10-17-2010

10-17-2010

My comments yesterday about feeling better than I have in a long time were really made specific to biking. The last 2 times before that ride, I didn't have much energy. But yesterday, I felt a lot better.

Other than that, the only other thing I have noticed lately has been the headaches I mentioned. And at this point they are gone. So tomorrow they cycle begins again. Not the BI-cycle, the CHEMO-cycle.

The thing I'm wondering is whether they will send me home if my counts are hideously low. I guess I might find that out in the morning.

I'll try to do a post to the 'blog during chemo if I get the scan results.

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With this being breast cancer awareness month (I think, there's pink ribbons everywhere, and all the NFL games are pinked out), there was an article in the Tribune about breast cancer victims being overwhelmed with the cost of treatment.

link HERE

This gets to what I had talked about briefly before, what do cancer victims do do if they don't have insurance or if the coverage is not sufficient?

My ritauxin is the most expensive chemo drug I get. I think each IV is $7600. I'll get 6 of those over the course of my treatment. So there's $45Gs. My lump-ectomy surgery was $23K, facility only. All in, my total med bills for this will easily be over 100 Large. Ouch. And that wouldn't include the maintenance part. Thank God and Greyhound I have pretty good health insurance (coverage-wise) and I only need chemo one day out of 21 for only 6 cycles.

Me and my big mouth. I better wait until I get the PET scan results before I start rejoicing too much.

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Speaking of all the press Breast Cancer Awareness month gets...... how does the NFL decide to do a whole month for that? Nothing against the charity (or the NFL, it's their decision) , I'm sure it's a good cause and all. But what about Leukemia, what about skin cancer, what about juvenile diabetes, what about child abuse prevention, birth defect prevention?

Those other charities must be envious that they can't get a month from the NFL, huh? I won't pretend I know how the selection process works, because I don't. But it seems like the Breast Cancer Awareness folks must have the best sales staff.

That last sentence sounds sick when I re-read it. But probably accurate, too.

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Today was another great fall day. We took Austin, Tessa, and Jack to Starved Rock. We had a great time. I want to ride my bike there sometime, the hills would be a blast.


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Thanks for stoppin!