Yesterday we were up at 6 a.m. for our regular six-week trip to the KC Med Center, though this time we knew it would be a long day as the whole annual megillah of tests was scheduled: full-body x-rays, CT scans, blood draw, consultation, and five-figure bone-strengthening shot. The day at the center started off well. The x-rays and blood work occurred on time and went efficiently--or so it seemed. Well, there was one exception: because of the x-rays, I had to change out of my regular clothes and put on thin pants with an obviously defective drawstring--obviously because as I walked down the hallway, the pants slid to the floor. Then I sat for a very long time in the least well-planned area of the cancer center: three uncomfortable chairs in an empty hallway. Finally, the phlebotomist returned to say there had been an error in the blood draw and we had to do it again. Luckily, the IV was still in my arm. More waiting ensued, and then I had the scans.
None of our KC friends was available for lunch. Scott was in a different part of the city on his first day at a new job. TJ, who had planned to come, had to solve an emergency problem with the Heartland Men's Chorus's website. And Ivan, who lives in KC, called about getting together, only he was in Topeka. Mohamed and I walked a block to First Watch, a restaurant specializing in breakfast and lunch, and since I hadn't been able to eat since the night before, I scarfed down a large helping of eggs Benedict.
Once back at the cancer center, we had a long wait before our appointment. The waiting room was crowded, and the people there were a rather depressing group. We were called to see Dr. Van at the appointed time, but then there was another 45-minute wait before we were seen. By this time, both Mohamed and I were restless and tired. For the first time since the initial months, the results were mixed. Although the originating tumor is in the kidney, the cancer more dramatically and aggressively initially attacked the bones, especially my left scapula and right femur. There are other tumors in my body on other bones, and yesterday the scans had revealed that one on my spine has grown, though how significantly was hard to determine. So now I'll undergo an MRI (yet to be scheduled), a procedure I can do here in Topeka.
The choices; if the increase in size isn't major, we'll adopt a watch-and-monitor stance. If, however, we need to take action we can 1) change the targeted chemo therapy, though this is problematic since the Votrient has been so effective in holding the kidney tumor in check; 2) try radiation, which was very effective on the scapular tumor, or 3) undergo a procedure to burn away the tumor and replace the destroyed bone with "cement." To be continued...
The second major change is the Dr. Van Veldhuizen, my oncologist since the beginning of all this, is leaving KU Med. He'll still be there for my next appointment in November. It is, I gather, unethical for a doctor to take his clients with him, so he wouldn't say exactly where he was going, except that it was still in the greater Kansas City area. Still, it won't be difficult to figure out his new position, so one choice would be to follow him there. His replacement at KU Med, whom he endorsed as highly qualified, will spend only one day a week at the cancer center in KC with four days a week here in Topeka. In some ways, it would be convenient to have my oncologist closer to home; on the other hand, Dr. Van is someone in whom we have enormous faith and whose advice has clearly been beneficial. Also to be continued...
For the third consecutive visit, I stayed awake on the ride home--perhaps not too coherently, but awake. Once home, however, I barely managed to undress before crashing for 90 minutes.
