The April 22, 2024 appointments
I had three appointments at Duke on April 22. Here’s a quick update.
My first appointment was with Dr. Rossi at 10:30 a.m. We had a great visit as we talked about the present - and the future. I’ll have a CT scan at my next visit.
Then I went to the lab at 11:30 to test Inhibin A, Inhibin B, AMH, and to do a CBC.
These results were almost instant. We have no idea what was causing the low RBC Count before, but my RBC Count is fine now.
Then Rick and I had lunch at Pure Vegan, per the usual.
Cardiology was at 2:30 at the Raleigh location. It was a positive visit with Dr. Deepa Upadhyaya. She’s confident I do not have any major heart issues. She believes the accelerated heart rate I am experiencing when exercising might be a neurological result of the surgery last year, but just to be safe, she wants me to return for an exercise stress echocardiogram in July.
And today I received this amazing news. 🙌
I'm NED!!
Next up?
DXA Bone Density (to make sure Letrozole isn’t having an excessively negative effect on my bone density) and the ECHO Stress test -July 24
CT with contrast/ Dr. Rossi - August 12
Thank you to all of you have who been faithfully praying for me on this journey!
9 months with Letrozole
Letrozole and I celebrated our 9-month anniversary over the weekend, and I can say, “So far, so good.” I had the thought this weekend, “Why was I so afraid of starting this?” The side effects I experienced in the beginning are no longer an issue, and my body has acclimated to the “new normal.”
The only real concern right now is that I am experiencing an excessively high heart rate (greater than 170 bpm) when engaging in moderate exercise. Because of that, I have a referral to a cardiologist on April 22, the same day I’ll see Dr. Rossi and have labs.
However, I feel fine while exercising. I am not short of breath or anything like that, so this referral is simply to rule out any issue versus being an actual concern at this point.
Here are previous posts regarding Letrozole for those who are researching it for themselves.
Nutrition and Lifestyle
You’ll find me at the beach every morning I’m here in Wimington.
A number of you have reached out recently to check in since I haven’t posted anything new since the January appointment. I haven’t posted anything because there’s nothing new to share. And that’s a really good thing!
Surgery went so well last year, so it’s likely I’ll be in this period of waiting between 3-month appointments for some time. GCT tends to be a marathon, not a sprint.
And, ironically, I’m running the Wilmington Half Marathon tomorrow because, truly, I feel great!
It has now been over a year since my recurrence was diagnosed, and consistently I hear from people things like, “You look great” or “You seem to be doing so well.”
And it’s true. I am doing so well.
The conversation then often turns to questions related to what I am eating and what lifestyle changes I’ve made in the last 12 months.
It is my opinion that the subject of nutrition and lifestyle is a complicated one, and I believe what is best for one person’s body is not necessarily what’s best for another person. However, this is where I am currently. I’m all about consistency, so it’s easy for me to share with you my typical routine.
I still have one cup of regular coffee every morning. The one change I have made is that I now put just the tiniest splash of half and half in it - no creamers, not even all-natural creamer.
I have a heaping tablespoon of almond butter (no added sugar or salt) every morning as my first food. Always. I even found some great individual packets that I can slip into my computer bag while traveling.
I do 30 minutes of weights, stretches, and yoga.
Then I go for a walk/run for 60 minutes or more depending on what my training schedule has for the day.
I come home and eat a banana, a couple of teaspoons of plain yogurt with a tablespoon of Seven Sundays Rise and Shine Mix. I also drink a ginger shot from Trader Joe’s most mornings.
The rest of the food I consume regularly can be characterized by these “rules”:
No pork, beef or poultry
Lots of fruits and vegetables
Minimal gluten, dairy, sugar or processed foods
Though not food, supplements are a big part of my nutrition routine.
I have chosen to eat the way I eat and exercise the way I exercise because it’s a healthy lifestyle - whether or not one has cancer. I can tell you, though, it’s a lot easier to stick to the program knowing what I now know. A brownie isn’t really a temptation, and I don’t look for excuses for not exercising.
I go back to Duke April 22. Hopefully there really won’t be much to say after that appointment, either.
