Hi All,
My mother in law who is 83 and an Alzheimers sufferer was diagnosed with breast breast cancer July 2009. It was decided that she was too frail and just mentally wouldnt have been able to cope with surgery so she is on tamoxifen. She has been doing well on this and the tumour initally shrunk, although at her last appointment 3 months ago her specialist did think it had started growing again.
My question now may appear quite silly but I never know if some of the problems she gets now are associated with the breast cancer. She has developed swelling and pain in both her ankles/heels. Her GP thinks it may be tendonitis and doesnt think it is linked to the tamoxifen or her aricept (which she takes for Alzheimers). Does anyone have any history of tendonitis when taking tamoxifen? My other obvious concern is that her cancer may be spreading, but I hav never heard of a breast cancer patient suffering bone mets in their heels, although I am no expert and Thank Heaven that this is my first experience of the vile disease.
When she was disgnosed they did find a mass on her adrenal gland, which they did not seem to think was associated to the breast cancer and which, due to her situation and the advice of tamoxifen only treatment, we didnt really think we should put her though any more tests. The specialist agreed with this and said even if it was associated they probably would not change the treatment anyone. It is this however that has me a little more concerned about the feet!
Thank you for any advice you can offer.
Kind regards and prayers to you all.
Trisha