Bottle 'o Tamoxifen

Tink - You are an incredibly good sport about the picture.  Maybe you should invite the ladies from the thread you had to do the explaining to, to join us even if they are not on Tamox.  I always say, the more the merrier.

                                   

Alicia - Can I join you?  I don't want to go to work today.  LOL

                           

Leanna9 - From what you are saying, there is no need to see your RO anymore.  Mine is suxh a moron, I hope he burns in hell.  I would find a GP to do the blood tests if your MO won't do it.  That sound ridiculous - if the MO is prescribing the meds he/she should do the labs.

Plenty of room on the couches for those that want to flop TODAY !  

You girls with bad drs that just sucks.  Leanna I would find a different MO.  While the blood work/tumor markers are not foolproof at least it is a tool to look for recurrance.  

Leanna I cant' believe after chemo rads and tamox that no one does bloodwork on you.  I think I would def find someone that would maybe a new MO.

Linda-My tumor was not found on my mammo as well had them yearly for 14 years.  It took the MRi to catch it.  So my MO says I have complicated breast and need mammo and MRi yearly alternating every 6 months.  I am scheduled for a follow up (from rads) mammo in April and I really feel like whats the point.  But I will go along with it.

Several have made comments about their MO's.  I started out with one that would not give me info just answers.  I like to know why you are making this decision.  He also did not do breast exams on me.  So after several months of frustration I starting asking around and found the name of another MO that several people I knew liked very much and used.  I switch and I am so thankful that I did.  He spends lots of time with me.  My first visit he spendt 1 1/2 hours explaining everything to me.  Yesterday I took my Dad for the first time and he spent almost 2 hours with us it was 6pm when we got out of there.

So to all my tammi sisters.  Yesterday with my Dad was not a good day at all.  Some of the info we already knew.  But he has an aggressive lung cancer with mets to the ribs, so stage IV.  It is not curable only treatable to try to slow it down. While we were there he got the RO on the phone and the agreed treatment is rads for three weeks for pain control then chemo, weekly for 6 months with eval every two months to see how he is responding.  It will be a chemo designed for 70+ with health issues which he has many.  The side effects are not suppose to be as bad.  Also Zometa infusion once a month.  They gave us a year and said if he responds well to treatment we can expect a few more months. My Dad is very hard of hearing and when the Dr told us he had a year my mom starting crying and my Dad did not hear it.  I looked at him and could tell so I stopped the Dr. and asked did you hear what he said and my Dad said no so I got up walked over to him and had to tell him he only has a year to live.  How crappy is that to have to do.  By that time I was crying as well.  I guess the good part is that I am really really thankful that I switched MO's last month because I can not even imaging having to have had yesterday's visit with the other guy. We asked my Dad on the way home if he wanted a 2nd opinion and he said no he liked the Dr.  my mom also said she liked him and they both feel comfortable with him.  After hearing that the side effects will not be as bad and knowing that he can quit chemo any time my Dad decided that he would do the chemo.  I'm glad he did but he just does not seem to have much fight in him.  I HATE CANCER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and no wonder I am having anger about this disease it just won't leave me alone.  Another thing that impressed me with the MO is I have only met with him once.  When he walked in the room he recognized me.  When everything was over and we were leaving he pulled me off to the side and wanted to know if I was taking my tamox and I told him yes, and he wanted to know how my SE's were going because he remembered I was having trouble with them.  I told him I was much better, he said good and I'll see you in a couple of weeks (which is when my next appt is). He is a very busy man so that was more confirmation that I made the right move with MO's. 

Thank you all for being here for me, I really don't know what I would do without all your support.  You all really get cancer and what it is all about.

After I had a mastectomy and an  implant 28 years ago, I never had a mammogram on that side. The surgeon said it wasn't necessary as there was no breast tissue left. I had a lumpectomy in Feb on the other breast and one of the procedures they did was an MRI. They told me I had a small tear in the implant, but that it was deep inside the implant and there was no leakage. I wonder if I should check with a plastic surgeon to make sure. My breast surgeon didn't seem concerned either though and right now I'm nervous about upcoming radiation. One thing at a time!  Will I quality for a yearly MRI now since I got a recurrance?

Sherry ((((HUGS)))))  you surely had a day from hell.  I am so sorry that your dad's life will be cut short by this deadly disease.  Thinking of you...  Glad that you had a good visit with your MO.

SR ~ so sorry you are dealing with a recurrance.  Is this 28 years from the first diagnosis?  Good luck with radiation I hope it goes smoothly for you.

Hi all forgive me for asking this question if I've already asked it before, I seem to remember have.

Is anyone here that is on Tamox also on thyroid meds? And if so did you have to have your meds adjusted upward? My endo just called to say my thyroid is way low and I think I may have heard that there is a connection in that the Tamox messes with the thyroid. So this explains why I've gained 10 pounds since January I guess!

Surfette I think Harley is on meds for her thyroid but I believe she was on before her BC.  I too have put on weight and I am always tired.  I am close to ending a year on Tamox (April 29th 1st pill taken) I have my appointment end of March and I intend on asking him to test me.....I think for me things started happening on month 8.

When my onc runs blood work it's about a 3-page printout of results!  CBC with Auto Diff, Comprehensive Metabolic Panel, and 25 Hydroxy D and some more blood chemistry but I don't know the names.  Generally I think they look for anything that is out of the normal reference range.  I do not think there are tumor marker tests on it.  (Seems like everything else -- some oncs use tumor markers; some don't.)  My GP runs all the cholesterol tests at annual physical.

• Exodus- I cannot believe you had to endure all that as well  How did your parents house burn down?  2 major disasters within days.....It seems like your father tried to stay as positive as he could.  I hope I can remain so strong as well as my father was diagnosed about 5 months back with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis and is only expected to survive under 2 years....he has gone down hill so fast and he has lost his spirit and it just breaks my heart.  He was on meds to control his heart which had caused the permanent damage.  He has only 26% lung capacity left and is on permanent 24 hours a day of oxygen and prednisone and he still cannot walk 10 feet without being so exhausted..... and he was one man that never slowed down was always so active and healthy so we thought and then to get hit with this.....so sad!

I haven't had a vial of blood drawn either since my diagnosis in September. I'd like to know if the tamoxifen is working, I'd think there would be something to measure levels or whatnot. I'd hate the think that the liquid iron I take every night right before the tamox is cancelling it out and one would think a blood test would tell you if it is being absorbed properly?

June so sorry about your Dad as well.  I have watched my Dad's health decline over the last several years and to see how active he was when he was younger and enjoyed life so much it makes me sad.  It is so hard to watch our parents age.

Exodus so glad you guys were able to celebrate your Dad's life what a blessing.  So sorry about the fire what awful timing that was and devistating for your mom.

Think I will drink a glass of wine tonight and toast to all of us tammi girls that have had or are dealing with aging parents.  Here's to US!!!  I think my attitude is getting better.  You girls rock.