Appointments

I can't believe it has been a month since I updated this blog.

Last week was a lot of doctors appointments - 3 of them.

First on Wednesday was an appointment with my oncologist. 
He thinks I am doing well.  My last blood test in December came back
all within the normal range, so he hasn't ordered any more. 
I started taking Tamoxifen, but haven't been on it long enough to see what side effects I will have. 

During one of the first appointments he mentioned that within the next five years
I would need to have a Oophorectomy, removal of the ovaries. 
Well, he changed his mind.
 Now he wants me to have a complete hysterectomy, removal of the ovaries and uterus.
And he wants me to have it done within this year. 
I am still trying to come to terms with that one. 
I am thinking maybe around October.

I also  talked to him about what state I am. 
He said I am NED (no evidence of disease) and in remission. 
When I hit the five year mark cancer free, I will be "cured". 
And I can technically say I have been cancer free since the date of
my second surgery - December 4.  Almost 5 months now!

I don't go back to him for 3 months.


Next on Thursday was my radiation oncologist. 
He said my skin was healing up nice. 
I still need to do a few things to take care of it but overall it is doing good.  
My skin is discolored from the radiation, kind of looks like a tan now instead of a burn. 
He doesn't know if it will ever go back to its normal color. 

I don't have to go back to him for 5 months.

I will also see my plastic surgeon in 5 months.
I will talk to him about the best time to start reconstruction.

Then on Friday I saw my physical therapist.
My arm had some swelling but that is typical from radiation. 
She is working to try to get it back down to its original size. 
I am getting better range back in my shoulder. 
I like going to see her, she helps, but I usually leave in pain too. 
My insurance only covers so many visits so I see her about every 2-3 weeks.

I go for my next Muga (heart scan) in a few weeks.

I am still getting the Herceptin treatments every three weeks -
and have finally been able to schedule my last one for the end of June!!

I will see my surgeon next month in May.
We will talk about doing the left mastectomy and removing my port.

I have some lasting side effects like: my nails are still very brittle. 
I have nose bleeds almost everyday.  My eyes get fuzzy a lot.
The headaches vary in intensity each day as do the stomach and abdominal pains.
I am trying to learn these are just part of my new normal and to find a way to live with them.

My hair is also starting to grow back.  It is about as long as Ryan's, he thinks it is time for a trim.
I don't think I want to cut any of it for the next 5 years. 
I still wear my scarfs and caps.  While I am grateful it is coming back,
it is still really hard for me to see it so short. 
It is to much of a visual reminder that I had cancer, kinda like my scars. 

I am slowly getting back into a routine and am excited for the next steps -
they will all bring me closer to being done with this whole stupid cancer thing!