Bad Day just gets worse.

I'm so sorry Travis. This has got to be hard. I thought the new health care bill eliminated pre existing condition clauses. Or has that not kicked in yet? Are there charities that can help? What about medicaid? With you working so few hours I'm wondering if you qualify. I will be thinking of you. Please stay strong.
 
Thank you all for your continued support. This is a difficult time for me but I think its harder on my wife. As we all do I have seen people that are sick and never thought that I would be one. This is a real learning experience for me. I seen my mom go through battle with cancer and unfortunately she lost. I thought I had a idea of what she went through but I guess its true what they say that you never know til you experience it first hand. One of the most difficult things about this is that I may never be able to have children. I know that I can donate sperm and we can do invitro fertilization but it costs like $12,000 which is money that I don't see having. I think thats one of the hardest things for my wife because neither of us have children and we were looking forward to having a family. I have contacted social security and also my state for help but both have said it could take up to 6 months to get help if I qualify at all since I don't have any children.

I know this experience has made me sit and think about some things in life. I know in my heart that I can beat this it's just getting through all the treatments. I know there are caring people in the world and the out poor of well wishes and love that I have felt from friends and family and even those on here have been a big help in me not going crazy lol. I do not look forward to chemotherapy due to all the side effects but I know it will get me through this and so will all the love and support that I have.

Sassafras I hope to one day be like you and say that I beat the evil that is called cancer.

For those of you who have asked if I have a paypal it is chas_1985@yahoo.com. I have never been one to ask for help and do not enjoy it. Everyone here has already helped me with the kind words and prayers and thoughts that are sent my way and my families way and again it is greatly appreciated. I have always been the one that has been there for people in need which is what makes my life amazing. If any of you ever get bored and are on yahoo hit me up for a chat. My yahoo is gfpdfirefighter.

Til next time,
Your brother in EMS Travis
 
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Honestly Travis, I have never dealt with cancer personally, but breast cancer has affected multiple close contacts of mine. Most have won their battle. One did not and she remains in my heart. But as someone who got into healthcare initially as a lactation consultant, breast cancer awareness is my big caveat, hence the ribbon as my avatar. I do though, send you warmest wishes for a quick, and strong recovery.

Another thought though, SS may not be able to help you for 6 months, but there are hardship charities within each hospital and funded by our state. Find them. They have cancer specific charities. I know of a 1 year old who's family would have lost EVERYTHING, house, car, everything had the charity not been there to help with his expenses. My main concern for you right now is finances, since we all know what a toll treatment takes on our wallets. Your determination to beat this is going to spur your body into production of what it needs to do in order to get well. I whole heartedly believe in the power of positive thought. Not all of it is mind over matter, but it definitely helps and I think you have the attitude that will see you through this time. Now we just have to figure out how to pay for it all.

Good luck Travis, and lots of hugs coming your way. Children can come later, regardless of genetics. For now, lets just get you well.
 
I posted a watch in the for sale section if anyone is interested. I may have a few more things once i figure out what i am willing to get rid of..
 
going for another CT scan tomorrow and then to a new oncologist on thur to get second opinion and then back to my regular oncologist on fri.. such a fun week
 
Welp off to my CT scan. I dropped the price on my watch a lil bit to $85. Gotta get some gas money lol.. Hope everyone is having a good week so far.
 
So here is an update on whats going on. I went and seen a new med oncologist yesterday because I did not think the one I was seeing was acting fast enough. The new one that I seen is a professor of the nurse practitioners at SIU in hematology/oncology. When I had my first CT scan on 9/3 it showed tumors on my lymph nodes that were 1cm in size. Had another CT scan done on tue of this week and they had grown to 2.8cm. My new DR said that instead of the CT scans I should of been doing a PET scan which would of showed the tumors as cancerous instead of waiting to see if they would grow like my other DR was wanting to do. So now begins the fun part of my journey. I am scheduled for a PET scan next tue at 7am and following that appointment I have chemo education. Wed I have a appointment with my DR to go over PET scan results and following that I have sperm banking. Fri I go in at 7am to get a port put in for chemo. Should be starting chemo the following Monday. Wont know exactly which drugs will be used in my chemo til I see my DR on wed. I will be staying in the hospital Mon-Fri for my treatments since I live so far away and cant afford the gas to go back and forth every day for 5 days or to stay in a hotel. He said they will hydrate me for 2 hours prior to my treatment and 2 hours. I will either be doing BEPx3 chemo which I prefer not to do if at all possible because the bleomycin can damage my lungs or I will be doing EPx4 which is a treatment cycle longer than the BEP but doesn not use bleomycin. Hope everyone has had a great week and have some fun times planned for this weekend.
 
