the 30th December 2020 was my last chemo treatment and the end of January I finished radiotherapy. It’s been almost 2 years and I still feel tired sometimes and every now and again I get that chemo feeling of fatigue and go to bed. I have constant achy bones/muscles. Does anyone else feel this way? I’m also still waiting for surgery to recreate the ‘nipple’ and sort out the remaining breast so they are more alike. I’m struggling to find a bikini where you can’t tell one is a lot smaller than the other. Any recommendations pls?
Hi
It’s a bit frustrating when you think it’s behind you but it isn’t! Your Breast Care Nurse service is there for you for life now so don’t forget them. I’m assuming that, as you had chemo and radiotherapy, you’re on some kind of hormone therapy like tamoxifen or letrazole, so the aches and pains may be down to that. Sometimes it varies according to the brand you have (despite pharmacists saying it’s impossible - there’s too much anecdotal evidence to ignore!) so it might be worth looking for threads about brands for your particular HT. I know that I felt rubbish if I had anything but Accord for my anastrozole- and waiting 2 months for the next prescription when you ache and your hands won’t do what you want is a long time.
If you aren’t on HT, I’d refer yourself back to the BCN team at your hospital for advice. Occasional fatigue sounds normal but the rest doesn’t. I’m afraid my bikini days are long over, especially as I’ve grown an extensive belly after a life of being concave - and I am ‘happily’ embracing monoboobery. Hopefully you’ll get some recommendations. Good luck with the surgery xx
I feel a bit traumatised. I first had breast cancer in 2003, had a quadrantectomy or so they called it and ended up with a smaller strange shaped left breast with a nipple shifted towards my armpit. Nineteen years later I found two tumours in the space left by the last one taken out . So I now have two new primaries as it’s a different kind of cancer than last time. I had honestly thought I would never have breast cancer again.
That is the problem with breast cancer. It gives you a feeling of uncertainty. But actually there are no certainties in life apart from death and taxes apparently . And so we are confronted with the reality of our life having a beginning and an end. I feel better now I have had my latest surgery and survived it, but it was on 8 September and my wound is still weeping, I haven’t got full movement back and my new breast is a weird colour and shape. So I am not 100 percent happy. But it’s better far better than worrying about the two tumours that were there. I was told after my op that it’s spread to a lymph node in the breast so I now face another operation, but not a date as my wound isn’t healed enough yet. I have told the nurses I want to go ahead soon as it is getting better but I am in the hands of the hospital and they can only fit me in when there is a slot. Things are not helped by covid cases which are rising as we go into Winter. So I have to be patient which is what we are all ultimately are faced with.