Wednesday November 21 2007

Today the appointment with the oncologist was at 10:40. We had a little of the hotel's continental breakfast, and all went over to the Institute again. This time we got into an exam room right away, but the the oncologist was behind and we waited for a while. A young man who introduced himself a social worker came in and talked to us for some time. I think he must be a psychologist, and he was pretty nice as well as helpful. All the different people there each have a different job, and all say the same thing. If we need anything in their expertise or need information we should call them.

Dr. Jones was VERY good to spend about 2 hours with us explaining all the options of chemotherapy, very thoroughly and so we could understand everything. She had a new pathology report, apparently since we spoke with the surgeon yesterday, on the tumors and had a much more grim prognosis - three months without chemo and 6 months with. It involves driving to chemo once a week for 7 weeks and then a week off, after that chemo once a week for 3 weeks and a week off from now on. She says the kind they use (I'll tell you the name later) doesn't usually make you sick, until you start getting sick from the cancer itself. The cancer is stage 4 which means it has metastasized from the original tumor to another organ. I won't be "cured". The head oncologist Dr. came in for a bit to explain more, He was also very helpful with the information. I didn't notice it but Beverly says he got very emotional telling me the prognosis. I know he looked away several times, but she said he had tears.

The choices of where to have the chemo done are: to drive to for the chemo there at the Huntsman Institute (more than 5 hours one way - would have to stay over night), or to Jackson (about 2 hours - no overnight), and I will be looking in to possibly being able to do something closer to home. Or another option is to stay home and not do anything. I don't want to drive to Salt Lake that much during the winter. Of course actually I don't want to do it at all. Joe and I need to talk. I never got him called today because we got back to the hotel late and I decided just to wait to talk to him at home.

We were done at the Institute about 2:30 or 3 and went to Chilis for some lunch, then back to the sporting goods store - Dicks - to buy that coat for Tayler. It is in a very new design type of mall, it was awesome. I think the name of it was Gateway. There is a big parking garage and condominiums are towering above the multiple outdoor levels of walkways. I'm glad I got to see it. It's way downtown. Then back to our hotel. Since it was so late when we ate our late lunch we decided not to go out to dinner, but I did bring my leftovers home and had another 1/2 a fajita this evening with my medicine - need to take it with food.

A little later I went to the lobby to get a cup of tea and saw Linda again. I had just been thinking of sending her and Greg an email or something, but didn't want to disturb them at their room. She said Greg was pretty tired and was having some reactions to the radiation/chemo, but doing o.k. Tonight he was able to eat a little, but lately had lost quite a bit of weight. They had four days off because of the holiday weekend, so he will be able to rest.

Curtis came and showed me how to download the photos out of my camera into the laptop and we fooled around with that for a while. The photo card slides right in to the side of the laptop, or I could use the camera cord.

We will leave for home in the morning, Curtis, Tayler and Beverly back to Vegas and Debbie and I to the ranch. It has certainly been a special time for them to be here with me during a difficult time. And very very much appreciated.