Bit of a Mixed Bag

Just back from the Chemo Oncologist today, and I have to admit while it was a good visit, it was a bit of a mixed bag kind of visit.

As usual, I managed to throw him a curly question and just prove how different chemo affects everyone individually. This chemo drug, Docetaxel causes pain that focuses on muscle and bone, yet during the days I suffer that, it also feels like someone is ripping my ovaries out. Yep, he didn't have an answer for that one lol. Also I told him my hair was definitely coming back... he just smiled at me. But I know it's getting fluffier.

The one downside to the visit, was my question about having a top to toe type scan once this and the radiation therapy was done to ensure I was cancer free. Apparently it is not routinely done. They know and are confident that the chemo is doing its job as they cant feel the tumour in my neck and haven't been able to for a long time. I have to admit that sat me back on my butt quite a bit. I think I was looking forward to having that piece of paper at the end of all this that said 100% you are cancer free. I will be having a mammogram and ultrasound in January (I might make sure they ultrasound the neck as well) but that will be it. I know from the initial body and bone scan that the cancer was no where else in my system, and as he said, I've been given a big dose of chemo and that's gone through the whole body to seek out any nasties. The radiation will be a big dose too, and that will focus on the localised sites of my breast, my neck and my armpit.

So I have to take that leap of faith, and also as he said, be vigilant with my health, my weight and my fitness. And be vigilant with symptoms. Again, he reminded me that cancer pain is persistent, doesn't resolve and is unusual. So they will watch for that at each of my checkups.

One thing I didn't know and was relieved about was that being triple negative, IF there was to be a re occurrence of cancer  (ie a secondary cancer)  (and that's a big if ) it will happen in the first 3 years.... and as each of those years pass, the likelihood is less and less. So unlike those who are hormone positive I wont have to wait 5 years to get an all clear. YAY. Got to find the positives and in the words of George Michael's song Faith  ... well... "you gotta have faith"  Think I might make it my ring tone :)



George Michael - "Faith"