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the call before the storm


Slam Dunk!



I'm driving yesterday to my first chemo, ready to get it started, when I get a call from my nurse at the Cancer & Hematology. After pleasantries, she said:

 "So, I was reading through your chart and saw that Dr. Lynch wanted your scans done before treatment began.So it looks like we need to delay it's start. Are you on your way here?"

 Okay, now it's your turn to guess which was the correct response:

 A.  "Well, Alecia, that scan was not approved by insurance until just a couple days ago partially because your office didn't follow up to get it approved. But we can wait, because the delay was out of the ordinary and I don't have an aggressive, fast growing cancer. Will next Thursday work better?"

 B. "WTF?? (for my kinder gentler readers that stands for Well That's Fine) I'm three minutes out and we're getting this done today!! I'm not delaying because parties related to this treatment that aren't me my husband or my doctors couldn't get their s*** together (kinder gentler readers that stands for stuff, just add another asterisk) and get the scan scheduled earlier this week or last! Get the supplies ready because I'm pulling in to the parking lot. Looking forward to seeing you soon."

 C.  "Well Alecia, I'm in fact almost there and beyond ready to start this treatment. I remember the conversation with Dr. Lynch and she said that we could start the treatment before the scans, though not ideal, it wouldn't hurt to begin. It just might mean a different sort of chemo. Right? So, I'm ready to begin and will be there momentarily."

 The correct and condensed version was C. Though quite honestly A and B were both plausible because the facts presented are correct; though the tone of A was far too timid/kind even for me and in B, I only swear after a glass or two of wine or at crazy drivers or anyone that harms my children or hubby.

 As it was, the chemo proceeded as planned. Alecia and I overcame initial awkwardness and found some common ground. She'd consulted with the oncologist on duty, and he confirmed that it would be best to start the chemo and if the scan showed any metastasis, it would just change the dosage and timing.

 So after four hours, I returned home - no side effects and loaded with prescriptions to hopefully tamper any of the more likely, unpleasant ones. I also got a Nuelasta thingy that will inject meds to boost my white blood counts - it will inject at 27 hours post treatment (tonight at 7:30!). I won't post video because it's attached to my abdomen and that hasn't seen the sun in many, many years and still bears the stretch marks of three pregnancies. Now you realize that you really DON'T want to see it!! 

 Next chemo, if scans and next week's blood counts are okay, will be February 7.
One down, three of these to go!!

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