CTCA Day 1

Alright, this is Laura's understudy writing for her while she is getting a ton of tests. Got into Chicago last night and had some confusion with the limo so we ended up sharing another limo with two other people who were each on their second visit to CTCA. They both boasted about the care they were getting, one even saying his doctor came in on Christmas day to check on him after surgery. Funny part is he said he was from the Palm Beach area and when I told him I was too he clammed up. We nicknamed him Salty. The woman in the limo we nicknamed Chatty for obvious reasons. Snow drifts everywhere and it was cold!

We got here this morning and started with the registration, orientation, nurse assessment, initial doctor consultation, and a partridge in a pear tree. We started getting frustrated since we were getting a little lost in the shuffle. Just got out of a meeting with our Nurse Navigator Consultant (which by the way, everyone has a title, I guess so we know who exactly we should be talking to, might be easier than "you need to talk to his nurse..." that we get at Emory all the time, but we will see) and we feel much more at ease with the process going forward. In about an hour Laura is getting a bone scan to assure that the cancer has not moved into her bones. The rest of the schedule is as follows:

Tomorrow: Mind Body appt/Nutritionist appt/Group Orientation/Pastoral Care appt/Naturopathy appt/PET Scan

Wed: CT Scan/NM MUGA Scan then we have the afternoon off

Thurs: Massage(for two...nice!)/Reiki Therapy/FIRST TIME WE SEE THE ONCOLOGIST with a plan of attack for treatment/Exit meeting with Internal Medicine Doctor/Nurse Navigator Appt/Some Naturopathy appt we are not sure when though.

Friday: Site-seeing in Chicago/Deep Dish Pizza/Michigan Avenue

So now we know the plan and are going to have to see the results of all the scans and tests and see what treatment plan the doctor here would recommend. The chemo really wont change since Her2neu+ breast cancer only has 2 options, Herceptin and Tykerb. So it will be interesting to hear how the additional treatments will be incorporated.

We also met with the financial advisor and are going to follow up with her later. They may have misinterpreted our insurance maximums, etc., sooooooo stay tuned. Could be good news.

Anyway, we appreciate everyone's thoughts and prayers so much. There is supposed to be a blizzard tonight and 2-5 inches of snow and 35mph winds. We asked if the roads would be closed and they laughed. In Atlanta the entire city would be shut down for 3 days!! Welcome to the north!