Toast to Life 8

Yesterday, October 7th, was my wife's birthday, but it coincided with my own hospital visit. A friend (female) from the Singapore days spoiled me via SNS of Koko showing her frustration, saying "I am wondering if I would buy the cake myself tonight..." Oh no. Since we married about 20 years ago, we all celebrate each family member's BD by buying at least a single whole cake on the exact day even though there would be no gift exchange. This year I'm just regretting, feeling rage inside. On the 7th, with our late home back Koko hurriedly started cooking dinner. After our dinner finished, she and daughter went shopping to the neighborhood. When the two came back in 15 minutes, four puddings were in the plastic bag hung with the daughter's hand. It was delicious and we all said so each other, but for some reason Koko's face looked to me sad and tired. 

Today, on the 8th, I managed to get a bouquet and a cake. For the cake, I and Koko had the opportunity today to have lunch at a restaurant on top of JR Ogikubo station with the former nursery school principal of our daughter's and son's. Our reunion was the first time in the last six years. On my way back to home, apart from my wife for shopping, I sneaked into a mall to manage buying a cake. As for the bouquet, it was house-delivered by another friend who I met in the Meguro era before going to Singapore. His wife recently started flower arrangement business, and sent me two amulets for cancers and his wife's handmade flower arrangement.

Am returning to our hospital visit on the 7th. The schedule at IUHW Mita Hospital was packed this time. The Optune, started yesterday, is an Israeli-made electric device. At a different room of the same examination compartment as my doctor T, a female engineer from the Novocure Japan office (and sale staff) prepared equipments, including a large cardboard box and a caster bag, came over to the hospital to brief about all the apparatus to us. The Optune set also comes with Panasonic's hair shaver (an version of the men's shaver). 

Dr. T had already explained in advance the medical aspects of the device, and this time he just pressed the switch on to make the device on move. Dr. T's "push" seemed to illustrate "go". I remembered then that he had explained me of his involvement into the decision process by the Japanese government regarding the device in 2017.  

In the morning, on the way to the hospital, Koko told me about her female friend from her college days in Hyogo, Western part of Japan, that she has had a co-worker in her office, wearing Optune. Then, a question occurred to me: how many patients are there in Japan, who put Optune on their heads?So, at the hospital room I asked that to the Novocure's tech person. She said there are about 500 users (patients) nationwide, dealt with by the Japan's 15 staff. Those in the Western part of Japan are relatively running decent lives, although those in charge of Optune patients in Easter Japan are quite tough: every staff is supposed to visit each of their patients in Hokkaido, Niigata and other places. "I will be on my way to Nagano after this", she said. I then asked another question to her, about a male staff in the same room leaving in the middle. She said, "he is going to another hospital in Tokyo for sales." For sales. 

In general, the conditions for Optune posed to doctors are quite strict, as she explained, such as  "first of all, a candidate hospital is expected to provide brain surgery. There must also be a certain number of cases handled in particular patients category, such as the Optune applicants should be those exposed to brain tumor for the first time and no problem with physical movement after operations", and so on. It would be an easier guess of the word "sales" requiring cumbersome research for the particular products leading to get listed to national insurance, and the discussion status of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare ("drug mountain". Mountain or "Yama" in Japanese refers to a herd of people in charge), and you could see that the target for sales is quite narrow for the device.

How is Optin's name recognized in Japan? My mother-in-law in Osaka, in her worries about my condition, sent the Yomiuri Shimbun's September 2, 2020 evening edition, which I opened up and found an article, "Surgery Evolution: Preserving Brain Function" in "Medical Navi" (page 2). My glioblastoma is described as having the highest "malignancy", probably commented by a professor at a medical college in Osaka area. The exact name of "Optune" did not appear in the article. I realized that Optune is still that much.

By the way, upon receiving craniotomy, the virus may enter the affected area and cause epilepsy, and I have been prescribed anti-epilepsy drugs since I was hospitalized in Narita. It seems that driving a car is not recommended for a while. However, in the case of my family, Koko doesn't drive, so it always ends up my role for it. After discharged from the Narita hospital in early September, I have been sitting on the driving seat on a rental car some times. 

(The photo is at home after dinner on October 8th Cake, bouquet, and some more Koko's favorite goods purchased by daughter tonight. To be continued.)