Meet Buster: My Big, Fat Tumor

I’m leaving for the hospital in the next half hour. I’ll be admitted into John C. Lincoln on 3rd St and Dunlap and staying up in Four East.

Kim at the hospital called about 20 minutes ago and asked why I wasn’t there yet. I told her that the doctor’s office was supposed to call me back today to confirm that I was being admitted. No one called. Talk about unprepared– nothing like being told at the last minute that you’re expected into the hospital for a week’s stay to have chemotherapy and a kidney procedure.

Yesterday, Kasha had been calling all around to find out options for me. First the insurance was figured out (finally and officially insured) and then Cancer Centers of America was called. After some back and forth with a Rep there, it turns out my insurance does not cover their treatment. I must be on the PPO plan if I want to switch to them. I told this to my sister, Melissa, and she said it may be an option– that family could scrape together the extra $300/month or so that would be required.

Reading through the Cancer Centers of America website, it seems like exactly the type of place I’d want to be treated. From their site:

We are committed to treating all of you—not just your disease—using leading-edge medical technology and innovative medical therapies. With our unique approach, we aim to fight your cancer on all fronts, and with every available resource.

But it takes more than technology, knowledge and skill to fight cancer. It requires the undeniable power of the human spirit. At CTCA, compassionate doctors, nurses, clinicians, therapists, and staff members play an essential part of your care team. Each team member is devoted to you and your fight. They abide by a higher standard—the Mother Standard®of care. More than a gold standard, the Mother Standard® reflects the way members of your care team would want their own mothers, fathers, brothers, or sisters to be treated if they had cancer.

As it stands, I’m still with Dr. Isaacs, even though it is someone else in his office who will be treating me for now. I had a very good experience at John C. Lincoln during my outpatient treatment last week, for the biopsy, so I expect good care from them this time. It’s just the doctor himself I’m concerned about for now.

So, it looks like I’ll be off the web for at least the next week. Family will be hanging out with me when they can, and Melissa says she’ll take care of my entertainment needs (books, magazines, games, etc). I’ve never stayed overnight in a hospital so this is all new to me. I assume I’ll be at least somewhat sedated most of the time. I am not looking forward to nausea. That’s a pretty standard side effect of chemotherapy. I don’t care about my hair. Let it all fall (not much left on top, anyway).

I’m going to give writer’s access of my blog to some family members, so you may hear from them this week. I’ll keep you updated as I can.