Today, my friend shared her story of frustration as she went back to her doctor to check on a sore area with a lump. It has been weeks since her mastectomy, and she was concerned. Rather than getting to see her doctor, she was seen by a nurse practitioner. In addition, the technician taking her scans seemed to be doing so while being trained. All of these things didn't alleviate my friend's concerns. 

Her oncologist is not supposed to recheck her labs for another four months. Well, as we know and have heard often, cancer cells can multiply very quickly. 

I had also previously suggested that she ask her doctor for an order for a nutritional lab panel, as we are working to help her add in more nutrition for her post-chemotherapy healing. Rather than her getting that, they suggested she go to her PCP doctor for this bloodwork (pass the buck). She does not have a current PCP. The one she had been recommended to is not accepting new patients. To find another one requires...

My friend just completed her chemo treatments, and her mastectomy, and now she is awaiting her oncologist's recommendation for what to do next.

Over the last thirteen years, I have noticed a consistent pattern:

1. Get diagnosed with cancer.
2. Be told it is a rare form.
3. Receive chemotherapy treatments.
4. Be told you are cancer-free along with the stats for your type of cancer's survival rate within 5 years.
5. Be advised to continue chemotherapy treatments "just in case" or to ensure the cancer won't return.

This is where I see both outcomes:

6 a. Survive the "preventative chemo" and follow a path of scheduled appointments to look to see if the cancer "has returned or spread" in the following months and years.

or

6 b. Death from the second round of chemotherapies side effects

I have not had to personally walk this road, and I am so thankful and hopeful I will not ever. However, I see patterns in life, and it seems this is one that has become so common to me. 

No matter which outcome, it...