Breast Cancer Now Forum

Not been on the site for a while, my diagnosis was 3 years ago yesterday & I am at home poorly at the moment, takes me back to the 7 months I spent watching daytime telly whilst on my treatment, it does get better I promise, been on Arimidex since May 07, joint pain is a problem, especially first thing in the morning, have to sit on edge of bed before properly standing up, loss of libido has been a huge problem in our relationship, lack of desire (oh to have that back again)lubrication - tried a few things YES seems to be a good one, I do long for the day Life gets back to normal (whatever normal is)Good luck to you all. ... View more

Hello I thought I would post about my hair, I had quite thick wavy/frizzy hair before chemo, which I did dislike to the extent that I used to have it permanentally straightened at the hair dresser (it's like a reverse perm) obviously lost all my hair on chemo Jan - April 07, it has actually come back different, the reverse to you guys, my hair has gone straighter (Yeah) can't believe it, I thought it would go ever curlier, but very happy that now I don't have to have it straightened, still have to use straighteners occasionally but not every day, I'm very pleased, does take a while for hair to return to normal, still have a little patch on the crown where still have no hair, but my hairdresser remains positive this will grow back in time, still on arimidex/zoladex so this may be the reason for this. Good luck to you all. Lovely x ... View more

Me & my partner have been together 15 years so we know each other quite well, he was with when I had my diagnosis in Nov 06, & all through my chemo, rads & herceptin, also on arimidex myself, but as time has gone by he has become less patient with the whole C word, like yours he just wants to look forward now, & not to look back, Sex was & still is important to him, this is the last thing on my mind, having no interest or desire to has caused lots of rows like you but like lots have said on other posts sometimes you may not feel like but when you get down to it you may enjoy it, keep talking to each other, nothing is ever easy in this life, this is just a temporary blip, you will get through it, it all takes time to adjust to what we have been through. We sometimes forget that they go through a lot too (i'm not making excuses for him) Good luck with the surgery next week, hope it goes well for you. Lovely x ... View more

Hi Tina I have been on arimidex for a year now, like Lyndu said it sometimes is hard to seperate the different side effects of all treatments, got 2 weeks to go until my last herceptin (hooray) & having Zoladex injections every 3 months, but not many side effects, some hot flushes, slight aching joints mainly in the mornings, some food now giving me heartburn but that's about all, which I think is not bad expected more so that's good. Good luck with it all Lovely x ... View more

It's really great you are there for your friend, I have a friend just like you when I was diagnosed at 34, she has been my rock throughout, a little chat on the phone every other day if she could not get around or a quick coffee when she could or even when I felt like it, really does help, just be there when she needs & listen when she wants you to, that's all you can do for now, as for it sinking in, it may well not sink in for a little while, I think things happen so quickly after diagnosis, you sometimes don't have time to think about it all, every step goes really quickly, finding lump, diagnosis, operation, chemo, radio, and any other treatment she may have to have, I found that it didn't really sink it until after my chemo, I was really positive through that stage, then went down hill a little, thinking about having to go back to work etc, your friend will appreciate your kindness now & throughout her treatment, Good luck to you & your friend, with your support she will get through this. Lovely x ... View more

I always have the last appointment of the day due to now being back to work, mine lasts just over an hour with a flush before & after, the first one is always the longest one to see how you may react, but if no reaction you can have it over about 30/40 mins, I have only 4 to go so nearly finished. Hope it all goes well for you x ... View more

I have to say I think I have been quite lucky with Arimidex (been on them for 7 months) apart from small hot sweats in day on first taking them & aching joints, but that could be either Herceptin or the Zoladex I have not had any other symptoms like nausea or dizzy spells, wishin you all well. ... View more

I'm nearly 10 months after finishing my rads, but still having Herceptin until june 08, I went on a sunny hols in Feb was still a little cautious in the sun but was fine, I went back to work whilst having rads, you do feel fine maybe a little tired due to the every day visits to hosp, but you should be fine to look after children & go on hols, make sure you enjoy it. Good luck ... View more

Sorry not looked on site for a few days, been really busy, I am doing the "race for life" in Exeter on 20th July, did it last year only just finished chemo so was hard work, hoping this year will be better, I'm still finding it hard work in the mornings getting out of bed, it does get easier throughout the day, I swam alot before being diagnosed, so tried to continue this, swimming is the only exercise that I found easy, still can't walk to long a distance, it is really hard work trying to loose the weight but don't beat yourselves up about it, I'd rather be overweight & healthy, although I have joined a slimming club to loose the excess, coming off very slowly, putting this down to Herceptin & Arimidex. Good luck ladies ... View more

Yeah I'm 11 months after last chemo, still having herceptin, I have heard that the chemo can take 12 months to be completly be out of your system, still get aches & pains now but putting it down to the herceptin, arimidex & zoladex that I'm having. Love Helen x ... View more

I had heard that deodarants have been known to contribute to certain cancers but on asking my BCN she said that there was no definate research to back this up. Whilst having my treatment I have been using "Bionsen" bought in local supermarket, this is alcohol & aluminium free has quite a nice smell, worked well for a little bit then seemed to get used to it & I felt it was not working as well as it could have done by the end of the day (if you know what I mean) so now using Nivea Energy still no alcohol, colourants & preservatives but does contain aluminium! Good luck Helen x ... View more

Ive just had number 12 of 17 Herceptin's they are nothing like chemo I had 3 Fec & 3 Tax, I could barely walk after having my Tax, & a few more odd symptoms, Herceptin is nothing like that, I did have a slight reaction on my first Her, with what felt like having the chills & shakes they do monitor you very closely on the first time, they just take you off give you a break then put you back on slower, I then dreaded No 2 but had no reaction so now it only takes 1/2 hour to run through so very quick, still get tired but I think thats quite normal after all we go through with these treatments. Keep positive Love Helen x ... View more

Hope everything goes well for you today, take one step at a time as most people have said, you will find the strength to get through all of this & you will find lots of support of this site, I was diagnosed at 35 just started trying for our first baby so that was our first concern was fertility, they do say it should come back after all the treatments have finished, make sure you let your oncologist know you do want children in the future it may have some significance on what treatment you have. good luck for the future Hugs Helen x ... View more

My chemo (taxtotere) I managed to put on 16lbs in about 3 months, I put it down to not being able to move around so much, exercise went out the window, even 10 months on can still only manage swimming, not put on any more since starting Herceptin in July 07, but have started a local slimming club with friends, it is coming off but very slowly, will be walking the "race for life" this year not really up to running it. Lovely ... View more

Thanks for your comments, really good to hear that their are some good positive stories out there, feel even if i wait for 5 years on arimidex, I may still go through the menopause before that or in 5 years, lots of thinking to do, weighing up the pros & cons of if I come off of arimidex and if it should come back in that 5 years aswell, I may always think should I have come off it to risk my life for a baby I may not see or help bring up!!!!! ... View more

I also work for the NHS, I had 7 months off, after diagnosis whilst having op, chemo, went back whilst having radio, got very tired, a returned phrase to work is a very good idea, like JUDET1 says you don't want to go back & then be off sick again, I did just mornings then built up to back full-time, still get really tired now after 8 months being back, still having herceptin until June 08. Take it easy, stay positive, best of luck to you all Lovely x ... View more