Are you getting cancer treatments during COVID-19?

@marvinjsturing- Checking up to see how you are doing!

@elizm I believe that the one silver lining of this pandemic is that is has forced healthcare systems around the world to fast-track their developments for virtual healthcare. That said, all the kinks are not worked out. I agree with @roch and @gingerw that one should always check with their insurance company and provider about compensation for the service.

@drewgrebe Thanks for you prayers. I really appreciate it. Since my wife is not able to come with me to my appointment this week, I used my cell phone and put her on speaker phone so she could hear the discussion with the nurse practitioner and could get her questions answered. I really appreciate today's technology that makes these things practical

@merpreb I am doing good. I am about half way through my 25 radiation treatments. Started feeling a little nauseous after the 4th treatment so I got a prescription that pretty well takes care of that. My biggest problem is that I miss out on a lot of the TV programs I watch. I fall asleep half way through the program I am watching and wake up half way through the next program. I never know how the conflict was resolved or I don't know how it all started in the first place. Gotta love the weather in the Midwest. Wednesday it was 70 and I sat out on the back patio to have a cup of coffee. Yesterday we had rain, freezing rain and snow. It is supposed to warm up again later in the week.

@marvinjsturing- Good morning Marvin. I'm glad that you took care of nausea. It even makes my stomach feel better! 🙂 Fatigue is one side effect that I bet 99% of everyone feels. I'm not sure why it makes us tired but it does. Do you know what kind of radiation you are getting? I don't remember. You are having wacky weather. I'm in southern NE and we have days in the '60s and then it's raw and windy- constant wind- and it dips into the 40's and 30's at night.
Have you considered getting something to tape your show? That would drive me batty.

I live in a suburb of Austin, TX. I JUST came up with sciatica, right before we started virtual Dr. visits. My pain doctor told me it was from Piriformis Syndrome. She was wrong. I ended up in the ER , due to unrelenting pain. I had tried SO hard to stay away from there but felt I had no choice. They gave me 4 days of Prednisone, a steroid, and 4 days of Valium 5mg every 8 hrs. That seemed to ease the pain until I woke up the next morning ( I slept for 4 hours straight) and Cried for the few feet I had to walk to go to relieve myself. I, then, had to call EMS to come get me and take me back. I got an MRI that time which shows 2herniated discs causing the pain. I’m supposed to be able to see my pain Dr. virtually. I had to go to a separate lab to have my blood checked. It’s stable. I am blessed. My chemo is by mouth. My prayers go out to those who have more horrible disease wracking their bodies and who must go in for treatments. God bless us all. Here’s hoping I can get some more medication for the terrible pain I’m going tho, but it’s nothing compared to the dilemma others are facing. Godspeed every last one of you.

Amen to that, Marvin. I’m glad we don’t have to know what things would occur with our technicians. I’m so glad to hear that your wife was able to attend virtually. Pray!!!

@marvinjsturing- What a wonderful idea! I'm sure that your wife was rellieved that in a way she could be with you! I bet that it was comforting.

@merpreb - Thanks for asking, I am doing ok! Have my labs and infusion next Thursday and plan on wearing my own mask to Mayo. My PA sent a message saying our appointment will be either video or phone. But, I will be driving back to Mayo during my visit time so I guess it will be a phone call in the call! Strange times.

@seaspray- They are indeed strange times! There are a few good things. We can see how fast the medical community is acting to get new medicines out more quickly, how calls are saving time and how a lot of people are more cooperative and warmer and nicer. I think that going through a crisis like people realize that no one is better than the next and it humbles us! What kind of side effects do you have after your infuusions?