Time for a Happy Dance!!!!

Well folks, Dr. K, my medical oncologist also my chemo skipper, gave me the big thumbs up that I am cancer free!!! I believe a happy dance is in order! Oooh baby, baby, ba, ba, ba, baby.... I feel good!!!!

Like what I said to a few people today, I kinda knew I was cancer free when they removed the tumor out of my breast. But boy, oh, boy, it feels absolutely great to hear it straight from my medical oncologist's mouth that I am cancer-free! I can't explain how happy I am. :) If you could see me now, I have a big grin on my face as I am writing this entry.

I have other news related to my treatments, my radiation is treatment is going well. So far my skin looks great according to my radiation team. I can tell the affected area is slightly burnt but it doesn't sting or bother me. What bothers me is sometimes I feel pain where the tumor was taken out. They told me to take Tylenol to relieve the pain.

My hormonal therapy will start tomorrow as soon as I get the meds from the pharmacy. Dr. K explained the reason why I have to undergo hormonal therapy. He said my hormone receptor is positive, "barely positive" to be exact. The numbers are almost borderline between negative and positive, but since it is positive (even barely positive), I have to be treated with Tamoxifen. Dr. K said there are two options for hormonal therapy: Option 1, take Tamoxifen only for five years; or Option 2, what he calls a "switching strategy" where they prescribe Tamoxifen first and then switch to a newer drug after 2-3 years. Dr. K will evaluate at a later date which option is suitable for me. He thinks he might recommend Option 2.

Like any other treatment, Dr. K told us the pros and cons of hormonal therapy. He said hormonal therapy slightly reduces the risk of heart attack and it also helps make my bones stronger. The downside is there is the small risk of getting uterine cancer (less than one percent chance that I might get it). Clotting in the veins is also a possibility. However Dr. K said not to worry about it, he said hormonal therapy is very effective especially for women who still gets their monthly period. If you will recall from my previous posts, I want my period to end since I've been having problems with it. But now that Dr. K said it will actually help with my hormonal therapy, I can't wait to get it back!!! (This might be too much info to my male friends! hee hee) Another thing is Dr. K also said that this therapy may affect my ovaries. If so, he will recommend that my ovaries be removed. I have no problems with that.

The biggest side effect of Tamoxifen is having hot flashes. I told him I'm already getting it because of the chemo. Dr. K said the hot flashes will get worse with Tamoxifen. Great.

Dr. K did not recommend any further testing to determine if cancer has spread to my body. He said a CAT scan or any type of test may be inconclusive and give false results. I guess it will be a wait and see game. But for now I am cancer free. :) I will still take this one day at a time.

Dr. K did order a mammogram only, not an ultrasound. After the misdiagnosis of my mammo last year, Mark and I questioned Dr. K why not get an ultrasound too. Dr. K said that if the mammo will be inconclusive, only then will he order an ultrasound. A mammo has been scheduled for July 13th and I'll meet with Dr. K to discuss the mammo findings on July 28th.

I will worry about that later. My fight against cancer is not over yet but for now it is time for a happy dance! Woohoo!!!!