Follow-up visit with onco

I had my check-up on 9 Nov, Monday.

As usual, I went for blood test on Friday. My veins are very fine and it becomes a challenge when I need to have my blood taken for testing. The female staff at the blood test unit at NCC are experts and have always been able to draw blood at the first attempt.

For some months now, there is a male staff member. My first encounter with him ended up with me having to have my blood taken twice because one sample clotted.

This time round, I was apprenhensive when I saw I was getting him again. He went for my inner elbow and no blood flowed. He poked and pushed around before becoming convinced that he was not going to get any blood from there, and had to go for the back of my hand which is more painful, and I was left with two puncture wounds. At least he was apologetic about it.

Cancer marker was 13.9, up by 0.1 pt since Aug 2009, but still below the normal of 25.

Wed, 4 Nov, I had noticed two tiny bumps on my right chest wall.

I told my onco about them. He checked and said, "oh, it's coming back". He suggested that I should start oral chemo, but I said no. So he said, how about hormone therapy, and add that it will help get rid of those bumps. I said no, again, as I wanted to kiv conventional therapy and monitor first.

Fri, 6 Nov, I had mentioned this to the AM, and he said it is not cancer. He said I must have taken too much fibre or cold stuff and that these are just some 'debris' or clotting that showed through the skin as lumps.

I had not been taking very much fibre, but yes, I have been taking a lot of ice cream lately. After abstaining for so long, I sort of went crazy over it and I am afraid I have been taking it quite frequently.

I am monitoring the situation closely, and I saw no reason to rush for chemo straightaway.