megram - Index

megram - 55Ottawa - Index

November 27, 2007
We are to meet the medical oncologist and the radiation
specialist in back-to-back appointments at the cancer
centre attached to the Ottawa Hospital General Campus.
From the moment I check in, I am impressed by the
smoothness of the organization. I am given a medical history
form to complete. A nurse checks my weight and
height. My family and I are shown into a large examining
room, set up so that a section can be curtained off without
my company having to leave. As soon as we are seated,
the oncology resident comes in to ask a series of
health-history questions and to examine me.
Shortly afterwards, the specialist enters for the main
consultation. She begins by telling me that my “numbers
are good.” She is kind, straightforward and very complimentary
about my family doctor’s astuteness in discovering
my cancer at an early stage. She also points out that
the treatment for each patient is customized. “Just
because Aunt Minnie had this or that doesn’t mean it’s
right for you.”
I already know that I am cancer-free at this minute,
but that it could recur down the road.There is up to a 17
per cent possibility of cancer appearing somewhere in
“After two weeks of moving
forward, I wake to find that I
am bright red from waist to
underarm and mid-front to
mid-back.”
my body other than the breast within 10 years, says the
specialist. She also tells me that I am not a candidate for
chemotherapy because of my heart/stroke condition.This
does not upset me at all.I was more worried about chemo
than any other form of post-operative treatment.
Hormone therapy is a possible alternative, she says.
Not the better known tamoxifen treatment,again because
it is hard on the heart. But there are new drugs, known as
“AIs” (aramatose inhibitors) that could reduce the 17 per
cent to around nine per cent.
My immediate response is “But what else do they
do?” There always seems to be a “but” with drugs. The
answer is that they are likely to produce menopausal
symptoms (one round of power surges and hot flushes
wasn’t enough?) and, more seriously, osteoporosis.Then,
of course,there are other drugs to combat the side effects
of these drugs.
The oncologist senses my negativity and tells me that
there is no need to decide on the spot.I wouldn’t be start-
September 2008 • 34 • Fifty-Five Plus Magazine
ing the treatment (one pill a day for up to five years) until
after the radiation to the operation site anyway. I have time
to do some research and to talk to my family doctor.
At the end of the consultation, she tells us to stay
where we are.The radiation team will come to us.The routine
of a resident asking health-history questions and
examining me are repeated.Then the radiation specialist
comes in. Like the oncologist, he is very positive and
straightforward.
He begins by delivering good news. I will have three
rather than five weeks of radiation. I can request the treatment
at the Civic Campus (that would save me close to an
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