Breast Cancer Care Forum

Hi Donna I’m not sure I can answer your question but I didn’t want to read and run - and also I hope by replying I can bump your post up on people’s in boxes and someone else might be able to help more. I was 49 when I had chemo, radiotherapy and then started Tamoxifen. My periods stopped after my first chemo and I’ve not had another one since. I was much closer to “menopause age” than you are, so I don’t really understand if all the drugs just stopped my periods or whether a natural menopause kicked in early as a result. I’ve asked doctors but nobody has been able to answer my question! I know from a friend who had BC when she was about your age that her periods did return, and I have also seen such reports on forums.  Maybe call your BCN for some advice? Or ask at your next appointment, it’s a good question. Very best wishes to you as you recover from treatment. Evie xx ... View more

Hi Alison I’m not sure what I can add to Jaybro’s great advice - but wanted to give you a hug and wish you well as you go forward. What was your diagnosis? Has your doctor/consultant/nurse given any indication? You will find the breast care team a good place to start when you have any questions. In the meantime, I’d really underline how important your arm exercises are. Evie xx ... View more

Jaybro - how interesting, thanks so much for sharing. I’ve had the itchiest scalp for ages and just got used to living with it! I’m going to try your suggestion. Evie xx ... View more

Hi Wonky I think it’s great that you started this post - you’ve got some great replies. What a great place just to be able to offload and also see some humorous replies - rather than a post on a particular topic. But I’m curious - I can’t see how many people have read comments, I used to be able to until the website was updated a while ago. Where do you see how many people have read them? I guess often people use the site for information, but don’t either want or need to add anything.   Hugs to all the ninjas reading this! Xx ... View more

Hi Luna That’s interesting to read what Jaybro says about mammogram timing - I thought it was anniversary of diagnosis, but must depend on whether you have surgery or chemo first. I was like you and had chemo first. Best check with your team to find out when they do it. Some good advice from Jaybro   Thank you for your kind words. For me the worry has changed over time, it comes and goes, but as I come round to the anniversary it hits hardest. Everyone handles it differently though, you may well find that you lock up that goblin way sooner than you expect. I don’t know if the worry ever totally goes, but I have settled into a new normal and you will too. This year I am planning to do something nice on my diagnosis date to try to change it into a positive date again - that’s the plan anyway, always easier to say than do! I’ve moved house this year so had something else to focus on. I wouldn’t recommend that as a distraction though - it had its own stresses!   It is early days for you, you’ve been on a rollercoaster of treatment, not quite sure where that truck that hit you came from. For a while you are under the constant care of doctors then suddenly you are set free, and feel very vulnerable. I was warned about that and it was very true. I had some counselling afterwards which helped a lot. She advised me to try to stay in the moment and not try to guess what will happen in the future. Try to think about what you would say to a friend in your situation - you wouldn’t tell her she was a part time mummy, you would reassure her that she was doing a great job and very much loved by her boys. Then tell that to yourself. Does that make any sense? It’s all about being kind and gentle to ourselves.   Oh yes, I’ve just thought of a very good book that you might like that was recommended by OldSpice on here - called The Cancer Survivor’s Companion by Frances Goodhart and Lucy Atkins. It has really good advice and tells you that “thoughts aren’t facts. A worried thought is just your interpretation: it is not a fact”. I try to remember that when the fear goblin strikes.   Sorry, that was a bit of a long one.   I wish you both a much happier Christmas this year (I know it’s a bit early!)  Hugs Evie xx   ... View more

Hi LunaMuna First of all a big hug coming your way 🤗. You will see from reading this forum that many many people suffer anxiety, so don’t beat yourself up about feeling anxious. It’s very normal and very understandable given what life has thrown at us. My diagnosis was also early December (2016) and I have my mammograms in November usually, I think they tend to be around the anniversary. So I totally get what you are saying about getting really anxious around this time of year. Why don’t you see if you can delay yours into January if you think that would help? Why don’t you give your BCN a call and get some advice? There is another thread on here, I can’t remember its name just now, but someone talked about the “fear goblin” striking and then putting the goblin back firmly in its box. I really like that image and the idea of locking our fears away.  Please do chat away more if it helps, you are not alone with your worries. Please ask if I can help any more. Hugs, Evie xx ... View more

Thanks Mai7 for posting this. I hadn’t seen the specific campaign, although heard the story on the news. I’ve signed the petition. Xx ... View more

Thanks Wonky for sharing, that was really interesting to read when I googled it. Evie xx ... View more

