One-Year Later

One year ago today I had surgery to remove breast cancer.  Six months ago was my last post. For almost six months I didn't have to think about a doctor's visit.  In January I quit my job to focus on my health.  In February I gave up my apartment so I do not have to keep that job.  In March I set off on a trip to cross off some bucket list items.  In late May I came back, and since I no longer have my apartment, I am bouncing around from place to place - essentially a nomad.  I stayed mostly in Virginia Beach though, as I had to start thinking about doctors' visits all over again.  

I no longer have health and dental insurance through work since I decided not to sign up for COBRA.  I signed up for dental insurance through the VA though.  It is a new plan, so I had to get a new dentist.  Due to insurance reasons, when you switch dentists, they will not do the cleaning on the same day as the initial exam even if you have seen a dentist within the past year.  This means switching dentists becomes a two visit ordeal.  Not to mention waits for some dental offices are many months, it will not be easy to get care elsewhere.  Another annoying reality of the American healthcare system.

I am also getting my healthcare through the VA.  Some initial visits are leading to additional follow-up visits, which is frustrating since I am tired of having to arrange my life around these doctors' visits.  Some of the visits are related to my breast cancer.  This past week I had an MRI and a follow-up with my oncologist and surgeon.  While it all went well, I just felt a like another patient they rush through.  I tell them of my concerns, but they can't do anything about it unless it is severe or something shows up on imaging.  Both doctors' visits were like 10 minutes or less.  It felt like a waste of time.  My surgeon mentioned for the first time though, something called costochondritis, an inflammation of the cartilage connecting your ribs to your breastbone (sternum). As of the moment it seems to be the likely cause of the mystery pain I mentioned in my last post.  There does not seem to be much I can do about it.

Going forward, I must continue Tamoxifen until October 2030.  I started getting side effects over the last few months such as missing periods, hot flashes, joint pain, depression and dry skin.  Most of the side effects come ago.  If I had to guess what triggers them, I would say it is stress, though I can't say for certain.  I suppose I should be grateful my side effects are tolerable, as many women do not tolerate theirs.  Yet, when I think about it, I am not happy at what the radiation treatment and the medication has done and is doing to me.  If I didn't do these treatments though and my breast cancer comes back or progresses, I am sure I would regret not doing them.  

My next follow-up will be in January with a mammogram and blood work for oncology, and another MRI in July.