Tracie Fights Back

I’m now up to the radiation portion of my grand slam cancer experience.

As my mastectomy wounds heal, I’m meeting with radiation oncologists to plot my course. My big dilemma? Where to have it done.

In a perfect world, I’d keep on at Stanford, where I love my cancer team and have received exemplary care.

But I’ll need 25 to 28 exposures five days a week. I cannot possibly spend six hours a day on the road making that trip from Fresno.

So the questions become: Can I get equally good care in Fresno? Will I be able to let go of my Stanford security blanket and believe it’s as good? If not can I find housing in or around Palo Alto for a period that includes Thanksgiving and the major Christian and Jewish holidays? Will I want to spend four nights a week away from Michelle, my biggest supporter? Shouldn’t I just suck it all up now that I’m at the end and go for it?

Ayeee. What to do?

I had a very productive meeting yesterday with Dr. Kathleen Horst at Stanford, the radiation oncologist who has been following my case since the beginning. She’s very smart and seems very caring. I would feel comfortable in her care.

This afternoon I meet with someone I am told also is smart and caring, a radiation oncologist here in Fresno. He did his residency at Stanford, so I get comfort in that. My oncologist knows him, so that’s good.

I’ll have to decide quickly. Radiation needs to start as soon as next week. I have so many questions I must answer in the meantime.

So much is at stake.

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