Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi Happy Me. I’m on anastrozole and have been for 3 years, 2 to go.  No change in mood other than the normal off day but don’t put it down to the drug.  Only thing I get is joint aches hands and legs mainly.  Painkillers help so when bad I take paracetamol for a few days.  I have found this drug can be brand led.  Something I find strange as the active ingredient is the same in all.  Sun brand is suiting me fine at the moment.  Had different brand 2 months ago which did not suit me at all.  I suggest making a note of the brands supplied each time  and how you feel on them.  I always try different ones if supplied and if better than previous I ask for that brand each time.   Worth doing as each brand is different for sure.  you will be fine on the tablet I am sure.  Anastrozole was the best option along with radiotherapy for my cancer so I went with it and it’s ok.  💓.    ... View more

Hi cazcan. Your sure not imagining the pain and like you say thankfully it is not 24/7 and same here but it can drag you down.  Radiotherapy is damaging and Ian sure we are aware of that but it is that bib and brace so to speak which is our final part of active Treatment and we get of that rollercoaster and start the next pArt of the journey.  I am on anastrozole 5 years due to age and post menapausal.  Not the best of drugs I have to say. Lots of leg pain joint pain weight gain. Oh the joys hey!  I have 3 more years and keep telling myself better the devil you know than the one you don’t.  I keep in touch with bcn and still on 6 month onc appointments.  I do try not to take painkillers but sometimes I have to.   Just keep in touch with everbody I your circle as there usually is something than can be done.  Have a lovely Sunday and take care.  ... View more

Ohhhh has to pop in on this one.   You guys talking about me??? 😂😩👍💓.   2 years down the road and anxiety though the roof at times.  Jill I was prescribed Seteraline.  Awful drug 2 days on it and had to come off it after day 3  Side effects were dreadful.   Tried 3rd day and def a no go.  One hour or so after after taking Whole body contents decided to eject from my arse!!! sorry bout the French.   Without warning,  was mortified but as you do think it will go nope it didn’t day 3 I had to stop and worst thing was my gP didnt really believe me.  But was a case of toilet what toilet!!!  No way.   So had a bit of councelling.  Again think this all depends on how to react with that person .  I am a hard person to crack and I admit that but I am also and open honest person.  Anyway here I am 65 years old and we went back to my childhood!!   Hmmm why was my question so hoMe I came feeling even more deflated.  Maybe this is how it works but right then it wasn’t for me.  Like most of us we know why we are feeling anxious, maybe depressed etc etc and maybe need a little guidance through it and a bit of advice on how to handle it maybe a tad better than we are.   I honestly think and this is from the heart.  Nobody knows the effects and chat of BC unless Been there.  Talk to someone who has been through it and they get it and know exactly what we are talking about.   So to the reason for me popping in here.  Yes been away from the forum actively for a while but still read it.   Jill1998 you mention in o e of the threads an anxiety thread??   Definitely as think may help us all.   Xxx.  And thanks to the lady who started the thread xx  ... View more

Well ladies one thing for sure I hope my thread makes you smile.  I have posted before checking    ha ha what is this below.  Arm pit best nose scar!!!!!!   Oh dear 😂😂 I have damame to ribs, chest wall, arm pit best nose scar it should say damage to ribs chest wall arm pit besides node scar.   ... View more

Hello all you lovely ladies.  Hope all is going well and .....  maybe always yeah I’m ok but.......  I was just scrolling through the forum as been away for a while getting my head around things, moving forward, reflecting etc etc.  I am just 2 years post surgery, and 20 rads plus 5 boosters.   And just reading a few of these threads and all so familiar and still is 2 year on.  Rads does damage your ribs without doubt I was left sided and breath hold and sailed through rads no problems at all. Spent a lot of time of this forum as seemed to be a lifeline at the time and got to know lots of ladies and a group who still chat to this day on WhatsApp.   I have damame to ribs, chest wall, arm pit best nose scar.  Rib pain is awful and so damn uncomfortable.  I feel for you ladies and been there done it and would love to say got the t-shirt Yes I have and still wearing it.  Think it’s o e of those things that may never go away completely.  I have been back and forth to my consultant and bcn many times and they said to try ibruprofen gel. Not tablet and tab not to good for you but of course that is choice.   I tried the gel along with paracetamol and it seems to work.  These days just the gel.  All over boob, shoulder, and back almost like an oblong around the Area and on ribs specially just wear bra sits.   Unfortunately I am well endoud on the boobage front so a good bra is essential but can be u comfortable at time.  Well I am rambling but may be worth a try for you ladies and just giving my story.  Take care all xx.  ... View more

