Words can’t accurately describe how I feel. I’m mad, sad, disappointed…you name it.
I’ve waited very patiently for the last two weeks to hear about my OncoType DX test results. Scratch that. I’ve waited patiently since January 24 for them.
This is a long post so for those of you who know it or don’t want to read that much, just skip down to March 12. That said, I feel like it is important to document this to show just how broken the system is.
As I suspected, my doctor’s appointment presented me with two options yesterday: start chemo now while we wait on my test to be run or wait.
As a reminder, this test could potentially (but not likely) tell me I don’t need chemo. Seems silly to start if there is a chance I don’t need it.
She was apologetic that this has taken so long.
One of my main concerns was that the company would begin running the OncoType DX test on my tumor when my insurance has not agreed to cover it.
The good news is that isn’t happening because, as of Friday, MD Anderson STILL hadn’t sent my tumor.
The bad news is that, as of Friday, MD Anderson STILL hadn’t sent my tumor.
Today, OU Cancer Center called to schedule my chemo. “We have openings as soon as next Tuesday,” she said.
On Thursday morning, Alan and I met with Dr. Wajeeha Abdul Razaq at OU Cancer Center.
I really liked her. We did not feel rushed. She answered all of our questions, but even better … She walked in, sat down and apologized that I was going through this. Then, knowing we had already been to an oncologist so we already knew a lot, she began to explain things to us. She didn’t assume we knew.
It was a long day, but we will take long days like this when they turn out to be so good!
First up, our appointment with Dr. Moulder, the oncologist. She gave us the chemo plan which consists of 12 rounds of Taxol once a week, followed by four rounds of Adriamycin/Cytoxan/5-FU once every three weeks. Total treatment: 6 months.