Today I went to Mason City to the Cancer Center for my Octreotide shot that I get every 3 weeks for the rest of my life. The shot doesn't hurt and I have had no side effects. I am grateful for such a drug that will prevent new cancer from growing. The cost is very high for the shots, to be exact they cost $7,723.80 per shot, I have a $5,000.00 deductible on my insurance so that comes out of my pocket. It is not easy to come up with that amount and will have to do this every year, but I am thankful I have insurance.
The picture above is what I see when I am waiting for them to mix the drug that is injected into my hip. Since it is so expensive and it has to be mixed I have about an hour to wait for it. There are several units to sit at and you have a great view out the window. Each unit has a tv if you want to watch it but I prefer to watch the ducks in the pond and the squirrels chase each other around the tree or chase away the ducks so they cannot eat the corn. I take my knitting with me and just relax, the nurses bring you whatever you want to drink and are so kind.
Before I have my shot I have to have blood work taken each time. Then I have a visit with the nurse and she takes my vitals. My cancer doctor in Mason City is Dr. Bate and he is so good. I look forward to visiting with him each time because I learn so much more about the type of cancer that was removed.
When he is done he sends me back to the unit where they do chemo and my injection. As I sit there watching the squirrels, ducks, knitting and listening to the other people I wonder what their story is. We each have our own story in life. What I have learned throughout this whole process is to have more compassion for others and to love them for what they are. We are all loved by someone and important in our own ways. I quietly say a prayer for them and myself and thank God for the advancements that have been made with cancer treatments.
I will be having my first CT scans in another week and then I will be going to Iowa City for a checkup with the doctors there that performed my surgery. I am so grateful to them and their knowledge. I have been given a second chance at life and I am making the best of it.
The picture below is the squirrel who looks to be well fed. He is boss it looks like to me because he chased the ducks right away from his food. It makes me laugh at how much they remind me of humans in a way. Truth is he provides great entertainment and makes people smile. We all need a smile, don't we?
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