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carpe diem

New Day, New Oncologist

Despite waking up sore (and I am super sore from the 3 failed attempts to put a port in my neck yesterday), I am actually hopeful about my next doctor's appointment. 

It's time to meet what will hopefully be my new Onc?!?! My husband and I ended up going to this appointment together. Normally, I go to these alone. However, after the port debacle yesterday and the insanity of my medical journey just to get me here, I was feeling the need for some extra support. 

It turns out, the new Onc was super nice. He didn't try to placate me and was very honest about my cancer and the obstacles I have had to get here (from the way I had to fight for a biopsy and be heard to the fact I never got any real call from my Onc since my Fish (Her2) results came in). 

And while my original Onc's nurse has called to see about scheduling an appointment, my original Onc had never even taken the time to call me with my actual cancer results after the Her2 pathology came in. Think about that for a little bit... it has almost been a full week since she should have called me and I have gone to three different doctors, had a surgery, and have another surgery tomorrow. My cancer case is going to the Tumor Board tomorrow, and she hasn't called once. Not to tell me what I have or what I am about to do. Nothing. 

All of this and more is why I am out and about looking for an Onc that cares! At minimum, cares about me living or communicating with me. 

I ended up really liking this Onc today and feel like he is going to be a good fit for me. He was glad I was going to go to MD Anderson and was 100% supportive of me seeing as many doctors as I want and doing what I think is best for myself. 

And just like we suspected, with my type of cancer, we really can't wait around to start treatment. We need to get started as soon as possible. I let him know I was going to start treatment there with him - which means he start finalizing my plan. He let us know he was going to be at the Tumor Board in the morning and had already reviewed my case. At least I felt like someone was on my side at the meeting in the morning.

Plus, now I had an Onc which also meant I could let my other original Onc group know I had found care somewhere else. I ended up telling the Onc nurse (in a very nice way) and she was still rude to me on the phone. The phone call just solidified that I was definitely making the best decision for me.

Carpe Diem

Well, now off for a little bit of fun with my daughter and mom at the beach volleyball sand courts. It is a beautiful day, and I am going to attempt to get a little sunshine before I have my port procedure tomorrow... which I am still a bit worried about. I hope it will be successful and I also hope they won't kill me while I watch!

Getting a little Dead Poet's Society Inspiration

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