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Notes on the Dr. Toh consultation
Getting to the hospital required a taxi; Uncle John doesn't like driving during the morning rush hour. In the hospital lobby we borrowed a wheelchair for helping Papa move around during our visit. On the second storey we waited for our number to be called for Papa's turn in the care of a phlebotomist. Then there followed an even longer wait while the blood tests were performed, so we had a couple hours free to catch up on reading and to grab a snack from the outdoor cafe.
With the arrival of Uncle John around 10:30, there wouldn't be enough chairs for all of us in Dr. Toh's office. Dr. Toh explained that the sunitinab would have to be discontinued for a week, because its more dangerous side effects had started presenting after these first two weeks of use. The rashes and yellow skin could definitely be attributed to sunitinab, but the vomiting and constipation of recent days are less clearly linked to the medication. Without this medication in the upcoming days, the only defense Papa has against the reencroachment of cancer is a healthy body, to which end we are advised to monitor his diet with extra vigilance this week.
Mom left me alone with Papa twice this afternoon: first to file a medical insurance claim based on today's bill, and later to clean out the two desk drawers in Papa's UHall office. When Mom got back, I went out on some errands of my own, first to run around West Coast Park, and then to pick up some groceries on the way back. I returned home to the smell of a chicken curry that Mom had cooked while I was out.
Although we polished off the whole batch of chicken curry, Papa played only a small part in this effort. His tastebuds mistakenly reported a high level of spiciness, while both Mom and I found it mild. Papa resorted to bland liquids as his nutrient delivery vehicle, making Mom feel unappreciated for all her work in the kitchen. I sensed rising tension in the subsequent deliberation over what he should eat, as the two of them second-guessed each other's patience in the face of slow progress, and commitment to the recovery program.