Breast Cancer Now Forum

Soooo Glad all went well for you Mel, you are one awesome lady, "it" certainly didn't know what it was taking on with you did it? I'm so pleased for you after all you have been through and all the worry. Soz you have got to have more treatment but I suppose it is good in a strange way that the ONC is able to give you more treatment. As for the runway you do make me laugh, just watch out for that Jumbo Jet! Big Hugs great news xxx Sarah ... View more

Hi Mel Just found your thread. I am hoping and praying all goes ok for you tomorrow. I have just read all that has happened to you, you have every right to be frightened, I can't imagine some of what you are feeling but I do know scared, angry, frightened, as they visit me quite often, but I also know brave, determined, and strong and I know you know them too. Keep smiling Mel you are a lovely lady. Fingers crossed and BIG HUGS ((((( ))))) Sarah X ... View more

Just bumping this up for some ladies who have asked about it. Sarah x ... View more

Thanks Topsymo, CeceliaL, Joanna and Dawn I feel flattered by your comments. I'm just glad it helps you ladies. I have one more on here which Is called Picking Me Up Again. I'll find it and bump it up for you. I haven't yet put the one I wrote about chemo on here yet I might get round to it one day. Hope you are all well and enjoyed the sunshine today. Sarah X ... View more

Hi Dawnflower, The feelings you have a probably grief and rightly so, you are feeling a loss, not only a physical one but an emotional one too. I know how you are feeling I felt like that too, a loss for what you had before which was probably good health. Like many here I am one year on and I had a blip about Dec when I was coming up to my first year when I was DX. I felt miserable for months and I went to the GP, who advised me to go for counselling which I eventually did. Talking to someone can help you focus on your feelings and whilst I don't think you ever come to terms with this illness or the loss we have suffered I think it helps you adjust, as at least you can focus on the fear, loss, anxiety and shock which are some of my feelings. When we go through chemo, Rads and an op, we do get on with it, I set targets and I have memorable dates. When it's all over you have more time to think and that is when I honestly believe you start to grieve. If you can talk to your GP I should try and give it a go. Sarah X ... View more

Hi Peacock Glad you are feeling a bit better and had a good night's sleep, once you have had a few of those you will start to feel a bit better. My Ad really helps me sleep, so much so I cannot get up!! then again I never was a morning person, can't believe I will be dragging my body out of bed again tomorrow for work. Yes I did have an under active thyroid I am on thyroxine now, have got to have another blood test soon. At least spring is here I have been gardening most of the weekend putting plugs in and sorting my greenhouse out. Hope you keep well. Sarah x ... View more

Hi Bubs There are lots of threads about Arimidex on this site. I don't want to cheer you up but I was on Tamoxifen for 3 months and had gained weight I couldn't stand it so I was moved onto Arimidex which I have struggled with for 6 months, I suffered with joint pains, weight gain and terrible hot flushes, I also got carpal tunnel (I have hobbled about for 6 months.) You have to remember we are all different and Arimidex may suit you fine. I take Solpadol and diclofeneac for the pains. I take Red Clover Blossom (I also had Clonidine, but I came off them as I think they were also helping me to gain weight) for the flushes and Glucosamine with Chrondroitin and MSM to help with the pains. I am now on Aromasin which I find much better. Good Luck hope it suits you. Sarah ... View more

Hi Rosie I don't know what regime you are on but if you are having TAX I strongly advise you to not ditch the steroids as they help you cope with the TAX you have to take them the days before you have the TAX as well as afterwards, they keep you awake and give you a red glow! I found that during my chemo I maintained my weight more or less I ate sensibly and tried to keep to a low fat diet, you do want to nibble but I nibbled low fat biscuits or WW cheese puffs, you will find you will lose your taste for many foods, I still can't drink black coffee! I put on weight when I went on Tamoxifen, then Arimidex, I am now on Aromasin which I am finding better I am just starting the weight battle again, like Horace said the black nail polish helps you to keep your nails I painted my finger and toes and I only lost 1 toe nail, although your nails do go very brittle and you have a ridge for each chemo you have, this took about 6 months for mine to grow out after my last chemo which was 28th May last year, my two big toe nails are still growing out! Good luck with your treatments Sarah x ... View more

