Breast Cancer Now Forum

Afternoon from a dreary Council office in Hampshire!   Julie I'm so sorry to hear your mum passed away, Alzheimers is just so cruel and distressing, especially for the family.  I'm glad you managed to get away for a break.  Madagascar sounds amazing too.   Gill, glad your results came through as ok, the wait and worry is over for another year. Personally I think I'll worry more after I go back to three yearly checks than I do now, maybe I will just always worry more. Can't wait to come off the tablets though.   Cath - I would think by now you are well over your bug and sitting huddled in a corner in a chocolatey mess.  I haven't started on my easter eggs yet as I know that when I open them I will just go for it.   Clare - well done on your 10K results, you're amazing.  I wish I could catch the exercise bug but it seems to evade me.  I have had the lazy bug all my life with no sign of a cure!!   Another damp and drizzly day here, really sick of this weather.  I'm off to Abu Dhabi next week for some sunshine, be prepared to get your sun screen out girls because whenever I go abroad we have a heatwave here.   Have a great week everyone. xx     ... View more

Hi Gill Hope you get your results soon, the waiting is worse than the squeezing! It’s that time of year when we’ll all be having our checks, here’s hoping to another good year if results for us all. The beast from the east has arrived here, only flurries of snow so far but very cold. Can’t wait for the warmer weather. I hope everyone’s feeling well and just getting on with life, it was very quiet on here for a while. And Cath, get that book finished! Xx ... View more

Happy New Year to all, I hope you have a wonderful 2018 with no high drama. (Unless you want it!) And happy 21st to your son Cath. 🍾🍾🎊🎉 ... View more

Cath - the sofa fitted well thank you. I've found my perfect spot in the corner, good view of the TV and the fire at the same time. Perfect!    Clare - I had no idea that exercise reduced oestrogen, that probably explains why I got 8 out of 8 on my marker. Its the only time I've ever got full marks for anything and it turns out to be bad news!!  I definitely need to move my flabby bum and get exercising.        ... View more

This just goes to show how different we all are, I got very depressed on Teva, it took me a few weeks to realise it was the medication, now I purposely ask for Accord.  The dryness is a horrific side effect, my skin actually tears down below, like a paper cut, mostly small but one time about an inch.  Never thought I'd have to use nappy cream at my age (to prevent the stinging!).   I live in hope that the majority of these side effects stop completely when the 5 years of taking the tablets is up.  I know some women are continuing with the tablets for an extra 5 years but I'm fairly sure I won't, I feel I've aged so much, dry skin, thin hair (it never grew back great like Victoria Derbyshire's!), mood swings, aching joints.   Sparrow - I'm so sorry that you have secondary CA.  I don't know what others do for their joint ache but I often take ibuprofen before I go to bed as it seems to offset the aching hips.  Another thing I get now is terrible cramp in my feet and calves, ibuprofen does nothing for that though.      ... View more

Goose Down sounds interesting, how does chic shadow vary? I can see why you're not popular though! I've had to get in touch with Dulux, every time anyone touches the wall that was painted raspberry diva it leaves a mark that can't be removed. Luckily the other three walls are a different colour and the paints washable. The curtains are up and the wooden poles look good. So pleased I went with them. A local curtain making company supplied and fitted the poles, I know I'd have nagged my husband if they hadn't been perfect. Sofa arrives tomorrow, corner suite, fingers crossed that it fits as I'm not confident. 😳 Weathers turned cold here, however the Autumn colours are hanging on and they're gorgeous. Have a fab weekend everyone. Xx ... View more

Hi Cath, decisions on curtains was easy in the end, knew I wanted tartan for a bit of cosiness and found a nice pair made by Dorma.  Spent last night looking at curtain poles again.  I think I'm going for wood. I've looked on pinterest and there are a lot of eyelet curtains on wooden poles so that's what I'm doing. Now I just have to find some I like and get them fitted before the sofa arrives on the 18th. After we've finished the new lounge we have to do the new dining room and then the old lounge, which will be our summer lounge. Sounds confusing but basically we're a room over so looking to make better use of the space.  It sounds like you had a lovely family weekend, is there anything better?   Clare, enjoy Cuba and your cruise.  We've recently come back from Mauritius, too far to go for not much in my view. I prefer the caribbean and love a good cruise.     We went to Bath for our 25th anniversay in 2014, just before my last chemo. (Should have been in Australia but hey-ho!) I say the Premier Inn, it's in an old building isn't it?  I would happily go there for a meet up. Although to be honest I'd happily go anywhere! (Cruise anyone???)   Have a lovely week everyone. xx ... View more

Hi Karen I feel your pain, we're doing our living room too. Former dining room, large but cold so a new log burner and fire surround has gone in, replastered, new carpet, curtains, sofa, the works. Picking colours was easy, stressing over curtain poles! I've bought eyelet curtains but want a wooden pole, I've been advised to go metal. Curtains rings are an unusual finish and I don't like the sound of metal on metal. What to do?? My head knows I need metal poles but my heart wants wood. 🙄 Lovely day today once the fog had gone, feeling a cold draft now though. Have a lovely weekend everyone. Xx ... View more

