Forgot to add, Egret, that your oncologist will prescribe the meds if you need them, ie if your cancer was oestrogen positive. The meds we’ve discussed suppress oestrogen production. Some people get aching joints and bones. I had bladder inflammation and blood in my urine, but not everyone gets this. Hopefully you’ll be fine.
Yeh , can’t say I enjoyed it much myself!!! No part of cancer treatment is fun exactly!!!
Sparkle are you on tamoxifen because of osteoporosis? I was asked to swap from letrozole ( post menopause) to tamoxifen because of results of dexamethasone scan. Not swapped yet though…got 10 years so no rush 
Lorna x
Egret you have had a long haul and bound to be at the end of your tether…hold on tight, not long now x
Don’t know where the methasone came from on the end of dexa x
Hi Lorna just wondered how long it was for results of dexa scan. I had mine a couple of weeks ago and haven’t heard anything yet. I don’t have another appointment with oncologist until November. I guess they would let me know if there are any problems. I’m getting on ok with Letrozole so far, much better than I was on Tamoxifen. Sharon x
Hi Sharon. Good that you’re better on Letrozole. I was told I wouldn’t hear re the DEXA scan results unless there was a problem.
Hi Sharon…I called my bc nurse for the results about 10 days later I think. Then I had to tell my onc who then wanted me to change to tamoxifen so I call my bc back who said no my surgeon says stay on letrozol as they are proven to work better but take bone building drugs. My onc then says that’s naughty of them to say that?! Make your minds up between you please! Lol. I read awful reports on the bone drug but low and behold a week later it’s all over the news it’s shown to help prevent bone Mets! Anyway I’ve decided not to decide and carry on with what I started on until I’ve the energy to look into it and make a decision x
Hi. Egret. I don’t have to worry about steroids as didn’t do chemo but pre diabetes/high cholesterol thing is just another worry as Anastrozole can cause cholesterol to go higher. I was given choice by Onc. Tamoxifen or Anastrozole? I asked her main side effects, her reply was ‘tamoxifen can cause hot flushes and weight gain and Anastrozole joint/bone pain but less hot flushes and no weight gain’. I opted for Anastrozole as I’m pretty weight conscious but am awaiting Dexa scan. I was also told you have to be physically fit on Anastrozole to keep aches and pains at bay. I’ve been on it a month and not had any. I was given Adcal alongside it to help bones. Accord is the brand and from reading through dozens of threads, it appears to give less side effects than the Teva brand. But, this maybe just down to me and luck. Personally I would rather take Arimidex the non generic, but I’d have to self fund that at £68 per pack of 28 as gp won’t prescribe it. x
No I don’t think so. Tamoxifen is for pre menopause and letrozole or the like for post menopause. Letrozole blocks any production of oestrogen in the body while tamoxifen focuses on the overies… I think that’s right? So much information to remember lol x
Yes I’ve been offered it because of my osteoporosis. It’s much kinder on the bones than letrozole so it must work for both. I don’t think they would use letrozole for pre menopause though. X
Yes I’ve had a complete hysterectomy and was offered tamoxifen. …but chose Anastrozole which is for post menopause only. When onc knew I had no ovaries she said ‘great’! Tamoxifen binds to oestrogen receptors to stop them joining cancer cells, Anastrozole stops oestrogen completely.
Yes that’s what I was told…Thanks for the clarity. Hard to remember it all x
Morning ladies
I know its early but im here havjng hot choc at 3.30am I still never get a full
nights sleep due to hubby getting up for
work …well I went into the office at work
yesterday about coming back I felt
strange I said I feel lke ive been in prison
for 6 mnths and been let out I had a right
food chat for about 2 n half hrs by the
time I finished I was shatterd may e to much chatting never stopped for breath
ha … they said or you sure ur ready to
cone back do u want to come back slowly
I said no I want to come back straight
into my old rota …my sick not runs out on
.
1st October thursday. So they said why
dont you start back on the 5th minday… I
said no break me in gently thursday and
friday morning still cant get my shoe on.
Hope I can by then…felt really strange
being back into society. .ive been driving
my daughter and her friend to school and
timing how to get to my first visit at 8am
but when I take them now im not in
uniform and not eaten till I get back home
so need to be more organised next week
its hard with this broken sleep too I might
be nodding back off at 5.30/ 6 am …I
know im gonna feel tired for a while till
get back Into the swing of things but
looking forward to getting back I cant say
ive enjoyed one day of the time ive been
off at all.we need to think of something to
call our October monthly chat…good luck to every one nearly finishing rads take care x
christine x
Morning, Christine. Brave of you to dive straight back in. I feel a bit cheated that I’ve had all this time off and not done anything fun. I had my going back to work chat yesterday. Actually felt better for talking to my boss and finding out what’s going on. My mind has been so focussed on cancer for nearly six months that I haven’t applied it to anything stimulating. I’m seeing occupational therapist then going back gradually, prob from 5 Oct but seeing GP first as would like to get swollen glands worry put away before rejoining real life.
Morning Mf.
yes it was my choice to go back full swing I inly work till 1,30 somerimes 3 so shouldnt be to bad…yes its not good being off all that time and not enjoyed it at all im looking round and thinking wish I could have decorated before I went back to work them I would feel id achieved something. .Ive never been to the doctors all through this maybe once whe. Infected ubder boob .my doctor has been great she told me to just ring reception and ask to pass a message a for her to ring me…maybe I should go see her before I go back and get a full MOT never had my bloods checked all through this…good luck with getting back to work and normal life its gonna be hard everyone os going to be asking me where ive been thats gonna be the worse for me maybe I just say its been a long rollercoaster and change the subject maybe they will get the message not to ask again …Xx
christine xx
Hi Christine. Yes, I wanted to decorate too but haven’t had the strength to look at a paint chart. I had my blood taken pre-op six months ago but not since. I thought they would check it for tumour markers or something to see if there’s evidence of metastases but maybe that’s old school. Anyone on here know?
Think blood tests to check for markers are on their way,but not standard as yet.Yearly mammograms are all we are gonna get.I have my boss visiting Monday and 2 weeks left on sick note ,need to get clear in my mind what I want to do in terms of return to work and then stick to my guns I’m a bit if a soft touch once I walk through the door I will start back tracking and offering to be more flexible .I feel exactly like you and Christine Marcella,whole summer off work very little achieved,not a lot of fun had!!!At least my infection is clearing up.
Hi Jill. Glad your infection is clearing up. HR have asked occ health to assess if I am disabled, among other things. I was indignant at first but apparently this can be advantageous because allowances have to be made. Not sure I’d be considered disabled if cancer has gone and I’m just knackered.
Well cancer is included in disability discrimination law but I wouldn’t consider myself disabled either a bit mangled maybe !!!I am awaiting the phone call from Occy health which I doubt will be very enlightening,think I will just have to grab the bull by the horns and say “this is what I feel able to do and when”.Keeping getting energy slumps not sure if that is after effects if rads or infection or maybe both ,hard to predict really how I will be in 2 weeks time.