Ravioli in my chest!

Before I could begin my chemo I needed to get a port put directly into my chest. The best I can describe it as is a hard piece of plastic that feels like a ravioli noodle.

I went to the Huntsman Cancer Institute, and they sent me to the radiology department. I was given some medication to help me relax. The medication didn't put me all the way to sleep just sort-of asleep. They then made an incision and inserted the ravioli in my chest. From there they put a line from the ravioli up through a vein in my neck. They then leave a line sticking through the ravioli and out of my chest so that I could start the chemotherapy the next day...

Where to get treatment?

For us the next step (and I believe the most important step) was deciding where to get treatment. Based off of recommendations from other people we decided to see three different oncologists. I was pleasantly surprised at the time each and every one of the doctors took with us. The initial meeting with each of the three doctors was about 3 1/2 hours per meeting.

In the end we decided to get treatment up at the Huntsman Cancer Institute in Salt Lake. My wife and I felt like it was the best facility for our needs. They have one area that only deals with lymphoma and leukemia. The Huntsman cancer Institute in Salt Lake is a world class facility. The area is clean and inviting and the people who work there are friendly and cheerful. The two facilities I checked out in Provo are also very good however we felt most comfortable with the Huntsman Cancer Institute.