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Grace's Breast Cancer Journey

9/6/2019

Celebrating Two Years

It has been two years since I was diagnosed with breast cancer, March 23, 2017. I had a double mastectomy on May 10 with no reconstruction. The pathology was estrogen responsive positive (ER+) and progesterone and HR2 negative (PR-. HR2-.) My Oncotype DX Genomic test showed I would benefit from chemotherapy, so I had 4 sessions, 3 weeks apart, in July and August, and 28 daily sessions of radiation in October through November.

On December 1, 2017, I started taking Letrozole, which is an Aromatase Inhibitor that does away with the rest of the estrogen in my body. This is a medication they want people with estrogen positive tumors to take for at least five years: ten is better.

Now to the present. In July 2019 I had my biennial bone density scan. Two years ago my level had dropped to what they call osteopenia, which is below normal, but probably fairly normal for a person my age. This year, the scan of my femur and hip were about 1% lower, but my wrist and lower arm were down 10%. That was significant. Since the Letrozole I had been taking for a year and a half, causes bone loss, my oncologist immediately stopped me from using it. There is another class of drugs they called Tamoxifen, which will actually build bone density while giving cancer protection. It is usually used for pre-menopausal women, but can be used by anyone. She ordered that one for me. I took two weeks off between the two drugs and then started the Tamoxifen on August 21, 2019. I had thought I was getting by well, with few side effects on the first drug - just a few hot flashes. Now, who knows how the new one will affect me. If there is one thing I have learned from going to the Breast Cancer Support Group at St. Vincent, is that no two people react the same to medications. All I can do is hope for the least and most tolerable side effects.

Then, there is the issue of the bone density loss. My primary care doctor wants me to go on Fosamax, which builds bones back. I didn’t want to start two meds at the same time as both have known side effects, so I asked if I could wait until we return from Ireland in the middle of October before starting the Fosamax. Not a problem, and probably a good idea. In the mean time, I will research another bone med that is done by infusion once every six months. That is the one my sister is on so looking into it could benefit both of us.

Other than all of the above, I am doing quite well. Nothing has changed my positive attitude on life, and I keep involved with my photography and maintaining five websites, including this one, and enjoying friends and family..

I’m working with my neurologist to figure out how I can get more sleep, and not get out of bed between 3-4:00 am. The good thing is, I usually go back to sleep in our recliner. I am still attending an aerobics class three times a week, and trying to walk the other three or four days. I’m not sure what is causing sporadic fatigue, but could be the meds, lack of sleep, or just age. I don’t want to admit that one.

My pacemaker keeps on doing its thing; actually working about 75% of the time to keep my pulse from going below 60 bpm.

Paul and I have managed to do some traveling this last year. We were in Green Valley, AZ for the fall of 2018 and then back for the winter of 2019. I again taught a number of classes at the Camera Club there.

This summer we took a tour that started in Yellowstone and then went through the Canadian Rockies. It was a good trip, but a bit rainy so we didn’t always see the mountains.

Right now, Paul and I are looking forward to a three week tour of Ireland. As a result of its timing, we will not be going down to Green Valley this fall, like usual, but plan to be there for the winter and spring of next year.

I look forward to another pretty smooth year. I am trying not to take time for granted, and to make the best of it. Time and life are precious, and that was brought home to me recently when I lost a good friend to cancer.

I’ll try to post an update in a year, or sooner if anything noteworthy happens. My motto is still "No Regrets."

That is all for now. Check the main website for other activities.
Grace