06/06/2019 Oncology Update

I had my regular, every six week oncology appointment today.  I left the house at 7:45am and checked in for my appointment around 9:40am for my 10:00am appointment.  Traffic was good up until I got on 295, then it was heavy the whole rest of the way.  It was a good drive, though.  Traffic moved steadily, just very slowly.  It was a pretty stress free drive.

Hardly anyone was in the waiting room when I arrived, just one other lady with her husband and grown son.  As I pulled my knitting out, she came over to chat.  She's been knitting for just over a year and loves it as much as I do.   She admired the shawl I had with me, and the share of blue I'm using for a baby blanket I'm currently working on.  She told me about the sweaters that she's making for her granddaughters; they have to be identical so the girls won't fight over them.  😊

During the appointment with my oncologist, I inquired about increasing the dosage of my anti-depressant.  I'm on a pretty low dose now, so she's fine with it.  I explained to her that the muscle cramping is starting up again (which is why she originally prescribed it), and I've noticed that I've been irritable, grumpy, and a little sad lately.  Although she's okay with upping the dose, she wants to wait until I see my cancer rehab specialist. 

I saw the cancer rehab specialist once before, a few years ago, about my balance issues.  He sent me to physical therapy.  This time, it's about my left shoulder.  It's been sore for the past few weeks.  I wouldn't normally be concerned, but it's the side that the cancer is on, and near where they took lymph nodes out.  Also, my wedding rings won't fit, on either hand.  I chalked that up to the change in weather and increase in humidity ... but, the scale at the doctor's office shows a slight loss.  So, I need to make an appointment to see if it's lymphedema. 

Along with these two things, I will be joining a gym for the summer.  My place of work has a deal with the gym for a year-round contract, but there is no way I can go to the gym after working all day.  I've been going to sleep earlier and earlier lately.  Once the school year is over I will join for the summer (they have a deal for a three-month membership), and that will be my job.  I will go the gym every day.  Reasons?  Most importantly, I need to keep my heart healthy.  My cardiologist has been after me to do interval workouts, and I've tried.  I just can't keep in the routine.  I've just passed the four year mark of being on Herceptin, and everyone is frankly surprised at how good my echocardiograms have been.  I need to keep them that way.  Herceptin is known to cause heart issues.  I have to do all I can to keep my heart healthy and to be able to stay on it as long as possible.  Another, related reason is this:  one day Herceptin, Perjeta and Tamoxifen will stop working.  That's just the way it goes.  You're on your current treatment plan for as long as it works.  Then, when it stops working, you try something else.  You keep trying something else until there is nothing else.  That's the beginning  of the end.  So, we want to stay on our meds for as long as possible, but we need to prepare to switch as necessary.  With that in mind, I would like to be in my best shape possible for when chemo comes 'round again.  [Please don't say "it won't" or "don't think like that" because this is the reality of cancer.]  Another reason?  I was actually trying very hard to lose weight before diagnosis.  Chemo put a stop to that.  My children have never seen me under 200 pounds.  I think it's time they did.

So, my oncologist doesn't want too many changes at once.  She heartily approves the joining of the gym for the summer, and definitely wants me to find out why my shoulder is sore.  After those changes, we'll talk about upping the anti-depressants again.

Join a gym, you say?  But ... you can't afford it; how are you going to pay for it?  Well, my friends, I have not the first idea.  You're right, I can't afford it.  But, the health of my heart literally depends on it.  It's just $99 for three months.  I've been trying to save up, but those pesky bills keeps coming along.  I'm just hoping and praying that I'll have it by the end of next week. 

My treatment at the infusion center went like a dream today.  The nurse got good blood return on the first try (YEAH!), and accessing the port was painless.  I had the pre-med of Zofran, to ward off nausea, then Herceptin over thirty minutes.  I ate the provided lunch, knitted a bit, and dozed a bit.  I was on my way home by 1:30, with no traffic!  Getting home was a breeze. 

Until next time ....




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