Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi everyone   Long time no chat. You may have seen elsewhere but I have had grave problems with Anastrozole. GP has now put me on Arimidix (the brand). Have been taking it for 10 days now and pain is definitely subsiding if not the mobility   Only on it for a months trial so hoping I can continue but do realise that it is more expensive than other generic brands.   Hope you are all gettng along Ok and the ups and downs of love life is smoothing out.   Beryl xx ... View more

Hi Pandora I'm so pleased I am not alone. My fingers and hands are dreadful. The 3 fingers on each side ie middle, ring and little are agony  and swollen. I can wake up in the night with pain. They lack manoeuvrability and I cannot untwist jars,bottles (even wine ones) , carry mugs in one hand or carry a vase with one hand. I find it very difficult. I have been told it could be the anastrozole and if the symptons haven't eased in 6 months will be referred to the oncologist for a change in medication. To be honest they are deteriorating weekly!   Not said this before to people   Beryl ... View more

Good dayto you all Francine - it never seems to stop for you. You must surely be due for some good news!1   Thanks about sympathies, this thing with my fingers is a known side effect of Anastrozole i'm afraid but fingers are deteriorating. Bad back is an on-going thing which I think is aggravated by the drug. Really bad today. Washer broke down last week - opened it up and was greeted by clouds of grey smelly smoke - it has now become a saga and should eventually have a replacement on Monday. Piles of washing everywhere!! Even resorted to buying extra knickers LOL Also having a new mattress except back won't let me go underneath bed to sort out.   Good thing I now take life as it comes.   i agree Eileen (ex-teacher here) there is more to life than teaching and a big world outside  the classroom. It is quite a hard adjustment though. Even now we make a point of being away when the school year begins, and of course holidays can be child free   Hoope Sharon is still enjoying her new fella. Oh yes, I am off to London next Friday (quite an adventure for us) I am meeting up with my friend from France, who I stayed with when I was recuperating last year and we are off to the Royal Academy to look at garden paintings - we are both avid gardeners   Hoope you all continue to enjoy the life we have been granted and Francine, I hope your lives turn around soon   Love Beryl xx ... View more

Hi all I agree Pandora the hot flushes do ease off BUT my fingers are so bad. They are always swollen, lack flexibilty and quite painful. The hospital appointment was a check up with a doctor not a BCN. He really pummelled me and under my arm was very uncomfortable for a couple of days, so was my foob. Anyway I am to have a dexa scan - my back is bad as well -and back in 6 months. If fingers do not improve will have to see oncologist for a change from anastrozole to a different aromatase inhibitor He was pleased with the way my foob has settled in though   Just seems that time does help   Love to all beryl x ... View more

Hi Marchers   What excellent news Sharon - I wish you happiness.- made me smile and feel happy inside   Last week I had a letter from the hospital with an appointment for Monday 25th. I'm not sure if it is a check up or something else as I wasn't expecting anything. Find out soon enough.   Hope Francine and others are going on OK. Often think of you all.   Berylxx ... View more

Hi I can barely see the scar from the lymph node removal.   The mastectomy scar varies - where there was no infection it is a pale pink line now; where I had the infections it is deep purple and lumpy where scar tissue had built up. It also gets sore and I cannot wear my foob bit for that long. I do now use Bio-oil on the nasty bits and find it quite soothing though and think the bright colour is less dazzling!!   Beryl x ... View more

Hi there   This is the first time I have looked in with my NEW YEAR greetings only I have been really sick. I know I had the flu jab but am fairly sure that I have had flu. It started Sunday after Christmas and I still have no energy or voice and a cough. Wondering if my immune system isn't that good!!   Anyway folks 2014/2015 are well and truly behind us now and 2016 has to be a hell of a year for us all, time to kick up our legs and party in our ways across the country.   just remember though we are always here to support and boost us as i am sure we will have low times.   Next couple of weeks are tricky for me - January `17th 2014 Mum died; 25th January her birthday; 13th January 2015 had the mastectomy;,and the long slow process of healing began. So all those annivesaries are coming up again. Then again on the 15th my baby daughter will be 30 Aaagh We are having a family do on 24th for everything bad and good but mostly good   Wishing you all well   Lots of love and happy thoughts from Beryl xx ... View more

Hi everyone I had my first mammogram about 4 weeks ago. I was really worried. I followed the advice on here about taking painkillers before they squash! The person who did it was lovely, did my foob as well I think to put my mind at rest. I then had a letter but not that immediate saying that the results were 'highly reassuring' Those words made me feel so good and gave me, family and friends a really good feeling over Christmas   So don't worry, it was no different to others I have had. I do know they recall quite sharpish if needed   Wishing you all well Beryl xx ... View more

