Sit-Rep .. No.27
“April 1st” or “April Fools’ Day”?
Next week, Tuesday will be a “Day of Reckoning”.
There’s been quite a bit going on physically, administratively and emotionally since the Radiation Therapy ended.
The Radiation ☢️ Treatments fixed some problems and were probably responsible for the huge drop in my PSA Level. The pains have moved to other areas. Whether there is a correlation…?🤷🏽‍♂️
After consultation with my Oncologist, and because of my new “Bucket-List”, I agreed to restart Hormone Therapy. He thought that might keep the PSA down and delay Metastasis.
The “Side Effects” started again ..and there was an issue with my status. The use of this “Chemotherapy-Type” Medication qualifies as “curative” care. It does not pass the litmus test for Hospice Patients.
So, if I continue with the medication, the question becomes “Am I in Hospice Care or not?”
The consultation notes from my Oncologist say “Patient to remain in Hospice” .. The Hospice Administration says “If you are taking this Medication, then you cannot be in Hospice Care.”
In the current political climate, I can understand the anxiety on the part of a Hospice connected to the VA. They cannot afford to make mistakes which might peak the interest of the “DOGE” crowd.
I considered my current physical state, weighed all the information at my disposal and tried to ”guesstimate” what the possible advantages/disadvantages would be if I continued to take the medication.
And once again, it’s the battle with the mental vs. the physical aspects of having cancer. That gives us our lead-in to the story behind this post.
”April Fools’ or April 1st?” .. Finally, here comes an analogy that has nothing to do with basketball.😲
A few months ago, I got up and was preparing to go for a walk. I looked at the weather app on my phone. The temperature was ”67-Degrees” and the forecast said the “chance of precipitation was 0%”…👍🏾
I looked out the window and … “It was pouring down rain!”🫣
That’s pretty much what’s been happening with my scans. Every time I have a scan, the indications say that ”nothing is going on” or that nothing has changed”! And I suppose that that’s a good thing.
However, the symptoms and pains that I am experiencing are kinda like that rain that I saw on that day. They are definitely there. Even as I write this, I’m debating whether to go to the medicine cabinet.🤔
On the 1st of April, I have a full program at the VA. It will be interesting to see if this time anything different shows up, or if my body is playing an April Fools’ Joke on my brain.
It will take 4-5 days for the results to show up in my App, at which time I will do my “ill-advised” Sherlock Holmes’ Thing. Then I will have a follow-up with my Doctor and he will hopefully give me some usable information.
In the meantime, I will continue preparing for that event that I haven’t told you about yet!😈