1st Oncology visit

Christy and I met with Dr. Sub today for the first time and learned a good bit of info. As might be expected, he requested several tests in preparation for treatment. Hopefully in the next week I will have a test to determine the health of my heart (MUGA test). One of the proposed chemotherapy drugs can strain the heart. We hope to get scheduled for a PET scan this Saturday. There is a mobile PET unit at Mercy Hospital on Saturdays only. This scan uses a contrast causing cancerous cells to stand out and is usually overlaid with a CT scan for orientation. We have been enjoying the results of my previous CT scan. The radiology department burned us a cd with viewing software and we can see the majority of my body within about 100 cross-sectional scans. It's extremely fascinating to see my innards. Before we see Dr. Sub again I will have had the PET scan, more blood work (done today), the MUGA test, and a convenient electrical outlet will be installed in my chest. They called it a port of some kind for future chemo doses as to not have to needle me every time. I hope it's USB 3.0 compatible -- it's about time Texas Instruments!

On other fronts, I have been trying to find a specialist at a teaching hospital that my insurance will cover and have met only frustration. Thank you all for your kind referrals. Everyone that I have called and attempted to set up appointments with have been extremely friendly and helpful. However, my primary care doctor would not refer me to any of them, calling them out of network. But today, Dr. Sub recommended a colleague at UIC whom he believed to be in network and a phonecall 5 minutes ago to the primary's office sounded promising. I don't have the referral yet, but we'll be praying.

There seems to be quite a bit of info and action so I'll leave it at this for now and update more this week.

Thank you all again for your fantastic support and most of all your faithful prayers. God continues to provide for us and is teaching us about Him as the Great Healer as well.

Braden