I said in my last blog post in August that I probably wouldn’t post again until February 2020 but lots of people have asked me how I am doing, so I thought I’d let you have a short update.
It’s hard to believe that it’s twelve months almost to the day since I was first diagnosed with breast cancer. I was told that I should write-off a little over a year for my treatment, which seemed like a very long time, but I can’t believe how quickly it’s passed.
I still have about fifteen weeks to go until the three-weekly antibodies treatment (Perjeta and Herceptin) is complete in mid-February, followed by the removal of my Port-a-Cath; after that it will be bisphosphonates (see later) and annual scans and checks.
I had another routine MUGA heart scan recently (the antibodies treatment can adversely affect the left ventricle of the heart) and although the results weren’t quite as good as last time, they were within acceptable limits.
Last Friday I had my usual antibodies treatment and also the first dose of the bisphosphonates to help maintain the strength of my bones; this is a 15 minute infusion which I will have every six months for three years.
I have kept very well over the summer although I have still been plagued by itchy skin and rashes which come and go. I was also getting very bad leg cramps which was affecting my sleep (and Colin’s!) so I was prescribed quinine tablets which have helped. There is a small amount of quinine in tonic water, but of course I would want to drink gin with it, which isn’t necessarily good for me!
In case you wondered, my right breast is still rather blue from the dye that was used during my surgery!
We had a wonderful seven weeks in Cyprus with friends and family visiting. Our time there seemed to be over in a flash despite me having to come back to the UK twice for treatment.
Since returning from Cyprus we have been to Scotland for my dear Auntie Babs’ funeral, she was 89 and the last of that generation in my family. She will be sorely missed.
A few weeks afterwards we spent two days in Chester which (for my non-UK readers) is a lovely walled city, originally a Roman fort and founded in 79 AD.
We are now looking forward to another month in Cyprus starting next weekend although I will have to return to the UK briefly in the middle of our stay for another treatment session.
I have a further review with my Consultant Oncoplastic Breast and Skin Cancer Surgeon on 10th December – he will check on my progress and I’ll have a mammogram so I will update here again after that.
I hope everyone is enjoying the beautiful autumn colours despite all the rain in the UK!