Changes

It's been a while since my last post. Things don't seem to be going as planned for me. I had CT scans on May 20th, which I had moved up due to the pain and overall feeling that something just isn't right with me. It appears I have a clot or tumor in the renal vein for the remaining kidney and a couple of other new tumors. I was admitted to the hospital for two days to receive blood thinners and hydration as my kidney function had deteriorated. The kidney seems to have bounced back. I have also developed unexplained anemia for the last couple of months and stomach/intestinal problems. I have been to the emergency room for severe stomach pains which seems to have been caused by the intestines shutting down and not pushing things through. I am having an endoscopy and colonoscopy tomorrow morning to look for bleeding, ulcers, cancer and anything else that would cause me trouble.
Things are changing for me. I have had a good stretch with no drug treatment for this cancer, so I can't complain, but I think it's time to get back on one of the drugs or maybe find a drug trial. There are a few drugs now that are effective at shrinking and keeping the cancer from spreading but none of them are a cure and all of them eventually quit working assuming one works for me. Everyone responds differently to these drugs. Also all of them come with side effects, quality of life changing side effects. I am not looking forward to those but I'll do what I need to do as always.
Overall I am doing as well as can be expected I guess. I have had to leave work a couple of times due to the stomach pain and missed some days due to the hospital visit. I feel bad when my coworkers have to fill in for me, especially working midnight shift like we do. I know it's not easy. I am very fortunate that I work where I do and with the people I do. I am trying my darndest to avoid going out on disability due to the cancer. Not only because of the reduction in pay but it sort of signifies that the cancer is winning this battle and I'm not ready to give any ground. It's a tough road.
I had an appointment with my Oncologist at Vanderbilt on Tuesday the 9th of June but got a call pushing it to the end of June. I wasn't happy and let them know about it. I really wanted my kidney cancer specialist to go over my scans with me and make a decision on which drug I should start. Well, he emailed me and said I could possibly get in on Wednesday instead, so we will see. I am prepared to move on without him and just let the local oncologist help me.
I guess that's all I have for now.