Today was my last trip to Upstate Cancer Center to have a follow-up appointment with Dr. Benjamin. I reached the 10-year mark in taking tamoxifin, the last part of my treaatments, after surgery, chemo, and radiation therapy. Initially, I was to take the drug for five years, but then research showed a benefit of taking it for seven AND THEN a benefit of taking it for ten years. Dr. Benjamin teaches at Upstate, and so he definitely has to stay current on his research and studies.
Initially, all I had to do was travel to the satellite office in Homer, where I went for chemo; but that office was shut down and turned over to Guthrie. So, I had to go to Syracuse (south side). I missed seeing my favorite NP, Patty -- although there was one time when she was the NP assigned tor the day in that department. Aside from Patty, I did have one other NP who did a good job of checking to make sure things were good. Then I would meet and chat for a few with Dr. B. I'd leave there feeling confident.
In 2020 when I went up for my appointment, hospitals and such still required masks in the buildings (from the Covid lockdowns, etc.) and limited where people came into the building. I donned my trusty purple Aetna freebie mask and headed over to the building, looking for where I could go in. I entered. A nurse took my temp, and then I had to take one of their masks. It was a plain bluish disposable mask (never thought those really did anything . . .). I stuck it on and headed off down the hallway to my wing. Suddenly, there was a guard behind me. He stopped me and told me my mask was inside out -- not sure how he could tell, but he could. So, I took it off and reverse it, put it on, and started out. BUT, he stopped me again... My mask was on upside-down. With my masks I had been using, I never had to think of either of those situations. So, I never thought about how to put my mask on, other than to figure out how to get it affixed to my ears, an area already "full" because of my wearing glasses as well as hearing devices. Once I took a look at the mask, I saw how he could tell. There was a small metal-like bar near the top, which I found out eventually, was to help secure the mask a little better to my nose. This time I got it all right and was on my way. It was rather amusing, I must say. One thing I never quite understood was that if they were SOOOOOO careful about germs, etc., why did someone not come over to wipe off the patient seats when a person left ---- OR why there were no spacers. So many inconsistencies.
When I went back in 2021, the mask rule and limited entrance was still in effect; HOWEVER, this time the mask had the Upstate Cancer Center logo embroidered on the bottom. Thus, no problems for my getting it on correctly.
September 2022 has come, and NYS does not require these places to have all people masked. I did not have to give blood. I did not have to have screenings beforehand. Not quite sure why that was . . . I think I could still ask. Anyhow, because I had reached 10 years with no issues, I was officially released. Now I am considered as NED -- no evidence of disease. (It's not 100% accurate to say a cancer person is cured, as there is no guarantee.) It was great to head out to the sign-out station and not have to schedule an appointment for 2024. DONE DONE DONE
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