nothing is easy....frantically have been trying to get my medical records to the Sheba Hospital in Tel Aviv. Going there will be a big ordeal...They require (even though we are Vaccinated) a Covid test before flight...a covid test upon arrival...ten days of quarantine...another covid test...They will do my PSMA scan there....full treatment requires being there for a couple of months and they said they'll assist in getting very reasonable AirBNB for around 50.00 per night. I am required to have someone with me. I'm still at VERY beginning...we think we finally got my medical records sent to them in a format they can open...
I was told that total cost would be between 20K and 40K(appx 20K for two sessions and 40K for four sessions).
this requires committing to Israel...since we will be there so long. I've decided that if we do this it will be more than just the treatment...it will be "an adventure".
I couldn't get it to upload...but today's pic would have been of a delicious tortilla filled with scrambled eggs with cheese and a MorningStar Veggie sausage Pattie crumbled into it. Trying to eat more healthy (most of the time).
gJohn
p.s. thanks to everyone for suggestions regarding treatment. Still waiting to speak to my oncologist one more time...
Written by
greatjohn
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Something to be said about making a decision. I always heard, I hope this isn’t inappropriate, that if you or someone really close to you is sick, to find the best Jewish doctor you could. So best of luck.
John, of course, I don’t know you, your Dx, your prognosis, your idea of “adventure,” your stage of life, your general mobility, your life-goals, your responsibilities (“we”), or your finances.
I’m not arrogant or heartless enough to try to tell anyone here what to do. And I’m certainly not trying to be glib. Let me offer a couple of thoughts....
(I have some clarity myself. I’m 73, single, no kids, in fact no family, retired.)
If I were already Dx’d w/ a poor prognosis w/o Tx but a promising likelihood of success w/Tx, and if I wanted to tie world-class Tx together with a travel adventure, I’d be researching — maybe you already have — a lot more countries than one and that had best-of-the-best Tx centers that wouldn’t eat precious time w/, e.g., quarantine. (I expect you already know such a Tx center in Israel.) E.g., India? Thailand? Costa Rica? $40K might stretch a lot farther in such places if and only if you can get the Tx quality you want. I don’t know.
On the other hand, if I were already Dx’d, w/ a sh***y prognosis and a fast-approaching finish line, if I were in a real and justifiable panic, and if had an extra 40 large lying around, I might be running conversion calculations of $40,000 into numbers of cases of Glenfarclas 25, freezers of Haagen-Dazs, lap dances, and/or first-class trip-around-the-world equivalents. Just sayin’, man.
But that’s my opinion, and I may very well be wrong. Especially for anyone else.
I love your style and wit...Since my partner of 43 years (now as of January, Husband) and I don't have anyone in our wills that we really care to leave a lot of money to....spending some of our money up is not such a bad concept. Since he is dealing with Lewy body dementia and has potentially a LONG stint in a memory nursing home unit...we had "the talk" a few days ago...If we don't spend some of the money on me trying to make me live longer...then he'll just end up in an assisted living home/nursing home sooner. He already can't drive and has trouble with lots of "life things". I am currently his full-time caregiver. If I don't survive...he won't survive alone for long before going into "care". My oncologist told me on my last zoom visit....when she revealed my latest doubled in 30 days PSA..."John you just have to be thankful you've lasted this long". I have been telling people I am past my expiration date. Stage 4 doesn't last forever. For someone in "stage 5" I am amazingly quick minded, still running an online antiques business, still walking a few miles a day (in two sections) with our dog...and still doing weight lifting (at home since the Covid)....I'm 64. I really want to make it to see a respectable age to "go" like at least 70. That said...I read similar stories to mine on here from men so so so much younger even than I...and (like my oncologist said) I "am happy to have lasted this long".
**Looking around "for a deal"...doesn't sound good for me....because I have to bring my husband along...and it's NOT going to get any easier to travel with him...his disease is progressive and right now he's doing pretty well.... and many people have told me I need to make this happen fast if it's going to really benefit me
Life...it really is "a crap shoot" or as my mom used to say "you're damned if you do/ damned if you don't"
John, Yours is a poignant, bittersweet story. After living thru (at least) 2 pandemics. You and your husband sound like great guys with 43 years’ taking care of each other from your very youth and, now, newlyweds to boot. My warmest congratulations. Wedding flowers below for both of you! Gods and goddesses but you guys certainly have a lot on your plates. Sharon and I have been together for 11 years after divorces long before that. We met on match.com when we were living 1,000 miles distant when in our 60s. Now, what’s that all about? Take good care of yourself. I hope you’ll let us know here how Israel works out. Best, mike
thanks so much for you kind reply. I am humbled. Hope to fill in as the "adventure" continues. Still waiting to see if they "accept" me and then to see if My PSMA lights up well...before I actually will be lined up for the treatment. Fingers are crossed, incense lite and prayers said for smooth path forward.
John, like others, I hesitate to suggest alternatives when your planning is so advanced - but I always like to have a backup plan against which to test progress as new issues arise, so here goes.
What about Perth in Western Australia? Here’s the pros/cons as they seem to me:
Perth will be cooler for at least the next 8 months and I recall you don’t love heat
Perth would be an easier living environment - costs would be higher, though not massively so
Access is tough but may be achievable in extenuating medical circumstances such as yours - this is a moving feast.
No Dead Sea, but a fair chance of ending up dead in the sea if you go swimming- just kidding, we have pretty much trained the sharks to avoid tourists now.
Might be worth having a backup plan if something unexpected happens re Israel.
John it makes me happy you have decided it is time for an adventure. You can be happy you made it this far and still keep fighting, as your clearly doing. What kind of food pics can we expect? I look forward to a pic of you floating in the Dead Sea but when your in it we will call it the Full of Life Sea. Safe travels.
Israel will definately be an adventure...for both you and your husband. I hope all of your procedures go well and that you'll be keeping a kosher kitchen well into your 80's.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
Is surgery, radiation or Lu-177 therapy appropriate for my case? 
COVID-19 Pandemic Blocks my Quest for LU 177 +/- AC 225 Therapy
Just had my third infusion of LU-177
Seeking input on Australia for Lu-177 for my dad
