How Long Has This Been Goin' On'

Skiffin16

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Hit Me With Your Best Shot

George_Baltimore

Skiffin16 said:

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Hit Me With Your Best Shot

Hey T

Have you looked into applying for Social Security Disability to help you with your finances?  Hope your stay in Baltimore is as pleasant as possible under the circumstances.  Hopkins is a great institution but don't wander (walking) too far from the campus.  It's not in the greatest of neighborhoods.

fishmanpa

George_Baltimore said:

Hey T

Have you looked into applying for Social Security Disability to help you with your finances?  Hope your stay in Baltimore is as pleasant as possible under the circumstances.  Hopkins is a great institution but don't wander (walking) too far from the campus.  It's not in the greatest of neighborhoods.

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

Hi George,

SSD is one of the options I'll be looking into as well as others. There's much to do in the next few weeks to prepare for the journey. Housing while I'm there, finances etc.  I'm going to contact Johns Hopkins on Monday and start the process. I need to speak with their social worker concerning options available to me. I hear you about the neighboorhood, I drove through some rather questionable areas on the way there yesterday. But from what I've heard, I'm probably not going to be wanting to go walking for a while although I'm going to try to keep moving as much as possible. 

"T"

fisrpotpe

fishmanpa said:

Decisions, decisions!

This evening at 5:30pm I got a call from the Head of Oncology at Winchester Medical. He told me they had finished the initial planning and it looked good for me to start Wednesday of next week. All they had to do was get the OK from the Radiation Oncologist. 

I asked if they had contacted Chemo Oncology and when my chemo would start. He didn't have an answer and stumbled on the question. He didn't know that I had already called the Radiation Oncologist and the Chemo Oncologist and asked that they put everything on hold while I decide on what path to take in treatment several hours earlier. When I called the Chemo Oncologist's office, I was put through to a nurses voice mail and left a message at around 2pm this afternoon. The call was not returned. 

After he finished speaking, I informed him on what had taken place as well as my appointment and 2nd opinion at Johns Hopkins. I also, as nurturingly as I could, let him know that his lack of follow up and the fact that it seems as if one hand doesn't seem to know what the other is doing, has severely shaken my confidence in their ability to treat me. My partner has had her doubts as well as she's been with me for every appointment. 

I have many aspects of my life that have to be arranged and accounted for to make treatment at Johns Hopkins work. My employment situation is one. I'm fortunate that I truly believe I can work something out with my boss to be able to take medical leave for treatment. The law actually protects me and he would be compensated by the government while I'm undergoing treatment. I'm not a man of means by any stretch of the imagination but have family that are stepping up to help a bit. I believe I can eek by financially while getting treatment. 

I've made the decision to seek my treatment at Johns Hopkins. As the 3rd highest rated cancer center in the nation, I stand the best chance to eradicate "Jack" from my system and retain the best quality of life. I can't tell you how comforting having all those Knights and Knightesses in white all standing around me looking down my throat made me feel ~lol~ Sounds funny but when you hear things like "Go back...down... yes... right there... do you see that on the anterior edge?"... and then three different fingers poking down your throat affirming something they suspect, it instills a bit of confidence these folks know what they're doing.  

As it stands now, I'll be hearing from the Surgical Oncologist next week to schedule the surgery. Ironically it will fall very close to my 54th birthday. Nice present eh? Then it will be about three weeks of healing before treatment starts. It could range from rads only to a combination of chemo and rads but that will remain to be seen. Regardless, I feel much more confident and safer with the path I've chosen and know that they have my best interests at heart. 

I can't say thank everyone here on the boards enough for the warm reception, response and encouragement. To have a sounding board such as this is quite a blessing and I'm glad I found you! 

In many instances, an internet forum is just a fantasy. On dating sites, news forums and the like, you're no more than a thumbnail and words on a screen. It's not "real". In this instance however, there is a bond unlike any other in an internet setting. We're all warriors, not unlike the brother and sisterhood of the military in the battle we're fighting.

Here's to VICTORY!  HOOAH!

"T"

 

 

1/4 way

1/4 of the way thru reading your post Decisions, decisions! i mentioned to myself for me if i had John Hopkins for an option that is what i would choose and said i need to post that when done reading. Bam! Bam!

then it was you made up your mind. i was so thrilled for you, your partner, your family and friends. the positive feeling you will caring by having the huge confidence in your doc's and nurses is priceless. 

Congrats on your choice!

john 

donfoo

fishmanpa said:

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

Hi George,

SSD is one of the options I'll be looking into as well as others. There's much to do in the next few weeks to prepare for the journey. Housing while I'm there, finances etc.  I'm going to contact Johns Hopkins on Monday and start the process. I need to speak with their social worker concerning options available to me. I hear you about the neighboorhood, I drove through some rather questionable areas on the way there yesterday. But from what I've heard, I'm probably not going to be wanting to go walking for a while although I'm going to try to keep moving as much as possible. 

"T"

decisive

I'm glad you were able to make such a quick and decisive decision, especially since the differing opinions were so vastly different. Having trust in your team is so critical and surely played a significant part in your decision and based on what you report your experience has been, it is easy to see on that count to understand your decision.

You placed your trust in a top cancer facility so that is comforting. You'll be quite busy now with added checklist of getting physically located near the care centers on top of a number of other visits you'll have before treatment gets officially going. 

Don

Laralyn

Skiffin16 said:

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Hit Me With Your Best Shot

Fight to Win!

I saw Cee Lo Green perform this song on The Voice when I was just starting treatments. I listened to it almost every day on my way to radiation.

Fight to Win!

Here are a few of my favorite parts:

I have no choice but to trust in God because it must be done.

My only fear is what might happen if I didn't fight to win.

If I lose, then it was worth fighting for.

If I win, then I only live to fight again.

...

Believe me, it won't be easy, but it's surely not impossible.

And if they won't listen, save your breath and save yourself.

And as soon as you see sunlight again, GET UP and FIGHT your way out!