Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi I have Just been reading this thread with interest. I was DX in Dec 07, had WLE, 1 node involved so was offered chemo (which I did have to think about and did have 18 weeks) followed by 20 rads. In July 08 was prescribed Tamoxifen, never even questioned taking it. I did not tolerate it very well so went back to ONC and was prescribed Arimidex, which to be honest was even worse than tamoxifen, so went back and I am now on Aromasin (Exmestane). Have been on that for nearly a year. I think you should at least try it, then be aware that there are alternatives and as others have said it may help you. You need to throw everything at it you can. I agree with what many have said here that everyone is different, but until you try, you do not know how you will react. It will be no where near as bad as chemo and rads. Go for it Lisa. x Sarah ... View more

Hi All I suppose everyone deals with things differently, some people are naturally more emotional than others, there is no specific set way of dealing with a dx of cancer. Not one size fits all. I am not normally an emotional person but I cried loads during my DX, my operation, my treatment, my consultations, I shut the bedroom door at home and let it out! (I didn't cry though, at the initial appointment I think I was in too much shock, I just felt a whooosh and I was sucked down a dark hole.) I remember once when I went for my pre-chemo assessment howling for an hour before they had even done anything! I came out and my mum said "What you crying for now?" Well you can't explain can you? I though Sally was very moving in Corrie last night, she found someone who she could let it all out with. We spend so much time bottling it up and putting on a brave face that we sometime need ME time the time to grieve for what we have lost. I used to be so embarrassed when I started blubbing in front of someone who had never seen me cry, because I am notrmally a strong person. I remember telling the GP (in floods of tears) that the counsellor had upset me, she said "did the counsellor know?" I said "it was quite likely as I had spent the whole session in floods of tears!" I think how you feel about Corrie depends upon how far along your journey you are. I am 2 years past DX now so although it upsets me still I am probably in a slightly stronger frame of mind than those newly DX or having treatment. Sarah x ... View more

I had thought about that too, as my breast was sore and very painful and bruised, perhaps as he was having an affair they were not into too much passion and she managed to hide it only how I do not know! ... View more

This is brilliant Siobhain I really like it. I'm sure we will all see into this different meanings, or recognise ourselves as the way we were or still are. I hope you enjoyed Dublin? X ... View more

Hi Caroline It is quite natural to feel so stressed and upset at the thought of C, it's a huge emotional shock that your body is trying to deal with, obviously until you know whether it is or isn't, it is going to be a difficult time for you. Have you anybody close who you can talk to? It is not really helpful going through the What ifs... (But we all do it) as that will only make you feel worse than you feel already. Try looking at it the other way if you had gone earlier they may have not found what (if anything) they have found now, so it might be in your favour the anxiety you are feeling over the delay. It is normal to want to vent and this is the place to do it as we have all been there. Good luck with the next appointment. I'm sure more ladies who have beeen in a similar situation to you will come along soon. It doesn't help with it being over Xmas, does it with all the clinics are shut for the holidays or offering limited services, this only adds to your stress and anxiety. Sarah X ... View more

Just bumping this up for Jane Sarah X ... View more

Just bumping this up for Jane Sarah X ... View more

Hi Jane No I don't think you are hogging the thread it is here for everyone. I agree with a lot of what you and Reenee have said, especially the nosey parkers! I told the people whom I wanted to know, close family and close friends and immediate work colleagues, I didn't tell a lot of people before Xmas as I didn't want to spoil their Xmas. I am a very private person and hate being the subject of gossip, you are just someone else's news of the day and they all have a tale to tell about someone who has had BC and survived etc. Then you get the comments "Don't know what I would do if it happened to me" "Did you lose your breast?" I know my confidentiality was broken at work and I was annoyed about that! I wasn't ashamed I had cancer, but I wanted to try and carry on as "normal" what ever that is, I didn't want to look like a cancer patient even though I was one! Jane I know what you mean about being single and hating your body but wanting to meet someone, I too am single and not in a relationship and how do you drop the icebreaker by the way I have had cancer! I'm not suggesting it is any easier if you are in a relationship, but at least you have hopefully love on your side to start with. I also live with my Mum, don't be too hard on her Jane it must be very difficult for her to see her little girl going through what you went through. Mine was ill the whole time I was having treatment and she ended up in hospital! I'ts a long story to tell. Someone said it's like an episode of ER in your house! Oh how funny! I too am independent and strong but when your world comes crashing down around you, no matter how strong you are, eventually you will probably accept some form of support, be it counselling, anti depressants or a shoulder to cry on. You may well be grieving for what you have lost, because we have lost things, our health, a year in our lives, the security of it'll never happen to me!, the worry of what if...., to mention a few. I wrote a couple of poems on here somewhere. Picking me up is one of them, I'll see if I can find them and bump them up, a lot of people said they helped them. Don't be hard on yourself Jane. If you want to PM me Jane we can chat some more. Anyway back to Corrie is it on tonight and are you watching it?.... Sarah x ... View more

