Down but not beaten

Another eventful day. Left home at about 815am to take Jalen to school. Went directly to Santa Monica for a PET scan, a two-hour ordeal. The nuclear med technician couldn’t find a vein because my veins have now gotten into the habit of hiding whenever they sense a hypodermic needle in the vicinity. My right arm (the only usable one) is now once again black and blue. I used to joke about the bruises looking like track marks but it doesn’t seem so funny right at the moment. From Santa Monica, we went directly to City of Hope in Duarte. Essentially, I am trying to see if I could qualify for a new clinical trial they are hosting for a very promising new chemo regimen. Unfortunately, openings are rare and the hospital is on the wait list with other hospitals performing the clinical trials. The fact that I have been on various chemo regimens also precludes me from all but one. This lone trial I may be eligible for has a long waiting list and there are at least two other people before me. Crap. The oncologist, a kindly Chinese lady, advised me to not wait and to discuss other possible chemo with my current oncologist. Not very promising or encouraging but not as bad as I anticipated. I am trying to maintain a positive outlook.