check-up

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Pam Cook - 25 Jan 2007 10:17 GMT

Hi,
Oh Dear...It's coming up to THAT time again...6monthly check-up.....I
always get into a tiz-woz....2years since lumpectomy, chemo and rads
followed...been back at work 16 months...Have a bad feeling, but then, I
always do, To prepare for the worst, I suppose......and they won't be
doing a mamo this time, said it's not necessary, so I won't even have the
all-clear from that to give me peace of mind....Still feel so fatigued, is
this possible after so long?? I finished all treatment in aug 2005........I
read this group fairly regularly, and wish you all the very best..have
laughed and cried a few tears too, with you all....Hate this road we're
on.... but as I told a friend at work, you simply don't have a choice, you
have to get on with it....lots of people have said 'I couldn't cope, I
don't know how you do it' Well we do, and lots of people have worse than me
to think about and I do count my blessings....especially that I found the
lump quite early, even the consultant couldn't feel it .. lol.....Good vibes
and prayers needed please.....
Thinking of you all too
Pam x

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x{yz}enophil44@hotmail.com - 25 Jan 2007 12:23 GMT

> Oh Dear...It's coming up to THAT time again...6monthly check-up.....I
>always get into a tiz-woz....2years since lumpectomy, chemo and rads
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
>and prayers needed please.....
> Thinking of you all too

Hi Pam, I hope your review goes well and that you get the all-clear
again.

I started treatment just as you finished, and I'm interested to hear
that you are still suffering from exhaustion, because I am too, and I
keep beating myself up about not being to do more. At least I no longer
have to work, because I'm not sure I could.

I'm sorry you're so worried and upset. I hope it turns out to be for
nothing.

Love,

Geraldine

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A.P. Thorsen - 26 Jan 2007 04:05 GMT

Hi, Pam,

Comments interspersed . . . .

> Hi,
> Oh Dear...It's coming up to THAT time again...6monthly check-up.....I
> always get into a tiz-woz....

Hear what you're saying, and empathize. 'Bout all you can do is try to
persuade yourself that the clinical breast exam, combined with your lack of
metastatic or new-primary symptoms, is an all-clear in itself. Good news is
that the longer you go without mets, the better your odds get. Will they do
blood work for your follow up (blood counts, liver panel, that kind of
thing)? If so, good results there are a helpful sign, too.

<snips>

>Still feel so fatigued, is this possible after so long??

Definitely. Have you talked with primary care about the ongoing fatigue?
I started feeling better and more energetic after chemo & radiation, but
after a few weeks it was like I hit a wall. I was just dragging. It turned
out that I'd become hypothyroid, which apparently is more common after BC
treatment. There are other possible causes as well.

The thyroid meds helped immensely, but I also found that to get my strength
& energy back, I really had to work at it in ways I hadn't done so much
before. The big deal seemed to be getting more exercise to beat back the
weakening effects of treatment & inactivity during treatment. But
improving diet and regularizing sleep also helped. (The sleep thing was a
bear -- got sleep interruption insomnia coincident with chemo/Tamoxifen).

> I finished all treatment in aug 2005........I read this group fairly
> regularly, and wish you all the very best..have laughed and cried a few
> tears too, with you all....Hate this road we're on.... but as I told a
> friend at work, you simply don't have a choice, you have to get on with
> it....lots of people have said 'I couldn't cope, I don't know how you do
> it'

<rhetorical question> And the realistic alternative choice (vs. coping)
would be . . . ? </rhetoric> Though this is a tough road, I think that
those who haven't been on it, under-rate the persuasive qualities of
necessity. <g> And sometimes I wonder whether thinking we're "special" is a
distancing mechanism for some folks.

>Well we do, and lots of people have worse than me to think about and I do
>count my blessings....especially that I found the lump quite early, even
>the consultant couldn't feel it .. lol.....Good vibes and prayers needed
>please.....

Sending those vibes as strongly as I know how! You sound like a strong
woman & so you'll power through this milestone like you have others before
it. You take care, hear?

Ann T.
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alex - 27 Jan 2007 03:25 GMT

it' Well we do, and lots of people have worse than me

> to think about and I do count my blessings....especially that I found the
> lump quite early, even the consultant couldn't feel it .. lol.....Good
> vibes and prayers needed please.....
> Thinking of you all too Pam x

Best of luck and great check up, alex

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Barb - 28 Jan 2007 01:20 GMT

Sending along my best wishes too, Pam. It's been 23 years since my
diagnosis and treatment and I still get a little nervous with check ups, so
I completely understand. Here's hoping you get good news and can breath a
sigh of relief very soon.

Barb

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