Happy Thanksgiving

Thankful for my health and that the family is relatively healthy too.

Oncologist and Endocrinologist

I had my appointments with the oncologist and endocrinologist on Wednesday.  I took the day off of work because I had to go into Manhattan for the appointments.  At least I got to meet Rob for lunch.

The endocrinologist appointment was first.  She was glad to hear that I have lost some weight.  I now need to up my metformin from 1000mg to 2000 in the next month.  We will see how that goes.  I go back and see her in 3 months.

The oncology appointment went OK as well.  She checked me out.  We discuss my many side-effects from all my meds including Tamoxifen.  I am not happy with it, but I have no choice really.  The hot flashes aren't that bad, but if the do get bad the Dr. said that there are meds they can give me.  She also is concerned about my headaches in the morning and my blurry vision.  I think it is a combination of my metformin and the celexa (for my IBS) that I have just started taking.  But since I am a cancer patient she has to rule out anything else, so she wants me to have another MRI of my head/brain. (Insert joke here)  Last one I had was in June when I was having numbness in my left hand, but it was before these recent issues.  She said she will give me 2 weeks to see if they resolve before I have to get it.  She also discussed with me about a IV called Zometa, for calcium.  It is suppose lower reoccurrence of breast cancer by 30%, so we will probably do it next time we see her in 4 months.  The IV is every 6 months and will help with bone loss.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving.

Mammo

I had my first mammogram today since the surgery.  They gave me all clear and normal.  Hooray.  Next appointment will be in 6 months.

On a side note, having a mastectomy on one side means only having one breast squashed instead of two.  Hooray for that.

Turning 40

One year ago today, I got a biopsy on my left breast on my 39^th birthday.  The reason I got it done that day?  The day before, on October 28^th, I had my mammogram and ultrasound.  I wanted to get the biopsy done as soon as possible.  “Next day appointment…you have an opening. Great!”  I never really thought about it as being my birthday, more of the fact of getting it done to finding out quickly.  It took 4 days to get the results and on November 2^nd, I found out it was positive for cancer.

Today is my 40^th birthday.  My chemo is done.  My hair is growing back.  I am working again.  I am still on the Tamoxifen for 4 more years.  I still have some finishing work to do on the reconstruction.  Other than that, I am alive and happy.  I am a Survivor.  The cancer will be just a blimp on the radar after a while.  Yes, I will have to go to the oncologist for the rest of my life, but that is a small price to pay for my life: to watch my son grow up, to grow old with my husband, to be alive.

This month is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.   This month, people will wear pink and wear ribbons.  There will be walks, talks, articles and reports about Breast Cancer.  Women and men will do their self-exams.  Yes, men get it too.  But you have to continue to be aware.  Keep doing your self-exams.  I did them periodically.  I felt something in July 2009.  I had my annual checkup with my general practitioner.  He examined me, but ruled it out as the muscle being a little firmer.  That is what I thought too.  I saw him a few more times that month for high white blood count.  Something was going on with me, but we figured it was just some infection because my numbers finally went down.  I forgot about my breast issue until I went in to see my gynecologist 3 months later on October 13.  By that time, it had broken through the walls of the milk duct and you could feel a pea-sized mass.  It wasn’t there in July.  I was nervous, but she was optimistic.  She told me to get the mammogram within the next few weeks.  I was 38 years old.

I was lucky.  I was “only” Stage IIa ductal and infiltrating carcinoma with microscopic traces in one of the lymph nodes.  If I hadn’t seen my gynecologist when I did, it could have spread further.  Since I was sporadic at best about my self-exams, it could have been a lot worse.  I am now more diligent about my self-exams, even though I get one from one of my many doctors every 2-3 months now.

This is not how I imagined being 40, but who imagines having cancer?  On the plus side, I get to try out new hairdos as my hair grows back.  I got a tummy tuck from the reconstruction surgery.  Hello flat stomach!  I also belong to a group that no one wants to be a member of, but has some fabulous people in it.

So, Happy Birthday to me!  I am proud to be 40.  I am happy that I made it to 40.  I am happy that I am alive and healthy.  I am happy to have a wonderful husband, son and family.  I could not have gotten through this year without their support and help.  Here’s to 40!

Endocrinologist

I had an appointment with the endocrinologist last week again.  I have lost a few pounds, but I think I have lost more inches.  She changed me from the regular metformin to the long lasting.  We will see how that goes.  She also wanted me to repeat the 24 hour urine test, but I have time, since I am not going back to see her for 2 months.

For the first time since the surgery, I put on my medieval clothing for a fair at Sands Point.  The new breast definitely acts differently than the old one.  I think I will have to fix my clothing so it fits better.  I still have to get my finishing work done on my breast and belly, but the bodice definitely fit weird now.

Website Name Change

I changed my website name, so I can make it public again.  Let me know if anyone has problems accessing the new site.  http://gailcheri.blogspot.com

Onocologist

I saw the oncologist on Wednesday.  Sean had to go with me since she changed my appointment from next week and he was on vacation.  He was very good.  I spoke to the oncologist about the side effects from the tamoxifen, bone density and still being pre-menopausal. She wants me to take a bone density IV every 6 months since the tamoxifen decreases it.  They only problem with the drug is problems healing from dental work.  She wants me to see the dentist before I start.  I see her again in 3 months and we can discuss about it then.  She also talked about taking a drug like lupron to stop my periods, since my cancer is estrogen based.  I am still not happy with that idea.  That is why I did the chemo.  I will talk to her about that at my next appointment as well.  She did state that the bone density meds has a 30% less chance of recurrence for post menopausal women.  I have some things to decide.