Hi everyone
I have just joined the forum and will start with my journey with breast cancer.
I was diagnosed in 2017 where I was diagnosed with invasive cancer ducal carcinoma institute. In the same specimen it was a grade 3 oestrogen and progesterone positive and HER2 negative. I had 3 mths of chemo and 26 rounds of radiation. I was on tamoxifen for 6 yrs when my oncologist wanted me to have a pelvic ultrasound which showed a thickening lining in my uterus. Blood tests and a D&C showed everything was normal and my Oncologist suggested I go on letrozole. She did say if I decided to go on it and found the side effects affecting my everyday life to not go on it and just watch my diet n exercise - which I do already. I’m looking into an anti-eostrogenic diet - rather that then pumping my body with more drugs and yukky side effects.
if there is anyone else that has had a similar experience would be great to hear from you. I am In Australia.
Hi @deborah67
Welcome to the forum, we hope you find it a helpful and supportive place.
Please do have a look through the various boards and topics to find those going through similar experiences or for places you may be able to share your experiences and knowledge.
This is a very supportive place, so please do ask any questions you may have.
Once again welcome ?
Kev
Oh how nice to see a grade 3 with 6 years cancer free under her belt! As far as diet goes for any kind of low estrogen treatment, statistics don’t bare it being successful. You do have six years on tomoxifen though which is why I imagine your oncologist suggested you can do what you want as far as further treatment goes. Just to let you know I am on letrozole and am handling it fine. I personally would like 10 years or even more if possible on it since I had a grade 3, too. I’ll see if my bones can handle it but I’m doing everything I can to help keep them strong. Anyway welcome!!
Hi kay0987
thank you for yr msg. I am still in two minds with this new drug . I am thinking of going back on tamoxifen but just waiting on wot my oncologist says. Have had no side effects hence my reluctance to go on something else. Will keep u posted ?
I just wondered what age you are now, but a lady would never answer that so I am assuming your specialist thinks you are now post menopausal and that would indicate letrozole might mop up any remaining oestrogen that could kick start cancer again.
I would give it a go. I wouldn’t say I like it exactly but I have seen evidence it does shrink oestrogen positive cancer tumours - photos of before and after. It does have some common side effects such as aches in joints but my oncologist told me it’s well tolerated. That must be in general. I do get some pains in my joints and when these come I take two ibuprofen tablets. I also get the odd twinge in my fingers due to carpal tunnel syndrome which it seems to aggravate a bit. Luckily this passes fairly quickly.
If you have a quite high possibility of cancer recurrence as I have been told I have, it’s something of an insurance policy against metastatic cancer, that is secondary breast cancer that can spread to other parts of the body. My oncologist mentioned the most likely area is the bones for my kind of breast cancer, maybe for all kinds but I don’t know.
I am 67 and I am not keen to take it for more than 5 years. I might give up sooner, but I have decided to give it a fair go, as I have found that getting into a routine helps keep me going, and I have read the longer you take the tablets the fewer side effects. Of course they may think I will soon lose my marbles and won’t notice anything. At the moment I think the odd ibuprofen isn’t that intolerable even though I still have my marbles. At least I think so, others may differ.
Seagulls