Chemo Day has Arrived...Tomorrow

Updated at 2:45pm 12/20/10
It's currently 10:30am as I type this.  Seems like we have had a full day already.  We arrived at the Radiology center this morning at 7:22am and Joe went back for this treatment promptly at 7:30am.  Immediately following that, we were upstairs to the 1st floor (radiation is in the sub-basement) for an 8a.m appointment with the oncologist.  After blood work & vitals taken, we went back to an exam room to wait. First in was Dr. Zafar's nurse, Minoka.  Apparently, Dr. Zafar was the only doctor in clinic 1a today, so the wait for him after Minoka left was about 15 minutes.  When he arrived he told us that unfortunately Joe's bilirubin level has crept back up by .3, but he recommended starting chemo anyway.  He says it is not uncommon for the bilirubin level to creep up from time to time and that once the chemo begins it is very common for it to do so. However, this increase is a cause for some concern. So with a little trepidation, Joe agreed to go ahead and begin chemo on Tuesday.
He has been to the Duke Pharmacy to give them his insurance information and now we are heading back down to radiation to hopefully meet with Dr. Czito (we were supposed to meet with him right after radiation treatment, but the oncology appointment got in the way.) 
10:35am - We arrived in Radiology only to be audiologically assaulted by a strolling carol singing guitar player.  Bless her heart, she tried but everyone is not meant to sing in public.  So here we wait for Dr. Czito to see Joe for a follow up radiology appointment.
Whew...busy and we still have to be back up at the pharmacy around 12:30..Hopefully we can squeeze in some time to eat something...Joe is already on the prowl for some cookies and the volunteer ladies are letting us down....no cookies in radiology....what is this world coming to....  I suppose it is better to cram as much into one day as possible...can you say a long Duke day??????
10:50am...ok we are not the only ones in the waiting room that are disappointed by the lack of cookies...
11:00am...We go to the back exam room where we meet with Dr. Czito's nurse, Celia (LOVELY woman) and then with a visiting radiology resident and then Dr. Czito.  As with Dr. Zafar, he is somewhat concerned about the bilirubin increase.  He wants to have more bloodwork done when Joe is in on Thursday for radiation treatment and make sure that the bilirubin level has not increased even more.  If so, he did say that he may want to possibly have the stint replaced with a different one, that same day.  That definitely could throw a wrench into our Christmas plans, but if that is what is necessary, we are all for it.  We will just have to wait and see what the level is on Thursday morning.  But for now, we more forward.
Tomorrow morning Joe will begin his first chemo pills.