My brief story and next steps...

[Libster75]

hi nicola2610

I agree...walking really does help and the pain is worth it to keep any cancer at bay.

It is great to hear that your pain stopped when you finished the zoladex...something to look forward to even if it is 5 to 10 years away!🤣😀

Thank you x

[Libster75]

Hi again Yorkie51 

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you on Friday....and that you get your plan of action. 

I'll be thinking of you xxx

[nicola2610]

@Libster75  Yes I did suffer with double joint pain throughout.  I did find walking eased it for me.  I would try to do a gentle pace walk for 45 minutes each day and found it seemed to help.  Once the Zoladex stopped I found that all the pains stopped as well within about a month or so.  I had a good eight years with no evidence of disease and for me that was worth every bit of niggling pain I had.  

[Yorkie51]

Hi Libster,

Yes I understand what you mean about embarrassing but you keep letting it out don't worry about anyone else. Do your work colleagues know, if they do they'll understand? My bosses & a couple of colleagues know.

Yes it's sometimes difficult to hear but I always feel better knowing & understanding. I've just gone through the menopause so that is why injections haven't been mentioned to me. Does that make the side effects worse being pushed into the menopause?

I have an appointment again with the Consultant Friday, hopefully to discuss my latest biopsy results/treatment plan. Fingers crossed they don't cancel for more tests, desperately need to start treatment now.

Thank you for chatting & explaining it to me, it has helped.

Big hugs, take care P xx

[Libster75]

Hello Yorkie51 

You're absolutely right about the emotional outbursts and stress relief. It's embarrassing as they tend to happen at work. But...I do draw a line a move forward feeling better if that makes sense!

Its always good to be curious...I always feel better with more information and Knowledge! Endocrine is hormone treatment. There are various tablets that can be prescribed. Some are combined with an injection. I think that because I'm 46 and was just perimenapausal my oncology team prescribed: a monthly zoladex injection (essentially stops my ovaries and creates instant menapause) and a daily letrazole tablet (to stop oestrogen production elsewhere in my body). This is for 5 to 10 years.

I hope you're doing as well as possible. Have you heard about your treatment plan yet, 

Sending hugs

Xxx

[Yorkie51]

Hi Libster 

Good to hear that you are doing well. The random bolts of emotion are awful but I think much needed to release some stress. Sending hugs.

Endocrine, guessing that is hormone treatment? At my initial consultation they said I would be on hormone treatment. I've not heard anything about an injection, does that usually go hand in hand with the daily tablets? I know I should take it 1 step at a time but was curious when you mentioned it.

BW P

[Libster75]

Hi Yorkie51,

Glad to hear that you're in a more positive frame of mind and hopefully you'll speak to your nurse soon.

Great to hear that you enjoyed Green Day...Good for you!! 😀

I'm doing well thank you. Only 1 unexplained emotional outburst this week...endocrine treatment is such fun🤣 but I know totally worth it to keep the cancer away!

Keep going...one day at a time and be kind to yourself 🤗xxx

[Libster75]

thank you for the top tip! 😀

Can I ask....did you suffer with 'doable'but pretty constant joint/bone aches with the zoladex? And if so did they stop when you stopped having the zoladex? 

X

[Yorkie51]

Hi Libster75

It is a strange time, rollercoaster of emotions. I think I was a little frustrated with the many many tests because I was second guessing what was happening. I had more biopsies, magseed + another tag inserted yesterday so hoping that will be it for tests. The radiology dept were great, explained it all to me.

Someone said to me the only people that really understand is the people that are going or have been through it. It is a little scary at times learning what may come in the months ahead but I think it is helping me to come to terms with it a little.

It's not been easy getting in touch with my breast care nurse but I know they must be busy. I phoned her last week, hopefully when she gets back to me she will be able to tell me the next step.

A little sore but yes physically ok. Memory box bits is a lovely idea. I went to a concert last weekend with my sister (Green Day), it was lovely to have something else on my calendar! 

Everything you have said makes sense & really helped. I will keep giving my 'big girl pants' a good yank!!

Hope you are doing ok? 

Thanks BW P x

[nicola2610]

@Libster75  I did 7 years of Zoladex implant injections.  Ask for the spray that numbs the skin before they put the needle in.  They may tell you that you don’t need it but if it makes those appointments more comfortable and therefore less stressful then just stick by your guns.  My GP practice nurse always used it, without having to be asked, but on the odd occasion that she was away and someone else did it, they always got ready without the spray and I always asked for it without any problem.  I can honestly say I never once felt any discomfort from having the Zoladex implant.  It’s well worth a discussion with the nurse.  Oh and I never used to look when they were putting the implant in either.  Good luck. X

[Talandjane]

Thank you for posting this article by Peter Harvey. I have just finished my breast cancer journey of a mastectomy operation and then another auxillary lymph node operation with in 2 weeks of the first after months of biopies. Luckily no radiation treatment or chemo but 2 weeks before I had just finished supporting my Mum through surgery and radiation treatment for breast cancer. 

