A day with the doctor and with friends

It seems that every Tuesday I will have a weekly consultation with my radiation oncologist, Dr. Kathryn Beal. She said that I should not expect the radiation to produce instant results. It will take weeks for the numbness and speech impediment to begin to subside. They won't do MRIs until 5-6 weeks after the radiation has ended, as it takes a long time for the body to slough off the dead tumor debris.

Here are some shots of our meeting. Note the number of prescriptions. For those of you who are avid lay-medical people, like me at this point, here is my daily prescription regimen: Morning -- 4 mg decadron (steroid), 75 mg Effexor (still fighting hot flashes), 20 mg Nexiumm (avoiding an ulcerated stomach), Kytril tablet (12-hour anti-nausea); Lunch -- 4 mg decadron again; Dinner -- 4 mg decadron again; Bedtime -- 140 mg Temodar (chemotherapy), 10 mg Ambien (or I would never sleep on all these steroids). Starting today I need to add in Bactrin once a day to prevent PCP pneumonia which can go along with the steroids. And... I have been advised to eat yogurt daily to prevent a fungus from growing in my mouth. David is still kissing me because my mouth is still clean (albeit dry).

So I guess I shouldn't wonder that my body feels strung out or that my stomach is upset. However, that said, it really is all painless. Radiation just whizzes by -- no more than five mintues of face mask and buzzing in the morning. Today, David and I discovered the integrative medicine wing of Sloan-Kettering. It is so impressive. It is about about six blocks from the hospital -- so tastefully zen. Insurance doesn't pay for it -- but luckily S-K has recognized the need for this kind of eastern therapy to go with the vicious blast of western medicine one receives. The center offers, at reasonable prices to cancer patients (okay -- reasonable is relative, I realize), a host of services -- acupuncture, massage, reflexology, reiki, shiatsu, meditation, mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), self-hypnosis, yoga, the Alexander Technique, Qi Gong, and lots of other restorative fitness and health combos. I have a free consultation this evening with the in-house acupuncturist, Dr. Chen. Then, sessions would be $90 a session. Outside S-K I have done a little acupuncture and it is usually about $110 a session. So this is a bit of a break. But the docs will be totally in tune with my treatment and in the same network as my oncologists. I am excited to explore this.

Yesterday was a fun albeit tiring day. After the doctor's appointment, David and I met Linda, Jack, Audrey and Evie at our favorite next-to-hospital cafe, Le Pain Quotidien. After coffee, we all walked down to fifth avenue, talking and ultimately shopping a little at Takashimaya. The Hamiltons had to leave much too soon -- I simply can't get enough of them and little Audrey who bounces down the street with an energy and joy that practically brings tears to my eyes. David, interestingly, proved a good skipper himself when taking the lead with Audrey.

Later, David, Evie and I had tea on the sixth floor of Takashimaya among amazing floral arrangments. Then Evie knew about a little Japanese noodle restaurant down the street, which we visited -- a perfect lunch. I am sure we'll go back. Then a walk through Central Park as a lead-in to the pedicure Evie and I had. The day wrapped up with one of Suzy's stellar kitchen performances -- melon and prossciutto, salmon pasta, black cod, salad and fruit and cheese to top it all off. I should be making people feel more sorry for me, I know -- but, frankly, I am not suffering right now! More later.