My dad's appointment with his oncologist was today and I went along as planned. I feel that I owe an update to everyone who called and e-mailed me asking for news, but I don't feel that I learned very much today. The short answer is: for every question that got a logical (if not entirely satsifactory) answer, other questions were raised. The longer answer follows.

Regarding my concerns about Sutent, the answer is that this drug is almost the proverbial "miracle drug" in treating renal cell carcinoma. Previously, the only known treatments were very debilitating and dangerous ["iridium" and "interferon" is what I believe the oncologist said, but I didn't write it down as my dad wasn't getting that], so given the alternatives and Sutent's results, the FDA fast-tracked the approval of Sutent. Pfizer has all those disclaimers up because, although they've had incredible, wonderful, substantial results, Sutent hasn't had enough measurable results over a long enough period to claim that it cures renal cell carcinoma.

I was fine with that - it's a logical answer I can understand, and many of the other questions I had were answered in a rational fashion, but even as I was feeling better about his oncologist and his proposed treatment, I was feeling worse about this office as a whole. After the consultation, it was like the Keystone Cops go to the doctor, I swear: "[Helly's dad] is here for his Sutent! No he isn't we haven't gotten the approval from Cigna yet! He's here for the injection to fight his anemia! No he isn't his blood is back to normal! He's here for his Zometa for his elevated calcium! No his calcium his normal he's here for bloodwork! [Helly's dad] needs to schedule his next chemo! No he doesn't he's not on chemo!" - and I'm thinking, "Holy crap, do NONE of you people know what he's here for? Wasn't there some compelling REASON that you made this appointment a week ago? If so, what was it? AAAARGH!"

Oh, but they still haven't started him on Sutent because they haven't received approval from his insurance company although they feel there will be no problems and the insurance company can't legally deny him treatment they can't do anything without approval so there is some red tape and whatnot to wander through, but we shouldn't worry. Yeah.

Also, everyone had me under the impression that Dad needed an IV session of Zometa as a consequence of his elevated calcium levels - I thought it was to flush his system while ensuring that he still got enough vitamins, minerals and nutrients. I was under this impression from the oncologist, his PA, his nurse, etc. The chick who handled Dad's IV promised me a pamphlet on Zometa and as we were making his follow-up appointments and leaving, she brought it to me. Guess what it's for? To treat bones when cancer metastasizes into the bones and/or marrow, which not only has that never been mentioned as a problem, two people have point-blank told us that Dad's renal cell carcinoma HAS NOT metastasized into the bones nor the lymph nodes. So why's he on that medication? I'd dearly love to know that myself.

On a more positive note, Dad actually expressed a willingness to ingest food if I got him what he was craving, and consequently we went to Up The Creek Fish Camp where he ate a very good lunch. After a tantrum which was not one of my best, but still quite impressive, he agreed to drink nutrition drinks of the Ensure/Boost variety if I could find him one that didn't taste "like Milk of Magnesia" so I bought him one of every flavor they had at Publix. He'll drink them and like them, or else I'll throw a really bad tantrum. Not that I'm particularly proud of throwing great big crying fits to get my way, especially at the ripe old age of thirty-lots, but if it works and gets my dad to eat and get well, I'll do it. A lot. Loudly.