It Really Is A Full Time Job

Don’t get cancer if you don’t like being weighed. Every time I see a doctor I see a scale first! 168.2 pounds today fully clothed. I’m almost where I was before I met Helaine’s baking!

Yesterday was my first full day back in Irvine. I had a doctor’s appointment. Had one today too. Tomorrow? Of course.

This is getting a little crazy. None of them are terrible, but each is time consuming. Today’s oncology appointment took nearly three hours door-to-door.

Here’s where we stand. Eyes are fine. No sign of diabetic damage or trauma. I’ve got cataracts, but not at a stage where they need to come out.

“Driving at night isn’t as much fun anymore?” He asked rhetorically.

Let’s just stipulate now, getting older sucks.

I’ve never used perfunctory in a sentence, but it perfectly describes today’s oncology appointment–perfunctory. There’s no cancer in me at the moment. That’s the assumption based on all the data we’ve got. Heavy duty concern isn’t necessary.

Don’t get cancer if you don’t like being weighed. Every time I see a doctor I see a scale first. 168.2 pounds today fully clothed. I’m almost where I was before I met Helaine’s baking.

I’m told the co-pay on the chemo pills I’ll be taking while undergoing radiation (3 pills, twice a day, Monday through Friday for six weeks) is $700. The pills themselves come from a special pharmacy and are hand delivered, signature required. They aren’t controlled substances, but they’re treated like gold because they’re about as expensive. Remember, the $700 is only my end.

Speaking of radiation, tomorrow I go for my consultation. The treatment will be explained and I’ll have the “ray gun” electronically fitted to me. There’s a CATscan in the mix too.

My guess is radiation itself starts next week. It is five minutes a day for six weeks. Five minutes? Who am I kidding?

2 thoughts on “It Really Is A Full Time Job”

  1. It’s terrible getting old, but even more terrible to be going through what you are. There’s always someone to see you or a medicine you need to get–things you need to make you comfortable at home or at a doc’s office. God Bless You, Geoff. Obviously, He’s doing that right now and I’m sure He will do it in the future!

  2. It will probably take you longer to travel to and from the radiologist, than it will to actually get the Rx. Once they mark you, the treatment is ‘easy’. It is the after effects that are not so great. Most of what I have observed is that your energy level will wane greatly.
    I hope that $700 c0 pay is for the entire rx, vs just a weeks worth. I had an antibiotic, a few years back that cost me $750 up front, for a 7 day supply—I had to repeat it for a 2nd go around. The difference was that I had Anthem BC at the time and they reimbursed at 80%. It was just the shock of knowing that had to pay, up front. I am glad that, for the most part, your treatment is going smoothly and emotionally, your family is holding up well. There will always be those little fears, but as long as you continue to keep up with your checkups and keep that positive outlook, you will all get through this. The angels are keeping watch—for sure!

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