Good luck Travis.

Keep in mind that CT scans are notoriously inaccurate in determining size and type of tumors, usually due to the speed of metabolism of the contrast solution, so two CTs showing different sized tumors may not actually indicate that they are growing at that rate.

My grandfather just went through a round of testing to see if he has metastatic stomach cancer in his liver (he has been through two rounds of surgery and treatment for stomach cancer). CT indicated tumors, but blood tests were negative. His oncologist is going to wait to see if there are indications of growth, but he isn't going to treat regardless so we are content with that. You are young and its worth it for you to fight, so don't be content with an oncologist who wants to wait.

Also make sure you are treating holistically. Cancer attacks the whole body, so fight back by working to keep yourself healthy in addition to attacking the cancer itself.

Again, the best of luck!
 
Good luck Travis, you are in my prayers.
 
Thanks Indy and jesusfreak. I go for my PET scan and chemo education in the morning. Have to be at the hospital at 7am so have to get up at 5 and get ready to go. Hope everyone had a fantastic weekend.
 
Good luck Travis! I'll be thinking of you today and good luck with the sperm banking. I know you were concerned with starting a family later. This sounds like a good plan for you. Keep us posted.
 
Thanks sassy. We got home from the DR around 1 but I was tired so I took a nap. So today the PET scan went pretty good but won't find out results until tomorrow. My chemo education with the nurse practitioner was pretty good also. She went over alot of information that I had already found online but was still nice to hear. I was given 4 prescriptions today to start getting ready for chemo. I am trying to quit smoking and they gave me *Amitriptyline* to help me quit smoking. Gave me *Ativan* and Prochlorperazine* for nausea and also 7 day patches of Granisetron for nausea. And those are just for starters. Also found out that I will be doing 4 rounds of chemo instead of 3 because one of the drugs in the 3 round one I can't use because I am a smoker and the drug causes lung damage. Never thought I would be one of the people that carries around a med list but I am going to make one up and carry it with me. Hope everyone is having a great day.
 
I've read testicular cancer is the easiest to clear up and it is less likely to mestatize. I hope you have a speedy recovery. You can have kids with just one testicle. Those sperm in there will be commando one's.
 
Actually it depends on the type of germ cell the cancer is. Mine is embryonal carcinoma which is very aggresive and 90% of people with it have metastasis at time of diagnosis. Also the chemo will kill my sperm and yes there is a chance of them working again but 2 to 3 years after my chemo is finished.
 
But yes it is one of the most curable just have to go through the steps of everything.
 
Well, I'm hoping your banking goes well AND that your soldiers kick in a few years again. Then you can have an entire baseball team!
 
Thanks for the info medic I will check it out more in depth in a bit. So I had my Dr apt to go over my PET scan results yesterday. The cancer has spread more than he had thought. It is in 3 of my lymph nodes and not just one and it is also in my lungs as suspected. He said this will not hinder my treatment plan. I will still be going in to get my port put in tomorrow and I will start chemo next Monday. I will be doing 4 cycles of chemo because they cant use the BEPx3 because I am a smoker and the bleomycine will damage my lungs even more. I am on medication now to help me quit smoking. I asked my Dr if they were trying to kill me before I start chemo because they are taking away my cigarettes and my caffeine lol. My sisters are getting a benefit set up to help out with some of our expenses and also my brother-in-law and some of my friends are putting together a poker run for the same day. Hope everyone is having a great week. Also I did my sperm banking yesterday and have to do it again tomorrow after my surgery and Monday before my chemo.
 
EmtTravis said:
Also I did my sperm banking yesterday and have to do it again tomorrow after my surgery and Monday before my chemo.
Click to expand...

What else are you doing for recreation?:rolleyes:


(I NEVER use Smiley's!)
 
firetender said:
What else are you doing for recreation?:rolleyes:


(I NEVER use Smiley's!)
Click to expand...

HAHA I could tell you but I'd have to kill you lol. So home from surgery. Neck and chest are both pretty sore at the incision sites. They didn't give me any pain meds because they said most OTC meds should take care of the pain which is fine with me because vicodin and such don't work on me any way. It is weird feeling the line over my clavicle.
 
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