Post #76: Waiting Time

Dear all,

Well, it looks like we're into a waiting game of sorts. Anita and John went to see the oncologist on Sept. 26th to ask some questions about the recurrent pain she is having as well as about what to expect in the future given that she has only one more chemo session currently scheduled. Unfortunately, the meeting with the doctor left both Anita and John feeling unsatisfied and a bit depressed.

The doctor stated that there would be no more chemo and positively no more Rituxan treatments. This seemed odd given that some time ago he had stated that once she was through with the first round of treatments, he would then determine if she needed more treatments.

Regarding the recurrent pain she has been experiencing in the past week or so, he simply stated that in remission she can expect to have pain from time to time. As you all can tell, this is really a non-answer. His manner, according to Anita, appeared to her to be somewhat dismissive. He said that she would be undergoing follow-up cat scans every two months. However, he did not state what would happen should something negative show up on a particular cat scan.

During the meeting, Anita and John apparently were too taken aback to really press him with more detailed questions. I have suggested they prepare a detailed list of questions for their next meeting with the doctor, and that they not leave until they get satisfactory answers to all of their questions. Mama said that she would do this.

Call me a skeptic, but I have also suggested that they check with their HMO to see whether the HMO intends to pay for any additional treatments. If not, that may explain the doctor's attitude. Anita has discovered that he has submitted bills to the HMO for every single meeting or encounter that she has had with him since the start of her treatment. We know that this HMO likes to limit costs and rewards its doctors for helping cut down on costs. In my experience, this translates as cutting down on treatment for patients.

So, we are now waiting for the next chemo session which is Oct. 3rd. She will meet with the oncologist following that session. At that point we should know whether this oncologist's attitude is merely a momentary aberration or a permanent fixture.

Melissa