So I set off early today to the AKH. After waiting until 10:30 for my 9:00 appointment I was about to check I'd not been overlooked when my name was called. I've seen Professor Kornek once before — in August when she signed off on the chemo dosage.
She explained that the procedure whereby the first surgeon to handle a cancer stayed as lead doctor for the cancer was normal, but now that it had spread this changes and she would be taking over except in matters specifically involving my mouth. This is good as this was something that was worrying me — I wanted a 'cancer supreme commander' and not just a series of isolated or localised surgeons and now I have that.
She outlined a course of chemo-therapy involving 4 sessions (as an out patient but taking most of the day) spread out at three weekly intervals. She wanted to start next week but when I told her about the planned mouth operation (planned for 2nd July) she said we'd start a couple of weeks after the operation.
She gave me some prescriptions for medication I will have to take after each session — these medications cost the earth — the chemist didn't have them all in so have to pick them up tomorrow when a juggling act with credit and debit cards will have to be done. I can't imagine what the stuff for the chemo-therapy itself will cost!
I then dropped in to see if Professor Ewers had any news on the operation — he was actually operating at the time, but I was asked to return in two hours as he wanted to see me. Another spell of waiting and general hanging about!
When he came he had a visiting Professor from South Carolina with him so we spoke English for the first time. The good news is that the slivers he took out (see June 6th) are not anything malignant but the tests do indicate I have some kind of bone infection.
He prodded around (agony!) and took another bit out, and said I need antibiotics but that the operation cannot now be done when planned. The infection must clear first and the operation will now have to be done after the chemo-therapy. So it's another three months of talking funny and eating yogurt!
Yogurt shares rose on the Austrian stock exchange when the news leaked.
As I left the hospital I was called and an appointment had been made for tomorrow at sparrow's fart (i.e. early) for me to see the oncologist again and start setting the plan for the chemo-therapy.
Anyway — a nuisance about the operation but the slivers were not anything life-threatening, Professor Kornek is taking the lead role in treating cancer wherever it may come and she also said that while there are never guarantees, nevertheless the survival chances still remained excellent for my case. Brilliant overall!
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