Treatment plans, Social Security, and musings on a long day.

Yesterday my Dad, Marion, and I went to another consultation for Marion. Basically, Dr. Christie (the main oncologist) was explaining the results to Marion to make sure she understood exactly what is going on. I'm pretty sure Dr. Christie is confident I know what's happening, but he wants to make sure Marion has a handle on it.

She does have a pretty good idea because I research things, tell her, and we discuss them. I know Marion's a lot more scared than she lets on, but I think I ease some of the burden for her. At this point, I'm making all the appointments, doing a lot of the leg work end of it. When we were at the Social Security office, she called me her Personal Assistant, and I think the title is quite fitting considering where we are at this point. When I think of all the appointments, names, plans, etc., it does get a bit overwhelming to bear. And, that's with two of us working on it. I could just imagine if one person worked on this alone.

So, after discussing the staging (Stage III B), he dropped a bit of a bomb that her lymph nodes lit up on the PET Scan, and they were a bit concerned with that. Why he didn't tell me earlier, I don't know, but I was hoping that the lymph nodes were untouched. Basically, once the nodes get infected (if that's the proper word), then it becomes more difficult to treat and easier for the cancer to spread by way of the blood. While it hasn't spread yet, the chances are greater it will later on...which I am really upset about.

However, the treatment plan that Dr. Christie has devised is an aggressive plan to cure the cancer and not control it. My biggest worry thus far was if they were just going to attempt to control it to prolong life. I wouldn't have been too happy about that. But, he assured me that it can be cured within this stage and that a concurrent radiation (external) and cisplatin based chemotherapy would be the best way to do so. The chemotherapy weakens the cancer cells allowing them to react better to the radiation. The radiation then kills the cells. After a brief break period, they will use internal radiation ( called Brachytherapy). It's a lot to wrap your head around, and there's lots of calls to make...and it makes your head spin.

Also, yesterday, we went to SS to drop off a medical release form. I thought we would just sign the form and be on our way, but since she's Stage III cancer they wanted to expedite the process and get her a SSI and Disability application in. They pretty much streamlined the process and made one trip the only trip we'd need to make.

So, it was a long, long day sitting and waiting most of the time and then having a huge amount of information thrown at you all at once when you're awakened from your slumber. There's so much going on, and more coming. But, Marion and I are going through this together, like we always have.