Dr. Northfelt My Oncologist

 

Today I met my oncologist for the 1st time. My incredible friend Tamy Scheurn went with me. She has been my friend for over 20 years; she has had a mastectomy, she has a port in her chest, and she is a scrub nurse..... we get each other...I Love Her! Eric could not be there because he had an important meeting. I was so glad that I took Tamy with me because she knew what to ask. 
When he talked to me, I could feel his compassion for his patients, but he also made me feel like I was his only patient. We talked for about 20 minutes, asking and answering questions; he had a way of making me feel like none of my or Tamy's questions were silly (like some Doctors do). In fact, he loved that we asked the questions we did, and he was thrilled with Tamy coming. Although much of what he had to say was not pleasant to listen to, he told me that my attitude was everything. THE VILLAIN is in stage 3. Some people who have stage 4 live 20-30 years after, and some who have stage 1 or 2 die because they give up and don't want to fight. I am a fighter, and he could see that he liked my attitude. I will be one of the survivors!!
He had to step out of the room to get the rest of the Dr. and PA's team I would be working with over the next year. When he walked out, I looked at Tamy and said, "what do you think of him?" we both looked at each other and said, "I love him" at the same time. Tamy and I had tears in our eyes as we discussed how much compassion he showed toward me and my situation with The VILLAIN. When he came back in, he introduced me to the team, and they were all excellent. He then knelt down in front of me looked me straight. While softly touching my knee, he said:

"when you go home tonight, I want you to tell your family that I am the doctor who is going to get you through the next 40 years, not the next few months, but in 40 years you will be alive and thriving because I am going to help you every step of the way." 

I told him I would hold him to it, and he gave me a huge hug. Then, he hugged Tamy a little tighter and a little longer on his way out the door. He whispered in her ear, "I'm glad you were here for Monya today; you had all the right questions."

We are starting Chemo on November 16th, 2 days after the wedding; he agreed that day is good so I can enjoy the wedding. I will then have chemo every other week for the next 4 months. Then radiation.