Almost done but have a few guestions :O)

Hi Kathy,

Congrats on being almost done with chemo - there's definitely light at the end of the tunnel!  Did you have surgery before chemo, or will you be doing it afterward?  

I'd ask the radiologist about specific and risks and benefits for your individual case.  If you've had or will be having surgery/reconstruction, ask about the implications of radiation.  Ask ahead of time if you do decide on radiation, how to best protect your skin and do it faithfully before skin problems happen. Ask if there are any options as far as type/scheduling/duration of radiation for you.

I have bloodwork about every 6 months to monitor tumor markers, vitamin D level, and CBCs.  The tumor markers are a bit controversial and not necessarily all that accurate, but in some cases they can show a concerning trend or a sudden jump that could indicate a developing problem.  My onc is fairly flexible about my followup.  In general, scheduled scans aren't really recommended if there are no symptoms, but my onc was pretty cautious in the first 2 years, so I had a few PET scans. Also, I had some other problems (hip pain, difficulty swallowing, etc.) that she followed up very thoroughly with a variety of scans and tests.  She was/is very flexible, though, and tailors my followup, at least in part, to how comfortable I am and how much reassurance I want.  

You're right, there's not much available for TN after surgery/chemo/rads.  For me personally, I've tried to make healthy lifestyle changes and to be as healthy generally as I can.  There is real research  that shows exercise and nutrition to be valuable, so I'm more "health minded" than I was before, although I was pretty darned healthy before.  Have you had your vitamin D levels checked?  If not, I'd ask about it.  Again, it's not a panacea, but there's at least a tenuous correlation between Vitamid D deficiency and breast cancer.  

I take some dietary supplements, try to eat healthy, try to get exercise and sunshine, minimize stress, sleep well, and try to live my life well.  Of course, these are all general things everybody should do anyway.  

Anyway, best of luck!  Go easy on yourself - you've been through a huge battle, and it does take time to recuperate. 

Sorry, I'm rambling again!  

Best of luck!

Hi Kathy,

You're very welcome.  Hahaha, I know what you mean about potatoes.  For me it was popcorn!  It reminds me of weird cravings during pregnancy.  I'm a firm believer that during chemo, you do what you need to do to get by!  It's definitely not the time to be a martyr about what you eat.  I agree...I'm an info junkie myself and like to know what to expect.  

So you've already done surgery - one more hurdle completed and one step closer to closing this chapter that wasn't so much fun!

Best of luck!