No more check-ups?

Hopeful82014

Thank you, Claire, for your inclusivity. Yes, it's a different era than the Coppertone years, isn't it? I tend to think that, except near the equator, sun exposure in the winter does more good than harm. Of course, I 'm not familiar with any studies of the question. It's not an issue we have to worry about much in the grey winters of the Pac. NW.

Wallycat, your temperament seems well-suited for your locale Those are good points about variances in calibrations, etc.

Claire_in_Seattle

Hi Claire...

Have been crazy busy, so just seeing this. I see my oncologist once a year, but because I participated in a clinical trial with a 15 year follow up. Otherwise, it would be only my primary. The only testing I get is an annual mammogram.

I am done with treatment. DONE....other than aspirin and lots of exercise. I take Vitamin D and Calcium which are considered essential in the Seattle area - for everyone!!! I was low when diagnosed. Case in point today: I went skiing, but just a dim sun coming out from behind the snow clouds. Not sure what I did, but my glutes are screaming!!! I did a run in the rain yesterday.

My bone density is still fine so have escaped the bone-strengthening drugs. I know you do a ton of hiking, but for many people that just isn't enough. I took up running because I didn't think that cycling and walking were sufficient to keep my bones strong.

I finally got on the stick and have taken off 10 lb from where I was back in November. About 7 more to go, but some of that will come off in summer cycling events (and training for them). I cleaned up my lunches (homemade soup, not deli) and cut back on the wine. My ski pants, and almost everything else, fit better.

Otherwise, life is good. New this year is that I insist on skiing time. Only so many terrific seasons, and this is one of them. I have been working 6 day weeks. I can handle two, not three things, and I had a crash and burn extra assignment.

All is done with that other than invoicing. On to the next one!!!! Enjoy the Arizona sunshine!!! - Claire (The Northern One)

karen1956

Hi Claire,

I saw my onc every 3 months till 5 years and have been on 6 month schedule since then. I'm 11 years out since Dx. I see him later this month. Onc does CBC, CMP, tumor makers, takes a history and does a breast exam and checks lymph nodes. I used to really get anxious before my visits but I haven't the last few times. I get my lab results online usually within a couple days of appt. My onc keeps me on a close leash as he considers me high risk. I took AI's (tried all 3) for 3 1/2 years and finally said enough is enough. I had every side effect except cardiac. Three wrist surgeries due to AI's and the list goes on. I thought long and hard before stopping, but I made peace with my decision when I stopped knowing that I had down everything in my power treatment wise. Bilat, chemo, rads, AI's and oophorectomy. I stopped AI's 7 years ago this month and I've never looked back. I do worry about the beast returning, but I know people who got mets while on AI's or tamoxifen. I have osteoporosis. My baseline bone density was when I started on AI's and I was osteopenic. A year later my bone density dropped into osteoporosis range and my pcp Rx Actonel and it helped my bone density go back to osteopenic. I stayed on Actonel while on the AI's then stopped it. When my numbers went down again, my PCP did not want me going back on biophosphonates. She said she would rather have me on them in my 70s (she has confidence that I will get to 70!!) plus the risk on spontaneous femur fractures. I think I'm due do another bone density (have the every 2 years). I keep wondering when my onc will go to annual visits, but my guess is not any time soon. I quit seeing my PS in 2009 and around the same time stopped seeing my breast surgeon. I was tired of going to doctors as I was still on 3 months with onc.

As someone else mentioned, I don't think there is one standard protocol.

I walk daily, usually 3 walks and strive for 15K steps. I don't always make it but I do generally get past 12K. I walk outdoors even in the bitter cold. I don't enjoy the athletic clubs or classes. I find walking outside very therapeutic. I keep a healthy weight, eat pretty healthy as well.

Anonymous

So funny how different we all are with liking sun or not! When I'm in sun I feel myself almost opening just like a flower! And I suffer greatly from S.A.D. in the winter. You'd think living in AZ I'd be fine, but I live in the No. part--where we get over 100 inches of snow on an average, and much it's cloudy and more rainy up here in the mountains than in the deserts around Tucson/Phx..

wallycat

Claire, that is interesting how different we all are. I have Reverse S A D, so the summer months make me miserable and whiny, and when fall comes, it is like 180 turnaround...shorter days, cooler, cloudier....ahhhhhh.

WOW on the 100" of snow. Reminds me of my old home in Wisconsin....I miss the winters there but not the summers, LOL.

MagicalBean

wallycat, it is nice to meet someone else with reverse SAD. Too many sunny days in a row make me a bit surly.

Anonymous

I've heard of reverse SAD. For me, too many cloudy days make me anxious, depressed, and irritable/pacing like a nervous cat....I feel trapped. The sun comes out, strong---AHHHHHHH. Even if it's cold, I can literally breathe better, like air can actually get back in my lungs. Humans are weird creatures.

Claire_in_Seattle

I think I have a bit of both. I am relieved to have shorter days in September after the endless ones in June and July. At the same time, I am looking forward to more sunshine right now. I have to get outside in the winter or it's not a pretty sight. This affects my overall mood and also how well my brain works.

Anyway, the plan is to go skiing, but hope the snow softens. It rained yesterday and then re-froze so no glorious powder today. But corn snow will give me a good workout. It would be lovely if the sun came out.

It's so wonderful to have ski trails about an hour's drive from here.- Claire

Anonymous

Right now, Claire in Seattle, I'm trying to have a spring break in DC while visiting my daughter. It's crazy cold here, but in the mountains of No. AZ it's nearly like summer, where it's usually cold and blustery in March! Go figure.

Enjoy the skiing; I had to rebook my departure a day early (tomorrow) so I don't get trapped by the "ominous" storm bearing down on the nation's capital...

Now that I'm leaving a day early, it will probably not snow at all here, wink. Isn't that always the way?

Claire in AZ

hlya

After 5 years on Tam my Onco handed me over to my family doc. And my family doc is checking me up every 6 months now, it's been another 3 years since she took me over. No idea how long it's gonna take but I'm fine with it. My family doc is a good doctor

Anonymous

Hi Hlya, thanks for your post! You reminded me I need to make an appt with my MO, another check up. I can't make them 6 months out, so can't make them right after I see her. I have to wait at least 3 months.

Because I'm high risk--St. II, multiple + nodes--I'll probably always be seeing an oncologist of some type. But I'm okay with that.

Claire in AZ

hlya

Hi, Claire,


Grade 1 doesn't sound aggressive at all. Probably you caught it late? Was it sneaky and didn't show up on mammogram?


My family doctor doesn't call me for the regular checkup, I have to remember it myself. But due to vacation/travels I'm starting to forget it, esp. last year I probably saw her after 8 month. I will try to put a reminder in system.

It's good to have doctor to check you up, my doctor check me up more carefully than usual.

Anonymous

Hi hyla, I've heard that we probably have had things growing for years before we ever catch any kind of bc. I hang my hope on "grade 1", because of my +nodes, which scare me to death. Yes, I had 5 "clear" mammos over five years, and because of the nature of ILC--different structure than IDC--and dense breasts, it apparently was hiding.

Claire