Happy Fool's Day!

Sometimes, I feel like maybe I am the fool!

When I got here in DC mid-March, I had a few appointments scheduled. The day after arrival, I went to the closest Kaiser and had blood drawn for lab work. The next day I saw my oncologist at a further location and got my Zometa treatment, all going as planned. Then on Monday, I went again to pick my 30 Tarceva pills. They did not have them, but they said they could get them for the next afternoon.

The next day, after calling to confirm that my pills arrived, I drove back to the hospital. I went back to the same pharmacist and he had the pills. I was checking out, and he said $3628.00!!!!

I knew they cost a lot. They went up from last year, ONLY $228.00. Not much increase percentage-wise. In any case, I wasn't paying knowing I only owed the $35 co-pay. He appologized and blamed their new pharmacy computer system.

So close! He appologized again and said he would make some calls since my information was erased. I called the next day and drove back to the pharmacy. Everything went OK, just $35 again with insurance.

Then I made a couple of trips to a different hospital with my sister in-law. Luckily, Ellie doesn't need the vet for those old hips. I am at a hospital every other day on average.

On April Fool's day I am getting my round two CT scans. But ... we already know the likely results (See earlier post).

I decided that I really don't like going to the hospital...
...too many sick people!

albert

Happy Easter!

Wow, back-to-back holidays for you western christians. Not one of my fave holidays, since I stopped egg-hunting decades ago.

I did stopped eating eggs for a few weeks and started again for their calories and protein. I also realized that a Haagen-Dazs bar is a quick and easy way to get a lot of calories.

Feeling strong but sleep is lacking recently.

Happy St, Patrick's Day!!!

I am back in DC again. I'm here basically waiting for my nieces to hatch any time in the next couple of weeks!

The SF trip went well, and I got out on the water many times. The Rent-A-L-bert program was sucessful to a limited degree. I was rented out every night, and was somebody's roommmate. But, I dreaded the long commute back home that it created.

Have a beer for me! I have not had a drink since October. Tho, my docs say it is OK within reason.

albert

Preview of Round 2

I can't keep it to myself any longer...

Last week I had an appointment with my California oncologist. After the usual oohs and ahhhs and shaking of his head in disbelief, we got down to business and I updated him on the last 6 weeks. He seemed to get excited and wanted a CT scan. I have one planned in DC for the 3 month interval. He said OK and still wanted me to get a quick chest X-ray for the hell of it.

He called me with the results:

My lungs did not show any tumors on the X-ray!!!

This was stage 4 lung cancer that spread. The largest tumor was 3.6cm. All gone (almost?)! He suspected that from my round 1 results. I am not too sure of the preliminary round 2 results though. X-rays are not as good as CT or MRI scans. But it is great news in any case. I have lung cancer on the ropes and I am landing punches. Let's hope my opponent is not doing the "Rope-A-Dope".*

Next we'll want to see how my gumball machine is doing. In the beginning, I had a couple dozen tumors in my brain. The largest was 2.6cm and 1.6cm after round one. I'll know for sure how round 2 ends in a few weeks when I get my scans in DC.

I was celebrating a little until I read that less than 2% of the stage 4 lung cancer patients survive past 5 years. Unfortunately, mine is a pretty bad stage 4. Though, I am hitting the benchmarks for the survivors.

BTW, the lowest survival estimate I originally had was 4 months from initial diagnosis. I just past that and speeding towards the average, which was still less than a year.

albert

*Rope-a-dope is a boxing fighting style used most famously by Muhammad Ali (who coined the term) in the Rumble in the Jungle against George Foreman. The idea is for the boxer to lie on the ropes of a boxing ring, conserve energy and allow the opponent to strike him repeatedly in hopes of making him tire and open up weaknesses to exploit for an eventual counter-attack.

Biggest Card Ever

The Canadians, Welsh and Americans all signed a card for me in Edmonton at a recent competition. Biggest card I have ever received!

Thanks-eh!

albert-eh