6 Year Check-up Today

Gitane
Gitane Member Posts: 1,885
edited June 2014 in ILC (Invasive Lobular Carcinoma)

Today I met with my oncologist for my 6 month visit.  I had a check-up and a Zometa infusion.  

Before this visit I went through about 2 weeks of too much thinking about cancer.  I made my list of questions, then went over it again adding and deleting.  Talk about an obsessive personality.  Anyway,  here's what happened.

First of all the blood work came back fine.  (YEA)  The exam showed no problems.  (YEA again)  We discussed how I felt about continuing on Femara, it's been 5 and a half years that I've been taking it, and we decided I needed to continue because I had a slow-growing tumor (giant but slow) so there is still lots of risk and the AI may be helping.  We had discussed that 6 months ago, but he still wants to check with me each time. I asked if I could have non-generic Femara and he said, yes. So my prescription is for that.  I don't know why I feel better taking non-generic, but I do.  Hopefully there won't be any insurance problems.

We renewed my prescription for Metformin, too.  Everything is going O.K. with that.

I asked him about Herceptin for Her2 negative patients.  He said he is putting newly diagnosed patients on that trial, so we'll see how it goes and what they find out.  There is no question of someone like me getting it now, it's 100K per year and the benefit is still unknown.

So, here I sit tonight, a bit achy all over with a mild head-ache (Zometa, I guess), feeling calmer that I have in weeks ( don't ask me why except the check up is over ) and wanting to share this with all of you.  Somehow telling family and the non-BC people in my life just isn't the same.  They just aren't part of it like we all are. 

I am so incredibly contented to be alive, well, and "healthy".  As you all have said, we know that can change quickly.  I haven't always been able to be calm about that, but I'm getting there.  

My cats are around me here by my computer,  the people I love most in the world are all safe.  Tonight for me, life is good. 

There are the women on this site who are facing or undergoing procedures, surgeries, treatments, today (or very soon) and my heart is with each one.  

Good night.  Knew you would understand.   G. 

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Comments

  • AnacortesGirl
    AnacortesGirl Member Posts: 1,758
    edited August 2011

    Congrats on 6 years Gitane!  I had to smile as I read the part about the list and then the updated list.   I can relate to that!  And please give the kitties a neck scratch from me!

    You've been such a help to me these last two years.  I'm thrilled to hear that everything continues to go well with your health.  I'm very glad that you've tolerated the Femara and will continue to stay on it.  Until we get better study info on some of these other possibilities I think a hormonal is our best bet. 

    I had a visit with the onc today and it looks like I'm doing OK with the Lexapro and Tamox so he said he'll see me in 3 months.  I'm still waiting to get a full 3 months between visits -  seems like something always happens.

    BTW - I found some additional info on lobular and tamox but could never see a significant study.  Other than the short news release, which never has the full details, I only ran across a couple of other abstracts that talked about 2 cases.  Honestly, even if there is a risk it's the best I have right now.  I need many months to go by before I should try another AI.  I'm still working on getting healed from the Aromasin.

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  • Gitane
    Gitane Member Posts: 1,885
    edited August 2011

    Hi Christy,  Thanks.  Ya, I thought the data on that ILC/Tam. stuff was pretty weak, but I wanted to let you know.  I think you are absolutely doing the right thing.  Get healed!  Here's hoping you get that full 3 months you deserve.  Hugs, G.

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  • wallycat
    wallycat Member Posts: 3,227
    edited August 2011

    Gitane, what a lovely post!

    Congrats on your 6 years!!!  Ah, the dread, the lists, the lack of sleep with anticipation....does it never end?!! 

    Interesting that you are taking Metformin.  My fasting glucose has hit the 102 and no one seems to care but me.  Sigh.  I wonder if I took that if it would help me with my weight loss.  I exercise, monitor my food, even doing low-carb, and the weight doesn't seem to budge.  Clearly my body is being deprived of estrogen, which can increase weight....but frustrating, non the less as I am used to being slim.

