Cancer Update

Every time I get a CT scan, I think about posting my results, but there is not much news to report.    The good news:  my cancer hasn't spread; the bad news:  it doesn't seem to be improving. My tumor markers are off the charts, but they are finally stable.   My white counts are consistently down, but I haven't gotten any secondary infections.  My pain is better than it was last summer thanks to regular acupuncture visits.  I don't have to take pain killers, other than the occasional ibuprofen.

The chemo is outrageously expensive.  My co-payment for the oral chemo is $5000 a month.  That is just my portion!  This drug costs about $15,000 a month!  On top of that I have 3 injections a month, 2 hormone blockers and one for  bone-building.  We estimated that it cost the insurance company about $70,000 a month for the first 3 months of my care.  I met my $6000 personal deductible the first week in January.

I will be on some sort of costly treatment for the rest of my life.  I do not 'look' like a cancer patient.   I still have most of my hair, and I still work a couple of days a week.  But the hormone blockers are causing me to age quickly.  My hands are pealing, and my nails are brittle.  I have fragile, old lady skin now.  I bruise easily, and take a long time to heal.

I have a brain MRI scheduled for next week because I've been having headaches. It was actually scheduled for last week, but the tech couldn't get the IV in, and he was the only one in the office other than the receptionist.  I am trying to get an appointment at a different facility because I'm so mad at that place!