Car Dog!

I look this photo last Friday, when I was on my way to see Dr. Lee for my regular appointment, a blood draw, and treatment (zometa only at this point).

I wanted to take Connie with me, because he's been very lonely and sad since our Golden, GB, died, but I thought it was too hot for him to stay in the car for the two hours or so that I would be at the cancer center. (About 85 that day.) So I planned to leave him home.

But Connie, AKA Car Dog, had other plans. He was in the backyard with me as I was folding down the new top, and he just jumped right into the car. So I gathered up his water bowl, a tennis ball or two, and tied his leash tightly to keep him in the backseat.

At the cancer center, I was lucky enough to find a parking spot in the shade, and I made sure Connie had plenty of water. I came out to check on him after my blood draw and before my appt. with Dr. Lee and he was totally fine. Napping on the backseat of the Corvair like a professional Car Dog.

Update on Tests and Scans
When I saw Dr. Lee six weeks ago, we agreed that I needed to take care of a bunch of medical things:

mammogram

blood test for BRCA (the genes that can cause breast cancer, also colon cancer)

colonoscopy

dentist appt.

Plus I had an appt. with my dermatologist for my regular six-month melanoma check.

He wanted me to get all of these things done--in particular the colonoscopy and the dentist's appt.--within the few weeks after that appt. so that I could go back on Avastin as of last Friday.

But I found that I just couldn't do that many tests and scans in such a short period of time without my anxiety going off the charts.

These are the ones I got done:

mammogram--everything is fine. Come back in a year.

skin check--one suspicious mole, had it removed for biopsy. The report showed that there were some "funny cells," according to the phone report I got, but not melanoma. It's gone anyway (except for the stitches in my calf, which will come out in another week), so not to worry.

We did the blood test for the BRCA genes when I was in on Friday. That test has to be mailed out, so we'll get the results when we get them. If I have the gene(s), I am at higher risk for ovarian cancer, also for colon cancer, and Younger Son, my only biological child, could also be a carrier of the gene--so it's worth knowing.

BUT... I didn't get to the doctor for the colonoscopy (blew off the appt., I am embarrassed to admit), and I didn't get in to see my dentist.

So Dr. Lee and I had an interesting conversation, weighing the advantages of starting Avastin last Friday vs. the advantages of getting the colonoscopy done. I've never had one, and my brother died of colon cancer last year.

Can't have the colonoscopy while I'm on Avastin, because Avastin interferes with healing. The drug works by attacking the blood supply to tumors.

So I have to do those two things within the next six weeks, and then I'll get Avastin and zometa at my next treatment appt. and Avastin every three weeks thereafter (zometa is every six weeks for me).

Argh. The whole thing was exhausting, especially since I opened my mail in the waiting room, and found a letter from my mortgage company saying that it was cancelling my home equity line of credit.

That put my blood pressure through the roof (150/90 or so).

More on the financial woes later--I've put this problem into a box until I return from Oregon.

@ Jeanne Sather 2008.

Comments

[MaryM]

You must have good teeth.

I go see my dentist every 3 months. It's a miracle I still have all my teeth because I got dealt a crummy set.

It's not fun, but probably more palatable than the colon-thing.

Don't delay!

[Carver]

I love the shot of your dog in the car. I know it must be exhausting juggling all the tests and appointments. I'm glad the skin biopsy was just atypical and not melanoma. Good they got it out. I hope you are having a good visit in Oregon and that the talk are going well. I wish I was there to hear you.

[jeanne]

Carver--we wish you were here.

[laurie]

Ack! Financial stress is not healthy. I am sorry this happened.
And the black dog in the red car. Very, very cute.

[Debbie]

The dog is gorgeous! I hope you are able to enjoy your trip and set the stress aside for a few days. Wishing you the best; your blog is an inspiration to me.

[Beryl Gorbman]

A word about colonoscopy - There is an alternative test that involves you sending feces in a cute little envelope, to a lab. Non-intrusive.