Radiology Consultation

Today I met with the Radiology Oncologist.  So if you are counting, I've been in three different doctors' offices this week.  It was quite a long appointment, over an hour.   It was really daunting to walk into that huge June E. Nylen Center.  I told Ryan that the BVRMC Oncology area is so much smaller and intimate.  The June E. Nylen center is a very nice and up-to-date facility, but you really aren't going to start a conversation with the people waiting around you.  Some of the people waiting had little buzzers like at a restaurant.   My heart was really racing by the time the nurse came to get me from the waiting area.

It was quite a long appointment, over an hour. First we met with the nurse, and she was very very nice.  We then met with the Radiology Oncologist.  He was also nice.  It was a positive appointment.  The doctor reconfirmed everything that Dr. Dierking had told us.  He said that I was extremely lucky to have the kind of cancer that is estrogen suppressed and not the triple negative kind.  He said that the tumor that was removed was less than an inch and had clean margins.  They removed all 8 lymph nodes on the right side and only one node was affected.  That node didn't even have "roots", I guess I don't even know how else explain what he said.  He was surprised that I had had an MRI, but he said that was very good that I had had an MRI!

Ryan will take me back to Sioux City bright and early on Monday so they can make the settings for radiation.  I will also get my radiation "freckles" as they call it (basically tiny little tattoos for where to focus the zapping).  It will be another long appointment!  They told me to take my special medication that has been prescribed for anxiety.  My blood pressure was elevated, but much lower than Wednesday. My heart was clipping quite fast. I was almost in tears when the nurse started talking to me in the little exam room.  I really was quite nervous today since I really didn't know what to expect.  The doctor said that I have had a rough go with chemo and prednisone isn't "easy on the system".  He told me that radiation should be MUCH easier!

Before we hit the road, I hit the restroom.  While I was waiting I could hear Dr. Doddabele talking.  It was comforting to hear a familiar voice echoing through the halls of the June E. Nylen Center.