Early Days on Letrozole
So, I started taking Letrozole on the 1/6/18. My oncologist says I have to be on it for 10 years as several ongoing studies are indicating cancer preventing benefits beyond the seven year mark. It...
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So yesterday I met my new oncologist. And I'm happy to say it was a really good appointment! I liked her, a lot. It's not that I didn't like my last one, she was very nice, it's just that we didn't click. For reasons I don't understand, it seems I need to 'click' with my clinicians to feel properly supported.
She was about 75% on the same page as the old one. She agreed with what my BS said a couple of weeks ago, let's get me to five years on hormone therapy and then review based on the studies that have been published by then.
One of the areas where she differed from the old onc was that rather than change between the AIs, she favours swapping to Tamoxifen. However she concurred with me about giving it six months, it may settle down.
The statement she made that had the most impact was "It will get better". I didn't realise how much I needed to hear a doctor say that. I know so many of you lovely folk have said that to me a lot, but somehow it was different when the oncologist said it! I feel a bit of a dill, but there we are. In the last week the joint pain in my right thumb has worsened, become genuinely intrusive and now requires pretty much constant pain relief. I need hope.
She also gave me permission to take a drug holiday at the end of the year when I'm... going to India! The place that gives me the most joy faded into darkness of BC. It's been where I've gone in my head in the darkest of times but BC put it out of my mental reach. However two months ago I thought about it and there was the tiniest spark of a thrill. I've nurtured the flame and while it's not yet at its normal strength, it was enough to pull the trigger on a trip before Christmas. I'm a bit nervous about my stamina but we're setting a gentle pace so I should be able to cope OK. Five mums are going with five daughters/niece. My friend (with whom I always travel to India, and with whom I escort small groups) and I are doing all the organising for our mates & their girls, who are all 9 - 11years old. It should be lots of fun and a restorative tonic for my soul. And now, without Letrozole!
So, like @Sarnicad the other day, a 'good' doctors' appointment!
She was about 75% on the same page as the old one. She agreed with what my BS said a couple of weeks ago, let's get me to five years on hormone therapy and then review based on the studies that have been published by then.
One of the areas where she differed from the old onc was that rather than change between the AIs, she favours swapping to Tamoxifen. However she concurred with me about giving it six months, it may settle down.
The statement she made that had the most impact was "It will get better". I didn't realise how much I needed to hear a doctor say that. I know so many of you lovely folk have said that to me a lot, but somehow it was different when the oncologist said it! I feel a bit of a dill, but there we are. In the last week the joint pain in my right thumb has worsened, become genuinely intrusive and now requires pretty much constant pain relief. I need hope.
She also gave me permission to take a drug holiday at the end of the year when I'm... going to India! The place that gives me the most joy faded into darkness of BC. It's been where I've gone in my head in the darkest of times but BC put it out of my mental reach. However two months ago I thought about it and there was the tiniest spark of a thrill. I've nurtured the flame and while it's not yet at its normal strength, it was enough to pull the trigger on a trip before Christmas. I'm a bit nervous about my stamina but we're setting a gentle pace so I should be able to cope OK. Five mums are going with five daughters/niece. My friend (with whom I always travel to India, and with whom I escort small groups) and I are doing all the organising for our mates & their girls, who are all 9 - 11years old. It should be lots of fun and a restorative tonic for my soul. And now, without Letrozole!
So, like @Sarnicad the other day, a 'good' doctors' appointment!