This article   resonated so much especially the initially feeling elated that the cancer has gone but also not really sure what to feel looking back in shock and how it has all just happened. Often through it all i kept saying this doesnt feel like it is happening to me but someone else but it is ! 

Will re read this again over the next few months. Sending love to you all xx

[Libster75]

Hello Yorkie51,

Thank you for your message and kind words. 

I hope you're feeling as 'ok as possible'...its a funny time at the start. I remember feeling as if I spent all my time waiting to start my 'fight'...and want to start ASAP. It is important that our amazing experts do all their tests (as frustrating as all the waiting is) so that the very best treatment options are given to you.

One of the biggest lessons for me in all this has been that it's a very individual journey. I have gained so much from talking to others that are going through or have been through the breast cancer journey but we are all different. I count myself as really lucky, of course I had sad times but generally I feel my whole experience has been as good as possible.

Have you spoken with your breast care nurse? ... they will be able to give you an idea of timescales depending upon which treatments might be starting soon. 

Right now I'm guessing that physically you're feeling quite 'normal'? In the weeks before my surgery (which was my 1st treatment) I made sure I had plenty of lovely days out with family and friends. Memory box bits ro remember when I was having blue moments.

So...go and have some fun now; remember it's an individual journey...you do it your way; and very importantly its OK to not be ok (but do pull up your positive pants as high as possible - even if they drag round your ankles some times!!)

I'm happy to share any parts of my journey if you have any questions.

I hope you get your plan in place really soon.

Sending hugs x

[Yorkie51]

Hi Libster75,

Sorry to hear what you have gone through so far & the rollercoaster of emotions that go hand in hand with it all. Although I am at the very start, the random crying/big girl pants (great saying) definitely resonates with me. I go for a walk whenever I can it seems to calm me down (maybe just tires me out).

My cancer seems to be the same type as yours but I am at the very start, diagnosed middle of May 2022. I'd hoped to have at least a plan in place by now but feel like I'm never going to get there, going round in circles with tests.

Hope you get to do some fun things in-between & best wishes for your continuing treatment. Hugs 

[Libster75]

The Peter Harvey article was a great read...it resonates with me, particularly the getting hit by a bus analogy. 

Food for thought!

[Evie-S]

Hi @Libster75 - first of all welcome to the forum, I think this is your first post.

I wonder if you have read this article by Peter Harvey - http://www.workingwithcancer.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/After-the-treatment-finishes-then-what...

Evie xx

[Libster75]

A big hello to all you wonderful brave ladies out there.

A little background...

I found a lump last June in my left breast and was diagnosed in July 2021 with grade 3 invasive ductal breast cancer...oestrogen and progesterone positive. Then aged 45. I was so shocked...I have always been positive person (and cancer was never going to happen to me...duh!!) and my happy bubble was popped that day! I did soon pull up my positive pants though and 'got on with it'.

So...breast surgery (therapeutic mamoplasty), chemo and radiotherapy all done. I found surgery recovery hard...I fully expected to bounce back and struggled to come to terms with a slower pace. My oncotype results were very high, 68. This took me a while to wrap my head around as this means that 'my cancer' is likely to try to come back. I have walked for at least 30 mins every day and ate my way through chemo. I gained lots of weight. Generally though my body coped well and i count myself lucky. I have done all I can to stop my cancer coming back so I'm doing my best and putting my best foot forward now!

So....now I'm on hormone treatment for 5 to 10 years. Starting 2 and a golf months ago...monthly zoladex injections (ouch that needle hurts!!) and daily letrazole tablets.  The aim of this ...to stop all oestrogen production in my body. The results of this...I feel like I have the body of an 80 year old! (Important to remember here ...stopping oestrogen is gooood as helps to stop cancer!!) But ... I seize up when I sit for more than 5 mins and have to walk. Walking does help though and I do soon feel OK. Hot flashes and menopause brain are both 'a thing' for me now...such fun! And emotionally I guess I feel 'vulnerable' ...randomly crying for no reason and often having to tell myself to pull up my big girl pants and crack on!  Wow..5 to 10 years of this! But worth it I know! 

How are you all coping with your 'next steps'?