I had an oncology appointment this afternoon and to get to the clinic I have to pass the Breast Clinic waiting area and consultancy rooms as it’s all on one long corridor. I really felt for all the ladies who were sitting there clutching the questionnaire you are given to fill out on your first visit - I remember sitting there myself in September of last year. On that day 2 elderly ladies were sitting talking about their mastectomies and I felt I wanted to scream as it all seemed so scary. I really cannot believe more than a year has now passed and I have managed to stay calm and positive all the way through and am now getting on with life again and enjoying myself. In the past few weeks I have picked up the threads of the business we had started but felt we had to put on hold and I am just about to embark on a couple of retraining courses. I feel so very fortunate, but am still thinking about all those other ladies today as I know some will have been given bad news.
The good news for me is the oncologists have said all is OK and whilst they can’t give any guarantees over a re-emergence they think the future is good on account of Taxotere and Herceptin. I have had a few niggly things on my mind lately that I have felt a bit apprehensive about, but all my questions were answered today and I now feel much better. I also found out I’m now post menopausal, never realised I had gone through it! No libido though, so they are writing to my GP to recommend a low dosage of testoterone to see if it kicks things off. I’ve had no passion for a year now and I’m really missing it.
So glad to hear everything is picking up for you. It seems awful to me now to see new ladies at the clinic, now that my last chemo is over I feel like an old pro!
How old are you if you don’t mind me asking? I think my menopause might be happening, only (! I say only) sweats for now, and little libido.
Thanks so much for sharing that with us. I love reading positive messages like yours.
I’m due to have herceptin too, which I feel really grateful for, and I also have a feeling I may be going through the menopause too - I’m 42 and haven’t had a period since June (chemo finished 31st Aug, and had a mastectomy 3rd Oct). Last time my blood was taken, my Oncologist told me my hormone levels were very low. I’m having the occasional hot flush but nothing major, but having had my kids, I’m more than happy to be menopausal now !
Anyway, good to hear how you’re getting on - good luck for the future, and with your libido returning !
CeciliaL, I’m 46 - I was perimenopausal and on a low dose of progesterone to regulate my periods before I found out I had BC. Perimenopause started at 42 and at that point my GP predicted full blown menopause at 47. TBH, I’m glad to be rid of the periods, but after 23 years with the same man I’m missing the passion a bit. He has the patience of a saint and keeps saying it will all come back in good time and when my body is ready. Thankfully, there are plenty of cuddles on tap and I still fancy the pants off him, despite being physically unable at the moment.
What a lovely thought to share. I really believe that everytime someone share a positive story the good feeling radiate further than the reader. By which I mean we share news with family and sometimes friend. We perhaps smile at that thought in public and that in turn can make someone else smile.
Positive thoughts and messages really do have a ripple effect.
I asked as I am now 47 and do not expect my periods to return. I do not have children but have made my peace with that and is not an issue for me.
Here’s to the end of the dreaded monthilies, I have not had a period since July and have not missed them in the slightest. Look forward to a bit more of a sex drive coming back though.
Cecilia, I am much the same as you, no kids but that was our choice. I haven’t missed the periods either as they had become heavy and exhausting over the last couple of years. In my case my GP thought I had become perimenopausal at 42 because I had a very stressful time dealing with flooded hose, then I had to move back to Scotland from London as my dad had the onset of dementia and no-one else in the family was taking control of his situation.
I look forward to the old sex drive coming back as well, it’s been a long time gone and I’m feeling like a dried up old stick at times lol! Here’s to the return of sex and passion I say!
If you don’t mind me asking, what was your original dx? My onc doesn’t like talking about prognosis, all I got from him was that it was ‘unfortunate’ that it was in my lymph nodes. I had a grade 3, 2.7cm tumour, 3/16 nodes. I have had taxotere & will start herceptin soon. If that now makes my prognosis good, I will be delighted.
I too now seem to be menopausal, no periods since August, hot flushes, no libido. I’m 45. Must ask the doctor about the testosterone. Like everyone else, I’m happy to be menopausal. In my case I have three teenagers - who’d want to have more?
I had a 35mm tumour which was hidden under a benign fibroid (I had been told I had nothing wrong, but should have the fibroid removed - glad I did). It had spread to 1 out of 22 lymph nodes. I see 2 different oncs, they both say the chance of it coming back is low to moderate, but they are not expecting it although they have obviously told me no guarantees. I have a relative who is head of one of the biggest cancer centres in the UK, he said 1 node out of 22 was not a bad result and has assured me Taxoter and Herceptin are the gold standard. For that reason I’m just getting on with life now, a male friend who has had cancer 4 times told me if it comes back I will cope again.
My cancer is v.similar to yours. I was 2.7cm with 2 nodes involved grade 3. Yes, it is “unfortunate” it is in the nodes, but could be a lot worse. . My onc said 30-40% chance it would return, but said Taxotere had only been used on primaries for a year, so figures should be better than that.
On a letter my con wrote to my GP he said “it is only 2.7cm and there are only 2 nodes affected”. I felt rather positive when I read “only” when discussing my cancer.
It may be that he doesn’t like talking prognosis because they really can’t tell what side of the fence you are going to fall.
that makes me feel so much better - the grade 3 together with nodes had me worried. So there could well be over a 70% chance that it won’t come back. I’m off to celebrate with a small glass of red wine
I know what you mean about the other ladies in the breast clinic. I look at them and really feel for them. At least I know and it’s getting dealt with. It’s alway Tuesday for screening and Thursday for results. Those poor girls…
Vanessa