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It was almost a year after Id completed treatment for stage IIIovarian cancer.
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Would I and other cancer survivors still be able to get the care we needed?
On top of my greater risk of ovarian cancer, Im also at increased risk of developingbreast cancer.
Its known that cancer treatments such as chemotherapycan suppress the immune system, making people more vulnerable to infection.
But it still concerned me.
With guidance from my doctor, I skipped my blood work in April.
As part of my ovarian cancer treatment, I need to take a maintenance medication calledolaparibfor two years.
Other factors, such as menstruation and medical conditions likeendometriosis, can also elevate CA-125 levels.
Just because CA-125 has gone up does not mean that the cancers coming back, Dr. Gorelick tells SELF.
That tells me youre tolerating this [medication] well, he says.
Between those two factors, my doctor felt that it was best to skip my blood work last month.
This is just a onetime decision, Dr. Gorelick says.
Im doing virtual gynecologic oncology checkups when possiblewithout the pelvic exam.
I was supposed to have one at the end of April.
He told me how to download and plant the hospitals app for a secure video appointment portal.
Most information can be obtained through noncontact approaches such as telemedicine, for which we have rapidly increased availability.
Not only can you talk to the patient, but youre able to do a limited exam.
If they have an incision, you’re able to look at the incision.
If they have pain, they can point [to where it is].
you could see them walk, he says.
Ill likely get my CT scan in May as planned.
I currently get CT scans every six months as part of my post-treatment ovarian cancer surveillance.
My last CT scan was in November, so Im due for my next one in May.
Ill hopefully be getting my breast MRI in July.
I have a mammogram or breast MRI every six months.
Im lucky because I happened to have gotten my annual mammogram at the end of January.
Im not due for my breast MRI until July.
We feel that those short delays are safe, Dr. Hunt says.
However, its important to get back on track with the schedule as soon as is safely possible.
You should reschedule it as soon as its safe to do so, Dr. Hunt says.
The cancer screening we have available to us is critical for early detection, Dr. Hunt says.
And thats where we think we can really make a difference in survival.
Im planning to get my annual breast checkup in September.
Ill be due for this annual checkup in September.
Im getting my prescriptions by mail.
Even when theresnota pandemic, I cant justwalkinto my local pharmacy and pick up my ovarian cancer maintenance medication.
That prescription is filled through a specialty pharmacy that delivers my maintenance medication to me monthly.
I used to call my maintenance medication delivery day Captivity Day.
But noweveryday is essentially Captivity Day for me.
Its actually more convenient to get my maintenance medication because Im always home.
By the time I get downstairs, theyre nowhere in sight.
I plan to refill myantidepressantvia mail too.
Im staying in close contact with my medical team.
Dr. Gorelick adds, Thats the best we can do…. And well get through this.
The experts I spoke to agree that you should absolutelynotdo this.
We want people to stay in touch, Dr. Hunt says.
Nobody has ever seen anything like this before, both your doctors and you as patients.
The most important thing through this all is to communicate with your doctor, Dr. Gorelick says.
