Review of my Journey so far -> ⓊⓟⒹⒶⓉⒺ December /2023

[Kiwi Debz]

Yes something to be said for taking charge.

My last appt with the onc. I fired questions and options and my opinion at every turn and got him to confirm what I interpreted.

He then said, how do you know all this stuff, I replied ,.... Huh??!! This is my frickin life we are talking about .... So yeah I will question and contribute and and and ..... Rant rant

He did give me a hug when I left though!

Deb

[canadiandaughter]

I wish you could come have a chat with the dumb ass doctor here in Red Deer!! Hoping all goes well with your next tests and this is nothing.

[Lee]

I like your approach. I too hope all goes well on your next appt and that this is nothing serious.

Lee

[BrownBagger]

Sorry about the uncertainty, but you know the drill.

In my experience at Sloan-Kettering, the onc, IR guy, surgeon--whoever--is the only one who breaks the news--good or bad. The PAs may know what's going on, but they don't say sheeeeeit.

Good luck, my friend. I know you'll get through this with class.

[CRguy]

Good luck, my friend. I know you'll get through this with class.

".....and with a little help from my friends ..."

feelin' OLD tho'
'cos I saw them LIVE in '64
... NOT when I was 64

Cheers bro'
Harmony
CR

updated :
a quote from my own Sensei's Sensei

"You are not finished when you lose.
You are finished when you quit."
Sensei Masaru Shintani

every day win OR lose....
it is in my BLOOD to never QUIT

losing is a value judgement by others from OUTside
quitting is a defeat OF myself from INside

however I proceed on this Journey,
it is always from the inside ...WHERE there is NO QUIT !

just me … ?

Addendum : just thought I would clarify that by "quit" i don't mean something like stopping treatments 'cos you've had enough … that is just another personal choice from many options. By "quit" in this sense it means giving up on yourself, inside in a spiritual sense (not religious), given that I consider myself a spiritual being on a human journey.
YMMV.

[tammylayne]

In my little world...It is nothing...nope....nada...LALALALALALALALALALALALA.......(hands over ears)


Thinkin' boutcha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[juliej]

HA, CRguy! I love the way you "train" freshfaced wet-behind-the-ears residents! Someone's gotta break 'em in! I also like your take-charge attitude with the onc doc. After all, it's not like we're exactly **new** to all this. We have a little (unwanted) experience under our svelte scarred abdomens!

I'm sending all the good mojo I got for your U/Sound. May the results be nothing but good news!

xoxoxo,
juliej

[CRguy]

Just revisiting this topic today as I updated / expanded the factual info in my "Summary" post at the top ......

What everyone says is SO TRUE ... be your own advocate, take charge, don't take an answer you do NOT WANT as an acceptable answer, and kick ass while taking names !!!

BUTT !!!!!! .....
I know who I am and with my own personal "medical" background I know shit from shinola ......

What about someone, especially an older person who was brought up believing that the Docs are all knowing, who gets thrown into this mess without any history or experience ??????

Kind of had this experience with my Dad's recent cancer trip... sadly.
Gladly I was 1 or 2 up on the "system" and he did not get shuffled off the "to do" list anywhere.

WHAT about someone who does not have that advantage ????

Just throwing out some top 'o the head musings here.

Maybe that IS why this forum has been, is and will be such a huge factor to ANYONE dealing with cancer Journeys

Just throwing that out there !!!

[Sams wife]

I know what you are talking about. Onc signs name where he wants you to look & hopes you don't read the rest of the report. Makes me mad. I am just starting on this but thanks to y'all I halfway know what I'm looking at.

[canadiandaughter]

WOw, I so get this!! My parents both just listen to the doctor and say thank you. No questions, no second guessing what he tells them. They phone dad and tell him his blood levels are too low, he never asks which ones!! I find it so frustrating. My dad gets grumpy when us kids are along and ask questions as it does make the doctor just a tad pissy. I am so thankful that we are able to wrangle having someone go with them to most appointments. I remember the day a year ago we went to the surgeon to get the results of dads first catscan. He told us there was nothing he could do and we were being passed to the cancer clinic. My dad got up, shook his hand and said thank you. My mind was spinning with questions but I was also in shock and unable to spit anything out. Since then, thanks to this board, i have tried to prepare myself for each appt so I have some idea what I might need to find out. I have had a hard time with all of this cancer crap and to be honest, a lot of the info makes my head spin. I also think being uneducated has made be feel very inferior at appts and I am scared that something I say might make me sound stupid. My memory sucks to, I have been known to log into ct on my phone right before going into appts to check a word or a suggestion from something that I have forgotten. Without this board I would be sunk!!! Love it!!

[CRguy]

I totally agree with you !

WE have, and ARE, a tremendous resource here...
just folks talkin' to folks about stuff WE know about from the REAL world !

Damn ... somebody has to keep the doctors on track !!!

Cheers
CR

[CRguy]

Hepatic UltraSound this morning.
Ordered a disc copy of it and will pick up at Onc appt next Friday

U/Sd tech is very experienced, methodical and thorough = I like !

"presults" -> seems to cause the tech no concerns either

so at the risk of jinxing myself, not that I am superstitious or anything (knock on wood ... ) it appears I now have 2 sets of eyes / imagings which favor a non CRC explanation ...... STILL to be confirmed and verified ... BUTT
I'll take it for now.

Cheers All
CR

[juliej]

so at the risk of jinxing myself, not that I am superstitious or anything (knock on wood ... ) it appears I now have 2 sets of eyes / imagings which favor a non CRC explanation ...... STILL to be confirmed and verified ... BUTT
I'll take it for now.

Yessssss!!!! *high-five*

I’m so relieved for you, CRguy! Let me put on some music and do a little happy dance!

[lpas]

Awesome news!!!

[DarknessEmbraced]

Wonderful news!