Tests, Tests and More Tests

I love my new oncologist - Dr. Ravi Patel - and I am very blessed to have him.

First of all it is important to say that Dr. Patel has told me that the chemo, radiation, and biologic treatment I received was exactly what he would have prescribed. Before I even began treatment I had researched the recommended courses of treatment and chemo options for my particular type of cancer and I had concluded that I would be receiving the most aggressive course of treatment. It is good however to hear another oncologist confirm the treatment.

What I love about Dr. Patel is that he is not going to stay within the follow-up protocol. He said that he feels that my cancer was so aggressive that we cannot afford to only run tests every six months to one year. Therefore, I will have CT and Bone Scans every three months and I will see him for a physical exam every six weeks. Additionally, every four weeks when I go in to have a port flush blood will be drawn and checked for tumor markers.

So, once again I received a blessing when I have experienced something that I thought was not good. What I mean is that I really loved not working but I had to go back to work in order to have insurance because eventually my time on COBRA would have ended. Because I went back to work I had to change insurance companies and I really did not want to do that because it required that I change oncologists - my first doctor was through an HMO. But, if I had not have gone back to work I would have stayed with COBRA and therefore the HMO for probably another year. The HMO was great for the treatment portion but the follow up care could not compare with what I will be receiving. So, if you followed this you will understand what I mean about the blessing ... doing something I did not want to do resulted in something that was much better for me. Seems like I have heard something like this from my mother! Ha

Furthermore, Dr. Patel is referring me to a geneticist; if I meet the statistical threshold I will be tested for the inherited genes BRAC 1 and BRAC 2. If I test positive for either one of these genes I face an increased risk of the cancer returning - either to the remaining breast, the uterus or ovarian cancer. To decrease this risk the prescribed course of treatment would be the removal of the breast, uterus, and ovaries.

In late November I had a CT and Bone Scan and everything looks great. I especially loved hearing and reading the results that the lymph glands look good. The flip side of these tests is that you find out other things about your body such as my left hip is in bad shape and I have kidney cysts. But hey, I've faced worse.

Earlier this month I had a mammogram, PET Scan, and a blood test to check the tumor markers; I will be informed of the results later this month when I have the six week check up. I am a little anxious to learn the results of the PET Scan as it is a test that examines metabolic changes in cells and is therefore highly effective in identifying cancer cells. I balance my anxiousness with a dose of common sense - if the PET Scan detected cancer cells I would have been called with an appointment to see Dr. Patel sooner rather than waiting until later this month.

I continue to count my blessings every day ... I hope you do as well.