Sunday 20th November 2011
Those of you who have been paying attention will note that I have been a little tardy in posting about my most recent trip to the chemotherapy unit.
Well, to be honest it is now so complete uneventful that it would be dull and slightly boring to write about it. Indeed I could just copy & paste a previous entry and it would be pretty much the same. So that's good really.
Some time ago my Breast Nurse, referred me to the menopause clinic because I mentioned the annoyance that are hot flushes. Well I received an appointment accompanied by lots of forms at the beginning of this week for an appointment on the 17th.
The forms consisted of one A4 page for symptoms, more of which later, and umpteen A4 sheets relating to my nationality and my eligibility for NHS treatment. Now given that I have virtually lived at Northwick Park Hospital for the last 18 months or so this paperwork seems, firstly a little excessive and secondly a tad late. Still I filled it in as best I could, but did mention the futility of it when I went to my appointment, alas to no avail.
The symptoms sheet was altogether more interesting. Firstly I am clearly not suffering anywhere near as much as some, secondly there are some really interesting symptoms, my favourite being "Feelings of personal disintegration". It made me realise that I am clearly getting off quite lightly, however the hot flushes are extremely annoying and they are interrupting my sleep.
The woman I saw went through an extensive medical history, including whether I had broken any bones, and all my family medical ailments. I was then weighed and measured and had my blood pressure taken but this time with a manual machine. Apparently they are more accurate than the electric ones.
So what can be done about hot flushes? I can take any of the following, a mild anti-depressant, a blood pressure pill or an analgesic pill. All of which have side effects, primarily feeling nauseous to a greater or lesser degree.
I can also go down the alternative route. Yoga is apparently good for hot flushes, unless it's me doing it in which case it actually brings them on. I just love being special!
Acupuncture can help as can taking various supplements, such as red clover or black cohosh. However, I can't take black cohosh because of my breast cancer.
Things that don't work are evening primrose oil, lavender and something else which slips my mind. So I will be going with the red clover and I'll let you know how it goes. I should point out that much like any ailment, the simple act of booking an appointment with the medical profession tends to alleviate the symptoms, consequently I have had fewer and less severe hot flushes since I went to the clinic.
Who is Dr. Dennis Slamon? I hear you ask. Well he was played by Harry Connick Jr. in a made for TV film "Living Proof" which I caught the other day. Up until this point I didn't realise that I have much to thank him for. As you can probably guess he resides in America, California to be precise. This is the man who discovered Herceptin. So now you are as informed as I am, but probably not quite as grateful!
