And Now for a List of Upcoming Attractions..

My goodness. I have been given my assignments...

I went to H Lee Moffitt Cancer Center last week and saw a lovely doctor, Dr. Han, in whom I have full confidence that she gave me the "straight skinny."

She outlined a regimen for me of a chemo cocktail every 3 weeks, for 6 times, followed by continuing an infusion of one of the drugs every 3 weeks for a complete year. After the cocktail I get to have radiation - we didn't go into how many times, how often, etc., but then I have a little time to do further investigation on that!! - then I will finish up by taking a pill which I will continue to take for 5 years. She did further advise, however, that recent studies have indicated that I may want to take that pill for the rest of my life! Yikes!

My assignments were - go get a bone scan, a CT (aka CAT) scan, a heart scan, and have an infusion port placed in my body.

She advised me she would be happy to be my doctor but at the same time she understands the additional difficulty traveling 4 hours one way would be difficult - especially as I am also to receive an injection the day before, the day of, and the day after each chemo treatment to help my platelets recover. Plus - oh this one sounds fun! - I am to be sure that should I develop a fever or signs of an infection during my chemo regimen I should treat that as a life threatening emergency and proceed immediately to the ER to receive an IV infusion of antibiotics.

I am happy to report that there is another local physician I can go to that she seemed to think would be a good doctor and that it would be advisable to have a hemo/onco with whom I could interact locally. Turns out this Doctor is a member of my parish, I have checked around and heard only good things about him, AND - he is sweet Marilyn's Doctor. Marilyn is my "new wife." She married my ex husband, keeps him happy - which certainly helps make my life easier, has always been kind and loving to my sons. They love her too. She had a horrible, very bad time with cancer herself and the Doc in question calls her "his miracle patient."

So, Monday morning I called my surgeon's office and asked them to refer me. Later that day I got a call from a pleasant person in his office to let me know I have an appointment Friday with him. I told her about my "orders" and she said she would get everything lined up.

When I saw my surgeon Tuesday we set an appointment for port placement.

SO - tomorrow I have a CT scan and a bone scan. Friday I see the Dr. Next Wednesday I have the port placed, and April 5th I have the heart scan.

I seem to be suddenly flying into the maelstrom. That's good, though.

Soonest started, soonest ended....