I started arimidex today- the little pill that will block the rest of my estrogen and that I'll take for 5 years. And, most importantly, that can block the return of breast cancer. I can stop on April 26, 2014. Dr. T asked today if I had started it and when I said no, he asked why. I told him I was afraid of the side effects. He promised me that the return of breast cancer would be way worse than any of the side effects from this drug. That was enough to prompt me to get my prescription filled. Here is a bit of what the drug info says are common side effects: constipation, diarrhea, vomiting, upset stomach, loss of appetite, body aches and pains, breast swelling/tenderness/pain, headache, dry mouth, cough, dizziness (take care when engaging in activities requiring alertness such as driving.....for 5 years?!), trouble sleeping, weakness, hot flashes, hair thinning, weight change (up or down I wonder?) I won't even list the serious side effects. I'm not too thrilled about beginning this. I'm hopeful, of course, that I won't get the side effects. I'm seriously considering hypnosis. I read somewhere that it can help with post-surgical recovery. I wonder if it could help with my fears around radiation? Right when Dr. W (my new doc) started talking about the side effect of breast pain, my breast started throbbing. It's hurt ever since. That's got to be my mind. I'd be willing to try hypnosis- anyone ever try it for anything like this before? What do people think?
I got the call today that I'll start radiation tomorrow at 10:15. I thought I was ok, but after the call I got scared (my normal pre-procedure anxiety). I saw Dr. T this afternoon and everything was ok with my stomach xray and he recommended that I get back to playing soccer next week. Gotta love a doctor like that. As I was leaving his office, I got one of those calls from a time share offering me a couple of very cheap vacations in exchange for listening to their sales pitch. I've done it twice before with this company and gone to Seaside and Newport and had a great time with the girls (the key is to ask no questions during the sales pitch and to repeat the phrase "that won't work for me, but thank you for your presentation" at the end when they really put the pressure on). I am so badly in need of a vacation that I agreed immediately to the one they offered over the phone. I was probably the easiest sell they've ever had. They sure did pick the right time to call- right when I needed something to look forward to! So, hopefully sometime in June the girls and I will go to Sunriver and we're still hoping for Mexico in Aug- staying in a friend's house (thanks B!) and maybe now adding on a few nights at a resort as part of the thing I got today.
So even though I went through a rough patch today, I'm feeling better now. Although very sore and tired- from what I'm not sure. I think I'll hold the image of swimming with dolphins each time I have to be in the radiation machine.
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