75% Weeks of Chemo Treatments Complete

Today was my 8th treatment of part 2's 12 weeks of treatments.  I began treatments on April 1st, so 15 of the 20 weeks of chemo have been received. They have seemed like they will go on forever, so that it feels a little strange to begin to think and talk of them being over and to be thinking about what comes next.  I met with my oncologist today.  We had a good meeting.  I won't meet with him again until the end of August as long as all goes well.  At that time we will set up the radiation treatments and discuss the medication that blocks the estrogen which feeds the type of cancer I had.  He said that those treatments will begin mid September.

For those of you familiar with Medicare or Medicare related insurance, you may be familiar with the "doughnut hole".  It is when the drug part of the insurance stops paying larger amounts and you pay 79% of generic drugs or get a discount on brand names.  You stay in that stage until you have paid $4400 "out of pocket". This is separate from the hospital and doctors "out of pocket".  I unexpectedly entered the "doughnut hole" the first of this month.  In fact it was a shock.  I was about $2000 from it the last of May. The reason for the dramatic change is the shots I have daily because of the blood clots they found when I was in the hospital mid-May.  I am scheduled to receive them for 6 months-4 more.  Life is full of surprises, isn't it?  Beware of the "Doughnut Hole"!!!!!!

Flowers and pictures of flowers remind me of the many beautiful things in this world and in my life.  One of which is you-your love, friendship, and prayers.

Pictures from flowers in my back yard
by John Gourley.  Thanks, John.