What is the breast cancer index. (BCI)? According to BreastCancer.org “The Breast Cancer Index test analyzes the activity of 11 genes to help predict the risk of early-stage, hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer coming back 5 to 10 years after diagnosis.”
Many women who had hormone positive breast cancer are put either on Tamoxifen or some type of aromatase inhibitor for at least 5 years after chemotherapy and/or surgery to prevent the chance of one tiny little cell metastasizing and/or recurring in the lymph nodes.
How frigging scary! Not only did you just make it through chemotherapy, lumpectomy or mastectomy, possible immunotherapy, oral chemotherpay, but now you need drugs for another 5-10 years?! YES! Damn you cancer!
Currently I am on a 3 drug regimen (Letrozole, Lupron, and Verzenio). I am medically induced into menopause and currently having all the hot flashes, dry vag, dry skin, loss of collagen, etc. The Verzenio may cause blood clots and low white count (making me at risk for infections again). And the Lupron is to put my ovaries to sleep so I do not produce any estrogen that way.
So why get the BCI? Well because this sh*t ain’t fun at 38 years old. Joint pain is real ya’ll. If it wasn’t for my kids, I would be in bed A LOT! I would definitely say I am in pain everyday, thankfully not horrible. But I have had to mentally prepare myself for a certain degree of discomfort that I have chosen to be okay with and not need pain medication for. My quality of life has certainly suffered some. I cannot play with my kids like I used to. I need to be careful to not break a bone (Oh yeah, I forgot about getting osteopenia from the menopause!). I certainly get tired more quickly. And even worse, exercising gets me very tired and takes a little longer to recover from. Alcohol doesn’t digest the same anymore and, unfortunately, that glass of wine with dinner is not as fun anymore. (I guess my thighs are happy about that! and my wallet!).
So, I am glad I got the test done. Now I just need to mentally prepare myself for doing this for another 9 1/2 years. The cost, the lab work, the doctor appointments, the constant reminders of cancer. All of it until my oldest is damn near 17 years old.
I am hoping though that as fast as the world is moving, new medications can be created and change the path of breast cancer survivorship for the better!