Seeing onc tomorrow....and I'm a bit speechless

1Athena1

Hello, fellow early stagers,

You would think that with a deadly disease and a not-too-distant chance of dropping dead in 10 or 20 years because of it, I would be able to pepper the man in charge of twisting fate in my favor with questions.

I see my onc tomorrow for a regular three-month check-up, and beyond asking him for a Vitamin D test and telling him I tested at 99 a month ago (per another doctor), I really have no other questions. I chose not to do chemo and  I take Tamoxifen. He does a physical check of my body, they weigh me and they extract about three tubes of blood from me. Every other visit, I get a Zometa infusion.

I am 18 months out from dx. I just wonder where I go from here. What do some of you ask? Is there a new study or test I should inquire about? Any new research? NOTE: IS IT WORTH ASKING ABOUT EVISTA IN COMPARISON TO TAMOXIFEN? Dare I ask whether the fact that I haven't had mets yet augurs a tiny bit better, or is that premature? What is regular breast cancer screening at this stage? I wouldn't mind mammograms if it were not for the fact that they are unreliable and I fear for my implants. An ultrasound seems much better. Or should I just go by symptoms (and I have none) and resist the temptation to over-test and over-treat?

I am curious what other people at this stage are doing. I am not even due for a Zometa infusion tomorrow so it might be a short visit. I would like to make the most of it.... Thanks for any advice you can offer.

changes

Hi Athena,

I have my followup at the end of the month. My list of questions for him is growing -there were a lot I did not ask before, because I was just overwhelmed by making decisions and putting one foot in front of the other. I also have a pain in my right leg that's been there a couple months, which I think we're going to have to check out. I want to know just how confident they really were that there was nothing in my right breast, given how dense my breasts are, I want to know just what I can do for this extreme moodiness, given that Tamoxifen rules out most antidepressants. I want to know when the next mammogram is, and will I also have an MRI?? And lots more, too. I'm only a few months out, though, so right now I'm all in favor of overtesting!

Good luck at your appointment,

Karen

mmm5

Be thankful there is nothing else to speak about, then run out of there as fast as you can. LOL

I just had to chime in about your tag line I love it and it made me laugh today, you obviously have a great sense of humor and that is working for you.

"if I don't die, it was worth it" 

I think that all the time....just love seeing it in print 

1Athena1

Thanks, mmm5 - and you know what? I think you just gave me the best advice!