Oncology wins

I’ve mentioned a few times I am really hesitant on radiation. My last ditch effort to avoid it was to see an onco-cardiologist. That is, a cardiologist with extra training in the effects of cancer treatment on the heart. It was a really good appointment, and he wants to dig into the stroke thing a bit more. He said he wished we were doing this 5 months ago, but at least he still wants to try to figure out why. So that’s good, because everyone else just shrugs. But he ended the appointment with the exact same words I’ve heard from 3 oncologists: “I think radiation is your best shot at a cure.” And he doesn’t think I should forgo it. So I’m resigning myself to being taken out by a heart attack or stroke someday. Hopefully 20 or 30 years from now, but it’ll probably be what does it.

On the good side, I had a PET scan this week. I don’t have the report yet, but being the impatient science geek that I am, I’ve already looked at the scan images, since they give me a CD of them. I’m not a radiologist, but I know enough to know that the big blob that was in the middle of my chest is not there now. Yay! And I see my oncologist tomorrow. So only another 24 hours til I get the good news officially. 

And I’m having all sorts of insurance issues. They haven’t paid for any chemo yet, and it bills at $78,000 per cycle. Well, technically, they have approved one claim, sometime yesterday. The EOB hasn’t posted yet, but they only paid about $600 of $65,000. That’s some really fancy insurance magic there. But, I am feeling somewhat less stressed after seeing approved next to a claim. Just have 4 more that need to show up.