Hi, It’s taken me ages to find a place on a forum for men with BC. I have recently been diagnosed and will be getting surgery but the doctor wants an assessment done by the anaethetist to see if Im able for the surgery he has in the meantime gave me letrozole tablets to keep it from spreading Now I’ve just read on the internet these tablet are only for women who has had the menopause m so confused can anyone advise me
Hi John San
I can’t help you with your query but am ‘bumping’ it up in the hope that someone notices.
You could try phoning the helpline here for advice.
Best of Luck.
x
hi john
most of the men with BC i have come across went on tamoxifen in the first instance, however letrozole has proven to be effective in men too… when it says only for women who have had the menopause this would be suitable for men too as pre menopausal women have high oestrogen but post menopausal women have low oestrogen like men do so its found to have a similar benefit.
good luck with your treatment
lulu x
Hi John
I know the site is mainly women because you are one of a very small group, but you will get support from us too, and you are very welcome. There are some men on here who are supporting partners with BC so hopefully some of them will log on and say hello.
Lulu’s information should help you, but I also suggest you give the helpline a ring in the morning as they may be able to put you in contact with other men who have BC so you don’t feel so alone.
Good luck
CM
x
Hi John, sorry you find yourself in this situation. I think it is harder for men because there are fewer people to swap notes with and get support. I guess in many ways the illness is similar and if we can help we will. Hopefully some other men will come along soon. Meanwhile hope the treatment is going well.
Hi John,
And as others have said before me, welcome to the BCC discussion forums, you’ve come to the right place for some good support. Over the years we have had a number of men diagnosed with BC joining the forums and I do know some of them look in on the forums from time to time, so hopefully someone with a male perspective on things will soon be here to support you - but don’t worry the ladies on here are brilliant at support to everyone they have a mass of knowledge and experience between them.
In the meantime I have put for you below the link to one of BCC’s publications relating to men with a BC diagnosis which I hope you find helpful.
Please do give the helpline here a ring they will be able to support you through this. Calls to the helpline are free, 0808 800 6000, lines open Mon - Fri 9-5 and Sat 9-2. Take care and keep posting.
Jo, Facilitator
Hi Jo
Thanks for your reply and the download it was very kind of you
Hi John
Just wanted to say hello as we do exist. Men who had BC. For me it was DCIS so Im lucky I guess but I do understand what you are going thru.
I hope that everything works out and that you get the b****r out so you can move on with your life.
All the best
Mark
H’i staycalmandcarryon, Lulu34, ChoccieMuffin, Mary grace, and Markd,
Thanks so much ladies and Markd for your posts and kind words and advice.It was so good to receive the posts I have had a consultation with the consultant anaesthetist, and he has assessed me as fit for surgery so now I just have to wait for an appointment with the Consultant which could take up to 2-3 weeks or less and I will be getting the surgery straight after this.
I am absolutely dreading this but it will be for the best I hope. I think it’s the waiting that’s making it so bad, I spoke to my cancer care Nurse and she has arranged for me to meet a man thats been through the journey that I’m about to go on so meeting him and having a chat will do me good I think. Once again thanks to you all and in the meantime my kindest regards to all. it was good to hear from you Mark and all the Ladies
John
Hi John,
The surgery itself wasn’t bad at all. I only had a wide local excision so not all of breast tissue removed but no visible stitches (it is glued back together and left a three or four inch scar) and only a day surgery so in and out in half a day. A bit bruised afterwards but little pain though a bit tired for a few days after the general anaesthetic so be kind to yourself and take it easy.
I guess you may also have lymph nodes checked - mine were done with a sentinel node biopsy (so just the first couple of nodes checked to make sure no spread) and whilst it was only little, that scar was a bit more sore than the breast one particularly as the day went on.
Hope it goes well for you, MG x
My other half had heart surgery recently and looks like he’s been shot and stabbed! I don’t think your scars are likely to be quite as scary as his, but the inside of your head is likely to need a good deal of TLC following a cancer diagnosis. Do keep coming back to check in and let us know how you get on, and to ask any questions you might have. It’s not an easy road, and particularly scary as there are so few men who have this disease, but I’m glad you’ve been put in contact with some men who are going through or who have been through the same thing.
It might be seen as a woman’s disease, but I’m sure all the women on here will be very happy to support a man going through the same thing.
Good luck and hugs,
CM
x
Hi John and again welcome. The fear of the big C can be very scary and I can relate to the ’ waiting game ’ being one of the worst parts. Irronically both myself and my mum in laws partner have bc . He’s in his 80 but I’m sure he started on the same drug as you, now he is on tamoxifen. But as the other posts have said the help line will be good for you.
Anyway sorry you have found yourself here, if it’s support, a place to let of steam and sometimes even a very good laugh you are in the right place.
Take care hugs to you x
No problem John, we all know how awful the waiting bit is so am really happy that i can offer reassurance.
It’s great that you’ve been put in touch with another chap, i’m sure he will offer even more reassurance.
Best of Luck.
x
Hi John, just joining in, I was put on Letrozole during complications in diagnosis too. Seems fairly standard, and it’s a gold standard 3rd generation drug. I’ll be going back onto it for years once my chemo is finished.
Best of luck to you.
Peachez
Hi John
I am David - at 52 diagnosed with grade 3 BC just before Chirstmas 2003 - full mastectomy (3cm tumor also attached to Pech muscle - both breast and muscle tissue removed + 16 nodes) to right side - Janurary 2004 - Chemo (FEC75) & Radiotherapies (25) to follow - then told to take Tamoxifen for 5 years - this didn’t agree with me - took the tablet everyday for 2 years - then nothing - drug free eversince.
I was one of the Original Men who book the Breast Cancer Care book together way back in 2005/6 - not much done since for men with breast cancer. Seems strange to me, that when I was diagnosed way back in 2003 - some 250 to 300 every year diagnosed with breast cancer - now nearly 2011 still the same number.
I dont use this site much now - just pop in now and again to keep upto date with things - but if you look back into the archives you may see some of the posts from back then - used to 5 or 6 men post regularly - very few now.
Always available should wish to contact me - I am sure we could swap details somehow.
If not - Good Luck with the Journey - remember we have come along way since my time - I am now 59 coming upto 7 years clear - so keep looking to the future.
David
Hi John,
How is it going? you must be well into chemo etc by now.
I’m 57, had full mastectomy & 10 nodes removed in October 2007
then 3 x FEC, 3 x Taxotare, 3 months pause to get rid of abcess on scar, radiotherapy then Herceptin and now in 3rd year of Arimidex.
no matter how bad you feel now, the worst is over and you can look forward to 2012 being a lot better.
good luck,
Ian