CT
Scan Results
My
doctor called me today with the results of the first CT scan. It confirmed what
we knew about the mass on my neck being larger. It also showed that the tumor
on my adrenal gland was the same size has before. So I believe that this means
that the radiation did prevent the growth of that tumor. Radiation was only
done on the adrenal tumor and not on the mass on my neck when we did the first
round. This new round of radiation will be focused on the mass on my neck. The doctor in charge of the radiation intends
to use a higher amount of radiation for this round. He says it is not the
highest level that could be used, but he believes it is the correct level for
this exact case.
I
liked being told that. I really trust this man. I believe that between him and
his team, a physicists and some sort of engineers and other technicians that
they will calculate the correct amount of radiation to treat ME. It was
interesting yesterday to learn that it would take a full week to do all those
calculations, it is not just about how much radiation but also about exactly
were to have the beam aimed on the mass.
I
would like to clarify that there will be no “results” so to speak from the 2nd
ct scan. The results there will be where to aim the radiation, how much
radiation to use and how many treatments I need. I expect to be given that
information next Monday when I receive my first treatment of the new round.
Again the hard part will be wearing the head mask for each treatment.
The
doctor wants me to drink nutritional supplements to keep up my weight and body
strength through all of this. She tried to get me a prescription for Ensure
Clear. No way, the insurance company says no they won’t pay that bill. Instead
we have to choose between Ensure Enlive or Resource Breeze. I have had the
Breeze the last time I was in the hospital and it tasted good and I was able to
tolerate it. So the doctor is cancelling the script for the Ensure Clear and replacing
it with a script for Resource’s Breeze. Her nurse told her that she thought she
could get it preapproved so I am hopeful of getting that in just a couple of
days.
Thanks to the insurance company for making the decision about your treatment. No way we want doctors or medical personnel making those choices. Those decisions are better left to private enterprise and to entities (e.g., an insurance company) with no ulterior motive (e.g., maximizing profit), just your individual well-being.
ReplyDeletePrivate insurance interference is the REAL "Death Panel" in our current health insurance arrangement. We need a single payer plan and death to insurance companies. Let doctors make medical decisions, not profit minded leaches.
Even though I at one time worked for an insurance company, (out of need, not desire), I am total agreement with your statement. What more can anyone say. It has taken over a week to get me a nutritional drink supplement that the doctors want me to have. I get it on Saturday, I should have had it on Monday! But I made it through the week.
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