Dr. Baum: Bad Berka, Germany

I have scheduled my Octreoscans (OTS) and MRI for December 21st. It's 3 days of scans, which means 3 days in Omaha again. The OTS scanner / method is supposed to be better at UNMC. This time I think we'll drive to take advantage of the antiques! We saw some great furniture there last time that we would have loved to take home for the Wisconsin house. I have also recently been in touch with Dr. Baum in Bad Berka, Germany. I'm sending them my files for review. Dr. Baum thinks I might be a candidate for PRRT. (watch the videos... an hour total...but full of amazing info once you get past the history in the beginning.) Their scanners are amazing. If nothing else, I think I should go there for a scan to get a better picture of what is happening. From what other patients have told me, a treatment package is about 10,500 EUR (about $17,000 USD). Of course, there is also lodging and airfare. I think the scan alone is about $3000 USD. So, I need to start saving my pennies now, especially if multiple trips and treatments are needed. If the staged resection looks ify, I'm headed to Germany. I'm going to try and hang on to my liver as long as I can... and I don't care if I go bust doing it!! Anyone want to buy a photobooth? Or, maybe some old books?

Currently, I'm fighting some kind of a cold, so, trying to rest a bit. Over Thanksgiving I had some nasty pains in my side that lasted for 3 days or so... I've been having residual pain on/off since, but nothing too bad. The pain is worse mentally, because you can't help but think about what is going on inside... It brings my "mortality" to the forefront of everyday life...

Watch the videos and learn about PRRT

PART 1:



PART 2:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Tickets to Germany: Bad Berka

Image
A blurred landscape photos for no good reason... We have our tickets for Germany. -Flying into Frankfurt arriving the morning of February 6th. On the 7th, we take the train to Bad Berka. Scan on the 8th. If the scan looks ok, we will proceed with surgery in Omaha with Dr. Botha. But before heading back to the US, we'll take the train to Berlin, and fly out from there on the 13th. If the scan is not so great, i.e., too many tumors in the liver to operate of extensive disease, we will see if I can stay for PRRT treatment. I'm not sure if this is an option at this time with respect to scheduling in the hospital, etc.... I still need to work out some logistics... that is, how does my surgeon in Nebraska review the imaging from the scan? When will a report be completed? That's all for now...
Read more

...a long winded story not written all that well.

Image
A cornfield somewhere in Wisconsin: Taken with a Horizon 35mm panormic: Taken just after a spell of severe stomach pains. October.2008 So, here it goes, from the beginning: I've had recurring stomach pains for at least 4 years. For those who know me well, I’m a relatively “high-strung” individual… Ok, maybe I’m borderline OCD? Initially, doctors thought these stomach pains might be related to anxiety? But sometime late in 2007, my pain slowly started to get worse. Well, I thought it must be an ulcer or something? At times, I’d have these attacks that would last for days, stabbing. When the pain started to become more frequent in November of 2008, Andrea forced me to see a doctor. The doctors initially thought it might be an ulcer, or, an issue with my gallbladder. I was sent for an ultrasound in early December 2008… and this is when it all began. During the ultrasound they noted that I might indeed have gallstones, for which an operation would be required. In addition, they n
Read more

On the refrigerator...

Image
Just three years ago I was officially diagnosed with Cancer. Happy Cancerversary!!! But hey, guess what? I'm still alive and well... Fu*k you Cancer! If my next MRI at the end of March shows stable disease, I will have had no progression in 1 year (Currently 10.25 months stable). Every day that I can spend with my wife, my work, friends and family, I'm happy. Now... Here we come Europe! We leave Sunday for Switzerland and Italy (Photobooth business abroad!).
Read more