I had my bone scan today. The test is simple- an injection in the vein, wait 3 hours, lie straigh as a pencil on a skinny table for 20 minutes. A board about 28" square moved slowly down my body scanning all the way. It looked very similar to an x-ray. I'll have the results in a few days.
Since I was at the hospital, I decided to visit my friends in oncology. We chatted and laughed, and I even got a walk in appointment with my oncologist! I told her how much I hated lupron and asked her advice. In essence, she's not convinced that the joint pain and weight gain is being caused by the lurpon and would prefer I stay on it and complete the two years of treatment. Unfortunately there is no data to calculate the risk of leaving lupron, but there is this: young cancer patients who went into menopause after chemo-therapy had a 3-4% greater success rate in staying cancer free. Since lupron makes me menopausal, this is the best data I have to go on.
So, I basically have to decide if the side effects are worth the risk. 3-4% doesn't seem like much, but if it's not the lupron that's causing the weight gain and joint pain, then it makes more sense to continue. Sigh... Hopefully the results of the bone scan will help me decide. You'll know when I do!
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Monday, April 27, 2009
they love me
My neurologist appointment went so well today that I get to go back next week! Actually, I'm going back because he still hasn't gotten some test results and I didn't do the speech therapy, so we had nothing to talk about. Thankfully, I am not being charged for this appointment. Bone scan tomorrow!
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Granny Kelly
I haven't written in a while because my internet is running ridiculously slowly. I've resorted to using my phone. Good thing I have the option!
Last Thursday I woke up and didn't want to get out of bed because I was in pain. My joints have been bothering me for a while, especially my knees, but this was the first time it really interfered with my life in a significant way. So, I called my oncologist to talk about whether lupron was absolutely needed or if I could get rid of it. Unfortunately, I have yet to actually speak with her. She ordered a bone scan to check for calcium deficiencies, cancer, etc. That will take place one week from today.
The other thing that pushed me to ask to get off lupron is the constant weight gain. I've gained 11 pounds in the last 3 months and I can't take it any longer. The lupron not only causes weight gain, but makes me tired, so I am only awake for about 10hrs. A day if I exercise (14 if I don't.) Not to mention the added difficulty of aching knees and back.
Have you had enough of my complaining yet? THIS is why I don't tell people how I'm doing, because THIS is normal, and it's NOTHING compared to chemo, surgery, or radiation.
Sigh.. Yesterday Chris and I got to spend the day together and decided to go to the movies. We had a great time. Last night when we were talking about the day I asked if he had seen me limp down the stairs after the movie. He had. I was literally moving as slowly as the 75yr. Old in front of us. Just call me granny Kelly.
Last Thursday I woke up and didn't want to get out of bed because I was in pain. My joints have been bothering me for a while, especially my knees, but this was the first time it really interfered with my life in a significant way. So, I called my oncologist to talk about whether lupron was absolutely needed or if I could get rid of it. Unfortunately, I have yet to actually speak with her. She ordered a bone scan to check for calcium deficiencies, cancer, etc. That will take place one week from today.
The other thing that pushed me to ask to get off lupron is the constant weight gain. I've gained 11 pounds in the last 3 months and I can't take it any longer. The lupron not only causes weight gain, but makes me tired, so I am only awake for about 10hrs. A day if I exercise (14 if I don't.) Not to mention the added difficulty of aching knees and back.
Have you had enough of my complaining yet? THIS is why I don't tell people how I'm doing, because THIS is normal, and it's NOTHING compared to chemo, surgery, or radiation.
Sigh.. Yesterday Chris and I got to spend the day together and decided to go to the movies. We had a great time. Last night when we were talking about the day I asked if he had seen me limp down the stairs after the movie. He had. I was literally moving as slowly as the 75yr. Old in front of us. Just call me granny Kelly.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Routine Stuff
Yesterday was my lupron injection. I had to wait a little longer than normal, because the pharmacy was short a dose- there were 3 of us getting it that day and I was last on the list. It's ridiculously expensive, so they only don't keep any extra on hand. Thankfully the store house is only about ten minutes away.
Today I'm feeling fatigue and having hot flashes. Not a big deal, just par for the course.
Today I'm feeling fatigue and having hot flashes. Not a big deal, just par for the course.
Friday, April 3, 2009
follow-up
I saw my oncologist today to get the results of my MUGA and bloodwork. She said I am as healthy as can be. :)
She is a little concerned because I've had some headaches recently, but I am 99.9% convinced they are due to allergies. (Blue Cross stopped covering Nasonex and I've had little luck finding something else that works.) I'm supposed to call if they get worse.
Something else she told me that was rather interesting: inhaled steroids, like Nasonex, have the same affect on the body as steroids taken orally. They can mess with your adrenal glands. I was like... what?! She said that plain old saline spray can work just as well as meds like Nasonex. Now, keep in mind, she's an oncologist, not an allergist. I still think it's worth looking into, though. Maybe going off an inhaled steroid all together will help with my weight, too!
She is a little concerned because I've had some headaches recently, but I am 99.9% convinced they are due to allergies. (Blue Cross stopped covering Nasonex and I've had little luck finding something else that works.) I'm supposed to call if they get worse.
Something else she told me that was rather interesting: inhaled steroids, like Nasonex, have the same affect on the body as steroids taken orally. They can mess with your adrenal glands. I was like... what?! She said that plain old saline spray can work just as well as meds like Nasonex. Now, keep in mind, she's an oncologist, not an allergist. I still think it's worth looking into, though. Maybe going off an inhaled steroid all together will help with my weight, too!
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