Ok, so here is a report, I've been washed away in a lot of considerations and hospital visits and emotions and trying to keep up with business...
So we got the scan done - and there is no indication of the cancer having moved beyond the areas we already knew about. So that is good.
When at the hospital for the scan, we went to "Information" and they had no idea if and where there was a pathology dept or lab and suggested we look in the other buildings.
Then we went to "admissions" where I remembered the lady being really nice and asked. They were not on her phone list, but there were several places labelled "lab". She called around and located them and sent us off - someone was holding the door at the lab open for us. The lab is in the back of the public phone room, behind an unmarked, locked door.
A lady was holding the door open and allowed us to step inside and then stop there. I asked her if we could please have the slides sent to Hopkins for a second opinion. She said that was never done. The conversation went round and a man came out of an open door and said to her: "we'll send them, get the address" and disappeared again.
She then got the address, all the while explaining how the records belonged to the doctor and not the patient etc. I didn't get into an argument, I wanted the second opinion and not a shouting match. I suppose her boss explained it to her later anyway.
I don't suppose anyone ever asked for this before - probably because no one could find the lab!
The day after next (sunday) George complained about pain and swelling in one of his testicles and upward. Worried about infection, he started the cipro. We had a monday dr. appt. anyway. That evening he had a temper tantrum, which I just ignored. It is very out of character for him. The next morning he says: What was that last night? I was about to explode with anger. Can you look up side effects of cipro?" I did and it's a conceivable side effect. Also, after starting cipro his appetite went away again.
Monday at the docs - he was weighed and lost 10 pounds. Doc took him off the cipro (isn't it bad to start and stop all these antibiotics?) and prescribed Sulfa, but said to postpone taking it a couple days and get George eating.
He said the pain was from epididymitis.
The doc wants to start the Tuberculosis treatments asap.He says it will get into the prostrate because of the way he scraped.
So, today's task is to get an appt. in Portland for George for the second opinion.