Setting The Course For Treatment

Wow. What a week this has been.

The book is starting to take off (Yeah!). People are also starting to ask me for autographs and to sign the book. That is just about the weirdest thing in the world. It make me feel . . . like a big 'ol steaming pile of fake.

But, during all the chaos, I've decided on a course of treatment that I'm going to pursue.

I'm going for the Proton Beam therapy at Loma Linda University.

It's not a sure thing. We've got the insurance coverage worked out - mostly - but there may be a problem with my artificial hip. Seems that if the cancer is in the wrong place they can't shoot the beam correctly and it will bounce off the prosthetic hip. From my understanding of particle physics this would be . . . bad. I won't know until they do a full CT scan.

Yet everyone tells me that I have, "The good kind of cancer."

Really? I thought the 'good kind of cancer' was no frickin' cancer at all, but what do I know. I'm just the patient.

So, towards the end of the month I'll be going down for a couple of days. They'll do the CT on the first day, and the second day more 'pics' and then they will map out (literally) a treatment plan. We won't know if the hip is going to be a problem until probably 2 to 3 weeks after the consultation.

And even then, there are the logistics of a 8 to 9 week stay to figure out. Do we rent an apartment? Extended stay hotel? Buy a cheap RV? With the price of gas you can pick them up for pennies on the dollar. Although, all I can see is me in a big floppy hat, cigar in my mouth, in my bathrobe, emptying my solid waste into a sewer drain while Chevy Chase looks on at me with disdain.

Much of this depends on when - and if - the treatment can start. I've heard that there is up to a 4 month waiting list to get into the program. Which, for Suzanne and me, would be a good thing.

That way we still get our riding season.

Plus, there is that pesky NW lawn that needs cutting twice a week this time of year, the weed eating, etc.

All minor inconveniences in the grand scheme of things. I am so lucky to have choices.

Now if this damn NW weather would turn around and warm up all would be right with the world.

Mostly.

Now I'm off to do another video promo for the book. I don't want to spoil the surprise but there may be sock puppets involved. Stay tuned. :)