Yesterday's oncology visit.

Well I was very inpatient yesterday, when I finally got in to the doctors office ( which was right on time, I was just early cause I was anxious to get this Holiday weekend started) I sat there for 20 minutes in his office, finally I opened the door to ask how much longer he was going to be  and he was at the desk doing paper work. He came in and asked if I had to use  the rest room ( really???) I smiled and said I'd be ok until we were done. He asked how I was and then said Here is where we talk about Hormone Therapy.. He gave me 2 choices ( Last time I was on Arimidex and can't do that again) My first choice ( and he and my surgeon recommended  this ) was Tamoxifen I did not want to go on this 7 years ago because a side effect is uterine cancer, the other choice was a fairly new drug Aromasin ( Exemestane )  and according to the Doc didn't have much for side effects. I decided on that one because the Tamoxifen still scares me. He then said we have one other thing to discuss " I am retiring ... :( ( sad face because I really like him for a oncologist) So I am getting a new oncologist, not only will she be new to me but she is new to the Marshfield Clinic.
 So I get to the Pharmacy to pick up the RX and the Pharmacist tells me one of the side effects may be hair loss, bad but not as bad as possibly getting uterine cancer, then he said good thing you have insurance. your co pay is ( are you ready for this) $96.00 and change) after I picked my jaw up off the floor he said this is what it would be with out insurance $348.00 and change) That is per month for 5 years , in short a huge chunk of change.  I swallowed my pride and asked how much Tamoxifen would be and he said considerably less because it comes in generic form, he then said if you want to wait and talk to your doctor you can do that but once you leave with it , it is yours. So I left with out it called the doctor and I am now on a 5 year course of Tamoxifen. :(   ( My co pay with the Tamoxifen is $5) Reading the side effects this morning not only is uterine cancer one but so are Stroke, Heart Attack, Blood Clots and other less severe ones. Jeekers is it worth it????
Have a great and Safe 4 of July.
God Bless
Lah