Hi I have been wondering all day how people have been feeling after watching Corrie. I do not watch it, but I was drawn to it like a magnet. I watched the ITV2 catch up last night and like Cherub it upset me too, I had a bad nights sleep and it brought it all back for me too. (self inflicted I know I can turn it off!) Xmas is not a good time for me as I too was DX before Xmas 12th Dec, op 31st a new year I will never forget! (this was two years ago in 07) I had 24 hour diagnosis too, ultra sound and biopsy on 11th Dec and DX 12th, op 31st results 9th Jan and onc 22nd so all very quick. I have been wondering whether you have felt like this after watching Corrie, should we feel like this? and when will we stop feeling like this? I try not to come on the forums as much now as I feel like I should be moving on if there is such a thing? But I know when I do come on there is always someone who will/can help,who knows how we feel. I thought that Sally portrayed it very well and it was very moving when She talked about not wanting people to know she had cancer. I felt like that all along and did not telll many people. Although I shed many more tears than she did, perhaps she is doing that in private when they are filming in someone else's house! LOL Sarah X ... View more

I have only just read the sad news about Jane passing away, I am saddened and shocked by this. I suppose it is something that we think happens to "other" people not those we know even if they are a virtual friends. I offer my condolences to Jane's partner, family and friends. Jane was everybody's friend and favourite "aunty", she offered advice, and joined in discussions, (voiciferously on occasions!) She was a source of information, strength, and support for many women who have unfortunately found themselves on this site. Her "voice" and friendship will be missed by many. Rest in Peace Jane Sarah x ... View more

Hi all I too have suffered with aching joints and muscle stiffness. I have been on tamoxifen, Arimidex and now on aromasin. Things seem to get worse. I got my onc to refer me to a rheumotologist whom I saw in April, the good old NHS is so great that I have had my appointment cancelled 7 times so I wonder if I will see him again!!! Thank g they did not treat you like that with BC! I have had steroid injections in my knees and I found that helps just had them done again Fri. Any way to get to the point of this woffle. I have been rubbing glucosomine and emu oil on my knees and using little magnetic plasters and a knee brace which is also magnetic, I thought all of these were helping a little, then I read about EMU OIL capsules so in for a penny in for a pound I went and bought some and I can honestly say they have helped me. I have kinda tried everything I finished chemo in May 2008 and Rads in July 2008 so I don't want to cheer you up but It doesn't get any better. Hope my tip works Sarah X ... View more

Hi Rachy I started on Tamoxifen last July and did not get on with that one so I was changed to Arimidex in Sept, I felt terrible on it all the usual aches, sweats, really bad pains could hardly walk. I asked my GP to take me off it but she wouldn't. I could hardly walk by the time I hobbled in to the Onc in March, I burst into tears and said I couldn't stand it, so without hesitation she put me on Aromasin, I feel much better now and went to see her again in June, to tell her I felt better. So I have been on it for 5 months now and out of the 3 it's the one that suits me the best. So good luck tomorrow. I always used to have a note book and ask loads of questions that way you remember everything, I was also lucky as my ONC would always spend time and listened. Hope it goes well. Sarah X ... View more

