Monday, October 4, 2010

I was called by Karen from UCH today telling me to plan on not having an appointment this afternoon, because the two doctors that were deliberating on my admission were still "at it" Friday when they left. She said that she'd call me if anything changed. Although it looks like I may not be going to UCH.

I talked to Patty from the Financial Aid organization called RamStrength. She's an Oncologist nurse. I asked her if the Chemo was typically done at PVH and was covered. She said, "yes!" All I would need to pay out of pocket would be Oncologist "check-ups." Even then if i am eligible for RamStrength then they'll pay up to 500 dollars on each bill.

She also said that the Oncologist that i was going to was trying to have their office converted over to CICP. So that's good news too. It's almost looking like Cancer Center of the Rockies would be a better choice than UCH. I mean, I would love to go to such a successful hospital, but at the same time I am kind of feeling okay about going to the Cancer Center of the Rockies too.

Thursday, September 30, 2010

The Oncologist explained that cancer is made up of cells that have found a way to cheat death. Usually our cells grow, they multiply, then the old ones die. When they cheat death they all grow: current cells, posteriorly grown, etc. Pretty soon everything gets crowded and a cancer cell decides to "move out" by going down the blood stream. The Lymphatic system is the body's filter system for disease. However cancer cells -- not playing by the rules -- decide they're gonna use the closest Lymph Node as a new home and start multiplying there. When this happens it's most generally Stage 2 cancer because it's not localized to the point of origin anymore.

Although, staging cancer is not that simple. There are 3 types of tells that Oncologists look to, and those are: Tumor, Nodes and Metastasis. Then if the cancer is Seminoma or Non-Seminoma. I have Non-Seminoma.

In my blood test they explained that most of my tumor markers were pretty normal except one which was the one that i mentioned earlier that is 2222 instead of the normal <.07 mark. They also found out my Calcium was low, I guess i should drink more milk, ey?

They examined my stomach CT Scan and they found a small Node on the bottom of my lung area. So tomorrow i am getting another CT Scan to determine if the cancer has spread to my chest at all. As it is right now the staging is not complete, so when the Doctor told me that I had Stage 3 cancer yesterday it was pretty much a best guess. The oncologist said, "all the facts aren't in, but i would say you have stage 2." which means roughly 3 chemo treatments. Each Chemo treatment would go on (I think) everyday for a month, stopping short of the last week of that month to give me a break. It is either that or it's a week on and a week off, she wasn't really clear about it. Then as soon as I start feeling better, after being off it for a week, it'll start all over again. That is considered one treatment. So this will roughly go on for 3 months if i am receiving it well. If not they'll give me another treatment.

One of the other things that is up in the air is a Retroperitoneal Lymph Node Dissection (RPLND). This is a lot of big words meaning my Lymph Nodes are swollen in my abdomen, and they don't know why, so they're gonna remove my abdominal Lymph Nodes to find out more information about the cancer. This is a procedure they'll put me under for and at the same time I'm under they'll put my port in. The reason they're up in the air about it is because the Oncologist i went to today wants to do it before chemo, but she said to see what the doctor at UCH says. This leads me to believe that it must not be a sure thing.

All I know is I am just barely able to stand up on my own without pain, sneeze, cough and feel normal without pain in my incision. Then they're gonna give me two more incisions in my abdomen! Hah, oh well, it's for a good reason. She told me that i'll need to let myself feel lazy in these upcoming months. So i guess i'll have to give into the idea.

Before I left I had blood drawn so they could check my tumor markers and other things Post-Op. I have a CT Scan tomorrow; UCH monday; something Wednesday and a follow-up in 3 weeks. Having cancer sure requires a lot of time, I don't know how those people do it who work while going through Chemo!

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

After spending 5 1/2 hours on the phone calling Hospitals and Doctors, I have established a tentative appointment for University of Colorado Hospital on Monday. This works out great for me, because it falls within the whole "urgency" thing.

Also, my records are getting sent over to UCH to create a file, in which to present to [someone] in order to approve me, since this facility is in demand. This whole process is being expedited on every side, so I'm not worried.

This Hospital is one of 39 in the Nation and the only comprehensive cancer institute in the Rocky Mountain region. So it's a really great opportunity -- a huge blessing.

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

I visited my Urologist today. Before we went in they took us aside to the billing office. They presented us with an $1,100 bill for Dr. Brutcher's services as a surgeon. My Mother-in-Law brought up a good point that the Anesthesiologists bill should be coming shortly after that. How fun! (yeah, right.) I'll tell you, I'm not looking forward to seeing those numbers on a bill. The Oncologist that I am going to tomorrow is self-pay, so that bill will be coming too. We have some agencies and things that we have in reserve that we'll bring out to help pay those bills, but every little bit will still help keep us out of debt because of these medical bills.

I try not to let myself get wrapped up in the financial aspect of the treatment, but instead on just trying to get better. That's the most important thing medically to me right now, then second would be being able to have children later in life.

He said everything was looking good. I asked him to refer me to the Anschutz Medical Campus, but neither of us knew how to do that. They tried calling, but were unable to get a real person. So they gave me the number to call. He told me I could take the clear plastic covering off the incision today. He almost said it like he was surprised it hadn't already fallen off or that I hadn't already taken it off.

I asked a few questions about my condition. I asked what stage cancer they found, first of all. He said it was Stage 3 Testicular Cancer. It is stage 3 because my tumor markers are so high. There is a test they ran on my blood where i was supposed to be <.07 and I was at 2,222.

They found 3 different abnormalities on my removed testicle: Embryonal, Yolk Sac and Teratoma. The biggest composition was the Embryonal at 85%. The other two were relatively small.

Because the cancer didn't penetrate to the Tuncia Albuginea, that means i am in relatively good shape.

So for me that basically means i have 3 different kinds of abnormalities, like the Urologist said.

After the Urology appointment I called The University of Colorado Hospital (UCH) to see if i could be admitted there as a patient in their Oncology section. I got transferred a lot and left a message for a woman named Karen who does the scheduling. UCH is in the Anschutz Medical Campus. Karen called me back at 11:50a and left a message saying that she's having an Oncologists Assistant looking into times when i can come in for a consultation. They are thinking in the next few days which will be just perfect! She mentioned that she would be in a meeting from 12p until 1p and would check her messages promptly after that. I called her back when i got the message, at noon. Now i am waiting on her call.

The CICP (Colorado Indigent Care Program) that I am signed up for is used at UCH. Also Chemotherapy is covered, that right there will save a pretty penny. We are so blessed to have all these facilities and programs available to us. The support we're getting from family and friends is pretty outstanding, i am saving every email i get from paypal saying i got a donation so i can send Thank You cards.

After the Urologist told me that I had stage 3 cancer, he saw my "Live Strong" bracelet and told me "you know Lance Armstrong had stage 4 cancer, right?" I was also told that he had kids 2 years after his treatments, without using in vitro fertilization. So i am pretty optimistic!

When Karen calls back and I get something set up, i'll post another update, but that's all for now!

The picture is from a website (http://radiology.rsna.org/content/227/1/18/F1.large.jpg), it's an anatomical picture with no real relevance to my pathology report except for the labeled terms.