Bill Charlap Trio at the Dakota this evening. American Songbook, Gershwin, Sondheim, … . Perspective for earlier in the day when the focus was on being randomized into a clinical study.
Category: Cancer
Keeping Perspective
On the walk home from a lab draw at the University, the result popped up on my phone: my tumor marker is increasing (expected, but unwelcome news) to the point I just qualify for a clinical study (good news). As I sometimes do, dropped in on one of the exhibits that appear in different departments of the University. This one, about LGBTQ history, helped me keep perspective.
Confronting Tough Issues
I always enjoy walking across two University of Minnesota campuses on my way home from oncology appointments. Today, stopped at an exhibit about the global impact of local activism in Minnesota, especially in areas of torture, racism, and domestic violence.
Donut Stop Believin’
With temperatures in the 50’s, it was time for a bike ride. I passed by the meter box that had needed a front panel (which I’d reported the other day), indulged in a sugary donut, then pedaled to the university for a blood draw. Unsurprisingly, my glucose was elevated. The tumor marker is also starting to rise again, a topic I’ll discuss with my oncologist tomorrow.
Almost Home
Cycled home from the university hospital as the sun was setting after a day dominated by medical appointments. Grateful there are new options when I’ll need them. Home is just beyond the end of this tunnel.
Medical Billing: Entering a Black Hole
Realized that a few of the bills for the clinical study I’ve been on had been sent to and paid by my insurance company, rather than the study sponsor. Reviewed EOBs (Explanations of Benefits) online and found $16,000 in erroneous billings to be reversed and sent to the sponsor.
A Shout-Out for Evidence-Based Medicine
Spent much of the day on two head-to-toe body scans, including this PET scanner. Same thing, again, every 12 weeks for the study as long as I’m in remission. The study seems to be showing Lutetium-177 PSMA therapy can be effective for men at my stage in the prostate cancer journey. I’m grateful.
Kit Kat Conversation
The last time I saw my oncologist, he had a Japanese medical student in tow. Naturally, the conversation turned to Japanese Kit Kats. Today, I presented my oncologist and the study coordinator with this box of Japanese matcha Kit Kats, proving that I wasn’t kidding.
Fractional Milestones
Cycled to the university for medical appointments. A medical student from Japan observed while I met with my oncologist. Received the third of four radioactive infusions. Remarkably, the tumor marker halved after each of the first two infusions, and I feel no side effects.
Nothing New
Cycled over to the university for a CT scan and a PET/Bone scan. The whole process takes about four hours and I do this every six weeks for the study. Within a few hours, reports for both scans popped up in my phone app, with nothing new to report, which is good.