Staying Stable

My IVIG infusion will give me a boost for about 3 weeks before it starts to wear off...  so, what does that mean exactly?

For me,

• I sleep better
• My appetite is suppressed
• My energy level is high
• My fatigue lessens
• an end of sinus infections
• I am more active

My Oncologist wants me to receive IVIG infusions every month instead of every other month which would result in me feeling pretty darn good all the time.  And, if one feels good then one is also emotionally healthy as well which then leads to having good psychological health.   This is important, at least for me because having Lymphoma and Melanoma simultaneously means that at some point-in-time there is always the possibility that either one of these cancers or both could turn AGGRESSIVE at any time putting me in a critical health situation and threaten my life.

Healthcare in the USA

According to Gallop.com:

The U.S. healthcare system is in a state of emergency.

Gallup 2020 data show that only 19% of Americans are "very satisfied" with the quality of medical care in the U.S., a figure that has remained largely constant over the past two decades.

And compared with other developed nations, the U.S. ranks highest on chronic disease burden, lowest on access to care and lowest on health system quality -- despite annual national health spending of $3.6 trillion ($11,172 per person).

These problems make post-COVID recovery strategies even more critical. To recover financially, healthcare leaders must unite, collaborate with leaders from other industries and reevaluate traditional practices.

There is no doubt that healthcare leaders have responded to the COVID-19 pandemic heroically, with many using this painful opportunity to embrace new learning and prepare for the next inevitable crisis.

For example, COVID-19 has accelerated much-needed change, such as the digital and technological transformation that many healthcare organizations were trying to actualize before the crisis.

But healthcare leaders still find themselves in a precarious position due to considerable revenue loss. The American Hospital Association predicts that the financial strain on hospitals and health systems due to lower patient volumes "will continue through at least the end of 2020" -- a likely total loss of $323 billion in 2020.

Gallup has conducted research in the field of healthcare for decades, including just before and during the pandemic. A recent review of this research uncovered five forces that are paramount for any healthcare organization's survival -- through the current crisis and beyond.

FIVE FORCES THAT WILL INFLUENCE HEALTHCARE
1. Value based healthcare will change
2. Disruptions in healthcare will be ongoing
3. Healthcare will become more virtual
4. Healthcare organizations will merge
5. The healthcare ecosystem will expand beyond traditional vendors

Through Another Lens

A couple of days ago, I talked with my new Urologist about potential prostate cancer via video conference (like Skype I suppose) and while our sound did not work as was intended, we talked to each other on the telephone.  Interestingly, he said that of his 6 video calls that week, he experienced audio problems with 5 of them.

Our meeting lasted about 12-15 minutes and he patiently described the situation about having a high PSA number of 8+ as not being that alarming since it had only happened once, especially since I was not experience the other, more traditional, symptoms of prostate cancer.  He wanted to do another blood test in a couple of months to see if the PSA increased/decreased or stayed the same.

The next step was to do a biopsy of the prostate but because of COVID-19, no biopsies were being performed unless the patient had a PSA of 15 or higher.

He reassured me that prostate cancer was slow growing and since this was my first high PSA that there was nothing to worry about, since it was very early in the process and especially since prostate cancer typically was slow growing.  He also answered my question with a NO that there was no connection between prostate cancer and either Lymphoma or Melanoma; although there had been some evidence that treatment for Melanoma had helped prostate cancer patients.

What I liked about this video conference was that I did not have to leave my house and my first thought was that this is the way it should be normally for all FIRST TIME visits to keep patients from driving to the office and spending time with others in a waiting room for 60 minutes or so...   Perhaps, some follow-up visits could happen like this as well.

HOPEFULLY, this corona virus will change how we conduct future healthcare in this country.

T R U S T & T R U T H

With my cancer condition, it is imperative that I have Trust & Truth in EVERYTHING with which I must interact on a regular or irregular basis.

For example, if I were to go to a restaurant, fly on an airline, rent a motel room, or book passage on a cruise ship, I must feel SAFE, in that:

1. Has the restaurant been properly cleaned?
2. Will the airline crew protect my healthcare?
3. Has the motel room been properly sanitized?
4. Does the ship carry the proper medical supplies?
5. Did the prior occupant take appropriate precautions?

 This 5th point is probably the most critical.

I seriously doubt that, given what I have witnessed here in the USA and overseas that people don't really take any healthcare scare seriously.

I also seriously doubt that our leaders are telling us the truth.

COVID-19 has made it clear that TRUST & TRUTH is absent in the actions and comments of most Americans...  and,

that is completely unacceptable...  to me...  and, it should be for you!!!