My new teammate - my oncologist

I'd heard from others that the visit with the oncologist is emotionally and physically exhausting and it's true.    I was wiped at the end of the day.    I was expecting to come out of the appointment with a plan  - a schedule - my treatment mapped out.   Not so.  Still more testing to be done to get the treatment plan in place.  A little bit of a let down but then I'm not sure I would have liked to have the appointment go any other way.   Although I might think that I was ready to start treatment next day I'm not yet ready for that, emotionally or physically.

I went into the meeting with my binder filled with my pathology reports, my summarized diagnosis based on what I'd gathered to date, a number of pages with questions and a red pen to scrawl down answers and comments from the Dr.   I was armed and ready to battle this disease.

While I was disappointed somewhat that I didn't come out with clear schedule of treatment, what I did get is a confirmation of my diagnosis (what is known to date) as well as confirmation that I was doing well in grasping the cancer language.   So, my work to date informing and educating paid off.  

Guess I was a bit ahead of myself.  This meeting was to become a first in a long series of meeting and and discussions with my new partner.    Don't want surprising news from the oncologist - unless they can tell me the cancer has mysteriously disappeared.    I hope that I go into each discussion knowing where I am in the journey, prepared for what will come from those talks.