Pre-Chemo Procedures

I personally would really like to start chemotherapy as soon as possible, the faster I can start treatment, the sooner I can tackle through this.

My Doctor though, needs to see if my body is up to spec first.  Although I'm in good health, and that non-American BMI of 22.6, they have to *really* make sure.

Today  I did a MUGA, to check the efficiency of my heart.  Which should be A-OK, but they need to use it as a base line for future tests.  It consisted of laying on automated table, into a machine that was kinda like a CT/PET Scanner, but less claustrophobic.  Slightly radioactive IV for getting contrast images oh my heart running.  So far it's the easiest diagnostic ANYTHING I've have done.

Although I've got 3 more Doctor-Things I've got to do before Chemo cycle 1 on Nov 1st:

1. A Pulmonary Function Test, to check the lungs.
2. Bone Marrow Biopsy, to check *just in case* that there's no Hodgkin's Reed-Sternberg Cells present in my bone marrow.  My Doctor says there's pretty much no chance it's in my bone marrow, given my stage and location- BUT it's a precaution.  Did I mention I have through Doctors?
3. Medical  Port "installed." A little device installed under my skin in my chest, that's hooked up to a vein, where I can get IV's, injections, blood draws without turning my arm veins to hamburger over the next few months.  The nurses will also thank me.

I decided to get #3 when my oncologist  asked me if I wanted one installed.  He said "How are your arm veins?"  I said  "I don't know- what do you think?"  (show him my veins)  "Hmmm, no those are pretty bad."  I then said "I'll take one port please."

#2+#3 are going to be this Friday 10/26/2012, back to back.  I'll be pretty drugged up, and I hope it doesn't suck, but per the oncology nurse "you'll be awake, but you'll be so sedated you won't care."  Wendy's giving me a ride home, and hopefully will make sure I don't do any online shopping.

But the notion of having a bone marrow biopsy + port install back to back, made me make this face:

However I'm banking on the surgical drugs.  Oh, and all of the things I won't buy on those drugs.