Reconstruction expansion appointments

So good to hear. No a little more than an hour away. I went to Red Wing first but Rochester for cancer things

I believe in Mayo and how they approach medicine, I know no place is perfect and COVID complicates everything, but I believe Mayo attract people that care about you as a person, and although they are still people and therefore make the same mistakes as every other people. I think you are in really good hands. Are you comfortable telling me more about your journey so far with cancer?

I was in Los Angeles. Cedars-Sinai was an amazing place. I felt wrapped in a blanket for all those months. They were very fast, 2 weeks I think and I was having surgery. Then wait a month and into chemo. It was quiet dimly lit -a smaller room or a larger one, both very private w excellent care. Food menu to choose from for the 6 hrs. Everything you could ask for.
I am hearing impaired, I had my beagle with me, Zoey. She was terrific help, laid on the chair/bed thing next to me sleeping or watching out for me. Then on to radiation. I chose to begin a research trial drug afterwards. But we moved right after my permanent surgery. The new place was not as nice, how could it be. Cedars has twinkling stars in the MRI room? the one where you have to go through the whole machine... actually a couple of the rooms have it. That was special. And the trial was very different, so I stopped participating.
I take Letrozole and that was it. So my new appt on 25th will be to see about a plan. Now that we're settled, it was a fluke that we ended up so close to Mayo.

That sounds like a great experience. I was treated locally for breast cancer and it wasn’t pretty but there were too many responsibilities to travel. My husband was treated at Mayo and I couldn’t be more grateful for the care they gave him. We are now blessed with a doctor who came from Mayo only 70 miles away. I am glad you are through all of that business of chemo and radiation. How are you feeling now?

I am ok. Lots of residual issues. Osteoporosis worries me, cancer returning, maybe kidney disease all I’ll confirm on 25th. I hope. Does your husband worry about it returning? I’m not sure yet how to put that to rest. Maybe I’ll find out next week.

Osteoporosis is definitely an issue, especially with Endocrine therapy. But is treatable and in some cases avoidable, when treatment starts earlier. I was told diabetes is a common thing after all that chemo, but I remain diabetes free, thankfully. I think we all worry a bit about it coming back. We all deal with that or attempt to deal with that in different ways. I know some who check out every ache and pain, I know some who just keep trying to pretend if they don’t ever see a doctor that it can’t come back. I think about breast cancer every day but I do not let it dictate my life in any way. I do have some issues but I try not to focus on them too much. I was in my thirties when I was diagnosed so I can imagine I will still have time to obsess if I want to. Lol. I will certainly be rooting for you on the 25th. How are you tolerating the letrozole?

I don’t think I have anything different w Letrozole I read some people don’t like what they are taking. It’s a tiny pill, so I figured it couldn’t do much harm daily. Being silly. A therapist said since I was taking it, it meant I had a certain kind of cancer. I can’t remember and am hoping my files made it to Mayo so I can write it down.

It does seem to be one that has less side effects for a lot of people. I know they all are different on different people, but if you can take it without any………..even better. I am so glad you are here, I hope you feel comfortable wandering the virtual halls and talking to folks on connect. I am thinking good thoughts for your first Mayo appointment. I think you will love it.