If you will be getting IV chemo rather than oral chemo, is the doctor recommending getting a port? More and more I wish I still had mine. It would make blood draws and contrast injections (and any other IV procedures) a lot simpler and less stressful.

Way back when I was discharged from the ER, I told the nurse removing my port that I almost wished I could keep it--the person who'd placed it was so skilled, it had gone in so smoothly and painlessly and never caused even a moment's discomfort. Next week's Portacath has quite a standard to live up to.

I am so sorry that the news is not good. I second sj’s recommendation of leaning into denial. I hope for the best possible port-a-cath insertion on Monday (or whenever it is). And it is good they are taking pain management seriously.

Also, Fuck You Cancer!

JZ, I am so sorry the news wasn't better, and you will have all the prayers and ~ma I can offer for effective chemo and some future clinical trial or other new treatment that will be everything you need.

Fuck, JZ, that sucks AND blows but I’m selfishly glad you are in a place where you can get the best medicine can offer and that you’ve got a great team working with you.

port-a-cath

Where the line runs over the collarbone feels a little weird. Extra padding for any shoulder strap going over that area is a good thing to have.

Extra padding for any shoulder strap going over that area is a good thing to have.

Insider tips appreciated.

Well that sucks, JZ. As askye said, I hope you are one of the patients who give others hope, a long time down the road.

I have a local friend who was in a similar boat (metastasized and inoperable cancer, middle aged white woman working in health care) who has been doing the chemo and clinical trials thing for over 10 years now. They were able to push things back enough for her to take trips to Iceland and Thailand. There’ve been ups and downs, but she’s pulled a good quality of life out of it all. I hope you have a similar experience.

I'm so sorry (and angry. Always angry) the news isn't as good as you hoped. You know you have ~ma flowing like Kilauea in your direction, always and steady.

ltc was so mad this morning that TCG had failed to assemble her snack before he left for work today. She wanted me to do it, but I told her she’d have to wait until I finished getting dressed. I guess she was too impatient to wait. So she got the grapes out of the fridge, rinsed them, put them in a container and filled her water bottle. I guess she has a new addition to her morning routine because she obviously doesn’t need our help.

JZ, I hate that your news isn't as good as you had hoped. I hate it so much. But Ginger was right about 5-year survival rates always being 5 years behind. You're going to have excellent care, and that already puts the odds in your favor. You have so much love coming from all of us, and I believe that makes a difference, too.