All of this is very new to me. As I was diagnosed only on 1/3, it seems I need to fasttrack myself on the language and vocabulary of cancer. See, I've been lucky as nobody in my family or close circle of friends has never been diagnosed, so I never had to understand tumors, mets, nodes etc.

Obviously, I need to fast track myself on what I need to know. Does anyone have a suggestion for me on how to understand some of this lingo? It would be nice if I had Cliff notes. My husband and I discussed this last night, as I keep trying to recall the series of events that have been mentioned for the future. We were talking and realize the Cancer Center staff deals with cancer every day, years and years, and they probably just assume we have the knowledge they have. Know what I mean? They could probably mumble in their sleep what a creatin test is, but just don't think to tell us. Half the time when they take a blood test, I don't know what it's for. The only one I recall is getting a pregnancy test in the Rad dept. Some nurse mentioned a "creatin" test and said "oh yeah, you've had that" It makes my head spin.

Eventually, I will become an old hand at this right? It's not that I'm scared, it's just that I'm curious and desire to know what's going on and why. This seems the best forum for getting answers.

I would love to be full member of this club, with a little tag line before my sig that says "Stage IV, T1, N3, Mx" Prior to going in for the PEG, I asked my surgeon if they were going to sit down with us and give us a full diagnosis of the staging of this cancer. He waved at me and said "Numbers should not concern you." ::::sigh::::

So, what I'm trying to say here, is that I DESIRE to be educated. In a previous post, I did want to know what questions to ask. I'm clueless even when it comes to medications. Never had a prescription for birth control after I had my tubes tied 11 years ago, so I was never accustomed to being "medicated" Now my bathroom looks like a pharmacy exploded.

I'm now familiar with nodes and mets, but there's just so damn much to learn. I study the little booklets they pass out. "Use Dove soap on radiated skin" (useful tip, but I'm sure there's more complicated information I can absorb)

You all have been a fountain of fast learning for the uneducated with little tips and foresight for possible problems like constipation.

I want to be a good patient and not be "difficult" And I realize that because the staff deals with cancer patients, it's probably better for them to not get attached to us emotionally. I can deal with that. Anyone have any suggestions on what I can read to bring myself up to speed with tests, medications and treatments?

A nurse friend of mine asked me if I had a "case worker" yet, when I explained that I get confused over what department I need to be in on a certain day and juggling all these different appointments. Never heard of one, but did ask the surgeon about it. Don't have one, the lady in charge of my Iressa study would be the closest thing to it, but really with having to coincide different treatments on the same day, someone to help me figure out scheduling would be nice. There doesn't seem to be ONE point person to call to pull me up in the computer to see what I got on the schedule.

Again, all these terms... case worker, tests, procedures, medications, personel, who does what? I need a quick study plan to get the vocab down. Site links anyone?

Jen

Jen