So today I made my weekly trek to the oncologist for a checkup that I figured to be fairly routine. All I had on my checklist of things to talk about were that I needed a refill of my antacid prescription, and the fact that the veins on my left chest look like a road map.
After the usual 45 minute delay for my appointment, the nurse took my blood pressure and pulse, both excellent. Then the PA comes in for the check up. She snapped to attention with the mention of the veins on my chest. A check of my arms showed that the left one was, in fact, swollen. Uh-oh. She told me she suspected that I had a blood clot, and ordered an ultrasound for this afternoon. The ultrasound confirmed her suspicion.
It turns out that cancer patients are much more likely to have blood clots than others, and that breast cancer patients even more so. I have been started on lovenox shots (which I will self-administer), and will begin coumadin on Friday. I'm told that I will probably be on the coumadin for at least 6 months.
I have also noticed that I have water retention in my lower legs. Oh joy.
Tomorrow I have to go back to the oncologist for a dye study of the port area to make sure that it is clear for Tuesday's chemo. And I have to go back again on Friday to get coumadin instructions. I could drive to Nashua in my sleep...
Oh well, just a bump in the road...
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