Hi Jeanie; absolutely no symptoms just picked up as I had had abdominal pain so GP asked for abdominal and pelvic scan - pain now gone. My uterus was less than 1mm 10 months ago and now 14mm with cysts on it most likely to be from tamoxifen. I tolerated tamoxifen well so am really hacked off. Going for another scan a week Tuesday and perhaps a pipelle biopsy…
Jules how long have you been on exemestane?
I don’t think it’s anything to do with being wimpy really as some people don’t get the side effects or only get mild ones and I think every case is individual . If my circumstances had been different I would have tried to continue and explore more options but they aren’t and the fact that my Surgeon said from the outset that it would be reasonable for me to stop also was a factor . I have a family history of osteoporosis /joint / MSK problems and rheumatoid arthritis / fibromyalgia and though my Dexa results letter said normal no change of medication indicated I later got another pack of information of detailed results saying that I had secondary osteoporosis which is apparently common after the menopause and someone had had written across the top of it " secondary osteoporosis “normal” letter " . It seemed that someone wanted me to have the full facts - I’m not sure if everyone gets the extra information that I got.
I’m a Nurse and I work in the NHS my opinion is that cancer is a dreadful thing but so are other conditions and living a very long life is overrated if you are in terrible pain / immobile / lost your memory. I have no children or grandchildren who would miss me or be an advocate for my wellbeing as I was for my parents when their health broke .
I understand why other people want to continue with their anti - oestrogen therapy ( I’m not sure when I meet them that they understand my point of view ) . As I say if my cancer had been a higher grade / size / type or with evidence of lymph node involvement I might be still be on it and I applaud all those who are struggling with it and still stay the course but in my case I don’t think there’s a need for me to do it. I’ve made a few poor decisions in my life like moving in with my controlling boyfriend when I was 20 or that auburn rinse that turned my hair the colour of raw meat and didn’t wash out as it was supposed to so this could be another one. It’s a roll of the dice - and I wish everyone the best of luck whatever they do . Xx
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thanks Joanne what a great response. Do you mind me asking your grade/stage/size of cancer. I had left mastectomy for multifocal ductal/lobular - 7mm largest and no pi, lvi, good margins no lymphs and would be really interested to hear yours (only if you don’t mind). I will wait until I get all the info and get over the scan/pipelle biopsy etc first and have the dates for them and the date to see the surgeon. (they still won’t let me see an oncologist…). I tolerated tamoxifen really well so im pretty hacked off…
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No I don’t mind . I was diagnosed when I had my routine mammogram. Grade 1 Stage 1 ER+ 8/8 PR + 7/8 8mm on mammogram 6mm on ultrasound scan tubular cancer which is a kind that is invasive but rarely spreads outside the breast. I was so low grade that I was offered and accepted a place on the SMALL trial and had a procedure to remove my cancer under local anaesthetic with no lymph node surgery . This procedure wasn’t successful although 8 out of 40 tissue samples were positive. I then had lumpectomy and SNLB under general anaesthetic at which time a further 6mm of tumour was removed with clear margins and my SNLB was negative. The Surgeon said that the tumour can have been no more than 10 mm .
So in my case I’m very low risk - I was very lucky though that isn’t how it felt at the time . I’m probably a good candidate for a new primary though due to age (59 now ) and being overweight . Xx
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Thanks Joanne I am incredibly grateful to you for sharing with me. I will let you know what transpires on the 5th and 6th and what if any my options are but I am so grateful for your transparency. Lots of love xxx
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To you too xxx
Been on Exemestane, just less than a month. I now take it at dinner time as consultant said it may help, also take turmeric and sage supplements, plus magnesium to help me sleep and I have one of those magnets that I wear in front of my knickers! 
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Prior to diagnosis, I was on double hormone hrt tablets and had to go cold turkey so being shoved into menopause and AI tablets has really sucked!
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This site is good because you realise you are not alone thinking, no matter what direction your thoughts are taking you xxx
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Thanks. Hope all is well with the biopsy.