Dorothy Heads to Kansas (er, Evanston)

In the past few months I've become a frequent nibbler at the health services buffet. The more I desire to escape from appointments, tests and those nagging symptoms of the post-cancer treatment life, the more I find myself trudging out to yet another medicial visit. Addicted to time-consuming, often rude encounters with the health profession? Nah, not so much. I struggle with every event, thinking "Is this a one or three-doctor-visit problem?" Often, I know that if I want to reach the end of the Yellow Brick Road (final reconstruction surgery) I have to first complete the consultations, the oophorectomy recommended by the oncologist and OB/GYN, the echocardiogram that was requested by the doctor who was consulted about the ear pain and hearing loss and instead discovered the really, really low blood pressure. Really, my greatest desire is to present myself to team of specialists and say "Have at it. Find out everything you can about me, why I have no stamina, extreme and uneven bouts of fatigue, ear popping and a sensation of wind blowing through my head, why my left arm burns and the part of my chest that isn't numb aches. Then tell me how to fix myself." Because really, they've done enough damage already.

The node biopsy, bone scan and liver scan, bloodwork and cardio tests have shown me to be in great shape for a cancer chick. As far as my oncologist is concerned, she's done her part and I'm good for another three months. She still hasn't addressed the big problem, of course, and my quest for an integrated program is unsupported. How frustrating that at the point where the recovery should be given top priority to prevent recurrence the patient is set adrift, alone with little advice and only their own resourcefulness and cashflow to create a health program. A recent study indicated that both exercise and diet-and these components have to adhere to specific standards- are necessary to attain a 44% reduction in cancer recurrence from those patients pursuing either exercise or nutrition programs alone. Whoa Nellie, I hear that and think why isn't the oncologist on the phone, discussing my program! Heck, if I could just get a reasoned response when I asked the question and not "eat whatever you want" like I did during chemotherapy I'd be one excited gal.

"Nutritional oncology" is the buzz phrase of the moment for me. No where in this land of medical wonders I call home (San Francisco Bay Area) have I been able to find a one-stop-shop for such a product. I've looked, I've failed. I'm going to my original home, Illinois, where a clinic run by Dr. Block provides integrative mind-body medicine for cancer care and post-treatment healing. My friend Mot will be finishing his last treatment there and I'll synch my appointments with his, then chauffeur him back home to Wisconsin. The trip has become a healing one in other ways, with visits to my childhood town, days with my best girlfriends, reunions with long estranged family members, and a brief respite from hands-on momhood. When I return home I hope to have a program ready to put in place. No way am I going to be a sitting duck waiting for Round Two. Already I'm stronger than I've ever been, and I'm not even close to where I'm headed.