Just went to Dr. Austin. I like that she is really smart. Not warm and fuzzy just no bullshit in a an off the chart smart kind of way. No ego just wanting to find the best treatment. She is willing to research. She also doesn't want to treat me like a horse if she hears hooves because I might be a zebra. She affirmed that I need to maintain my positive outlook at all costs. She is researching treatments. I am calling my insurance. It may be Boston not MDA. Nancy presented my case to some other doctors and they had a great suggestions so all that info will be relayed to Dr. Austin. That was so nice and so helpful! This is so good and feels so much better. One more Doctor appt.
My cancer is tricky. It is uncommon so there has not been as much research as say breast cancer.
Now I have to decide which onc, Dr. A is winning because she will administer the chemo herself.
I am not sure I want to go to the hospital to have it administered. That is how Dr. J does it.
Everything will reveal itself.
I just know this was a great beginning to my day.
PS. I slept upstairs again and my handy companion was right by my side! At one point he had his head on the other pillow, he was on his back with all four paws in the air, snoring like a freight train! I am sure there was quite possibly some tandem snoring going on!
I love a super smart, no bullshit doctor. The OB/GYN who delivered Ethan was like that. She retired so I had to find another for Rowan. He was much more warm and fuzzy, very compassionate and dedicated. I liked him alot too. It is a good decision to have to make, especially after Dr.Robot. Take the office staff into consideration too, they will have a big impact on your care as well. Call you later tonight. L
ReplyDeleteI love a great doctor...in fact I've been known to fire a few along the way. Hi.....I'm Karen and I've walked many miles in the stage IV cancer shoes. Ever met anyone else who can truly relate to all of the above? We don't know each other but I stumbled upon your blog via a friend. I am neary 15 years out of a stage IV cancer diagnosis. I know when I was battling this, I just wanted to meet people who were alive! So...I'm alive and I get it.....all of it. I thought that maybe, today, it just might infuse a strong dose of HOPE if you could just know a person alive many years down the road after a stage IV cancer diagnosis. Hope is the strongest drug we have. If I can help...let me know.
ReplyDeleteThe nurse rocked and her scheduler rocked.
ReplyDeleteThanks Karen! I really appreciate that. I got a strong dose of hope from this Doc i saw today. The last one was a death sentence and i left there so depressed that i was wondering why I was even bothering with chemo.
ReplyDeleteThis doc was not like that. Not to mention my friend who is a Dr. took my case to 4 gyn oncs that all had great ideas and know my Dr. and are going to relay all that info. Stag IV is hard but i know several people that are at 15 + yeas. Glad you are too and I am so lucky to have so many people in my court. when I get to the other side, I can't wait to help people that are sick. So many stage 4 people have reached out and it really helps to keep the positive energy flowing and my outlook positive! Thank you
I also have a rare (and aggressive) gynecological cancer with little research being done on it and little money being spent. That is what I find most frightening of all.
ReplyDeleteOne thing I would recommend for chemo is having a port installed in your chest. So much better than being poked every time.
Thanks JoAnn. Good tip! my hands and arms are already a little toasted from so many Iv's!
ReplyDeleteI hope Eloise is having a grand vacation!
JoAnn are you going to MD Anderson or are you having treatment locally?
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ReplyDeleteEllen, I had my treatments at Johns Hopkins. I live 85 miles from there and my daughter lives in Baltimore, so that made the most sense for me. I had a hysterectomy in late July, started chemo in late August, and finished radiation 4 weeks ago.
ReplyDeleteIf I had it to do over again, I still would have gone to the gyn onc at Hopkins but would have had my treatments locally, per her direction and in conjunction with a local gyn onc.
I had a neighbor in Pennsylvania, a young doctor, who got his treatments at MD Anderson. It is an amazing place.
Dr. Austin is the BOMB!!
ReplyDeleteThanks JoAnn, that is good advice.
ReplyDeletei have kind of gathered that from other friends. i do have a question. during your cycles, how many ok days did you have? I kno wwe probably won't be on the same drugs... but maybe. Did you have nulastin? Did it hurt?