Calling all TNs

mccrimmon - laughed when I read your description of getting yourself onto the couch.  Reminded me of myself, trying to hoist my fat a** off the floor.  ksmatthews - forgot to mention that even though I've improved, I still have problems if I've been sitting in the same position too long, like after a long car ride or when I get up from my desk at work.  Inmate - best of luck with your PET.... sending positive thoughts your way!

Lovelyface- Please be careful going off the lorazepam cold turkey. I took it for a year and told my onc I was going to stop. he said you must wean yourself off of it slowly. Every week decrease your dose by cutting the pill in half, then thirds, fourths and then take only one fourth for a week before you stop completely. Stopping abrubtly can cause seizures. You can google stopping lorazepam (Ativan) and it will give you steps to stop.

Khs - I think your MO is giving you the standard of care for your stage of breast cancer.  Really, there is nothing (s)he can do to prevent a recurrence.  The trick is to detect one quickly if it happens.  And for you to be alert to anything unusual that might indicate trouble.  You're on the right track with your diet and exercise.  As for the metformin, your internist can prescribe it if you have a fasting glucose over 100 or an HbA1c that indicates you are above the normal range.  That would be an "on-label" use. 

To be honest, after 20 months of doctors, scans, labs, surgeries, treatment, etc.  I will be thrilled to not see a specialist for six months!

I see my medical onc every six months alternating every six months with my GP.  Essentially I get seen/examined every three months and get one annual mammogram. I go on Wednesday to see the MO. Sounds like everyone gets different follow up care.

Thanks Luah. The oncology cardiologist thinks mom's heart should do fine, although to be honest it was a bit weird that the Dr. hadn't even heard of the very common medication ( tryptophan?) mom takes for her tachycardia. The woman didn't seem the least bit caring or interested in mom at all. She seemed to regard mom as just another name on a chart and was quite dismissive of her concerns. Didn't really want to discuss much or answer any questions - just wanted to get her out the door and get on to the next person / chart. At one point the cardiologist claimed only 10 to 20% of patients get heart side effects and yet when mom commented that 20% was a lot, the cardiologist huffed and said oh forget I said 20% - just believe it's only 10%. Huh ? Why is it that so many specialists don't seem to see the human patient and just treat you as a 'case' and talk condescendingly to you. Ironically when mom asked another question, the cardiologist told her to ask the oncologist and yet a few weeks earlier the oncologist told mom to ask the cardiologist the same question.

 Sometimes you want to grab them by their lab coat collar, back them up against the wall and say "look us in the eyes, genuinely listen to us when we speak and think before you speak to us". We are not just a disease and we are not just a bunch of symptoms. We are real live people so don't treat us like we're imposing on your time and straining your patience by asking questions that will affect our well being and our very lives.

 Arrg! Rant done for now. Thanks for understanding.

TryingToSaveMom - Rant away! I definitely can relate to your post. I felt as those rads was a big factory - an assembly line. I would wait for at least an hour, one day a week, for 6 wks, to see my rad onc briefly - he would look at my skin and say "great". The only congenial conversation we ever had was him talking about how awful his teenage daughters made his Christmas. (He said he, "actually wanted to cry by Christmas evening". My rather insenstivie remark to him was, "My Christmas was great!"

My rad onc alway started with, "How are you?" - I always responded with, "Great" - When asked if I was having pain in my radiated breast, I told him I was. He asked why I had not told him before - I told him because he had not asked and why did it matter? What was going to be done about it? He looked at me, smiled and told me "nothing".... 

...one more thing while I am on roll...the rad nurse told me that I would probably have a tough time now that rads was ending as I would miss the security blanket of the staff at the rad center - NOT - I practically ran out the door and never plan to return to that center, ever again. If I have a recurrence, I will drive 2 hours, instead of 1, to go to a rad center in VT!   Miss them? Miss what? I almost laughed when she told me.

I see my Onc every 3 months, my BS told me not to come until I've had my yearly mammo which won't happen until April and I haven't seen him since August.  I don't like him anyway.  I have my first follow up appt tomorrow.  Think my nerves are starting up now. 

Wow, interesting experiences.  I must say I "love, love, love" my RO!  He is the warmest doctor I have ever encountered.  He literally hugs me at the end of every visit and his warmth is truly genuine.  At my last visit he asked me if I was in any pain and when I said it hurts, he asked the nurse to write a script for pain meds.  I had plenty left over from previous surgeries so I didn't need them.  He changed my radiation protocol and had the nurse give me a complete burn care kit.   And oh, when he sees one of my family members in the waiting area (my son or husband) he goes up to them, shakes their hand and exchanges pleasantries.  On the other hand, I've seen so many rad techs that I don't feel any connection with any of them, nor do I feel any obligation to do something for them when I finish on Thursday other than to give a very sincere "thank you."  Maybe I'll write a little note.    I've probably had at least 8 different people.  They are all very nice, friendly, etc.  But it's not the same as the relationship I developed with my chemo nurse, for example, who was the only nurse who took care of me throughout all my treatments.  I have my second followup with my MO later this month.  The first was three weeks after finishing chemo, now it's almost four months later.  I'm not sure what the ongoing schedule will be - I'm sure we'll talk about it at my visit. 

When I was in the KC area, I went to the same breast surgery practice as TifJ ( I think) and she was very thorough.  I don't have a BS here, don't need one now that I have no breasts, and I am assuming my MO will be responsible for all future follow-up care.

Tif - I never met Dr. Jew, either.  But I think both she and Balanoff must be the same size, quite tiny! 

I'm doing OK, almost finished with rads (3 boosts left to scar line).  I've got some nasty open sores but they will heal.  They gave me a burn care kit, and it is helping.  Otherwise, I feel fine.

I liked my doctors but I HATED every second of every moment I was in a doctor's office being treated. So much so, that they thought I was depressed. I wasn't "depressed" but I sure as sh*t had places I'd rather be, and it showed through every inch of my body.

In fact, I actually chastised my husband for being too jolly during visits. I told him, "This is *cancer*... not some f*cking social call". That shut him up.

I have *never* gone back to the treatment center and get out of my onc's office like a cat with its tail on fire.

Hi guys, "quick" update on me. I'm still in the hospital. Still tachycardic, but my shortness of breath is slowly improving. Had some edema in the lungs yesterday, so they gave me Lazix which I guess helped. Today I am having my left lung tapped to make me more comfortable, I'm pretty sure I know what the cytology report will show, so it really won't be a surprise. I have had two blood transfusions, so I'm not anemic any longer.



My MO's goal is to get me home tomorrow on oral antibiotics, and we will work on a chemo schedule that will allow me to take my cruise. I love my MO.



I had been getting a bit scared that I wasn't going to leave here, as I just don't seem to be going in ANY direction, good or bad. But my doctor swears she's getting me home, and better.



Talk to you all later. Hugs.

Suze, hoping you recovery quickly, you can't miss that cruise.