    Off topic, Anacortesgirl, thank you for letting me know about Dr. Murphy (your mom's onco).  She is incredible!!!  I can't believe she too is originally from Wisconsin Laughing .

    She lets me email her when I have issues/worries and checks it frequently.  One night we had an ongoing email fest when my eye doctor freaked me out!  So a big, big THANK YOU.

    I'm puzzled why she is not switching me to Femara, but have  to see her in a few months and will address it then. 

     Here's to all us gals dealing with doctors and worries and hopefully, a cure soon!!

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  • pickle
    pickle Member Posts: 1,409
    edited August 2011

    Gitane Congratulations! It's so great to hear good news and you're right, the non BC outsiders just don't get the stress of doctor's appointments, follow ups  etc.

    Like you, my heart goes out everyone that is facing challenges with tests, surgeries, treatments etc. 

    Posts like yours bring a ray of sunshine and hope. Thank you! 

    Hugs

    Beth 

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  • IllinoisNancy
    IllinoisNancy Member Posts: 722
    edited August 2011

    Hey Gitane.....CONGRATULATIONS!! I am so happy that you had a good check up.  I think about you often and pray that you stay cancerfee forever:)  I'm doing well and had my last surgery on Thursday.  I'm hoping that ILC leaves me alone for awhile.  Hope you're having a good summer.

    Take care,

    Nancy

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  • Gitane
    Gitane Member Posts: 1,885
    edited August 2011
    wallycat,  Thank you for your very kind words.  I really appreciate you coming here to post.  What makes me think you are a cat person, too?  Just wanted to share a bit of my experience with metformin in case it might help you.  I had been on it about a month when I went to see my PCP for my routine check.  He said since I was starting metformin for BC he wanted to get a baseline Hemoglobin A1c test on me.  It's a blood test that measures how much glucose (sugar?) has bound to the hemoglobin molecules over the previous 3 months.  Somehow this blood test does this.  He said my having been on metformin for only 3 weeks would not affect this test because it covers 3 months previous.  What a shock when the results came back that I was pre-diabetic.  I was just barely in that range (like 1 point in or something) but he said it was good that I was taking metformin because it would help keep me from becoming diabetic.  I have normal glucose levels, always have.  No hint at all that something was happening there.  Also, my diet is very healthy.  Fruits, veggies, fiber, etc. In terms of weight, I have lost weight since taking metformin.  According to both onc. and PCP this is the normal SE for the drug.  Can you have a normal SE?  Geeze!
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  • Gitane
    Gitane Member Posts: 1,885
    edited August 2011
    Beth,  I love your avatar, and your screen name, too.  It means a lot to me that you came here to post.  We are in this together.  Hugs, G.
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  • Gitane
    Gitane Member Posts: 1,885
    edited August 2011
    Nancy,  Thank goodness your surgery is over.  I'm happy to hear that you're doing well.  I agree,  let BC leave all of us alone, forever!  Keep going strong.   G.
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  • Gitane
    Gitane Member Posts: 1,885
    edited August 2011

    SherriG,  Hello.  Thanks so much for your kind words.  I will put a link here about that Herceptin trial; it's NSABP B-47.  I wish I knew how to post a live link here, but I don't.Frown

    http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01275677?term=B-47&rank=1 

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  • matic22
    matic22 Member Posts: 132
    edited August 2011

    Hello dear Gitane!

     I am so pleased and happy to see this beautiful post about you doing so well. I have no doubt in you, you will be fine, you will see.

    I have to admit I have gained so much knowledge of brest cancer also from you, especially as far as hormonal adjuvant treatment is concerned and in this month also mum is supposed to stop hormonal , but I think we are going to continue at least for half a year, she has been on exemestane nearly 5 years now, last Zometa treatment is scheduled in October 2011 but I will continue with antihormonal until Auguat 2012  I believe.

    I have called her oncologist to order testing for bcl-2 and p53 and she said she would read the article I gave to her and then decided to test these 2 markers. I think it will be easier to decide whether 5-6 years of AI would be enough. If it is high bc-2 expressed then it is really favourable but it is also true then in that case you need to consider for a very long term prognosis. But I think in that case tumour cells are so indolent they are not going to recur like metastasis if the immune system is quite good.

