Today I had the very last medical appointment pertaining to the cancer diagnosis I got in January.
It was a second opinion with a medical oncologist. I was astounded and gratified that he “felt extremely comfortable” with the decision I’d made to decide not to have any radiation or aromatase inhibitor treatments. After surgery, with my type of cancer, the patient is cancer-free. Further treatment is done to help prevent recurrence. But the decision to proceed or refuse additional treatment must be carefully weighed against the side effects and longer term consequences of those treatments.
Over the past 8 months, I meticulously researched and considered all of the things he discussed with me and Randy today. Before I told him anything about what I was thinking, he outlined the pros, cons, and statistics I already knew and had prudently considered. Nothing he brought up was a surprise to me today, and I left his office feeling completely free….free of cancer, free of fear, and free to resume living a normal life. An improved life, really, since I’ve made diet, exercise and lifestyle changes that have me feeling better than I have in years.
It was a very, very good day!
Leave a Reply