Metastatic

On Monday, April 12, 2010, I decided to go see Dr. Chawla, my oncologist because I was having night sweats, had lost some weight, and was feeling nauseous. I also felt my current oncologists office was going through some changes that would prevent them (in my opinion) from focusing on me being scared.

I was sure it was for no reason, but Dr. Chawla, was professional and warm and caring as usual. He listened attentively and then examined me. He ordered a CAT scan, with contrast downstairs that same day. He even came down to the room while I was being scanned. It was a "stat" cat scan.

I wasn't too worried. It would be nothing and I will have worried for no reason.

Wrong.

Tuesday I called, no results. Wednesday they transferred me to Vicki who told me I had to go get my port put back in and start AI soon after. That's when the tears and terror began.

Thursday I went to work and called the doctor from there. I wanted them to say they read someone else's results to me. No such luck. It was me. I had three tumors. Two in my right buttock cheek and one possibly in the other. 11 x 7 x 3 and 8 x 5 x 10, but they were millimeters! Small!  How does a tumor jump from one butt cheek to the other?  Doesn't make sense.

I left work. It was too much to absorb. I went to see Mary Ann, the face of the person that saved me last time....Dr. Fink's Physician's Assistant.l My hero. My doctor (in my mind)

She held me, prescribed Alprazolam .5 mg. I still had some Norco from before.

Make a decision....Dr. Fink, Dr. Chawla, Dr. Brien....make a decision. It was simple. Dr. Chawla since I felt a specialist was important when I had METASTATIC sarcoma. Dr Brien, for any surgery, Mary Ann (or Jack Jacob) for any hospitalizations down here.