Minimalism

This week Dr Urba recommended, and I agreed, to a minimalist approach to follow up. Now, I kinda had this conversation with Dr. Bader already, but Dr Urba brings a more academic viewpoint to the discussion.

Some people prefer blood draws at regular intervals to test for indicators that the cancer is coming back or already present. This may be reassuring at some level, but can cause extra stress as one waits for results and there's high risk of a false positive (and subsequent debate and distress over need for treatment.) The minimalist POV starts from the premise that there's no cure for cancer, only miserable treatment. So why not wait until you know for sure that you actually have it before embarking on another course of misery. Ergo self exam, annual mammograms and a visit with one of my team (Bader or Urba) once every three months for a couple of years.

Makes sense to me.

In other news: chest scar still infected so am now on antibiotics and going back to see Dr. Lim tomorrow to deal with these non-dissolving dissolving sutures.