Down To The Wire

Today was my bi-annual follow up appointment with the White Russian. In a nutshell, I’m fine. My blood pressure was a little high, but it was probably because I was worried about not getting there on time. I left work about 30 minutes later than I had planned with an admonition from Terri not to speed. I may have lied and said, “Okay. I won’t.” Which is a bad thing to admit for anybody, but it seems especially horrific for someone who: a) works for a church; and b) is talking to one of the pastors. Lightening didn’t strike, though, so…

And depending on one’s definition of speeding I may or may not have actually done so. 

Definition 1: Exceeding the speed as indicated on those little signs on the side of the road.

Then yes. I sped.

Definition 2: Going faster than every other blessed car on the freeway who happens to be going 10 miles an hour over the posted speed.

Then no. I didn’t speed.

Regardless of whether I sped or not, I did make it to my appointment on time. I’m getting really tired of their efficiency in that office. I never get to read even a paragraph of my book before they’re calling me back or the doctor is coming in or whatever. Very disappointing.

When he did come in he asked about the kids and how Taylor was liking college and what he was doing this summer and if Katie knew where she wanted to go next year, etc. I was almost offended because, you know, it’s supposed to be about me. Everything is supposed to be about me. When will people learn this?

Anyway. Back to me.

The plan is that I have six more months on the Arimidex and then another year on the Fosamax. Well, hopefully only one more year on the Fosamax. It will actually depend on whether or not I start building bone again after I stop the Arimidex. Bottom line, however, is that we don’t want me to be on the Fosamax for much longer. I’m not worried, though. I have a plan…

But I’m going to save that for another day.

So I go back in six more months (February), at which time I will have been on the Arimidex for five years plus the two years on Tamoxifen. The current recommended standard of care. Of course a little over three years ago the recommended standard of care was five years total of any combination. If I go back in February and he tells me the recommended standard of care has changed again and I need to stay on the Arimidex for another allotment of time I think I will respectfully decline. But again, that’s a post for another day.

Unless something has cropped up between now and February – and there’s no reason to think anything will – I will go from seeing him every six months to only once a year. I’m not sure how I feel about that.

Not true. I know exactly how I feel about that. I’m not happy about it. For one thing, I like being followed so closely by an oncologist. My risk for a recurrence or metastasis is very slim. My risk of a new cancer is only slightly higher than the average Joe simply because I have a history of cancer. So it’s almost like being followed by an oncologist is an unfair advantage. An unfair advantage that I like.

But the other reason I know I’ll be disappointed to have my visits reduced is because I genuinely like the staff. I really do look forward to seeing them.

Let me be honest though. I would much rather whine and complain about not being able to visit the oncologist more than once a year than have to go once a week, which is what the alternative would be.

After the appointment I drove down to Starbuck’s for my obligatory post-oncology follow up treat. But this time I changed things up a bit. I got a grande mocha cookie crumble frappuccino.

Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino Coffee blended with mocha sauce, vanilla syrup, chocolaty chips, milk and ice, and topped with chocolaty whipped cream and chocolate cookie crumbles.

It was yummy. Really yummy. But I probably won’t get one again just because it was a little too ice cream for me. Don’t get me wrong! I am not against ice cream. At all. I just have certain Starbuck’s expectations and this did not meet my typical criteria. But again, it was very delicious!

I guess I should add that I will miss the obligatory post-oncology follow up treat.

But I’m pretty sure I’ll learn to deal.