Tuesday, January 30, 2001
Women with Breast Cancer Have More Menopause Symptoms - unbelievably enough, the study also found that these symptoms don't appear to affect quality of life. Huh?Every Woman's Mammogram Rights
posted by Karen Weber Tuesday, January 30, 2001
Wednesday, January 31, 2001
Exercise improves physical functioning in early stage breast cancer patients
Incidence of multiple primary cancers in a cohort of women diagnosed with breast cancer in southeast EnglandScientists Pinpoint Early Signs of Breast Cancer
British Journal of Cancer - more information that seems to add credence to the melatonin theory of breast cancer genesis.
I see my oncologist this Friday. I had blood drawn for the gallbladder surgery, so I know that my liver enzymes are still in the normal range. So there won't be any surprise there. I don't know what the tumor markers will show, and I'm still waiting for a date for that PET scan. So those two things are sort of hanging over our heads at this time. I've been meaning to call in to get the results of the tumor markers and to see what's happening with the PET, but I haven't gotten around to it. Perhaps this afternoon I will get it done.
Because waiting for the appointment is not stressful enough, I finally worked past my internal resistance and mailed out the complaint about my ex-oncologist to the state medical board. It has been written up since Thanksgiving, but I have just felt guilty about sending it in. I know it's silly. I know that the point of filing the complaint is to make sure no one else goes through what I did. And still I feel guilty. The board has contacted me to confirm their receipt of my complaint, to get a few more details, and to let me know what happens next. The woman who called me said that the complaint was extremely well-written. I really appreciate my family for reading it over and giving me suggestions on ways to make it better. Anyway, they will notify the doctor and request the relevant records. They will also contact my GP and surgeon for their records. Most importantly, they will contact my cardiologist. Wimp that I am, I did not tell him that I was filing this complaint. I assured him at our initial meeting that I was not going to sue, but I never promised not to file a complaint with the board. He has been so kind to me, and I know that he was very leery about saying anything negative about a colleague. I hope that he will be OK with doing this with me.
Can you even believe how silly this is? I'm the one with the permanent heart damage, and all I can worry about is whether a bunch of doctors are going to be inconvenienced or upset that I filed a complaint. I need to remember that I have the choice about whether to feel guilty or not. They aren't making me feel that - I am choosing that myself. I need to make better choices!
posted by Karen Weber Wednesday, January 31, 2001
Thursday, February 01, 2001
VEGF receptor-3 implicated in lymphangiogenesis and cancer metastasisPole Doctor Says She Would Do It All Again - interview with the breast cancer survivor who found and treated her own cancer while stranded at the South Pole.
Highly sensitive immunohistological study for detection of estrogen receptor in human breast cancer - new technique can decrease the number of false negative results.
posted by Karen Weber Thursday, February 01, 2001