Things are happening, though a little slowly.* I have been seeing Dr. Atwell at the Victoria Cancer Center. But this week I got a call from a nice lady named Susan who told me that Dr. Atwell has referred me to another oncologist in Nanaimo, Dr. Randy Marback. So next Monday I’ll show up at Life Labs at 8:30 in the morning to give another blood sample and on Wednesday at 2:10 in the afternoon I’ll report to the Ambulatory Care entrance of the Nanaimo General Hospital for an appointment with the man himself.

Apparently I’m to be given a new drug, aberaterone acetate, delivered straight from the manufacturer. Dr. Atwell tells me that it would cost $3,000/month but because it hasn’t been officially released yet in Canaada the company will provide it for free. Whew.

It’s good that I will have an oncologist to talk to locally. I have questions. Going over my notes from my meeting with Dr. Atwell I see that he gives me 2 to 3 years (????) with no treatment and 5 to 7 years with treatment. Right now the cancer is turning me into a hypochondriac. Every ache and pain which is most likely just a result of old age now sets off alarms. Is this how it starts? Is this a first symptom. Maybe I can get some answers.

*Okay, not all that slowly. I saw Dr. Atwell on October 25 and I will see Dr. Marback on November 20. I think waiting less than a month to see a cancer specialist is not terrible. Let it be known that I’m again grateful for the Canadian health care system.