Meeting the Oncologist

That's a phrase I never thought I would have to use, "Meeting the oncologist," because cancer is something that happens to other people, right?  

I'm not gonna lie when I thought about getting health care in Las Cruces I was a little freaked out.  I have heard some horrible stories about the medical profession here in this little town.  So when it came time for me to find an oncologist what did I do?  Google, of course, and I asked around.  

I was told that Dr. Adler was harsh, abrupt, and straight forward.  Hmmm, what is it that people want in an oncologist?  Rainbows and unicorns?  This is cancer we are talking about!  Well, for me, he was exactly what we were looking for.  We aren't in the market for any one to sugar coat this.  I want to know what the hell is going on and how we are going to take care of it.  And for the record I didn't think he was harsh or abrupt.  Straight forward?  YES!  

The recommendation he gave was what I had expected; chemo, surgery, chemo.  It was what the surgeon said.  It is what cancer.org says.  It is what my friend is going through right now.  What I didn't expect was how I would feel to hear the word CHEMOTHERAPY spoken directly to me and other words like, port, radiation, neoadjuvant, Trastuzumab, Pertuzumab, MRI, CT.  Some of those I had heard before, but for other people, not me.

The tests.  So many tests.  And the waiting.  AGAIN.  More waiting.  Anyone who knows me knows I want a plan and I want to get shit done now.  Well, this isn't really working that way. And it's pissing me off.  I am relieved that Dr. Adler wants all the tests done. His concern was that the tumor has been there since January and the type of cancer I have can grow more rapidly than others so he wants to make sure that it hasn't spread to anywhere else.

So here is where we are:

- Lots of tests the week of June 6th. (to determine the actual stage and if the cancer has spread)

- Port placement the week of June 6th. (for chemo)

- Back to the oncologist on June 8th.

- Chemo education on June 8th.

And hopefully more answers on June 8th.