I will apologize up front to Lisa for swear words.
Long read sorry folks. Depressing also.
Suck level 10 today and more confused than ever and mad.
Dr bitched about not getting Pet scan approved then says there's a peer review to get approved. Well asshole I can't do it.
Mri doesn't show if lymph nodes have cancer just if they're bigger than normal. Said they don't needle biopsy them either as costly and difficulty.
Lymph nodes can be swollen from infection I believe also, that infection I had/have was a real bitch. Things were very bad(I'll leave details out that would make you cringe). When your cancer riddled friend says no thanks he won't trade you may be in hurtville. He wanted to come down and help me out, whoa I didn't think I was that bad off. So I'm not 100% sure that isn't causing them to be larger on scan, thus more reason for pet scan. Am i making sense?
So it's a guess if the cancer is in lymph nodes without a pet scan. Super as it can be a huge deal, aka cured or not. Me I'd rather be cured.
So he referred me to oncologist.
If has spread to lymph nodes it is not curable, they don't do surgery at all either.
Hormone therapy aka chemically castrate you to starve the cancer cells of testosterone. Two years to life for hormone therapy. Guess if psa goes back up or doesn't come down they go longer. Good chance even if it has not spread I'd get the hormone therapy anyway with surgery or radiation (very high probability as medium risk for spread).
No radiation nor chemo either.
I read if they open you up and find lymph node has cancer they just close you back up.
5 year survival rate with spread is close to 90%, 10 year is close to 80.
Wonderful.
KOW survival rate what 43%?
My brain is complete mush at this point. I sense a 3 day migraine rapidly approaching.
I'll be calling insurance in the morning and getting into the Pet scan getting approved.
Did get PSA level and it's high at 30(no shit really already know have it) used as a baseline I reckon. Fyi anything over 3.5 at my age and you probably have cancer so yes it's not good. Could this have been caught earlier and possibly been much less of an issue. More than likely. So I'll be kicking my own ass for that.
No history of this in family either. My son however is screwed as rampant in Wife's family and now me. Super... Makes me sad as he may have to go through this later on and I won't be here.
Other findings... No metal in hip as I asked to see mri and there's nothing. Dr said most likely the guy was a low level tech(he was) and had no idea what he was doing, super I got the B team.
I asked nurse about mri and she told me where to go for better machine, super they sent to to a hell hole. Like I'm supposed to know where to go, shouldn't they guide you? ****ers.
Bone scan did show one little itty bitty something on a rib but no way without pet tell if cancer(doubt it), mostly likely it's a rib Bear tries to crack with his ball ball. He hits me in that spot hard and numerous times, I have bruises to prove it.
A tube has blood in it, he had no idea why and asked if had an injury. No and **** no I've been in bed for months. I've been complaining about pain in that area almost from get go after surgery. No real answer on how long to heal that but "cleaning the pipes" would remove the blood. So... Maybe good news as bet I brow beat wife into a twice a day ritual for a few weeks, yes I'm a perv. I'll PM my address if anyone wants to send me an Asian hooker.
Oncologist office called on way home already, guess they need to make a mortgage payment or something as overly quick referral callback. It's on Monday.
I have to verify my insurance covers Duke cancer center then make an appointment.
I wasn't thrilled when asked Dr off the record who's the best oncologist and he wouldn't answer only to say the dr he's most familiar with is on medical leave.
So oncologist Dr has some name I'll never be able to pronounce. I am less than thrilled to go see as I guarantee he speaks as good of English as "Susie from St Louis" when you call customer service, however an opinion is an opinion and I want 2. Not be a dick but if I can't understand the dude(maybe a dudette i honestly can't tell by name) I won't use that Dr at all and may just walk out(did it before).
My urologist isn't a native of the US(african but not the shit hole area) and on occasion is difficult to understand but I'll give him credit for his attempts as he actually tries to speak as clerly as possible. But I can tell he doesn't always know what to say or how to say it(less than thrilling also). I'm not overly happy with after the surgery issues, he basically said he just works there they handle everything else when I questioned things like how the surgery was put in.
What the **** good is he if can't get shit done. They ****ed the paperwork up, he's responsible for it and to make sure I get care I should so.. **** him.
The more I think about it the more pissed I get. I know doctors who raise hell and make sure shit gets done, seems he ain't one. Another reason to bail on him, is he waiting for me to de**** shit with insurance?
So... I'm still on the fence about going to Dr what the **** ever his name is at all or picking one by the tried and true sticky notes on a wall and dart method.
I need to find somewhere that rates cancer Dr's, the shit is hidden better than the Clinton hit list.
Anywho I'm gonna go smack the wife on the ass and say let's go baby so you may never hear from me again.
If I don't crack jokes about this fellas(and ladies) I'm not sure I could handle it.
Thanks for letting me vent.
|