Thank you for your kind words Wonky. I have just seen your other post about feeling like you are 80 now that you have finished active treatment. Now really is the time to do what you feel like, and to be very kind to yourself. You've just gone through a tough time both mentally and physically, and both body and mind need time to heal and adjust. Do chat away on any of these threads if that helps you - I finished treatment about 2 years ago so happy to discuss anything that's on your mind. Hugs, Evie xx ... View more

Hi Chick - belated thanks for your advice. I’m seeing my GP this week for my new patient appointment so will get some info about local hospitals and prosthesis clinics. It’s always helpful to be armed with info before I go, so thank you. Best wishes to you Evie xx ... View more

Hi Cheffy and Chick I just wanted to add my thanks to Chick for such a balanced and informative post about diet. There is so much info and misinformation out there and it’s always hard to know what to believe. My oncologist is very much of the “everything in moderation” view - as I go in to see him with yet another piece of “research”. Thanks for asking the question Cheffy, that was a good thread to start. All the best to you. Hugs, Evie xx ... View more

Mimbles- big hugs from me as you go through chemo. I just read Jaybro’s brilliant advice to you - which I think anyone going through treatment should read. It really is spot on and brought tears to my eyes! I can’t add anything else, but wanted to comment and reassure you that you will come out the other side, even when it feels endless. I was advised to keep a symptoms diary. That way I would know what to expect and would also see that the symptoms did pass each cycle. Evie xx ... View more

Hi Gigismum You have definitely come to the right place to share your experience and get advice/support.   I am really sorry to read that you are suffering so badly from Tamoxifen. I’ve read lots of similar chats on here from people on both Tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors, so I’m sure people will be along soon to offer advice. I didn’t want to read without acknowledging your post and giving you a hug.   It’s important to remember that not everyone experiences bad side effects with these drugs, it seems to be very random, so maybe the AI drugs will be kinder to you?? Have you tried changing brands of Tamoxifen? I have been on it for about 2 years and always had the Teva brand til they stopped doing the 20mg, so have been moved to Wockhardt. I’m getting more hot flushes on this brand so I’m going to speak to my GP about moving me onto the 10mg Teva tablets (and taking double), to see if that helps.   Hugs Evie xx ... View more

Thanks so much Chick. Yes of course, this thread is much more appropriate for my question.  I think I read that I’m only entitled to another clinic visit after 3 years, and I’ve had mine 2. Not actually sure where I read that though. Maybe I should check with my new local hospital. I don’t think I was offered any alternatives, just this great heavy think that makes me so hot. I can now go armed with info, thank you.  Evie xx ... View more

Hi Chick Aww, thank you for your lovely words, so kind of you. My words to you are very true and deserved.    I have just moved house so yes haven’t been on here as much recently. Good to have you back, but I agree it’s good to take a break from time to time.    I need to research some non sweaty prosthesis, the one I have is heavy and make me so hot. I know you’ve recently been to the clinic, is there a different type? I seem to think Amoena was advertising a lighter non sweaty one. I’m glad you had such a good experience recently.  Hugs, Evie xxx ... View more

Jan - that's hilarious! Thanks for sharing that story and making us laugh. Evie xx ... View more

Hi Chick Thanks for posting a really helpful and thought provoking message. I saw some others of yours today. Good to hear from you again - I hadn't seen you on here recently, unless you have been on other threads I might have missed. To anyone else reading - Chick always has interesting and sensible advice, so definitely worth a read and a think. Evie xx ... View more

Morning ladies   WiltshireJules - that's brilliant that you are going to write to the paper and anyone else who might help. I've just moved house and am still unpacking, so I don't have time at the moment to do that - but I'm right behind you and will try to write to support you soon if you can keep me posted?   Evie xx ... View more

Hi Leonie - sorry for the delay, I've been moving house and also something happened to my BCC account and I couldn't access the forum or messages. When I last posted, I forgot to say that my consultant does an ultrasound on my implant boob after I have a mammogram on my other side, but I don't know whether he can see through the implant or is just looking on top. I must ask again when I have it done next. You are so right about there not being any guarantees with any particular choice, it's hard if we are given choices. But your team wouldn't give you a choice if one had high risks, you would be guided to one option. All the very best to you, and do ask if I or anyone else can help you. Evie xx ... View more

Hi All, Kip - it's not a rant, this is the right place to offload. Can your GP prescribe a specific brand for you? I have Teva written on my prescription.   That said, I am currently trying Wockhardt Tamoxifen and touch wood so far I've found it to be fine. However, when I spoke to the pharmacist at my GP surgery she said that they are moving people onto the 10mg Teva Tamoxifen (taking double dose to make 20mg). I wonder if this is countrywide or localised? Evie xx ... View more