MRI issues / Cancer Documentary

I was scheduled for a second MRI on Tuesday at SCCA. I picked up the ativan at the SCCA pharmacy and took it before my appointment. Unfortunately, the bus was late and the techs couldn't wait very long because they had other appointments. I thought I would be able to deal with the fact that I was squished in the machine. The coil they use for the breat MRI is really high. The main problem was that I couldn't breathe by the time they got me in all the way. After a couple tries, they cancelled the exam.

The weird thing was that the radiologist came out and said, "Well maybe we can send you to Overlake or somplace that has an open MRI." Two things immediately popped into my head about that. First of all, I was told that an open MRI would not give enough detail. Secondly, the entire point of this MRI was because the radiologists at SCCA supposedly weren't going to read the films that I had done in Olympia.

I was feeling pretty miserable about not being able to do this, so I didn't ask any questions. I was really on the verge of breaking down a couple times. Luckily, the ativan started to kick in and by the time my sister came to pick me up, all I could do was sleep. I slept all the way home and then went straight to bed and woke up about 9 pm. Of course, I was up until 1 am and then had to get up again at 5! I have to say, I don't understand people who take valium or ativan as a recreational drug.. all it does is put me to sleep!

I talked to Dr. Calhoun's nurse today and apparently Dr. Calhoun is thinking about what she wants to do next. I did tell Laurie that it didn't make sense for me to go somewhere else for the MRI. If that's the case then they can use the one from Olympia! I asked her if she thought I might get an ultrasound-guided biopsy of this mysterious "3rd area" and she thinks that is one of the options. I won't know until Monday though because Dr. Calhoun went home sick today.

So the waiting continues...

Did anyone see that cancer documentary on PBS last night? I thought it was very good, but it did start making me feel nervous about my cancer. I'm starting to get more anxious about just getting the tumor out and finding out if the cancer has spread. I am very confident that mine has been caught early and hasn't spread, but I'll just feel better when I know for sure.

I did like the last 30 minutes with Linda Ellerbee and the panel of physicians who treat cancer patients and who are living with cancer themselves.