Until then I’ll continue to enjoy fresh produce that’s available year-round while eagerly anticipating fresh-picked strawberries and blueberries that are coming soon!
The wind & waves bring beauty
The last few mornings at the beach have been cold and windy, the waves pounding the shore, leaving very little room to walk on the sand.
I told a friend on Wednesday morning, “Just wait. This is going to bring some great treasures to find soon enough!”
Today I went to the beach filled with expectation, believing I would find something beautiful.
I walked north on Lumina from Johnny Mercer to Access 2. I then went out to the sand to head back, and almost immediately I spotted the first treasure of beauty. I didn’t really even have to search.
It was right there.
And that’s how the rest of the walk went. I saw beautiful treasures all around.
This caused me to think on my own journey over the last year, how at times the circumstances have been cold and unrelenting like the wind has been at the beach this week. And yet, for now, the winds have calmed and I see so much beauty every day. I am not even having to search for it.
It is right there.
Life is so beautiful.
Follow-up on supplements
I recently had labs done by my primary care physician. These were the regular, annual physical labs that include things like a Lipid Panel and a Comprehensive Metabolic Profile.
All of my results came back normal except for my Red Blood Cell count which is always low. Even my magnesium level, which was incredibly low in the past, is now normal. Other test results that were “off” before are now where they should be.
Is it the supplements? Is it the healthy eating? Is it both? We can not know for certain, but I do know that given the positive results, I’m going to continue on the road I am on.
The best is yet to be
Grow old along with me! The best is yet to be, the last of life, for which the first was made.
Our times are in his hand who saith, 'A whole I planned, youth shows but half; Trust God: See all, nor be afraid!'
Robert Browning
The January 8th appointment
To those who have reached out this week to ask how Monday went, “Thank you!” I wanted to wait until all results were back before I shared any news so that we would have a complete picture.
A little after 7 pm last night, my lab results finally posted. Dr. Rossi hasn’t commented on them yet, but I am sure she’ll concur with the following.
My CT scan, Inhibin B, and AMH tests all came back exactly as we would want them to be. The Inhibin A number is higher than it should be (which is slightly concerning), but this bloodwork is about trends versus getting too worked up about a slight variation. If the number is still up (or rising) in April when we re-test, then we’ll pay a bit more attention to it.
For now, however, I can breathe and live the next three months to the fullest, and that includes being part of the Wilmington Marathon Weekend February 24. I’ll be doing the half . . .and praying I stay ahead of the sweeper as I haven’t run this far in a long time and I didn’t start training when I should have! Wish me luck.
This little restaurant is becoming a regular stop when I go to Duke because it’s close to the hospital and the food is great.
I had just been told Dr. Rossi was running about an hour behind when I got the above results. As I knew we wouldn’t get lab results back for days, I asked reception if I could just skip the face-to-face visit. Within minutes, I got this message, and Rick and I were on our way back to Wilmington.
I signed up for the half marathon on the drive back to Wilmington.
6 months with Letrozole
Tomorrow will mark 6 months since I took my first dosage of Letrozole, and whether or not it is working remains to be seen. Hopefully we’ll know more when I go back to Duke January 8 for a CT scan, labs, and an appointment with Dr. Rossi.
Since I’ve tried to chronicle this in hopes of helping someone else considering whether or not to go on Letrozole, here are links to two previous posts on the same subject.
Looking back at the 90 Days post and comparing that with today, I would say:
1. Fatigue and insomnia are still issues, and I still try to get a nap in most days, as well as going to bed early each night.
2. Neuropathy, muscle, and joint pain, are all still issues, and some days are worse than others. But, again, I want to emphasize, it’s all bearable. I find the best way to keep pain at bay is to keep moving and not sit for too long. I go to the beach every morning to run/walk, and I think that really helps.
3. Hot flashes, night sweats, dizziness, and edema seem to have been resolved.
4. My weight has stablized at roughly 10 lbs. less than it was pre-surgery.
5. I have a noticeable bald spot that keeps growing on the right side of my head, but I’m going to guess that Ashley (who does my hair) and I are the only ones who really see it. It’s easy to hide.
At this point, I’m still glad I chose to go on Letrozole, and I am hoping for positive news when I see my physician in a few days.
