Second Opinion -- UC San Diego Morse Cancer Center

Monday September 15, 2008

At 9:30am on Monday I went to the UC San Diego Morse Cancer Center located in San Diego, CA with my amazing friend Levi. Levi has been my friend for years! We meet in Boston MA at a flower shop. We talked about my favorite flower (Birds of Paradise) -- since then we became life long friends. He is the type of friend who you can stop talking too for years because life gets in the way and when we reunite, it is as if no time has pass-- we picked up right where we left off!! I love Levi and I was SO grateful that he was by my side today.

Walking into the Hospital, I have very high hopes with walking out with a plan -- a treatment plan! I remember parking the car in the parking lot at the hospital. I paused and looked Levi in the face and said "This is it. When we walk out of here today, I will have a better understanding of my treatment" Though I knew Levi was nervous, he played it off very cool!

We walked in to the hospital and I checked in.
When my name was called, I was weighed, blood pressure checked, and brought to a waiting room... Levi was by my side.

First, we met Debbie. Debbie was Dr. Lowy advice nurse. She came in and introduced herself. We had spoken several times via the phone. It was nice to finally put a face with the voice!
Debbie got right the point. She told me that the doctor reviewed my medical records and that I am going to need surgery. I will need the 8 lymph nodes taken out and at least 5 cm of my intestines removed as well. She answered several of my questions and then left. Dr. Lowy would soon be in to talk to me.

Levi and I discussed while we were alone in the room. He asked me what I thought about everything I was just told. I told him I was happy to hear that something was going to be done, even if it was goign to cause me a great deal of pain.

Dr. Lowy's head resident entered the room. She asked a few questions and then left.

5 minutes later, Dr. Lowy entered. We discussed surgery and his recommendations. He did recommend surgery but he also wanted to wait for 3 weeks to see if the tumors grew or stayed the same. Dr. Lowy's recommendation was to wait 3 weeks and get a CT scan. From results of the scan, I should have surgery. If the tumors were larger or stayed the same -- they should be removed. If they shunk, they could stay!

I thanked him for his recommendations.
Dr Lowy requested a few blood tests, which I went to the Lab and drew my blood.

Levi and I left the hospital. I did not feel any more comfortable then when I walked in. I felt that my hopes and expecations for this visit were way too high. I did not feel that I got what I came for. I was told to wait.... and I have to be honest with you all.. waiting when you have cancer is like holding the world on your shoulders... it hurts, its stressful and you feel like your going to collapse under all of the pressure.

Nevertheless, Levi and I decided to go where we both could find some peace... the beach.
We spend the remainder of that day on the beaches of La Jolla talking about life