The first thing we read on the Leiomyosarcoma Foundation webpage was that after an LMS diagnosis your life is never the same. We thought that was a little melodramatic when we read it and now after a couple of days of “settling in”, we still don’t know what the life-changing part will look like, but we’re moving ahead. We can say the “C” word out loud and it sounds less shocking and more normal. It’s really amazing how quickly one can adjust to a new reality. It is what it is, and we just have to deal with it. If we don’t waste a bunch of time and energy worrying or wondering why, we’re left with more to constructively cope.
Pete had an appointment with his primary care physician (PCP) yesterday, who referred him to an oncologist and has a lot of faith in his surgeon. I have since talked to a nurse friend who also knows said surgeon and agrees he is very good. His PCP said they have better luck with insurance companies paying for PET scans when they’re ordered by the oncologist than by him, so the next step is to get into the oncologist. We’ll tackle that on Monday. Our next step is to ascertain if the oncologist seems competent with this rare cancer or if we need to look somewhere else. There is sarcoma clinic in Ann Arbor, MI, and a specialist at Mayo Clinic. Both seem so far away, and we’re leaning toward just hanging on until after the scan and surgery to have a better idea what we’re dealing with. Then, if the prognosis calls for aggressive treatment, it might be time to call in the big guns. If it doesn’t, and the surgery gets it all, we’ll probably just stay close to home. That’s the strategy (for today, anyway).
We’ve talked about a Caringbridge site, but Pete is rather disinclined, so I’ll probably continue to document here for the time being…it seems to me that someday I’ll want to look back and remember the details of what we were doing and thinking and feeling. If this thing turns into a long, drawn out affair, I’ll most like move the cancer talk to Caringbridge, but for now, I’ll stay here.
The elders anointed Pete with oil and prayed him today for the umpteenth time in the past few years (he’s lost count). I would think that after so many health problems the slope to depression could be rather slippery. Please pray with me that he will be a conduit of God’s grace throughout. So far so good.
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