Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi. In short, ive had BC twice, both ER+, HER2-, and told in May its spread to liver, spleen, peritoenuem, all up spine, all ribs, both femurs, pelvis, lymph under arm, and skin mets. Prognosis 2-3 years. Im 50. Treatment is oophorectomy (cancer also found in ovaries & tubes), Lertrozole, Palbociclib trial drug, Zometa. Its hard enough coping with the DX but im suffering so much with the SE from the Letrozole. It's so bad im considering stopping it and trying another AI. Over the last 4 months the night sweats and hot flushes, and teeth chattering cold shivers have been debilitating and are getting worse. Changing nightwear 3 times a night, towels on the bed, nausea, embarrassing soaked clothes. I had a meltdown recently, screaming and crying "make it stop." GP tried me on Sertraline, didnt work after 28 days. Now 10 days in on Clonidine but no improvement at all. Please can anyone suggest alternative treatment for sweats? Should i switch AI? Should i be more patient?   My meds are currently paracetmol, Amatriptylene (for pain relief), Letrozole, Palbociclib, Clonidine, and medicinal cannabis oil.   Help!   ... View more

Hi. 10 weeks ago i had skin sparing mastectomy with sentinel node biopsy. The SNB was done internally while the mas was done, so i didnt have a 2nd scar under my armpit. 3 weeks ago i had implant recon. The SNB revealed a micromet 0.9mm, grade 2 ILC and they arent unduly worried about further node involvment. However, I have just noticed what feels like a lump under my armpit. Is this normal, as it cant be seroma, even though i've just had 2 operations close together??? It feels hard, so maybe its internal scarring. Obviously, in the back of my mind i'm panicking, thinking 'cancer', even tho they say the cancer was removed. Should i be concerned?  ... View more

Hi. I cannot decide whether to have RT or not. It's not just about the cosmetic outcome, it's also the recurrence risk/benefit aspect and getting back to normal life asap after 4 months off sick already.  When I use NHS Predict, it only asks how big was 'the tumour'. It doesnt ask how many there were, plus the result makes no mention as to the prognosis with or without RT. It only mentions chemo and hormone therapy. So I can't even use a prediction tool to help with my decision.   I am 49. I have just had skin sparing mastectomy to left breast, with temporary spacer (implant) fitted under the skin, due to be removed in 2 weeks and replaced with permanent implant recon, under the muscle. My DX was a 'grey area' as to whether RT is needed. Surgeon and oncologist recommend it, but there is higher risk of skin shrinkage/tightening, potentially distorting the implant, meaning it may need to be removed and have full mastectomy, leaving only option of LD Flap or staying flat, both of which horrify me. Normally, they like to remove the spacer and do a full mastectomy before doing the RT. But i have asked them to do the recon anyway and I now have to consider whether to go ahead with RT, knowing the risks. It was horrific enough having to cope with the DX and mastectomy. I still havent come to terms with all of this.    My cancer was Grade 2, Stage 1 ILC. There were 3 tiny areas, the largest was only 6.5mm, also with a small cluster of tiny dots too small to measure (the pathology report doesn't say how many 'dots' there were - it just says 'numerous other smaller foci in the upper medial breast....at about 10 o'clock....' - but somehow the surgeon plucked a figure of  'about a dozen' out of thin air, even though she admits it doesnt specify the number or how far apart they were). In addition was a micromet of 0.9mm in the sentinal node only. As it was mult-centric i had the mastectomy. They arent actually worried about the tiny node involvement, but due to the number of small sites they want me to have RT. I did have a 2cm ducto-lobular tumour in the other breast 7 years ago, followed by RT and Tamoxifen and it's my history that is really pushing their decision to treat the skin and chest wall this time, even though there were good margins (no tissue left to remove), the pathology report states 'no vascular/lymphatic invasion' and Stage 1 cancers dont normally need RT.     No-one is saying they believe any cancer remains. It is all just a belt and braces decision. I am fighting against having RT.      I would welcome any advice please.  ... View more