Unexpected illumination

Nothing ever goes away until it teaches us what we need to know runs one of the quotes above my desk. It’s been running through my brain, too, ever since the another-five-years-of-Tamoxifen bombshell. I’ve been wondering what I’ve not learned. (For the rationalists among you: I do recognise the sound scientific basis for another five years of tamoxifen, and that the entire universe is not really bending to teach me a lesson. But I am still prepared to learn one, if there’s one there.) While I tried to figure out The Lesson, I went to see my GP, and explained that if I was doing this for another 5 years, I could do with a bit of help and support. She listened, and suggested evening primrose oil, and asked how I was feeling. “I don’t know,” I said, “my body just seems – bewildered. It has for a while.” So we agreed that we would do blood tests for everything. And everything was fine. Everything except blood sugar, that is. To cut a long story short: I have developed type 2 diabetes. Although this wasn’t something that was on my horizon, the smallest amount of thought shows that it’s not much of a surprise. Type 2 diabetes runs in the family: the chance of it is increased by taking tamoxifen; I’ve been overweight for a fair amount of the last five years. So the news is hardly a shock. It is at an early stage; the doctor and I agree that I should be able to manage it by paying attention to my diet. And ...
Source: Bah! to cancer - Category: Cancer Authors: Tags: Musings Recovery From Breast Cancer diabetes Tamoxifen Source Type: blogs