Testng and Horrors

7/30/07

The tests were horrible. The hospital where she worked arranged for same day service on all the tests and the staff was alerted. We were ushered in without registration and she was escorted to the area without delay. Usually for a non - hospital/medical person the tests would have occurred two or three days later and on successive days and results would have been processed at the doctor's pleasure and a week later you would have the answers. All that is precious time lost.

Now I have to say that survival rates from what I have found are affected by how quickly and thoroughly the process is run. Also they are affected by the education level of the patient, willingness to submit to treatment, the ability of the hospital and the experience they have. If the hospital treats two or three a year versus two or three a day then there is a gap in the ability to effectively treat. Also I wish everyone could get the treatment a hospital accords one of their own. It is not fair and I am sorry but I want my wife to live and will take every advantage I am given.

The MUGGA scan and the other tests require a great deal of poking and prodding and drawing of blood. It is gruesome. Then comes the radiology where they inject a radioactive dye into the bloodstream and then track it as it makes a picture of it's path and the heart's efficiency in pumping. The blood tests require more poking and leaches. Then comes the biopsy where they insert an 8mm needle into the breast and into the lump to get a core sample.

The tests take all day and she is exhausted. We go home. Tomorrow if all is well she begins chemo.