Zumba & Tamoxifen

Tuesday was my first real day back in the gym. (During my third and fourth week of recovery I went to the gym a few times but walking incredibly slowly on a treadmill, doing everything I can to NOT pump my arms or bounce, doesn’t really count.) I went to my favorite class: Zumba! I didn’t know what to expect. Might I injure myself? Would I have the endurance to make it through the whole class? There was a teacher I’d never had before and the class was packed. I stood off to the side and tried to pace myself. The teacher came over to me and had me move into an unclaimed hole in the group so I could actually see her and the mirror. I was trying not to go crazy (remember: I LOVE ZUMBA!) but when the teacher clapped her hands and yelled at the class “let’s go!” I flung my arms up into the air and instantly gasped and pulled my left arm back down. I had felt a little tug. It was a sign that I really did need to be careful. Damn. So, imagine my horror when the teacher then gestured for me to come stand next to her. I can’t control myself when I’m front-center! I need to go all out! I did my best to find some safe ground between totally going out all and reverting back to my previous treadmill pace. I stayed up there through the end of the class. At the end, the teacher asked me if I was an instructor. I told her I had been certified but was not yet teaching because I have been sick for awhile. I didn’t feel like getting into it with her. I was glad though that she pulled me up there. Oh yea…I’ve still got it!

Yesterday was our first appointment with the medical oncologist that my breast surgeon had recommended. We have an appointment with a second oncologist scheduled for next week because everyone has been telling me that your relationship with your oncologist is such a long-standing, intimate relationship that you should really love the doctor you choose to go with. So, I figured I’d end up meeting with at least a few. The oncologist was super energetic, which caught me off-guard. On the other hand, she said exactly what I was expecting to hear, gave thorough and reasonable answers to all my questions, was personable and demonstrated that she can be flexible and take a patient’s wants and needs into concern (she said if we were just dying to have a child before 5 years are up we could talk about putting the Tamoxifen on hold and then finishing the 5 years after). At the end of the appointment she gave me a quick check-up and my first prescription for Tamoxifen. Outside, D and I discussed what we thought about her. We didn't have any strong feelings either way. Plus, I would only need to see her once every 6 months for a quick check-up and a new script. I haven’t yet cancelled the appointment for next week, but we’ll see what happens. I might just decide to stick with this lady.