Mad Scientists and Scan results

I got my PET/CT Scan results last week and they were generally good.  My local Onc. is very happy with the results.  But I had a call with Dr. C. the IBC expert I get advice from, and he thinks we can do better.  He's more ambitious than my local onc and HMO and wants to change my chemotherapy drug for the next 3 infusions.  He made sense when we talked, and I have to tell you no other oncologist has ever treated me with as much respect as he does.  A world famous doc, who is constantly in demand.  He's also in it to win it, which is not how other onc's treat you with advanced disease.
 So now begins my negotiation to follow Dr. C's opinion.  Contrary to what you would think, my local treating onc, is not open to a specialist's advice, she often says she has no idea who he is -- let me tell you he is the most famous doctor working with inflammatory breast cancer patients and recently got a 7 million grant from the Susan Komen fund for an IBC clinic  -- it seems like a real ego reaction.  Yes, can you frackin' believe it, dear readers????  Her ego, my health.
So I need to fight for this switch.  I have to put my trust in Dr. C, he says he wants to manage my cancer like a chronic disease.   Nobody ever says this to me.  I look at his bio over and over and some of his writings.  This guy is not a mad scientist as far as I can tell.  But it's easy to be filled with doubt about who to trust.  And harder than you would think for me advocate for my own treatment.  I'm meeting my local, skeptical doc on thursday.
I have blood draw tomorrow and a heart test, to see if the chemo has damaged my hear, since I've put on so much weight.  Fun stuff.  Deep breath, exhale.

Ned's Broken Down solo show at Hatch Gallery

                                 Me and the artist (my hubby)

www.hatchgallery.org

sputnik is active

It's been a bit of a gap since my last post. I didn't forget about you, dear readers, I came down with a terrible flu between my 5th and 6th doses.  Fever, sore throat, cough and still clogged ears -- something delightfully called otitis media.  The nasty little ENT doc told me it could be 1,2 or 3 months before I get my hearing back.
 I was on the couch for almost 2 weeks.  They cleared me for pneumonia and low blood cell count, and sent me back home to get over it.  I was really sick, haven't been like that since I was a kid.  My mom came into town and helped take care of me (thanks mom) while hubby Ned worked like mad to get his solo show open last Friday.
I checked with Dr. C in philly and he recommended I take the 6th dose without delay since my blood cell count was fine.  My local onc said to put it off (of course).  I put my trust again in Dr. C and took my 6th Ixempra dose last Wednesday.
It's been so busy, mom here, my good friend Yoon from law school came into town.  She's super fun like a delectable cocktail on a summer night.  Ned's awesome opening, and, of course the neverending story of my treatment.
I've been tired and super cranky the last 2 days.  The PET CT didn't help.  I need to pull it together and feel the small joys.  Das-vi-dania!