Appointments

I hadn’t really realised how much stress, the lack of response or any attempt by the NHS to sort out my anaemia and heavy periods, had been causing me. It was only when I left the hospital Friday afternoon that I felt the weight lifted from me, as for once, I had been taken seriously by someone who knew why I was in the consulting room. I was given a full explanation as to how the Tamoxifen works, including its positive effect as an antagonist in breast tissue but as an agonist on the endometrium, causing endometrial changes in some women.  The doctor asked if any of this had been explained to me already or if I had already had an ultrasound scan. The answer to both, was “no”.

The doctor was brilliant, very friendly, filled me with confidence, explained the different treatments that I can try and suggested a scan and a biopsy of the endometrium to check for polyps or any other adverse changes. I expected to be given an appointment but was taken into a side room on Ward 42 (same ward as I was on for the mastectomy – rather emotional being back there again) and had the scan and biopsy done there and then. Not quite how I planned to spend a Friday afternoon, watching my ovaries and uterus on the screen while my legs dangled over the supports at the end of the bed in a very un lady like fashion! No polys or anything else of concern, lining being within the expected thickness as a Tamoxifen user. The biospy of the endometrium was slightly uncomfortable but fine, although as warned I did bleed afterwards.Biopsy results will be back in 6 weeks or so. Meantime, some simple measures I can take that might help. Non steroid anti-inflammatory, Mefenamic Acid and Ibuprofen two days before the onset of menstruation and during, which may help to reduce bleeding. Things will be reviewed once the biopsy results are back and once it has been established if my breast cancer was progesterone receptive or not.

At least I now feel things can be improved and I hope to shift the anemia and those occasional days of chronic fatigue that have been ongoing for some months. Just a shame it has taken four months to get the ball rolling.

June 18th marks one year since I went for my first mamogram and started on this journey. I'm supposed to have my annual mammogram check anytime now, but as yet no appointment!

Deja Vue

“Have you been here before?” “Oh yes.”

The deja vue was never going to be easy. But surely the nurse should have known I had visited the breast clinic on many occasions before?

Here I was, once more, sat within the same four white walls, on the same bright blue chair, watching the same hands tick on the clock, the same blue door (made me smile, it was almost the same colour as my recently painted hen house!). The blinds were shutting out the sunshine and blue sky just as they had done on results day last year, so I took the liberty of opening them just enough that I could see the sky reflected in the wall mirror opposite me. The familiar box of tissues sat on the desk in readiness for all those tears that are shed in this room, when lives are turned upside down.

“What can we do for you?” had she not read the correspondence or notes? So I read from my list, giving her a copy for the file just to be sure that nothing got missed.

It was all very swift with no time for questions. Didn’t anyone want to check that my iron count was back to normal, no blood test nor a check of my blood pressure? What would happen if gynaecology find out that it is the Tamoxifen effecting my menstruation? (Although not common, Tamoxifen can cause thickening of the endometrium and hence problems with menstruation). So, after weeks of waiting I was no further forward other than to now be waiting for another appointment to see the gynaecologist. Why I could not just have been referred directly to gynaecology in the first place I do not know.

I drew strength from last week’s forum and all those other ladies who have also experienced this matter of fact, less than satisfactory treatment.

My consultant said she would arrange my annual mammogram for when it is due in June, gosh, that came round quick, a year in June since this journey began. Well for what it’s worth anyway, given that the first mammogram only picked up an unclear fog and nothing that they were too concerned about!

For now I put the whole thing out of my head as best I can, managing my time table such that I am close to home during my period. The gynaecology appointment is bound to come through for when I am on holiday in June or July!

Anaemia & Menorrhagia

I will soon start to rattle as my prescriptions increase! I was back at the doctors this week, one to get the breast cancer history on to the girls medical records for their future screening and secondly to mention my heavy periods and the fatigue. I had blood tests done which came back that I am anaemic, hence the bouts of tiredness. I have two prescriptions to pick up, one for the anaemia and one to reduce the heavy bleeding (menorrhagia). I have never been anaemic before, I take a multi vitamin with iron every morning, eat fortified wholegrain cereal for breakfast and am a regular eater of watercress, rocket, apricots and broccoli! A possible side effect of the heavy bleeding and / or Tamoxifen. I hope next week I will bouncing around with renewed energy in time for my weekend to London!

I went to the cinema at the weekend to see A Song for Marion. It was a little too close to home and hit a few raw nerves for the three of us who went, one being a fellow cancer survivor herself. The three of us wept almost all the way through! It was a brilliantly made British movie but far too real and emotional. I’m interested to see what someone who has not had first-hand experience of cancer thinks to it?

I’ve been swimming twice in the last week which I really enjoyed however I suffered on both occasions the following day, with severe shooting pains at the site of surgery. Next swim I will stick to breast stroke and drop the front crawl to see if that helps. I also managed a 20 mins run yesterday in glorious sunshine along the beach. I was fine with the running but shattered in the evening! Today I had a four hour coastal walk with a friend, which was great fun and uplifting. Fantastic therapy – good conversation, fresh air and exercise. Another early night and probably another 10 hours sleep like last night!