Oncology appt at St Vincents

16th June

Today I saw the oncologist at St Vincents Cancer Centre.

I told her about my zoladex experience and that I didn't want to take it anymore. She said that the side effect was unusual (of course).... And asked if I had reacted to anything else....the only thing that was different in my life was that bloody injection 24 hours before! They take a lot of convincing oncologists.

So then we got down and dirty. I finally asked why the urgency, why do I need to take this super drug and consequently have non-functioning ovaries? What is it about me that we are trying to make me post menopause for this drug in particular? I get that they are finding better results and they only have enough data for post menopausal treatment to compare it, but what in particular about me that they are doing this for?

She told me that my full pathological response is uncommon. Especially with the type of cancer I had and with it gone so far as the lymph nodes. My cancer was considered high risk with the largest tumours being almost 2 mm. Okay - now that's what I meant. She said that they could only expect a good prognosis based on my result - As in no recurrence. (Oncologist won't declare cancer free just because they've removed it all until 5 years post). It now puts me on a completely different level of risk to my initial diagnosis however, where I was stage 3 cancer she is happy to say that I am now stage 0.

Having this all summarized for me made me very happy, scared, happy, relieved - i wanted to hug someone. I knew I had the full pathological response but what did that mean to them? My classification and my treatment and follow up plan?

So I'm off to see an oncology gyno next week for a second opinion on access to my ovaries and I have in my hand a script for Tamoxifen, daily dosage for the next 5 years at least, it's the lesser hormone drug. The oncologist confirmed that in my case, because of the good result - the differences in the drugs may not matter to me as much as it would have with a worst result.

So depending on what the oncology gyno says, I'll work out a plan. But I'm 80% sure I'll use this one for 6 months, check the side effects then decide on ovary removal in the new year after my other surgery.

The oncologist did try and talk me out of prophylactic mastectomy all the same......Friday 14th October 2016 - it's all set.