Hi Gill   Good to see you're enjoying your retirement. Like you I'm also keen on gardening, I need to get out there and cut some stuff back and put the garden to bed but need to wait for better weather (to arrive at the same time as some motivation!). We're also currently decorating changing rooms around, we're having a log burner installed on Monday so need to be mainly done by then. Then its a new carpet, curtains, sofa etc. Exciting times but why is it that doing one room creates a mess in every other room in the house.    I hope everyone is well, we're on the slide towards winter now. Still once Cath's book is out at least we'll all have something to read!!      ... View more

Hi Lena Your side effects sound terrible, I really hope you get them sorted soon. I think you're right that we are Guinea pigs in a way, trouble is we're so scared of not doing what we're told because of the potential consequences. X ... View more

Hi Cath and Karen, the doctors appointment was as predicted a waste of time. It was pure coincidence that my own doctor had made a note on my file to call me in towards the end of my third year on anastrozole and that I had spoken to a different doctor about it the week before. If only she had read my notes I could have saved myself and the NHS some time and money. Never mind. Lovely day here today, sunshine and autumns finest colours, is there anything better. 😎🍂🍁 ... View more

I've asked my doctor to put a note on my prescriptions asking the chemist not to give me the Teva brand. This one seems to not only give me joint ache with cramps in lower legs/feet but also make me very moody. I've been taking anastrozole for nearly 3 years and can't wait to come off it. I also have mornings when my ankles are painful, but again this is worse in the Teva brand. I can't speak for anyone else but as I'm 56 some of these issues could just be age related, although I didn't have them 3 years ago. Hope this helps. ... View more

Glad to see your sister is nearly finished her rads Cath, that end really marks a milestone. I felt it all start to get easier at that point. On the running front I'm not a runner, barely a walker. I've recent put my treadmill on the incline to get more benefit, however I feel the benefit will only be had if I actually turn it on! 😊 Went to the doctors last week for a repeat prescription and asked about the frequency of Dexa scans which seem to vary between us all. The doctor I saw said she'd put a note on the system to make sure I had another when I finish anastrozole in 2 years. Monday morning I get a call from the surgery wanting to make me an appointment with my own doctor to discuss the scan, which is tomorrow morning. I'm going to be a little vexed if all it is is a chat which could be done over the phone. I'm quite curious though so will keep you posted. Quiet evening and dinner for one, husbands gone shopping alone. Hurray. ... View more

'Similar' not simulate! Stupid spell check! ... View more

Hi Karen, so good to hear from you, you hadn't been in here for ages. I always worry about the drop offs. Remember Horseslave who started this group? Glad you're doing well, is your Dexa scan routine? I'm on anastrozole which is simulate to letrozole, I've had no follow up scan since I started the tablets. I'm counting down the last two years on them. Cath, so pleased your sister has finished her chemo, the end is in site. Not too long until the rads are finished. Is her hair coming back well? Mines still rubbish, the back looks terrible. Well we are definitely into autumn, the heating was on last night to warm the house up. Soon be Christmas! 🎅 Xx ... View more

'Few nice days' that should say. Stupid fat fingers! 😩 ... View more

Hi Julie, fantastic news, I bet you're so relieved. I'm glad you had a good few days away too, you absolutely deserved it. Cath, congrats to you too for another clear result. Weather here is the pits, I've even considered putting the heating on as I'm cold. It's due to rain all day tomorrow too. Shouldn't grumble I know but just a few mi e days here and there for balance would be good. Xx ... View more

Julie, you are amazing! I can barely jump from the bottom step and get wobbly on a step ladder. I'm sure it must be the most amazing experience but I haven't got the bottle for it. I hope all goes well with your results on Wednesday, and enjoy your break abroad straight after. What a week! Cath, I hope you get your results soon. Happy Monday to everyone. 😎 ... View more

Wendy so glad to hear you got your results and they're good, so pleased for you.   Julie, sorry you're still waiting for yours, it must be agony.  It only takes the slightest niggle for me to start streesing and googling again, we all know we have to avoid it. I can't believe you're doing a sky dive, you must be mad! Like yous aid it will focus your mind on something else.   Cath - good luck with your mammo this Thursday, not too many more to go now.   Clare - Well done on your 10K, that's a heck of an achievement. I haven't done any proper exercise for ages, my treadmill is looking a bit forlorn. Like you I am finally beginning to forget important dates.  A Facebook reminder popped up on July 4th, in 2014 I posted 'Let's get this show on the road', I couldn't work out what I'd been wittering about until I remebered it was my first chemo session.  I'm quite pleased I'd forgotten, however I could then recall all the dates of the following treatments! Still, improvement none the less.   Hi to all the other July ladies just keeping an eye from the distance - I hope you're all doing great.   Enjoy the lovely weather xx ... View more

Wendy, I am so so sorry to hear your news. I doubt you will upset anyone on here for any other reason than genuine concern for you. Sorry for my ignorance but what is a PET CT. Have you been advised about what treatment is available going forward or will that come when you get scan more results. Please please keep us posted when you're ready to. Sending you the biggest virtual hug possible. We're all in your corner. Sylvia XX ... View more