I had Health Care at home and I had a terrible experience! I had my first chemo in the unit and being a needle/hospital phobic I thought it would be great to have it at home.... Read on The second chemo they came to take my bloods, they rang the next day told me it was fine, told me time they would arrive. I sat trying to relax listening to music. The nurse worked on me for 2 1/2 hours, she could not get my vein up. She rang for another nurse who came and basically said I had one vein left and if they damaged it that was it. By this time I was hysterical, so they rang the unit and chemo bag in hand I had to drive 20 miles, in a very distraught state to have my chemo put in. When the nurses eventually calmed me down, they got the vein first time, unfortunately I had a flash back and it burned so despite trying to bare it, she took it out and got it in another one. Needless to say for my third chemo I went back to the unit!!!! As someone else said here it's great if you have good veins, but you only have one nurse whereas at the unit there are several. Of course they all used to fight to have me when I arrived, but I had 6 cycles and they got a vein every time. Sarah ... View more

No Idea but it's an interesting thought. I know they wont do a mammogram until you are 1 year out of treatment, so I'm having mine next Mon, as I finished RADS July 08, and had op Dec 07 and was DX Nov 07. I suppose someone on here will know the answer. X ... View more

Don't forget whilst you are being positive you are allowed a good cry too, and some self pity. You are bound to be scared, worried and confused, no one expects a dx of cancer and it is very hard to ccome to terms with. It is definitely the waiting which drives you bonkers. No one knows what the future holds, but there are lots of us on here who are still going and probably thought at the time it was the end. You will find lots of support on here from the lovely ladies. Take care x ... View more

My understanding is that you should not have a blood test, injection or blood pressure in the arm you had the nodes removed from. Not sure if this is the answer you want? ... View more

Hi Jeannie Mine was picked up after my first Mammogram aged 50, I was re called usual nothing to worry about for most its ...... So I returned not really worried and came out petrified second mammogram, followed by ultra sound then biopsy. There was a shadow it was described as calcifications but I think they knew there and then, you can tell by their faces. I was sent away hysterical and had to wait until 4pm the next day Dec 13th! I was then told it was breast cancer it was microscopic according to them and I was "lucky" they had picked it up! You don't feel lucky at that time. However despite it being microscopic and I'm sure they told me the size, there was 1 node involved so i ended up having chemo. Had WLE (on Dec 31st!!), sentinel node got clear margins. The ironic thing is I was originally called in the July 2 years ago actually, 3 months before I was 50, and I was away. So I cancelled the appointment, once I had cancelled I could not get back into the system, as they send out apointments according to age and GP surgery I eventually got an appointment at the end of Nov. So of course i will never know if I had gone in July whether it would have been picked up, or if by delaying whether it got bigger that's one of my What Ifs...... I still have friends who are 50-52 who have still not had their first Mammogram, naturally they are worried. It's a real lottery isn't it? Sarah ... View more

Vix Don't feel you are pathetic at all, any sort of lump or abnormality around the breast is a huge worry. At least you are now on the waiting list and that might not sound as bad as it seems, they usually see you fairly quickly, so I should imagine an appointment will come soon. In the meantime you will get a lot of support on this forum and I will bump this up for you. Take care x ... View more

Hi Rachy, Bling and Adizz I posted earlier in June as I had changed to Aromasin. I can say that for me it was a great move all the extra pain I was experiencing has gone and since I had my knees injected they too have been a lot better. I saw my Onc last weeka and said I was feeling a lot better and wanted to stay on Aromasin, so she agreed. Bling and Adizz do not suffer contact your Onc and get an appointment and discuss changing the meds, it is worth it. Good Luck Sarah x ... View more

Hi AnneMarie I started off on Tamoxifen last July and I felt terrible on it, so I saw my Onc in Sept and got it changed to Arimidex, which I found even worse than Tamoxifen. I had terrible night sweats, weight gain, terrible pains in my legs, knees, back, and carpal tunnel in my hands. I could hardly walk, I saw the Onc in March and I asked her to change it, I had done some research so knew there were others. I am now on Aromasin (Exmestane). I have been on it for 3 months and I feel so much better. I am seeing the Onc again next week. I also asked her to refer me to a rheumotologist for my joint pain, (I have got arthritus) which she did. I have had x rays and my knees injected and some tests for the carpal tunnel. I do not believe it is worth suffering and I think it would be worth you pushing for a change of meds. I was glad I did. As with everything they always start you off on the cheapest drug to see if it works, but if it doesn't in my experience they will change you to more expensive medication. I hope this helps good luck Sarah x ... View more