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A few weeks ago, I was grumbling about the number of pills I have to take, both morning and night. (I have to admit that some are just supplements.) I remembered that one of the pills was to destroy the estrogen in my body, which was supposed to contribute to remaining cancer-free. When I thought about it, it occurred to me that quite a period had passed since I was diagnosed with breast cancer and had a single mastectomy. When I checked the dates, I was surprised to see that in June, five years had passed, an encouraging sign that I might be free of cancer.
Coincidentally, I was going to be seeing my nurse practitioner, and I asked her about my status. When she double-checked the dates, she agreed: technically, I could stop taking the estrogen inhibitor. But then she smiled, almost sheepishly, saying that the doctor would probably say, if he were there, that the most recent studies indicate that taking the medication for ten years was even better!
Not going there.
I explained to her that he gave me that same story when I was getting chemotherapy: that if I could “tolerate” six treatments, the studies showed even better results. But at the end of my fourth treatment, the chemo administering nurse said that I was done. She assured me that the order confirmed the completion, so when I next saw the oncologist, he said, well, since the order was put in, they encouraged patients to try for six treatments. (Of course, there was no data to show me.) So we made a deal: I would try one more treatment and see how I did.
I ended up having neuropathy in both feet. End of treatments.
I related my history to the nurse practitioner, and she understood. She also checked whether the nodes they originally checked were positive or negative.
They were negative.
I’m coming off Tamoxifen next month.
I also want to say that I’m glad that I haven’t worried during the last five years about the cancer recurring. For one, there was nothing else I could do to stop it. Second, we were doing a blood draw every six months to make sure that no cancer was showing up. And third, life is meant for living, not worrying, and I celebrate my life and the opportunities it has presented me. I realize that I could still get cancer anywhere in my body. Oh, well.
This story is also a reminder to all of us to question our doctors when we are not comfortable with their feedback.
These are our bodies, after all.
Discussion (60)
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Congrats!! Lets have many more!!
Also there is something that could be done... Dr Soon Shiong (UCLA) is using comparative DNA studies to develop an individual vaccine for each patient. He compares the DNA of a cancer cell with a normal cell - finds the defects and then synthesizes a vaccine that would attack those defects...
But lets hope such things are never needed...
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That's fascinating!! So many innovations are happening on the cancer front. Thanks for sharing this one, Occupant!
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So glad to hear your good news. My old neighbor had breast cancer (early 60's) and after continuous treatment, healthy diet and water filtration system she swears by, she is also cancer free. I think her treatments were less. Glad you pushed back on those drugs too.
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Congrats Susan!
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I think some doctors simply believe that if a little is good, a lot is better. That's fine when my husband wants to fertilize the lawn, but not for my treatment! Thanks, FSC.
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