gmschmidt

Thanks everyone.

All very good perspectives!  Thanks everyone.

It sounds like your husband and mine, are (or have been) on some of the same treatments. My husband doesn’t take pain killers, but takes tylenol or other pain relievers very heavily. The cognitive decline could be from so many things, or a combination of things. It’s really not listed as a common side effect of those treatments, that I have read, but so many chemicals in one’s body seems like it would mess with your brain. As I mentioned in my original post I would hate to blame it on the cancer or treatment drugs, and ignore the possiblity that it could be dementia or alzheimer’s disease. Although, I’m not sure if there’s much that could be done for him if he had one of those underlying medical conditions. Thanks for your input, it’s all quite a challenge.

Yes, he does get MRI’s regularly. I probably should have mentioned that his cancer is in his lymph nodes.

Thanks for your reply, and I wish you the best.

Good to know! Thanks

As always, thanks Bubbles for the information.

Abear, good to know! Was/is your husband on Opdivo alone, or Opdivo combined with another drug?

Thanks
Gail

Yeah, we strip the tube every time he dumps the fluid. They showed us how to do that before we left the hospital. There has been tissue before, along with the red fluid, but now it’s white chuncks.

His is in the armpit as well. I guess it’s ok. ??

When you say all you need is MyChart, do you mean you pulled it up for them on a phone or computer or did you try to print something out.  I found a link on "my chart" to download records which I did but it's a zip file.  I tried to extract the files (which I have done before) and it says their extracted, but they aren't.  Also its a SDMF file.  ?

Yeah, I've heard and read that stage 4 melanoma automatically qualifies, but I still can't complete the application without answering that question yes or no.  I spoke to an attorney about them filling it out, and they said I didn't need them.   They suggested I do it on line though as opposed to going in, I can't remember why.  On-line is much more conveinent for me anyway.  I guess I'll go ahead and call SSA Monday.  I just thought maybe someone in the same situation as me might have just filled out an on-line app and would know the answer.  The last time I called the SSA the wait time was 90 minutes.     

Thanks

Yes, when he retires he will be collecting a monthly pension.  It was my understanding that doesn't matter.   A lot of people get part time jobs after they retire, but he wouldn't have that option since he's unable to work, which is where the disability comes in.  I do tax returns for a living and I have a couple of clients who  receive both a pension and Social Security Disability.  So I guess I'd better research that a little better.  Thanks

Thanks everyone for the great suggestions.  I'll get shopping!

Have you gotten your taste back?

That's awesome and encouraging that you are NED since 2013.

Thanks