[Fighting Breast Cancer] Strike down the metastasized cancer cells!

Today is my check-up day.
They checked my surgical scar and drained the fluid that had accumulated.
This doesn't hurt.

After that, when I heard about the future plan,
it seems there is a malignant one in my armpit.
It appears that when they checked during the surgery, they decided it was small enough that it didn't need to be removed.

So, I have to crush that thing.
For that, radiation therapy is necessary.
They say it's 5 days a week for 5 weeks.

Doctor: "Are you okay with that?"

Even if asked if I'm okay, I have to do it.
Conveniently, I have retired from my job.
Although I am a remote worker,
since it is contract work, I explained the situation and am taking time off.

Or rather, I am prepared for the fact that I will likely be completely cut off from work lol

Me: "People ask me if I'll be exposed to radiation if I'm bathed in it every day."

I threw the question I'd been asked by various people at the doctor.

Of course, there is no way I would be exposed to enough to suffer radiation sickness.
Even if I think that, it doesn't mean I have no anxiety.

Then, perhaps thanks to medical progress,
or perhaps because the performance of the machines has improved,
the answer was that it would be fine.

Next, I was told about hormone medication to eliminate female hormones.
They say I will have to keep taking this for 5 to 10 years.
When I hear stories from those who have experienced it, there are various side effects,
and it seems many people quit.

However, I won't know until I try.
So I decided to do this too.
However, they say that doing so will make my bones brittle.

Moreover, when they measured it, there was a decrease in bone density.

Me: "Even if you tell me to take calcium..."

Doctor: "Should I prescribe some medication?"

Me: "That would be easier!"

So, I decided to take calcium through medication.
Still, why try to eliminate female hormones?
Then the doctor said,

Doctor: "Breast cancer uses female hormones as food.
Because it grows by eating female hormones, that is where the cancer gets bigger."

Oh no, oh no.
If that's the case, I have no choice but to take it.

Furthermore,

Doctor: "It would be better to do chemotherapy as well."

Me: "Wait, what?! Isn't chemotherapy that stuff that makes you feel sick and lose your hair?"

Doctor: "Yes, that's right..."

Me: "I don't want that. Please, spare me from going bald for now."

Doctor: "I understand... I'd like to discuss something with you. We can perform a cell test to see if the cancer cells are of a type that metastasizes. If they are the type that spreads, chemotherapy is essential, but if the risk of metastasis is low, we can avoid intravenous chemotherapy."

In other words, chemotherapy means an IV drip. And if I do that, I'll go bald... but if I get it checked and the cancer cells are 'well-behaved,' I might not have to do chemotherapy.

But wait, do I have to have more cells taken out? That's way too painful, isn't it? That's what I thought, so I asked.

Me: "It's painful to have cells taken out, isn't it?"

Doctor: "We have the cells that were taken during the surgery. That will be enough."

Oh, well then, that's no problem at all. I breathed a sigh of relief.

Doctor: "However, it is expensive. Even with insurance, it will reach the maximum limit."

I wonder how much the maximum limit is? Come to think of it, I exceeded the limit last month too. It's certainly expensive, but it's not an amount I can't pay.

Me: "I'll do it! Anything is better than going bald!"

Doctor: "Then let's do it. If this shows no metastasis, we'll go with oral chemotherapy."

So, in the end, I still have to take chemotherapy drugs?!

Doctor: "The oral medication won't make you go bald, so you'll be fine."

The doctor said that with a smile, but is it really true? While I was feeling skeptical, I was also thinking, 'I guess I might need a wig, huh?'

And so, radiation therapy begins on 12/10. After that, depending on the results, chemotherapy. Well, I don't know which way it will go, but to defeat the enemy, I have no choice but to do everything I can.

I realized painfully that fighting cancer was this difficult...

*I also write short stories.