After a rather extended and clinical discussion with my doc on the first day that I received the news about having prostate cancer, I left with the basic information that my risk is, "moderate-low". There was discussion of Gleason scale numbers, which are skewed to some extent in a manner that makes them rather difficult to understand. I did find out through other references, that the diagnostic procedures, tools and algorithms are all estimates. Some are estimates based on estimates. Oh, good.
The doc, as almost an afterthought, scheduled a bone scan x-ray at St. Mary Corwin hospital in Pueblo. I did this last week. It's a relatively painless procedure. The tech/nurse was an artist with an IV. I actually did not know that the needle was in until I looked. "Working on the painless needle stick," he said. Well, I think he's got it down.
I laid out on a long table that fit within a moving apparatus shaped like a high-tech donut. Had to remove all the metal objects from my pockets, and the belt, but kept my boots and clothes on. Took thirty minutes for the scan, and I fell asleep a couple of times. Then, Barb and I had a Chinese food lunch and drove home.
Next day, the Urologist office called to schedule a follow up appointment. Well, I said, I'd rather have a phone consult since I have to drive two hours and spend gas money to sit in his office and hear the same thing he can tell me over the phone. Sorry, they can't do that. I had her talk directly to the doc, but no, he won't do that, so I have to go back in on Tuesday. They wanted to schedule the follow up out about three weeks, but I want the news sooner than later.
Since this is the time in our lives when we are routinely using phones, text messages, email and the internet for almost everything, I would like to understand the reason why office visits are necessary. Is is a liability thing? Are the lawyers and insurance companies at it again?
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