As Roseanne Rosannadanna used to say, "it's always something!" Cancer just isn't a one and done. It's vigilance and follow-ups and scans, and holding your breath, and trying not to panic. It's also grace and blessing and gratitude; for the wonderful and amazing medical community that is our team...and for knowing we have all the right people and resources. (Besides, of course the family and friends surrounding us!)
There are, however, definite differences in communications styles. There is the scary smart nurse at U of M who uses the "don't buy any long play records" approach. My favorite example of how this plays out is when we were planning for Kevin's surgery. She told me to call if I had any questions. I did, to discuss a 10 to 12 hour surgery on a patient with COPD; what systems are in place to keep him alive under anesthesia for this length of time, and she said, "surgery has risks, and I can't give you any guarantees." 😗 She eventually answered my question after I was scraped off the ceiling!
Our South Bend team, particularly Radiation Oncology, uses the "mother's on the roof" approach, much more effective. Our Family Medicine Dr. Is in a class by herself. She is like having our own Mary Poppins, more Julie Andrews than PL Travers...but truly she's magic. She is also scary smart, knows exactly to whom to refer, and is able to make appointments with specialists happen in the twinkling of an eye, and is a fierce warrior woman for her patients. She's an incredible support system!
Having said that, we've had quite the excitement stemming from Kevin's first post-treatment CT scan in September, ordered by the Oncologist. He was very pleased with the results, pronounced Kevin to be in remission, but with a teeny tiny little something-something that was nothing to worry about, and there would be an MRI in a couple months, but no anticipation of anything. Then at our appt with U of M, that month, they determined all scans should be up there, so cancel the MRI. Shortly after that appointment, "don't buy any long play records" nurse called Kevin to let him know his CT scan from the Oncologist showed a spot of CONCERN on his lung, so they were ordering a CT and MRI up there in November. We followed up with the radiologist here, who reassured us that this was very minor, too small to be of concern, could be anything, and while they would watch it, it just wasn't all that. (mother is on the roof, but she's stable, and we will get her down safely)
It was a different story in Michigan. Our lovely and brilliant surgeon was kind, yet direct, that there was a spot on his lung on the MRI, (ct not yet read at this point) and both the MRI and the CT would be referred to the Pulmonary team, who would most likely perform a thoracotomy. BOOM! And oh by the way, have a nice day, see you back in 2 months.
Not a happy trip home. And we had gone up on Sunday, as his first scan was at 5:30 am Monday, and I was getting sick...ear, nose throat, chest with fever and chills. Monday I got an appt to see our family practice dr, and brought Kevin with me because I knew she would enjoy seeing him. Well, she did, mostly because she had gotten the reports from Michigan, and wasn't entirely convinced, and countered with her own CT reports from 2009 to present, showing the same lung nodule, which has been stable from the beginning. And overall, was supportive, loving and made our world feel a little more sane.
Scary nurse responded, calling to say, nice try but no cigar, different nodule. Back to standing on one foot. Finally on Friday she called to say the Pulmonary team reviewed the scans, did not believe this was significant, and most likely scar tissue from a lung infection. It felt good to exhale!
Grace and blessing, and a village to hold us up, and all in time for Thanksgiving, when we will be blessed with friends around our table in our own home, giving thanks for sooo much.
