Last chemo in a few days but afraid to ask onco what comes next

Mimi.

You had mentioned having palpitations during AC, I would appreciate if you could tell me when they started and how long it lasted. Message if you prefer. Thanks

Hi there, thought I would chime in.

I had 2 MRIs of my breasts before my BMX/immediate recon--which happened about a year after chemo ended. Haven't had any further scans since then, but my PS wants me to get an MRI in the next few months to make sure there isn't any breast tissue left--and if there is, so we know where it is and can follow it.

My MO doesn't think scans are necessary (PET, CT etc.) she believes that is overtreatment, and can more than likely offer up a false positive than report something. She says that I'll have other signs and symptoms that will indicate a problem, and she knows I'll run to her asap if that happens.

My MO follows up with CBC blood work every single time, so I have to get labs done before I see her for my regular checkups. She looks for elevations in particular areas, and probably lower than normal status in others (in my pathology).

She also now gives me Prolia 2x a year--I have mild osteopenia, perhaps from the Aromasin I take (or it could be because I'm post-meno--chemo put me in menopause 5 years ago--and I'm 58 y.o.). The Prolia also can protect my bones from any potential metastases, which I like. I've have no side effects from it at all so far.

I would ask your MO if you'll be rx'd Tamoxifen or some kind of aromatase inhibitor.

Also ask about regular checkups--3 months the first year for me, then 4, now I'm up to 5, but I'm considered "high risk" so I'm followed more closely. And if there are lifestyle changes (diet, exercise, etc.) that you can do. My MO wasn't very well-versed in any of that, actually I've found more helpful and credible information on this site than from any doc.

I had my port taken out as soon as I was done with chemo. Didn't want the reminder pulling me back into the past when I wanted to move forward. My surgeon took it out in his office. I kept it and made recycled art with it.

Good luck and congrats on getting through!

Claire in AZ

Mimi,

Thanks, so your heart was racing, did you feel it pounding too? And only the one dose?

Theresa

Pingpong, I'll try to take a photo and post it somewhere on bc.org. I used it in a shadowbox artpiece. I'm a former river guide, and dx/tx/recovery felt rather like running a river, complete with rapids, so I used my port as my boat, and placed myself on the port as I traveled "downstream" in my shadowbox collage. It was a symbolic piece of art, designed to help me make sense of the whole life-changing journey

Claireinaz - that's really beautiful! And a great way to look at it....especially for someone like me who's just pushed off from the shore. Thank you for sharing.