Hi boobybaby.  Almost finished active treatment and ringing that bell.  Yeahhhh well done.  I to have big boobies and your doc is correct in what is said.   Once complete look after yourself and listen to your body is my advice.  My skin broke down under the boob on the crease line.  It can be be sore but mine looked worse and went in melt down when it happened. It is just peeling but looks raw with the new skin underneath.  I was advices at the time to stop cream 💯 % and let the skin dry out.  I just lay on the bed no bra (total eclipse lol) and let it breath and within 48 hours it was much much better.  Hope all goes well for you and keep up the fluids and excersise.  I am now 12 month on and ok ish!  Bit of joint pain from hormone tabs anastrozole and have the odd blip mentally but getting there.   Hoping one day soon it will take another shelf in my head.   Good luck and ring that bell loud 🔔 xxxx ... View more

Hi ladies.  I was left side and breath hold.  This is how I did it and seems to work everytime.  Remember that machine won’t start till you are at breath hold stage, so when you hear that voice saying “hold when ready” they mean when your ready so don’t rush it.  Focus on the breath in.   Breath in through the mouth and at the same tune raise your chest.  When chest is risen and breath is at home stage but close mouth and push tip of  tongue to the roof of your mouth “hold” concentrate on tongue and hold that breath.  It worked for me so worth giving it a try it might work for you lovelies also x.  ... View more

hi Joyce  welcome to the forum and glad you found us.   I was diagnosed March 18 and finished rads July 2nd having had 15 normal and 5 boosters.  I creamed before and after and always took a bottle of water with me to drink why waiting and then driving home.  In used aveeno cream all the way through and it suited me.  Always do a test on a little area just in case there is reaction.  Use a cream that suits you but with no perfume etc etc.  I also had some aloe Vera in the fridge for the latter part of treatment and afterward when skin broke down.  Hope all goes well for you in the last stage of active treatment.  Xx  ... View more

Hi drummerswidow.  Sorry your in a bit of discomfort with rads side affects.  Unfortunately they don’t tell you what it’s like after you have finished but it is important you let them know.  Give your rads team a call and tell them. They will give you the correct dressing and cream to apply.   In my case when skin broke down it was a matter of no cream at all for 3/4 days and it dried and healed on its own.  Don’t suffer as will drag you down and make you feel poopy!!   I went on a LGfb corse and really enjoyed it but I love make up anyway so always good to learn new stuff. I also went on the Hope course.  Wasn’t for me at all however they asked me to carry on with the course as I put a lot into it, in other words I do t shut up as I tend to tell it as it really is and not what the books tell you. What you see is what you get with me 😀. What did come out of the course was 6 new friends.  Not a way to meet new friends but we go for coffees and have a catch up which is good.  Give your team a call and you will soon be feeling a tad better .  Xx 💓💓 ... View more

Hi ajay.  We are on fb. It’s “simply the breast friends”.  You are more than welcome to join us.   ... View more

Hi hla1972   sorry to hear you have the anxiety gremlins back again.  I am 11 month on from rads and 12 month on from surgery.  A month ago 2 weeks prior to my first mammo I felt similar to yourself albeit no stress, not that I can think of anyway.  By boob looked swollen, was hot to touch so rang bcn nurse and went to see her straight away. Turns out I had a post surgery infection.  11 month on.  Had ultra sound and was informed I had hardening of scar tissue but all ok.   2 x courses of antibiotics and now all good again.  Might be worth giving your bcn nurse a call to get checked out.  It could be a bit of fluid build up also.   I am no consultant or doctor but just reading your thread and symptoms seemed same as mine so though would just mention to get checked out.    Take care. Xxx  ... View more