Helloooo!!!!!   Sorry I've not been here to wish everyone Happy and Jolly Christmas - my trusty old lap top died and I am having to use a new one. I have had it a while but to this computer illiterate using it has terrified me!!!   Anyway here I am Windows 10 ing with a touch screen. Sounds wonderful except my fingers just won't touch in the right places because they are so stiff and I often end up somewhere I didn't expect. No real excuse for not sending good wishes. I think the letter I received has made me box up last year and now I can only look forward - I feel that is what you all are doing   It was lovely to have my family here and those ooop norff we skyped on Christmas day, so we were together .   Now it's nearly New Year so I wish you all a healthy and Happy New Year. I often think of you all and thank goodness I found you all on this forum. It has pulled me through and made me ealise that being POSITIVE is the only way forward   Sorry this is a bit rambling but I hope you know what I mean   Love Bery xxxxx ... View more

Can't find anything to biopsy - what is going on Sharon. What a worry I'm not surprised you are feeling down.   Fracine so very pleased you are finally healing and Eileen you seem to be as well.   In 2014 my Mum died, then my lovely dog and then THE DIAGNOSIS. This year has been one of recovery from all of that. Mum's  boxes are finally out of the loft for me to sort through as I am ready to do it now  It has also been one of slow recovery and I now feel really good in myself. I am finally losing the weight I put on at beginning of year (medics recommendation), I have a new (crazy) dog and today I had a letter from the consultant about my results. The last sentence says::            This is highly reassuring   Tears from both of us.   I really feel for you all and just hope with all my heart that you continue to improve and are able to put this year behind you   Lots of love   Berylxx ... View more

Hi there I lost over 3 stone and think if I hadn't I would probably not have found my cancer at such an early stage. Once ops and treatment were under way and Letrozole kicked in I put on  a stone and was strongly advised to lose weight by the medics back to where i was before cancer. I am really struggling with that but am determined to do it, so far have lost half of it but it is very slow. Rarely have more than 1 slice of bread a day, don't have spreads/butter etc. No sweets BUT I do have cake treats every now and again when I have had success.   I do go to Weight Watchers and have a lot of encouragement from them. I am beginning to feel good about myself now - boob and foob are looking good, body is beginning to look better and the clothes I bought when I lost the weight are beginning to fit again - it's like having a new wardrobe   I feel better in myself and more hopeful of the future - yep the side effects from Anastrozole are unpleasant, but I'm getting there. This time last year I was having the first of the ops ...........     ... View more

WEll Jill you have had a rough time of it as well. Most of us on here have been through the rough part of the journey and are coming out the otherside with sense of humour intact, if not our boobs!   We have learnt a lot in the past year and I am sure you will as well. One piece of advice though - if at all possible always have someome with you when you go in to see the medics. Make sure they also know your hoped and fears as sometimes, in being upset, you forget to ask something which to you is crucial.   Have you joined the first threads on here - 'Recently diagnosed' that is haow we all met up way back in Nov/Dec last year and have held each other 'hand' all the way.   Beryl ... View more

Francine That is terrible. When I had to have really expensive dressings they certainly made a difference to my healing rate,   Still sounds as if GP is on your case now, So relieved I didn't have rads - phew   All the best on the journey- have you got one of those heart shaped cushions, great design, sort of cushions and supports all the areas you need. Keep mine in car glove box still.   Hope Sharon is OK   Berylx     ... View more

Hiya Well done Francine on putting your body first.   Phoned up BCN today and she told me mammogram was clear YAY She couldn't understand why I haven't had a consultant appointment as i need to be checked regularly because of the infections. She is looking into it, and my Anatrozole problems. This BCN is lovely and is my named one but she has been very ill so not around for the last 4 months and although I have seen one when I had my foob fitted she did not really check me.   Sharon i hope all goes well this week and the biopsy isn't too bad.   Thinking of you   Berylxx ... View more

Hi Julie I am only going to say what you probably already know Contact GP or BCN asap - you know it makes sense   I hope it is just set back and not too serious but this really needs medics looking at it - It will give you peace of mind whichever way   Good luck   B ... View more

Hi there Everyone seems very up beat at the moment. Hard luck on not openiing he champers - maybe tonight?   Pleased some Marchers finally met up, sounds areally lovely event.   I'm still waiting for my mammogram results - 10 days now but OH says no news is good news - I just wish I knew. If nothing b y Monday will ring BCN   Sharon my thoughts iare with you. Just hope the biopsy goes Ok and Boob is not too sore.   I have had some blood tests for arthritis etc as sometimes I find it hard to move and my fingers don't always do the pincer grip (breaking things because of poor grip). I think it's the Anatrozole as well. Waiting for those results as well Seems as if we are never clear of it.   A friends DIL has just been diagnosed so I have given her this forum to use - so very helpful. Hope she does, She has the big meet with consultant next week Keep inmaging loads of jolly ladies in pineapple hats at the Royal Albert Hall,now ... View more

Hi Back from first mammo today. Both foob side and boob side done. With foob side she put machine on manual, when i saw the picture it looked like a half moon, didn't squeeze too hard. With boob side it was the standard squash on automatic, saw that picture as well - have no idea what I saw!!   Now to wait for results ... View more