a Bible verse about doing your own part to overcome something, and then God will do the rest. Anybody know the specific verse? I could use it!

First Chemo this Thursday

I just got the call from the chemo nurses (paperwork went faster than I thought!). My first treatment will be this Thursday morning at the infusion center at Northside Forsyth. I've been told it might take 3 to 4 hours. I should be done in time for radiation at 2:00 (my rad time got switched). It will be a long day, but I've been there done that, and it's doable.

The nurse asked if I would like to have some nausea medicine called in. I told her my first round I tolerated the chemo pretty well and she replied, "Oh well, this should be a breeze then!" Since it's a third of the dose I took before, I'm anticipating very minimal side effects. We'll see . . .

I know a lot of you have responded to my mom's recruitment of volunteers - Thank You So Much! I am realizing how this cancer is becoming a blessing in lots of ways, especially how overwhelmed I am with the love and support of everyone. Julie, you got it right when you said the ripple can be a good thing! I love you all, too!!!

Not much news. Had my second radiation treatment this morning. I go every morning at 9:15 and get finished about 9:45. The first visit was Friday and it took a long time because they had to get all the measurements just right. They had me lie on the table and hold a bar above my head so that my arms were out of the way. I had to be completely still while they took x-rays and made adjustments. I looked like a frozen swimmer doing the backstroke! It was killing my shoulder where the tumor was and toward the end my hands went completely numb! I kept asking why I had to keep my arms stretched up when the spot was in my neck and I'm still not quite sure of the reason they gave me. They marked all over me with sharpies and finally got finished after about 30 minutes. I hate to be a whiner during these kinds of things, but dang, that nerve in my neck hurt!

Before it was over, I had to get tattoos of the target spots. Yes, they are REAL tattoos! I asked if I could choose my design, maybe a lightning bolt! But they said no, all they did was dots. And not even different colors, just standard dark blue. So I thought maybe later I could add to the dots and get a cancer ribbon tattoo or the girls' initials, something meaningful. Then the first prick happened, and OWOWEEEE!! I think I'll reconsider.

Today's treatment was much quicker, I guess the tattoos were worth it!

I'm still waiting to be scheduled for chemo. The paperwork process is very slow - this person has to approve this form so the insurance company can pre-certify these drugs yadayadayada. I was told today that it would likely be next week before I can actually start treatments. I'm ready to get started. The sooner I start, the sooner I can finish. But I guess this does give me one extra week with hair!!

Will keep you all posted.

Second verse, same as the first . . .

Okay, feeling better today. I think I'm past the anger stage. This morning I went to the radiation dr and got measurements/scans done to get set up for the treatments to my neck lymph node. He mentioned doing daily treatments for 2 to 3 weeks starting tomorrow. Hopefully, this tumor will shrink and the pain in my shoulder will ease up and maybe even my eye will go back to normal (not that I haven't enjoyed the "Popeye" look!). In addition to this large node in my neck there is also a large-ish node above my diaphragm. But Dr. S wants to wait and see if the chemo will shrink it before we do radiation there. If we start with too large of an area, it could be bad for my lungs. And I'd kinda like to keep those healthy for now! There are several other nodes involved but they have not enlarged too much, so we're hoping chemo alone will improve them.

I also met with Dr. S this afternoon to discuss everything. John and my mom went along. We all had the opportunity to ask questions and get clarification on things that we didn't understand. Like, for example, I wanted to know if the Taxol/Carbo didn't work the first time, why was it recommended to do it again? Dr. S explained that based on research and experiences of other patients, it's standard protocol to repeat the original treatment if the recurrence happens after 12 months. He said Taxol/Carboplatin are the best first line drugs and he felt confident it was the right choice. He made me feel better when he said that even if it hadn't gotten rid of the cancer permanently, if I had not had any chemo before, the cancer would've likely recurred much sooner, like within 6 months. So although I would like to have something super strong that would obliterate it entirely now, I feel safer following the common treatment plan based on years of cancer research. Because really, I'm no scientist or doctor, and I'm only looking at things as black and white. Dr. S explained that when cancer returns like this, it has mutated and may not act the same. So the Taxol/Carbo might, in fact, be able to obliterate it once and for all. Or, it might not work at all. We'll have to monitor the progress through scans and blood tests. If it's not working, then we'll stop and regroup and come up with another plan of attack. He admitted that my cancer was acting very "weird" the way it had come back in my neck/chest area. Most of the time, ovarian cancer returns in the abdomen/pelvis. But he felt we weren't "behind the 8 ball" just yet. He gave me some scenarios of cases worse than mine and that made me feel better - "Oh good! There are others who are suffering more than me!" Seriously, it gave me perspective to realize I'm not without hope. He made me feel hopeful, which is what I've been lacking. I love Dr. Salmieri.

So now I get the option of having treatments weekly or tri-weekly, the first being a smaller dose. All in all, it's going to be 18 weeks total. And I know from previous experience that it will probably drag out an extra 3 or 4 weeks with delays for low blood counts. At least I will be able to have treatments at Northside Forsyth's cancer center. We live just around the corner from the hospital and that's going to be a huge plus since last time I had to drive to Lawrenceville! And my radiation is going to be even closer, just behind the CVS!

I will lose my hair again and that's a tough one to swallow. I remember the first time and how loooonnnnnggg it took to grow back. It was 7 months total that I was bald. That's a lot of head wraps and scarves. I do still have my wigs, but I didn't like them much and probably won't wear them this time. Heck, I may just sport the natural look and come up with a crazy, bizarro story to go along with it! "This is what happened from swimming in the oil spill! BP owes me millions!!" Now that's a good one!