Fridays and Mondays

Joyful

Relieved

Grateful

Ethereal

Blessed

After my visit with Dr. Norah Lynn Henry,

A chemo oncologist.

Another woman.

Love it!

What if I had gone with the first plan presented to me by Lakeview Hospital?

MRI

Surgery

Radiation

Chemotherapy

Dr. Henry gave me my choice of Tamoxifen or Aromatase Inhibitor pills.

Chemotherapy doesn’t help older women that much.

1 or 2%. Not worth the risks.

I’ve had the Aromatase Inhibitor Endocrine Therapy for Breast Cancer pills

for three days now and haven’t taken a one.

I thought taking a pill would be easy

compared to radiation and/or chemotherapy.

So why can’t I swallow one?

Anastrozole, it is called.

They are designed

to keep cancer cells from getting the

hormones they need to grow.

AIs stop your body from making estrogen,

which is the hormone that is feeding my cancer.

This starves a cancer that need estrogen

so its growth slows or stops.

AIs work against the original breast cancer.

They also starve any cancer cell

that might have moved to other

parts of the body such as bones, liver, or lung.

Side effects?

An acquaintance at the gym, Janice,

belongs to a Breast Cancer Survivor Support Group.

When a doctor came to talk to them about Endocrine Therapy

he said the side effects were minimal.

Everyone in the room booed him.

Aches and pains.

Hot flashes.

Dryness.

My childhood friend, Georgia,

said itching and dry skin are her worst afflictions.

Osteoporosis.

I already have weak bones

(as do most people in their 80’s)

Etc.

Enough already.

Depression.

Janice recommend I start with one pill a week,

gradually increasing

depending on how I feel.

She’s up to four a week.

It’s hard to go against doctor’s orders

when dealing with such serious business.

Still,

I think I will take two a week to start.

Mondays and Fridays.

I’ll start tomorrow.

Maybe.