MRI - possible bad results (update)results suck (update II)

[Cybrludite]

Currently, cancer doctor sees cancer, period. Once we have a counter indication, hopefully we can get them to CONSIDER something beyond cancer.

The stories my friend Liz (The one who had open heart surgery last fall) can tell on this subject. One cardiologist she was seeing for the first (and only!) time kept nattering on about how her cardiac symptoms could be due to depression. When she asked why he kept coming back to depression, he said, "Well, I see you're on Prozac..."
"For OCD. Look at the dosage."
"Oh."
Yep. He started by looking at her current meds, saw the Prozac, and stopped right there. Didn't look at the echocardiograms, EKGs, or even that dosage rate on the Prozac was suitable for someone half again *my* size, rather than a 100lb woman.

Then there was the absolute lunatic who tried to put her on a drug that she previously had a very bad reaction to.
"We'll try putting you on (drug that I can neither remember nor pronounce properly)."
"Um, we've tried that one before. It caused my body to stop producing white blood cells. If I start taking it again, that stoppage could become permanent."
"Well, we'll try a lower dosage, then."
I'm told her response was quite colorful, and involved many Sicilian hand gestures.

[mekender]

I am asking my uncle for his recommendation as to someone to go to for you... He just stopped practice within the last year as a nuclear medicine specialist after 40+ years and will steer you to the right person I am sure.

[Precision]

I am asking my uncle for his recommendation as to someone to go to for you... He just stopped practice within the last year as a nuclear medicine specialist after 40+ years and will steer you to the right person I am sure.

Guidance is good.

She had the lung biopsy today. We had a second choice doctor as the guy we were recommended to is on vacation and her oncologist wanted the test done RFN.

To say I have met paper bags with better bed side manners would be a serious understatement. But in theory he is technically good.

My conversation about positive vs inconclusive vs conclusively not cancer was taken as an attack on his competency. He finally saw my question for what it was, a question on how accurate a non-cancer return would be, but he basically said that won't happen.

My palm started itching, my grip started its siren song and little bits of red started to speckle my vision.

It is rather annoying to him that I am smarter than him, educated on the issue and asking specific questions regarding the precision and accuracy of the test. I guess it grated against his "god" complex.

[First Shirt]

What's the difference between G-d and a doctor?

G-d doesn't think he's a doctor.

[Darrell]

Thoughts and prayers for the both of you.

[Jered]

What's the difference between G-d and a doctor?

G-d doesn't think he's a doctor.

What's 13 inches long and hangs off a jackass?

A stethoscope.

You need to tell your wife these jokes.

And I've said some prayers for you.

[Precision]

We got preliminary tests results back last night regarding the lung tumor biopsy.

CANCER

We won't know if it is Breast Cancer that came back or if it is a new cancer for about another 5 days. We still don't have empirical evidence for Brain Cancer, but a betting man would wager on metastatic breast cancer to the brain and the lungs.

I have been up and down all night. The news came in the middle of dinner last night. Kinda killed everyone's appetite. I have felt like puking on and off all night. My intestines are in knots and working overtime. The wife has been very restless but she has been sleeping. I left the bed to stop from fidgeting and running the risk of waking her.

We have an appt with her oncologist today in 3 hours. He wants to start immediate radiation treatment. She wants to avoid brain damage, dementia and radiation caused alzheimers. We are very unlikely to start any treatment prior to a second opinion and quite frankly, may not treat at all.

She has experienced treatment. She sees the damage of brain cancer treatment on a daily basis. We are both strongly in the camp of quality of remaining life as opposed to additional length of technically being alive but really being a shell or a zombie.

We may sell some things, cash in her retirement account, ask for a pre inheritence from my parents... and go make lots of memories in the time we have left together. As they say, no one ever wishes they had just worked a few more 60 hour weeks. We need to enjoy each other while she remains symptom free. We need to make the memories now that we should have made over the next 20-40 years because it sure doesn't look like we are going to even have 2-4 much less 20.

[g-man]

Every time I dip into this thread I say a little prayer that the oncologist is wrong, and that your 2nd opinion turns out better. If it turns out that the results are as bad as they now appear, it does look like you've got a good plan. We'll continue to pray for peace and grace for the both of you.

[Rod]

Please, if your treasured moments making happen to bring you to El Paso, feel free to intrude on our home and let us help you enjoy the stay here. We'd be happy to host you for a few days.

[Aesop]

Aw, hell.
Take care of you two. Do what you're planning to.