Good News

We seem to have some good news from the oncology doctor at Cleveland Clinic.
My dad has to take hormone shots every three months.

The cancer is in his bone and lymphnodes in his stomach (?), but the hormones will slow or stop the growth of the cancer. The doctor drew an illustration to show my parents that the hormones block the brain from sending messages to what ever produces what we don't want produced.

Also he is eligible for a clinical trial at the clinic. They've always done the hormone treatment then if that doesn't work they do chemo. The doctor said the thought now is going towards, why wait until you're sick. So if he takes part in the trial he will not only take the hormone shot but will take 2 hours of chemo, one day a month for six months! My Dad said he was just doing the shots at firsts, then I got on the phone and said "Dad this is a no brainer! Why wait!? Go after it now!" So he said Ok, he will go ahead with the trial. They won't even have to pay for it! The doctor said all they'll pay is their $25 copay. So all in all it will cost them $150 over the 6 months! Like I said No Brainer!

I'm so happy they went for a 2nd opinion at Cleveland! Those doctors are wonderful up there! Dad said he sat and explained thoroughly everything and answered all their questions. The doctor even told him if he decided he didn't want to do chemo any longer he could stop at anytime. They wouldn't use him as a guinea pig.

Dad's PSA was low. That is a protein produced by the cells of the prostrate gland. They take a blood sample and measure the PSA and they can mark the disease by the levels rising, or something to that effect. There is no "normal" PSA, but generally when it rises above 4 they do a biopsy to check for cancer. Well Dad's was only 2 something. Apparently Dad's body doesn't produce the protein. So it would never have been detected that way.

Also, not about my Dad, but about the clinic. Last week a local news was doing a story about the proposed universal health care. They interviewed one of the heart specialist at the Cleveland Clinic. He said if they can come up with a good plan he's all for universal coverage and we should be ashamed that there are 76 million in this country with no coverage. But then they were talking about why Cleveland has such good care and relatively low cost. Here's why, and I don't know why every hospital couldn't adopt this!! Cleveland Clinic doctors work on salary. The heart Dr. said whether he does surgery or angioplasty he makes the same amount of money. Plus Cleveland has all it's specialist under one roof so there is better communication and a group effort in treatment. There is very much a focus on wellness also. This made so much sense to me! It also made me feel like our Dr. wouldn't order unnecessary tests just because his house payment is due (know what I mean!?).

Well, I'm happy, so very happy and thankful! If not for Akron Children's making me so mad when I went there for Naomi I wouldn't have taken her to Cleveland. If not for the excellent care we've gotten there I may not have insisted my Dad go there for a second opinion. If I hadn't he'd be going through radiation right now that would be doing NOTHING for him!

Everything happens for a reason!