    You are right about taking care of yourself. If you do not , nobody else will,. In our country women with breast cancer often just listen to their physicians and do like they say and do not research things like you, American people. In that case it is possible you not to get the optimal therapy strategy.

    I will update what tests will be done and the final decision of hormonal therapy will be in October when she has a follow up ,I will give her Zometa only while on antihormonal (AI).

    kIND REGARDS and keep doing so well:)

    It is so warm here in Slovenia:))

    Matic

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  • suzieq60
    suzieq60 Member Posts: 6,059
    edited August 2011

    Gitane - congratulations!!!! Thankyou for your wonderful post. I can only hope I make it to that 6 year mark like you!!!

    Sue

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  • toomuch
    toomuch Member Posts: 901
    edited August 2011

    Gitane - Congrats on making it past your 6 year check up and coming out with good news! You have been an invaluable resource to me this past year. It seems that your doctor is extremely proactive about keeping you well. My baseline glucoses also run high but my MO isn't using Metformin yet. I'm going to ask my GP about getting ordering a Hgb A1C and starting me on Metformin, sometimes you have to go in the backdoor.

    Wishing you years and years of health.

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  • kathleen1966
    kathleen1966 Member Posts: 793
    edited August 2011

    Dear Gitane,

    What a wonderful post! You were one of the first to respond to me with helpful and thoughtful advice. I am only one year out here and still getting Herceptin so as you probably know I am still struggling with the insecurity regarding my future. Glad to hear you are doing soo well! It is helpful to see others doing soo well.

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  • wallycat
    wallycat Member Posts: 3,227
    edited August 2011

    Gitane,

    I am a cat person!!! Never was until I met DH and he loves cats and had one.  Now I am addicted.  I could easily become "the cat lady." Surprised

    I have my undergrad in dietetics, so if you want, I can explain how the A1c (or HbA1c as it is known on lab work papers)  works...but few people care.  It is funny you say pre-diabetic by 1 point.  I'm curious why they would say that as there is typically a range and 1 point is nothing since the test can be affected by a few things.  The goal for this number seems to vary by 'agencies' so the diabetic association says 7.0 (but this number is for diabetics) while some associations (physicians, etc.) prefer 6.5 or even as low as 6.  Most typically non-diabetics will hover in the 5.something range.  It is funny that my A1c at highest was 5.7 while my fasting was 102 (now considered pre-diabetic, though the "old" standard...and the European standard for fasting...is still considered to be 110 as normal).  Anything over 99 was considered prediabetic for pregnant women but they lowered this to cover all people.  

    Hmmmmmmmm metformin may prevent cancer AND help me lose weight....may be worth going on!!

    Thanks for the feedback :)

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  • chemobrainfog
    chemobrainfog Member Posts: 7
    edited August 2011

    SIX years... awesome... celebrate life, enjoy it all...

    an ILC sister.....

    xoxox 

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited August 2011

    Awesome news, Gitane! Congratulations from all of us at BCO.

    Judith and the Mods

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  • elmcity69
    elmcity69 Member Posts: 998
    edited August 2011

    congratulations, G! so happy for you. hope you are celebrating in whatever way makes you the happiest...love your description of how you're sitting with your cats all around. (i have 2 furry friends - they are awesome, aren't they?)

    here's to many, many more multiples of six!!!

    xo

    janyce

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  • Marie-Edith
    Marie-Edith Member Posts: 218
    edited August 2011

    Bravo Gitane, i am so happy for you :)  xoxo

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  • YATCOMW
    YATCOMW Member Posts: 664
    edited September 2011

    Such a great read.....congratulations on 6 years.....just huge.

    May you have 60 more!

    Jacqueline 

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited September 2011

    Congrats, Gitane!  Such encouraging post especially reading it just before my six month scan/check-up!  Thanks. 

    Marie

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