This is a topic I have been thinking about for quite some time. It is difficult to talk about, and even to think about, but I feel it needs to be discussed. Hormone blockers affect everyone differently, but most who take them experience at least some side effects. For me, the worst side effect is not the joint and bone pain or the other physical problems. It is how the brain is affected. Chemotherapy affected my brain in ways that are hard to explain. The loss of function was almost constant: I forgot words and trains of thought, couldn’t remember things I needed or wanted to do, and felt like I was in a fog most of the time. The brain fog was always there but ebbed and flowed with the timing of the infusions. I always knew when it would get worse and that it would soon get better. The effects from the hormone blocker are different. Episodes come and go without warning. They usually don’t last long but are frightening when they happen. Because the brain fog and forgetfulness have worse...
March, 2026 Had my third post treatment checkup. We needed to fly to Bangkok again as many oncology tests are not available in Lao PDR. This is 15 months after my last treatment, 2 years and one month since the partial mastectomy and I was considered NED (No Evidence of Disease), and 2 years and 7 months after diagnosis. One month or so leading up to the appointments are nerve-racking, and I get increasingly stressed the closer it gets. Here is a fairly comprehensive list of my feelings/difficulties - Waiting Preparing Nerves Brain fog Headaches - has it metastasized to my brain? Moody Weepy Noticing Jittery Chills Stomach problems Nausea Anxiety Hyperventilating No focus Stressed Short Edgy Angry Worry Snappy Difficulty concentrating Agitated Sad Exhausted Self absorbed Scheduled tests - Blood tests Mammogram Ultrasound of abdomen Ultrasound of breasts Bone density test Follow-up visit with oncologist - The doctor is kind and thorou...