started with new onc and chemo center & update

Well, I did make the change- I saw my new oncologist for the first time a week ago Tuesday. I also consulted with the onc I had been wanting to change to at UCSD the following day. My new onc knew about this consultation w/ the other guy and was very open to it- said he shares patients back and forth with him and they consult a lot. I was so pleased to hear that!
He seems more knoweldgeable than my other onc and more willing to work with others. The neat thing is that their philosphy is to treat the "whole patient", which they call their "integrative services". I had posted a thread a while back asking if anyone knew anything about the San Diego Cancer Center. The only one who had any firsthand information on it was Serrana, who lives nearby. Although she had never been treated there & hadn't seen any of the doctors,she had been there for one of their holistic services- an appt. with someone for Tibetan healing bowls. As a Christian, it all sounded really weird to me- but apparently the "bowls" are actually sound instruments and the sound waves permeate your body and are very helpful with relaxing and also with pain. Serrana said she was more relaxed than she had felt in a long time. I realized it really wasn't any weird superstitious stuff & that the Asians really do have a lot of wisdom with some of their ancient practices. They also offer free massages and acupuncture, as well as counseling and I think they have a nutrition counselor. The other oncologists I've dealt with in the past have always acted like any of that, nutrition included, was just completely unproven "hogwash".
I think it's neat that the doctors in this center combine the regular chemotherapy treatments (and seem pretty with it on "the latest") together with other treatments to help the "whole person". The few other patients I spoke to when I was getting my Avastin infusion there yesterday had really, really good things to say about the doctors, the nurses, and the other services they offer.
I do believe things worked out well for me, after all the hassle the insurance gave me earlier!
As far as my rising CEA, all three oncologists (my old, my new, and the one I consulted with) agree that they don't want to scan me until the end of July (which was when I was due for a scan anyhow). My new onc, however, did up my Xeloda from 1,000 mg/day to 2,000 mg/day. Also, I'm just going to get one week off inbetween instead of the two weeks off I was getting. He thought my dose was a bit too low before. We'll see if that makes a difference in my next CEA blood test or not. My scheduled Avastin infusions work well right around my upcoming vacation, with an infusion the day before we leave and another one two days after we return.

I'm going on vacation July 8-19. I'm hoping it's not going to be too much for me (with all my joint aches and pains, moving around much hurts), but I'm looking forward to it. My kids are very excited about seeing NY City and about going on the tallest roller coaster in the U.S. at the Six Flags in NJ. We'll be flying in and out of Nashville. Then, we're renting a minivan and driving to the east coast and back again to Nashville in just 7 days and seeing what we can in that time. We'll get back to Nashville in time for my nephew's wedding, which my 16 yr old son is a groomsman in. Then, we fly back to San Diego again, the day after the wedding.

Well, that's my update.
Hugs to all-
Lisa