'Fun' at Dana-Farber

This week's double-header at Dana-Farber was an about face from last week's, with transportation running smoothly and some socializing to be had.

A different driver from a different service took me both ways. He was courteous and on time and even called me when he was getting close. And he came into the driveway! He told me he is from Russia – Siberia – and he has lived in Boston for six years. His Americanized name is C.J., but his real name is Sergei.

I showed him the back way to Boston through Ludlow, and he was taken by the beautiful scenery. He remarked on the farms with cows and the lush trees, not the kind of scenery he saw in Serbia or Boston. Sometimes we take it for granted, and it's good to see it through new eyes.

The photopheresis was uneventful. I had dozed in the car (a luxury to be a passenger and not fighting to stay awake), so I wasn't sure if I would sleep, but I dozed some in the chair and also read the paper and watched the penultimate episode of The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, which made me laugh out loud.

The cab taking me to Margaret's was on time too, and although I was not pleased that my pickup time the next morning was 5:50 a.m. for a 7 a.m. appointment less than half an hour away, I was glad that I got to spend a little time in Dana-Farber's beautiful Stoneman Healing Garden.

The rest of the day was nearly a social event.

I saw Melissa for a brief exam but mostly to check in. And who should walk in but one of my favorite doctors, Francisco Marty, whose beautiful photos I sometimes share on Facebook. We shared a hug and a laugh after he asked, "How's the internal sunburn going?"

It took me a minute to realize that he was talking about the ECP.

Since I wasn't sure how long I would wait for Melissa, I had left some leeway when scheduling my ride home. I ended up having extra time, so I walked over to The Brigham and went up to my old transplant unit, 6A. It was wonderful to see a couple of nurses and the aide who had bathed me in bed when I could barely sit up.

Going over the bridge from the Yawkey Center to the hospital provided the opportunity for me to pay it back for the many times people had shown me the way.

Two women were who were going to the Brigham were asking for directions, and since I was going that way I said to follow me.

I played tour guide along the way, gesturing to the birds carrying medicinal herbs on The Bridge of Hope and showing them the Emily Dickinson poem Hope is the thing with feathers that served as inspiration for the motif.

They were amazed by it all and said they looked forward to stopping on the way back to take a closer look.  I hope that wherever they were going, I was able to show them something that might make their trip easier just as other people have done for me.

The scoop on my tongue

Or should I say, the piece that they are scooping from my tongue?

Whatever, I finally got the decision on what they are going to do about the small area that needs to be removed from my tongue.

It is a little unsettling because it changed from one day to the next, but all things considered it seems to be a minor matter, so I think I am OK with it.

Thursday I got a call from Dr. Trevor, the resident in the oral surgery department at Brigham and Women's. He said the specialist got a chance to look at the biopsy and thought that it would be fine to remove the remainder of the spot at the oral surgeon's office rather than at Dana-Farber. It is more than just pre-cancerous and is in fact a cancer on the surface of the tongue, but it is at a very early stage. He said to make an appointment with Dr. Treister, the attending in the department, for Monday May 2, when I will be in the area for my Dana-Farber checkup.

But yesterday morning, Dr. Treister called and said the plan had changed. He and the other doctors who studied the biopsy would be more comfortable if the surgery is performed at Dana-Farber's department of head and neck oncology. It doesn't change the diagnosis, but the change in venue did slightly crank up my anxiety level. A head and neck specialist will remove a larger portion to make sure the margins are clear. I will also receive a head and neck scan.

It adds another layer to the process. I must first meet with a new doctor and then schedule the procedure. Dr. Treister said the small amount of extra time doesn't matter.

"It's nothing to lose sleep over at this point," he assured me.

"At this point?" I wondered. What's the meaning behind those words? I know, I know, the answer is...nothing. Those are only words that he needs to say, and they don't mean anything.

I told Katie that I get to visit a new floor – the 11th – at Dana-Farber's new Yawkey Center for Cancer Care.

She remarked that it's interesting that a specialty involving the head and neck, the top part of the body, is at the top of the building.

Hmmmmm.

Something to chew on...if I can, what with my missing teeth and the piece cut from my tongue!