Our day began with meeting Dr. Harold Lau, a radiation oncologist, and his nurse Catherine. And a resident guy who inspected my fiance. There was no sense of urgency with Dr. Lau, which made me feel like my fiance was just another patient.
So what if he has Stage 4B nasopharyngeal cancer... There are others in line and there's a process and nothing will be expediated. Your appointments will be made with no priority given to you. Thank you and good day. This is the feeling I got from the unemotional Dr. Lau.
I think when you have Stage 4B nasoparyngeal cancer, or any Stage 4 cancer, you should get a VIP card. It will work much the way VIP status does in nightclubs. You walk up to any counter in the Tom Baker, flash your card, and you get immediate access to whatever you need.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't know you were VIP! Right this way sir!"Yes, I can see it all now...
But back to reality. Dr. Lau said the following:
- A bone scan appointment needs to be set up
- There will actually be 6 weeks of radiation, not 7 like Dr. Matthews guessed
- Radiation treatment should start early February and go till March
- My fiance will need to be off work from Feb to March
- We'll meet the medical oncologist aka chemo guy next week
- Chemo will be given on Monday of the 1st, 4th and last week of radiation
- He will also need chemo in April, May and June - once each month
- In the next 5 years, any dental work needed must be done through the Tom Baker dental centre
- Purpose of treatment - to get rid of every last cancer cell
- No clinical trials available to him
- There's a 50/50 he'll need thyroid medication because the radiation hits his thyroid glands too
- 10 doctor's on the Tom Baker tumor board will discuss the tumor
- No need to see a speech pathologist
- He can still skate and walk
- First treatment should be in 2.5 weeks
- Must see dentist at the Tom Baker
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