Wednesday 30 June 2010

Test results through

The bad news is the blood test result was inconclusive (so I'm not definitely post menopausal)
The good news is I can stop taking Tamoxifen for 6 weeks so I can be retested.
The better news is , stopping these drugs from next Tuesday makes my 6th week when I get back from a relaxing holiday in Rhodes.
I am cheered up by this news it has to be said :-)

Thursday 17 June 2010

Oncology Appt 15th June 2010

I was geared up with my own reasons for coming off Tamoxifen when I went for my appointment.  It was like visiting old friends when I arrived and felt warm and welcome.
The Breast care nurse was waiting for me when I got called in so I was already talking to her about what I was doing to minimise the side effects that I am experiencing from taking Tamoxifen.  When the Onc Consultant came in even he was impressed with what I am doing.  When I get a night sweat, I take a Dioralyte the next day (replenishes lost salts and water usually prescribed for Diarrhoea) and so far so good -  I have not had a nocturnal leg cramp since !!
He was going to suggest that due to the type of tumour (hormone positive) and my age (wise) I change hormone prohibitors to Raloxifene (I think - it began with an R).  They took bloods to be absolutely certain I am post menopausal as most certainly the Chemo last year (that sounds good) would have brought all that on. There will be a cheer when I get that result :-)
He was pleased with my how my new breast has recovered from radiotherapy  despite there being a bit of fluid.  He also said I would only be called in for annual Mammograms and doesn't feel it necessary for any other scans to take place unless I have symptoms that I am concerned about.  The risk of recurrence is there but until it materialises, there isn't much they can do and feel that I shouldn't go through the process of scans and worrying about the results.  I'm still not sure about this bit but then I do need to focus on getting fitter and reducing my BMI.  Without sounding arrogant, the impact Chemo had on Cruella, which was 2.9 cm, any particles from her that were so minute not to be to picked up by the scans I had last year, would be non existent.  
So I have come away feeling still nervous about what the future holds with reference to cancer although positive over the next steps.