Hi ladies just reading with interest on your oncotype testing.  I was offfered this last year after surgery to see if I would or would not benefit having chemo.  So my tumour was sent of to California and yes it takes a minimum of 3 weeks.  Longest 3 weeks of my life.  Had prepared myself for chemo.  My results were 22 and my oncologist informed radiotherapy and hormone tabs for 5 years would do the same as 6 sessions of chemo so this is where I am today with almost 1 year down on the hormone tabs.   I have read somewhere that the figures for the scoring have changed slightly also but I could be wrong on this so don’t quote me so to speak. Wishing you all good luck on your results.   Best wishes and lots of love xx  ... View more

Hi chase your dreams and welcome to the forum.  Your diagnosis is identical to mine.  I was diagnosed March 2018, surgery April followed by rads May/June.   Can fully understand how you are feeling and tis natural. Once your plan is in place things do get easier.  Keep those anxiety gremlins at bay by working on one day at a time, words you will hear often here.  Not an easy thing to do but it does help if you can focus on today and not the next appointment and next results which are probably weeks away.  All I can say is albeit something none of us requested it is all doable and nothing is as bad as you are probably thinking right now.   I am now almost 12 month post active treatment and hopefully by giving my lickle bit of advice will help you and others get over those first awful/horrible weeks from diagnosis.   One thing I always remember is those words “stay strong”and “keep positive “, heard them so many times and sometimes wanted to just scream out. But .....  looking back these words came from people who cared and loved me and always there no matter what.  So cherish these words no matter what.  Take care my lovely and hope all goes ok with your appointment.  Xx  ... View more

Hi ladies hope your all recovering well?  I have been on hols so just catching up and being nosey as you do 🤗.    Glad to see your all keeping In touch and drummerwidow great to see you found our lickle group “simply breast friends” 🤪.     Remember keep fluids up and cream often. Easy to forget as things improve and we feel better.    Take care all and have a lovely evening x.  ... View more

25 sessions 🙀🙀. Sorry should say 15 xx ... View more

Hi red carrie   yiu would have had 4 sessions now and good to hear all going well.  You will be at 25 before you know it.  Enjoy your 2 days off. Xxx 💓💓 ... View more

Hi jac    good luck with your rads and hope all goes well for you.  Keep up the fluids is/was my motto and cream of course.  I used aveeno all the way through and it suited me fine.  Then aloe Vera straight out the fridge afterwards when a tad sore.   Take each day as it comes and if one session don’t go so well just remember tomorrow will be better.   This is a club none of us wanted to join but there is some great advice on this forum.  Take care xx 💓💓 ... View more

Hi Bay.  Sorry your feeling a little sad today. Those anxiety gremlins are not nice.  Maybe give your bcn nurse a ring on the seroma see what she says. Not good having to be re-measured at each rads.  I to had a seroma and yes very uncomfortable.  If only we could pop it ourselves like we would  spot hey 😀.   Try to take one session at a time and before you know it you will be ringing that bell.  Sending a big hug but not to tight off course!!   If you are struggling today remember this: You have survived everything you’ve  have gone through to this point The best day of your life is still yet to come. There are still people you haven’t met and things you haven’t experienced. You can do this   xxx 💓💓💓💓   ... View more

Well done all you lovely ladies who have finished their rads and completed active treatment.   My advise is to keep up the fluids and cream.   Hit a tired spot (fatigue)? go for a quick walk when you feel it coming on, I found this helped me loads and got me through it rather than taking a nap.   Check you back and shoulders also as I have a lovely red patch appear after rads were complete.  Never thought to check the back but it was a bit pink so worth just creaming that area to keep it at bay and well moisturised.     Those who have just finished and I am sure you have been told that the rads will continue to work for the next 10/14 days when all will peak.  Took a tad longer with me more 15/20 when all peaked.   If you have changes and or break down of the skin, don't suffer just give your rads team a call and they will advise what to do and if need be they will check you out.   Emotions!!  whaoooo, have a good ole cry and don't be afraid to, I did and think it was because everything had stopped and had that little bit of thinking time to reflect.   The redness, the soreness, the BCN thats what they are there for.       Anyway ladies enjoy the time of not having the treck to the hospital everyday.  My problem wasn't the treatment it was the 1 hour trying to park the car!!.  Hospital car parks are never big enough.   Where are all you lovelies based.  I am in South Derbyshire.    Have a good evening and hope you ladies keep in touch with each other and this is a great place to be.      Hope my lickle bit of advise helps and you start those steps of moving forward.    xxxxxxxx     ... View more