I have been cancer free for two years and hence I have graduated to seeing Dr. Schaffer every six months. For the last two years I have seen her every three months. I can tell she is happy for me ... I am happy for myself!
We talk briefly about how well I did through the whole horrible process, and then I tell her about the cramping pain I've had in my calf that I've had for the last two weeks, but which has mysteriously disappeared on that day. She tells me that I must call her at once if the pain comes back and I have a brief moment of alarm as I realize what she thinks it is -- deep vein thrombosis. That had never crossed my mind.
Will I never be free of the side-effects of curing this terrible, terrible disease?
I checked the Mayo Clinic's website and one of the causes of DVT is ... drum roll ...
Cancer. Some forms of cancer increase the amount of substances in your blood that cause your blood to clot. Some forms of cancer treatment also increase the risk of blood clots.
And yes, DVT can kill:
A pulmonary embolism occurs when a blood vessel in your lung becomes blocked by a blood clot (thrombus) that travels to your lungs from another part of your body, usually your leg.
A pulmonary embolism can be fatal.
Please God let this just be a leg cramp/muscle pain caused by Arimedex.
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