Another Month, Another Update · 4:46pm Nov 23rd, 2022
It feels somewhat hyperbolic to open with "EVERYTHING IS WORSE NOW", but here we are.
As I've mentioned, my chemo treatment had me taking two drugs at once for 4 weeks, each offset by 3 weeks. And as you all know, that fried my brain, laid me down, and wrecked me utterly. Near the middle of October was the worst of it, as my dehydration through these drugs became so bad my blood pressure dropped down to 60 over 60. On the plus side, I got to ride the ambulance! Downside, ambulances charge $2000 per trip.
At the very least, I'm now on one drug and the side effects are hella milder now in comparison. No fever dreams, for instance. I still dehydrate fast, but that's about it.
Oh. And the pain. Yes, the tumor has not stopped growing, which has led to the FOUR doctors overseeing me to wonder a lot about "what the actual fuck is going on?". So the tumor is bigger now, and cutting off so much circulation that my right leg is perpetually swollen and in screaming agony. Less agony once my surgeon tried draining it... but now that's led to me being in an uncomfortable wrap day and night so as not to liquify myself all over my furniture.
And finally, while in the ER they took some CT scans to see how I was doing and found dots in my lungs. So... more cancer. Maybe. It's taken weeks to get a better scan set up because my oncologist hired APES to run his front office and they 1) lost my file for a while, and 2) PUT DOWN THE WRONG CONFIRMATION NUMBER on the paperwork sent to the scanning place.
Slow/miserable medical system. Possibly more cancer. Painful everything. That about sums it up.
Bright side? Said four doctors are very clearly trying hard to come up with other ideas, and all the movement around them getting me the drugs I need has me convinced that things are actually happening. Oh, and I was permanently excused from jury service due to my condition. So that's... fun?
I could really use a break one of these days...
Damn, sorry to hear what hell your going through.
I'm truly sorry, ninja. I know it isn't much, but I'll keep you in my thoughts. I also hope you'll catch a break, too.
Keep hanging in there.
Everything suck. God I hope they could operate that tumors. Don't loose hope.
really sorry to hear, hope your doctors can find those better ideas :(
Damn. Just... Damn.
Keep holding strong.
Do you need anything to help you out in these tough times?
I can be more than just another voice if you need someone.
I owe you for all you've done for me, too.
Oh. So... Maybe You should try some kind of medical tourism? I heard tons of stories about the US medical system and they all were horrific. So, maybe some other country where it is cheaper and better? Israel, Germany, Russia?
I sure as hell hope you told them, "I'll pay that as soon as I'm cured!" To give them a proper incentive
Jokes aside... sorry to hear that, man. I don't know what to say except... hang in there
5699587
Sadly, the problems described by Ninjadeadbeard can happen pretty much everywhere. I don't think medical tourism could help much here. Also, treatment in a foreign country means you have to pay for it out of your own pocket, and in the case of cancer, that's VERY expensive.
5699613
Maybe. I do not know. But medical bills in Russia are not so overinflated like in the US. 2000$ for ambulance or ER trip? We have it free of charge.
I hope somehow you get though this.
cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1167/2624/products/KH7963-GetWellSoon_600x600.jpg?v=1598376373
5699615
Yes, you have that for free, but that's because you're paying for it in your taxes. If you're a tourist in a foreign country and, say... break your leg, then - unless you have private travel insurance - you have to cover the cost of transportation, x-ray, cast, and so on. Granted, these prices are usually much lower than in the US, but when you have to pay it all out of your own pocket, they tend to pile up fast.
Also, cancer drugs themselves can cost an arm and leg, and you would have to pay for them from your own pocket too. For example, right now, Google shows a monthly cost of chemo between 1000 to 12 000 USD, depending on the type of cancer, stage, etc.. If you'll require an operation, that's another 5000 - 10 000 USD. And we have to add to that the cost of stay (hotel), transportation, food, OR cost of the private hospital...
Unfortunately, getting cancer is really expensive - medical tourism, even more so
.
5699620
I really hope everything will be OK. Two good authors I read here are already dead - and I do not want the third... I really wish I will be able to translate The Legend of Trixie into Russian.
5699621
I get ya, but all we can do now is hold our fingers crossed and pray that Ninjadeadbeard kicks the darn cancer's ass! Modern medicine can do wonders.
5699613
5699620
5699615
The saving grace here is that I hit my insurance’s out of pocket limit with the first payment for chemo. Which, to be fair, was pretty terrifying to find out the first time. One of the two drugs I was taking earlier cost $13,000 per dose. Per. Dose. So, while basically my savings were wiped out anyway, at the very least, I wasn’t put into instant unsalvageable debt.
Still sucks.
It's not over, you can still beat this
Don't give up, I know you can make it. I have faith that you can make it. I am so sorry you are in this state, you are already great not only for your great stories, but for fighting cancer.
I am sorry if my English is not understandable.