Annual Follow-up with Dr. Moore

The end of the year seems to accelerate faster and faster.  It's hard to believe it's already been a year since I last saw Dr. Moore.

I had my annual follow-up today and was examined for anomalies in my breasts and arm pits.  Last month after having a very bad cold, my lymph glands were swollen and tender.  But thankfully (as I found from my internet research), they were 'doing their job' and draining.  I had noticed last week that I was no longer having those symptoms.  I did tell the doctor that my heightened awareness of my body's changes always makes me think that the cancer is returning.  Well he didn't find anything 'unusual'.  However, he asked when I last had a mammogram.  I believe that was when the lump was first discovered (a year ago March).

Doctor Moore requested that I have a mammogram and scheduled it for next week at the Breast Care Center of Holy Family in Methuen.  He wanted both breasts done so he can have a base line.  He also wants me to have one next year before my follow-up so he can compare the two for changes.

I had mentioned that there wasn't much 'meat' on my left (reconstructed) breast.  He said, "There's still tissue".  [I'm sure I'll have an interesting report following the mammogram.]

So next week will be busy with two doctor visits (Mehta and Chatson) and a mammogram.

More to come.

November - Check-in

Well the scary season is over (Halloween and the election).  Unlike costumes that are put away until next year, it will be extremely difficult for everyone to stow away our political costumes and come together for a common cause.  The coming days/months will demonstrate how well we will do.  Optimism persists despite the prevalent feelings we share.

The Fall foliage appears to be holding on (literally).  There are so many trees still with leaves.  There are some vibrant colors still to be seen, but the majority is on the muted spectrum of the color chart.  It's still a pleasant daily walk that I religiously take, but I am anxious to see what kind of weather New England will get this next season.  One day at a time!

On the health front I only have a few updates to share.  Mostly side effect changes, but I'm concerned with some developments.

Side Effects

• Neuropathy - I'm still trying to figure out why my finger/thumb numbness has cycles and what those triggers might be.  Although not debilitating, it still makes certain actions difficult: picking up small things; turning the page of the newspaper/magazine; buttoning those small collar buttons and a host of other 'things'.  The neuropathy in my feet appear to be getting worse.  Before it was always the balls of my feet.  Now my middle toes on my left foot are losing feeling.  I can still move my toes and it doesn't yet affect my walking but I don't like the fact that it's spreading.  
• Muscle cramps - Even though I'm getting in about 20-25 miles of walking per week, I'm still plagued with charlie horses while sleeping.  There's no rhyme or reason when they happen, but it's not fun.  Last August (while playing guitar outside in high humidity), I had terrible cramps in my forearm and heel of my right hand.  I attributed this to dehydration, but last week the same thing happened.  Unlike a charlie hose in the calf where you can stand up to relieve the 'knot', it took me some time to figure out which position was best for my arm/hand to alleviate the pain.  The longer you wait the more intense and crippling the pain becomes.  Very disturbing.
• Hot flashes - Although a listed possible side effect of Tamoxifen, I haven't had too many episodes, however over the last month I've seen an increase.  [I have a new appreciation of women going through the change now.]

New aches and pains

Having a heightened sense of my body's workings, I'm tuned in to any new aches/pains. The fall I took last August affected my right shoulder but that seems to be slowly improving.  My range of motion for normal things seems okay, but out of the ordinary movements sometime are associated with a sharp pain and/or weakness.  I'm still having difficulty sleeping on that side and I generally wake up in the night with some pain in that shoulder.  But, I turn over and fall back to sleep.  Unfortunately, I've been waking with numbness in my right hand, which goes away with some movement.  My chiropractor said that I may be pinching a nerve and he has given me some exercises to increase range of motion in my shoulder.

Not sure if my body is compensating for one pain and causing another.  In mid October, I caught a nasty head and chest cold that seemed to be lingering (coughing).  At the height of the cold, my entire body ached (like the flu), but slowly began to recover.  However, I've been having some errant pains in both arm pits.  But the odd part is that I can't pinpoint where the pain is.  Self examinations don't yield any results.  So I'm not sure if it's muscular or not.  [My biggest fear is lymph nodes.  Although I'm on Tamoxifen, there is a 7-9% change of cancer - again.] 

I have a follow-up appointment with Dr Moore in a few weeks and both doctors Mehta and Chatson early next month.  Let's hope that everything is OK.

More to come.