Hi Peacock, We used to chat last year when we were going through it. I know what you mean, I had my blip about Dec, (I finished RADS in July, I had a phased return to work in July/Sept) I started to get anxious about Dec when I came up to my anniversary of DX, was very depressed on New Year's Eve which was the anniversary of my operation. I then had a rush of fatigue hit me was falling asleep at work, so had my hours reduced, went to see my GP with a list of ailments, they would not help me with my weight gain, until "I am emotionally secure". I kept burting into tears, and yes was told I was depressed, got offered counselling which I refused twice, but I have since taken up also got offered anti depressants which I refused 3 times, I have since started them, have been on them now for 3 weeks. I find they help me sleep and I am not as anxious as I was. I have rested more and slept more, but have started swimming again. I have not tackled the weight gain and I do feel depressed about that. I was talking to my ONC and she said depression is very common after treatment has finished, it's a wake up call as you actually stop and think what you have been through and what people have done to you, I think you deal with the physical side but not the emotional side. No Peacock you are not alone in this, I am just re-living my firsts all the time. Like Gillian said once the treatment finishes so quite often does the support from friends and family. There is a very good article by Peter Harvey a DR called after the treatment finishes it is worth reading. I hope you feel a little better soon. I also had an under active thyroid in Sept post treatment. Sarah X ... View more

I had 3 FEC and 3 TAX, and 4 weeks of RADS. The 1st TAX knocked me about so much that they reduced the strength of it for the 2nd one! I suppose it is down to ONC choice and types of breast cancer, I do think that cost must come into it at some point as they always start you off on the cheaper drugs and then move you onto the more expensive ones, one example is the anti sickness drugs, if you are ok on the cheap one, that is great, I wasn't I was violenty sick so after that I had EMEND which were very expensive! It's the same as the drugs after, Tamoxifen is cheaper than Arimidex which is cheaper than Aromasin, not sure about Femara. I'm sure Bright that you are getting the best treatment possible, also look at it this way if you can get it done in 6 sessions 18 weeks, why prolong it for another 6 weeks? Sarah X ... View more

That sounds a good idea, I have noticed one or two threads creeping up about anniversaries, emotions and anxiety, and how to cope post treatment so lets start one, it was your idea Penn, I'll certainly join you. Sarah x ... View more

Thanks Jennie,Annie, Louise, Cate, Maz for your comments. Yes I am well Jennie, thanks just returned from my caravan in Wales so had a good rest for 2 weeks. I'm not sure about getting it published Cate, any ideas? Perhaps we should try and put together a book to help people at different stages and all proceeds go to a cancer charity? There's two so far with Picking Me Up. I also wrote about my experiences of chemo but haven't put that on here yet, might test the waters with that one too. I'm just glad my thoughts help people its a therapy writing them and for you to read them. You know me Louise always to the point! and yes Fear it's always there I heard some very sad news last week about someone I know, hope she's well and coping. Sarah X ... View more

Hi Yes I can do the 26th but if everyone is ok with the 19th please don't change it for me. Suzanne you should be alright after your first chemo, just make sure you do not come into contact with anyone with colds etc carry plenty of hand gel and wet wipes. I always used to go out when I felt well enough, but I was always careful. Sarah ... View more

Thanks Lizzy, Yes I'm ok think I just had a little blip this year, which started about Dec I think I was going through my "firsts". I'm not sure the counselling has helped but I have a good moan! So it hasn't done any harm, lets put it that way! It's funny when you are going through it and for a while after people listen, talk and care, and are very supportive, then suddenly it all stops, as if "well you have got over it now", so we needen't talk about it any more. This is very noticeable at work, where no one asks at all!!! In fact I'm still on reduced hours and I don't think they have noticed LOL! Thanks for saying I was coping admirably and supporting others that was nice to hear. I've just put another "ditty" on (wont be brave enough to call it a poem!) called Looking Back, (it's in living with Breast cancer) I had so many words going round my head one night I just let them flow, so I put it on last night. I don't come on here as much these days as its finding the time as I work full time then I'm knackered and waiting to go to bed!! Sarah x ... View more

Hi I can't make the 19th I come back that day, but just carry on I'll catch up at sometime as you say you have to go with the flow! Sarah ... View more

Thanks Ladies Glad it's helped some of you Sarah X ... View more

I can't do that as I am away for 2 weeks but could make next one. ... View more

Hi Well we are all different, I was on Tamoxifen for 3 months then due to side effects I was on Arimidex, I lasted 6 months on that horrendous flushes, weight gain, Carpal Tunnel and could hardly walk with the pain in my joints. I saw my ONC in early March and she changed me to Aromasin, so I have been on it 3 weeks remarkable improvemnent in everything, very little joint pain and not many hot flushes. I take red clover blossom for flushes and pain killers and Glucosomine, with chrondroitin and MSM. I find both help Give me Aromasin any day!! Sarah ... View more

Sounds like a great idea could we find a date and time we are all available? I work full time but I'm interested. Sarah X ... View more