Ovarian reserve testing + Letter to ex GP
I stopped Tamoxifen on the 8th of November and need to wait 3 months before trying to start a family. I had been wondering if it was a gamble to try naturally first since time is so precious in this game or if we should go straight to a specialist for help. I phoned to find out if there were any tests which could help make this decision and was happy to find out it is a simple blood test!
It cost me $90 to have my AMH levels tested. I had to google what that ment....
'Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) is a hormone secreted by cells in
developing egg sacs (follicles). The level of AMH in a woman's blood is
generally a good indicator of her ovarian reserve. AMH does not
change during your menstrual cycle, so the blood sample can be taken at
any time of the month - even while you are using oral contraception................An AMH test gives us some insight into the remaining quantity of eggs
and number of fertile years you may have, but it cannot tell us much
about the quality of those eggs.'
I had the blood test last week but wont get the results till December 13th. Fingers crossed we have good enough numbers that trying naturally is an option!
On a side note. While at my GP it came up in conversation that my old GP who misdiagnosed my cancer 4 times over the space of a year does not actually know that cancer was the final verdict. My new GP suggested writing a letter to her so that she is aware and wont make the same mistake with anyone else. I think this is a great idea and have been thinking about it since this all started but hesitant to begin the letter as the emotions are still pretty raw on this front. Between my first doctors appointment with boob concerns to diagnosis was a year and a half. Her oversight due to my age could have literally cost me my life if my cancer was faster growing. Talk about a terrifying thought!
Pretty much I am stalling starting the letter by posting here instead. I also thought that some ladies who may not be quite at the stage yet but will be looking at pregnancy in the future might like to know about the AMH test.
Well. Enough stalling. Will go and write the letter now so I can post it tomorrow. Hope I find the right words to make this GP more vigilant and proactive on the BC detection front.
Will copy and past what I send her in the comments later xo
Comments
-
Here is the letter:
1st of December, 2016
To [removed by moderator],
I am writing you this letter today as I was a patient of
yours previously and concerned that you missed something vital due to my age.I first came in to see you concerned that I was having
discharge from one nipple early 2013. I saw you multiple times over the space
of a year regarding this issue.An ultrasound was done with the verdict of ‘looks like a
blocked duct’. A swab was taken of the discharge and possibly a blood test which
I don’t recall if there were any results from.
I was advised to stop taking the pill as I may have been on it for too
long and it was essentially dismissed.On one of these appointments I mentioned that I was newly
married and you asked if we would be starting a family soon. You mentioned my age and that we shouldn’t
wait too long and even went as far as giving me an injection that women need
before trying to conceive! This defiantly blindsided me when I had gone in to
discuss my boob!I knew something wasn’t right and persisted in coming in
regarding this issue and finally saw another doctor at the clinic. This doctor thankfully referred me to a
specialist though this was a ‘non urgent’ referral which I had to wait 3 months
for the next appointment. Dr [removed by moderator] thought most likely I had a papilloma but referred me to have another
ultrasound and biopsy taken.I was 34 years old when I got the breast cancer diagnosis.
At this point one
and a half years had passed since I first visited you with
concerns.I got lucky in the sense that it was primary, grade 1 &
2 with no lymph node involvement. It
terrifies me to think where I would be now had my cancer been faster growing.I am concerned that other ladies in the same situation may
be overlooked as breast cancer being a possibility due to their age and these
concerns have been confirmed after joining a ‘young’ ladies cancer support
group. In this group sadly it is a
common story of being misdiagnosed or having to repeatedly visit multiple
doctors before being referred to a specialist all due to being ‘too young for
breast cancer’The numbers of younger breast cancer patients is growing
rapidly and we even have members in our support group barely in their 20’s.It has been a long time since I saw you last so please feel
free to read through my file.Luckily I trusted my instincts and persisted to get answers
when other people may have just been happy with the ‘blocked duct’ explanation
and left it too late.Please do not eliminate this possibility with any future patients
(including men!) as time is a very important factor. A delay in diagnosis can literally cost
someone their life.Regards
Karen
4 -
Excellent letter, well done!1
-
Karen I think your letter is brilliant!! The tone of the letter is concern, and highlights the need for Drs to be vigilant in their responses to young women's symptoms. Fantastic.1
-
Well done Karen. So easy not to have the hard conversations or write the difficult letter. Your emotions are still raw yet you did it - and you may just have saved several lives. Jane x1
-
Excellent letter Karen - written with such conviction but no malice.
What is most evident is your underlying concern for other patients & that their concerns not ever be dismissed, regardless of their age !
My very best wishes to you. xxx
1 -
Thank you everyone! I was trying for a tone that wasn't too aggressive but got the point across. I posted it off this morning and now wondering if she will respond in any way. Hadn't really considered that when I wrote it!
0 -
Hi karen we all need to listen to out instincts when we think there is something wrong. Fantastic letter as doc needs to listen to concerns from their patients. I'm glad you persisted1
-
Looks good Karen. Non threatening, informative and personal. I hope she reads it and considers the information carefully.1
-
Perfect letter1
-
I saw a Dr at the clinic I used to go to with a marble sized lump in my boob. He didnt look at it at all & told me it was an infection & put me on antibiotics. How he came to this conclusion God only knows. Luckily it turned out to be nothing but 12 months later I got BC in the other boob.
Paula0 -
Just crazy isnt it! Glad there are still good doctors out there we just need to find them. Hope all your treatment is going well xoPaulaN said:I saw a Dr at the clinic I used to go to with a marble sized lump in my boob. He didnt look at it at all & told me it was an infection & put me on antibiotics. How he came to this conclusion God only knows. Luckily it turned out to be nothing but 12 months later I got BC in the other boob.
Paula
0
