Tag Archive | #DEXA

Keeping up with trends

Sep21

This week is quite the week.  I meet with ALL the Doctors! (AND PT) Of course the song You Wanna Piece of Me runs through my head. But I’ve been noticing I am doing pretty good keeping up with the latest trend in everything. Seems all the cool kids are doing the breast cancer thing..so of course I have to be in on that.

So first up. Appointment with Dr. Evil. Also known as the surgeon. I just call him that because he put me in the most pain through all this. But he’s also the one that removed Cruella so I can’t really not like him…it’s all said with love.  So went into see him and he told me to get out of his office for 6 months.  So I’ve been released 100% (no more seromas….at least not enough to worry about).  I do have to see him every 6 months for the next 5 years to check the chest wall and lymph nodes. Good times.

Next up. Medical Oncologist. Overall things are good.  I wasn’t supposed to have blood work done today but we ended up doing some due to some issues that came up. Looks like my DEXA test came up that I have Osteopenia. I have never heard of this before. But it seems that it’s the step right before Osteoporosis. Most likely caused from the steroids during chemo and the Lupron. Not sure if I will be put on any type of meds to combat this but for now we add some calcium rich foods, supplements, Vitamin D and exercise.  On it. I don’t know how trendy this is yet…but now that I’m doing it I’m sure it will be more popular in the upcoming years.

“Osteopenia refers to bone density that is lower than normal peak density but not low enough to be classified as osteoporosis. Bone density is a measurement of how dense and strong the bones are. If your bone density is low compared to normal peak density, you are said to have osteopenia. Having osteopenia means there is a greater risk that, as time passes, you may develop bone density that is very low compared to normal, known as osteoporosis.” …WebMD

Okay fantastic. So then I go back on October 17th for my Lupron shot. Yay…keep those nasty hormones shut off.  I also got told that I’ll be starting Arimidex towards the end of radiation therapy…so beginning of November.  This is an alternative to Tamoxifen. Just another medication to keep the hormones shut down.  We REALLY REALLY need to shut of my hormones…this will help prevent any cancer (of the breast kind) from returning. We will see. Again…cool kids get Lupron and either Tamoxifen or Arimidex. Because Arimidex is newer…obviously way cooler.  I get to do this for 5 years. (see a trend?)

Then I went to Physical Therapy. Good news my range is getting better. Bad news, got fitted for the lymphedema sleeve today. I’m going back tomorrow for another session and get the information to order my sleeve. It’s minor so hopefully we can keep it minor.  She has me doing the regular stretching exercises but also the massage to keep my lymphatic system moving. So for years I would exercise and especially when I walked for a long time or hiked my hands would swell up. Seems my lymphatic system hasn’t been functioning very well before all this happened.  So when they removed some of the lymph nodes it just put more strain on an already sucky system. What are ya going to do. I will even get a gauntlet…how cool does that sound?  Hey this seems to be a life thing…so how lucky is that?

Let me just say…the fashion statement of the Fall is the compression sleeve…I mean Serena Williams is doing it…and who doesn’t want to be like Serena?

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DEXA scan and French Fries

Sep6

We went to Spokane this past weekend.  Boy did I walk.  Friday hit over 11K steps. I haven’t done that since January.  So needless to say I was hurting a bit the next few days. We had a really good time visiting with relatives and seeing the sights.  Another state checked off my list.

Well when we got home there was a notice in the mail that I guess I’m scheduled for a CT scan and a DEXA scan on the 16th. Just when I stopped worrying from the whole NED (No evidence of disease) statement from my Dr I see the CT scan and start getting all worried.  So I’ve been a mess. The DEXA scan is a bone scan to make sure that the chemo didn’t mess up my bones that much.  I’m not real worried about that one.  But I’m confused on the CT scan.  I mean the dr said that I was clear…I was good to go.  Now we are doing this.  WHY!!!????  I’m sure it’s a formality but it made me realize that I’m going to be paranoid with every drs appointment and every little thing that doesn’t feel good.  I mean the last few days I’ve not been feeling all that great.  Of course my mind goes off the deep end.  But I’m sure the humidity and weather have absolutely nothing to do with that (sarcasm).

One of my major issues in life is that I worry about nothing too much. While I was in Chemo I have to say, I was so laid back and didn’t worry about stuff.  Of course I was so drugged up I don’t really remember much. I need to stop freaking out about every little thing. I can’t sit here and say everything will be fine with a clear conscience, but I can say I need to not worry about things I can’t control and live life every day.  I tend to get caught up in the cancer ruling my life.  Even post cancer it’s like a cloud that hangs over your head and you are just waiting. Well, I need to stop doing that.  It’s not doing me or anyone around me any good.

The other thing I really really really need to pay attention to is what I eat. Besides the fact that my taste buds totally changed so did the way certain foods react with my body. Look…I’ve been eating french fries for a good 45 years now….and the other day I snubbed my nose up at them and chose a salad as a side.  This is a huge change that I don’t know how the heck to take it!  I mean…what the hell! FRENCH FRIES!!!  And onion straws.  I love onion straws.  No, no I don’t like them any more.  It’s like all of a sudden…I can’t stomach anything that was fried. (and they just put in a Panda Express in town…..I won’t even attempt it)

I suppose this is all a good thing.  I’ve cut down on bread since my body seems to feel inflamed after I eat it. And wine.  OH WINE. I don’t feel so hot after wine. That has to be one of the hardest things to accept in this new way of life. <sigh> Okay, so lets take count….no bread, no alcohol, no sugar, no fried anything, no potatoes. OH did I mention the smell of meat makes me ill.  Especially red meat.  I can take chicken if it’s cooked a certain way…but any more I’m okay just skipping the meat.

Well I have fought this eating thing for a few weeks now just to make sure it wasn’t a fluke. And it truly seems that if it’s not a vegetable or a fruit I get sick after eating it. Fine whatever.  But at least I’m alive to bitch about this stuff.