The past few days have entailed my initial consultations with my Medical Oncologist and Radiation Oncologist. They are the dynamic duo that will be attacking my cancer. The doctors said that cancer surgery on the neck area is “morbid” and “very invasive,” and that we are hoping to avoid that option. I shudder to think of what that entails. I’m sure there are YouTube videos on it, but I’m not typing that into the search bar.
I’m coming to learn lots of new jargon through this whole process — if there’s anything I’d like to contribute to modern medicine, is to help improve the communication to the general public. Medicine needs a science translator, its own Neil DeGrasse Tyson. I’ll put my name in that hat after these treatments are over.
Medical Oncology, it turns out, is the specialty that handles chemotherapy. There’s also other sub-specialties within oncology: immunology, radiation, dental. Dental! Here I was thinking that there was just one oncology, like a dummy.
My chemo doctor is a very intelligent woman, and is very measured and conservative in her speech. A classic scientist. She claimed to know nothing of potential complementary therapies like high-dose IV vitamin C, insulin potentiation therapy, and others that I brought up. Not surprising, as most classic scientists seem to stay in their “lane” and don’t render opinions on issues outside of their area of expertise.
I’d hoped for more, but in retrospect, it makes sense. An expert in chemotherapy should be researching and practicing just that. A sword-maker knows little or nothing of gun-smithing, even though the tools are often used for similar purposes. I think maybe it’s better that way. I’ll study the alternative, complementary therapies, and integrate them with her treatments when it makes sense.
Right now, my main focus is on strengthening my body on all possible fronts for the treatments to come. I’ll bring my nutrition, physical strength, and mental health, to the fight to battle along side my many oncologists.