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Kiwi_Angel's avatar
8 years ago

Final oncologist visit for 3 months and Tamoxifen

So I had my final visit to the oncologist for a while. Get a reprieve till November. I am
menopausal but my ovaries are trying to get things going again apparently. I am to start on tamoxifen but have a reprieve till mid July as we have things on for an anniversary and if the tablets affect me badly don’t want to turn into a crazy person or there might not be a next anniversary  :p. As I have been thinking about getting my ovaries remove to prevent recurrence (my new fear) she said If the  tamoxifen doesn’t agree with me I can do the monthly injection and that will let me know what the effects will be and then I can go on letrazole. As she is aware of my fears of recurrence, and I’m not one to sit and wait until there is a problem she is going to send me for a bone scan to be thorough and if I want in my year anniversary she will refer me for another CT scan. So I have a brief reprieve to let my body heal a little before I start the next phase. 

10 Replies

  • @Eastmum. I have found it so good to be able to work - it is almost a reprieve from all the cancer crap. 

    @@PatsyN it’s amazing how many of the professionals in the area are so unpersonable. I’m very lucky with my oncologist- makes up for the surgeon I had initially. 

    @arpie thanks. Will have a few decisions to make when I get back - little unsure if I want any more surgery this year. 3 is enough!!
  • All the best @"Kiwi Angel" - fingers crossed you don't get any extreme side effects.  

    It sounds like your Onc is really on your side, with all the info she is giving you.  That's great.

    Enjoy your anniversary .... time for decision making after that.    Go with your gut feeling, I guess. xx
  • @"Kiwi Angel" I have what I hope will be my final visit to my oncologist tomorrow, 12 months after starting chemo. I say final because I have no confidence in him and plan to find someone else. My breast surgeon "the ice maiden" doesn't want to see me for another 12 months, like I can wait that long. The one I really bonded with was the radiologist, and she said she'd order me a scan or ultrasound as soon as I wanted and as often as I wanted (obviously, within reason) and that has made me feel less anxious. She also said to find a new breast surgeon before 12 months is up.
    I've been on Arimidex for 3 weeks now and don't feel any different. All the symptoms are things I already have from chemo so nothing new in the way of aches and pains. You probs won't notice the Tamoxofin but I wasn't offered any reprieve. The oncologist wanted me to start taking the AI during radiation but the radiologist wouldn't let him prescribe it!
  • @"Kiwi Angel" I totally understand about work. My work is one of my happy places. I love what I do and I get enormous affirmation from my manager and colleagues for my work. It gives me so much satisfaction and self-worth. I’ve also been so lucky that i have been able to continue working full time through these first 3 AC chemo treatments - I’ve done a few days’ work at home (and hospital!) but have continued nonetheless I’m really hoping I’ll be able to do the same throughout the 12 weeks of Taxol then radiation. 

    Your work is so physical though! All I need is a computer and a brain most of the time (and the computer is the only ‘given’ at the moment :smile: ). Hats off to you! 

    Xxxx
  • @Zoffiel I put a lot of pressure on myself but even though I didn’t work as much as I wanted and had to take the extra day off here and there I’m proud of myself for how I coped. Today was the return to work as normal and I had a shit sleep, got up at 5 and went for my first walk in ages and then went to work. Despite being tired and having sore muscles and giant cankles I feel the best I have in ages. I think the fact I know I don’t have to have another chemo on Monday helps. Trying to keep positive with the tablets and hope I’m one of the lucky ones. Xo
  • @"Kiwi Angel" you managed to work your way through chemo, no mean feat. I remember reading your iniitial posts thinking ''Hm, you are going to need a mountain of luck and determination if you want to do that.' 

    There is a great deal of focus on the possible side effects of Tamoxifen and the AIs, I think you now have the experience to realise that not everybody has all the misery, and that even if the drugs do not agree with you, it might take weeks, or months, to figure out how badly you are affected. Take a breath before you leap into the next unknown, it may not be as bad as you have been lead to expect. Mxx
  • @Sanra - I agree - sometimes reading can freak u out. I will definitely let u know how and get in and please let me know how u r going. I’m not starting for about a month. 
  • Hey Kiwi Angel....I started Tamoxifen on tuesday, after chemo, double masectomy and radiation. Still bubbling with burns from the rads, so hopefully I dont go insane with meds on top. Sometimes I do think reading what tabs can do to you isnt the best idea lol.
    Its such a fun ride hey!...perhaps we can share our discovery of what the meds do together.?
    All the very best with your journey 
  • @Eastmum she is very good actually. It’s nice that she listens to the fact that these things scare me and she understands why. She said she has a colleague that flat out refuses to send patients for a CT scan unless something is wrong which she said she doesn’t think is fair and she wants me to be able to sleep at night. 
  • That sounds like you’ve got a really good plan @"Kiwi Angel" and even better, an oncologist that’s really working with you, listening to your needs and fears and doing what she can to alleviate them.