In the end I got talking to two other women in the waiting room who, it turned out, had also had breast cancer. They were 5 and 6 years on in their story. It was nice to exchange with them and swop stories and experiences. And it made the time go faster too! Apparently I'll have 6 monthly mammograms and appointments for 5 years then it will be yearly. You can learn something from everybody you talk to, I think.
I made a list of what I wanted to discuss with the oncologist, which helped, as my brain turns to mush once I'm in front of the doctor. I forgot to mention the leg cramps that frequently wake me up in so much pain though.
I also forgot the results of my last mammogram, which wasn't very clever of me, so I have to fax those on Monday.
I did, however, do the pre appointment blood test. I am short of vitamin D, calcium, and my cholesteral is slightly high. Otherwise there are no cancer markers. That was a huge relief.
The thing that concerned the doctor most was my dizzy spells, fast beating heart, chest pains and wooshing in my head. She sent me off to the nurses' station upstairs where they took my blood pressure with a fancy machine. It was quite high. So I now need to see a cardiologist. I sort of knew this would need further investigation and this was part of the reason I'd delayed seeing the oncologist or taking the MRI that my doctor had ordered me to do. If it takes virtually all my Saturday for a simple oncology appointment how on earth am I going to fit in a cardiologist and all those related examinations when I'm working? I feel like I've just got my life going again and this problem is a real pain. I'm also wondering what the heck this is going to lead to?
Inevitably, my lifestyle and weight will be criticised, horrified noises will be made and changes will have to come. Pfffff. Anyway, it's good that she gave a damn and is willing to help me feel better. She claims the problem is nothing to do with the tamoxifen or the menopause. I'm not convinced, I've seen on the internet lots of women who have the same symptoms with tamoxifen and the menopause and this wasn't a problem at all until I had cancer. We'll see what happens.
As far as the cancer goes, she was happy with my general state of health, gave me a good examination. I mentioned the subject of reconstruction and that the surgeon had advised me to raise the subject with her. She said yes, he can inject fat into the breasts, that would be best for you and you'll lose weight off your abdomen too. I didn't mention that this was his preferred method of 'reconstructing' so it's good that she has the same idea and is positive about it. She confirmed that it will have to go through the Commission but sees no reason why it should not be approved. But I don't have to do it if I don't want to, she also mentioned.
She also reminded me that I should take advantage of the Post Cancer Cure and said it would be good to go in February. This is something I hadn't thought about. Or maybe Easter. I'll see what I can do.
I have a mammogram to do in March with a blood test too. I have a prescription for Vitamin D capsules, calcium tablets, tablets for high blood pressure and tamoxifen. I mentioned that I've gone from barely having an aspirin to taking a tonne of stuff. This bugs me somewhat but I sort of look upon Tamoxifen as a kind of life insurance (if it's doing what it should be doing).
It was a funny appointment in some ways. I mentioned that I'd taken up yoga once a week and she was really interested and said at the end, she wanted to do it herself so would I mind if she joined the class! Also we talked about meditation and it turns out she was really into Transcendental Meditation (which I practised for a long time and still do sporadically) so we swopped stories. She said 'oh we have a lot in common'! I like her.
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