Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi Sue.  A bit of an ‘off topic’ response but your question resonated with me. I have been taking Anastrazole for eight months and I’m certain that my eyesight has deteriorated in that time. I have always been able to use ‘Ready reader’ type glasses at 1.5 strength previously but now I need 2.5 strength just to read labels!   I have booked an eye test as I have worn prescription reading glasses for two years ( the readyreaders are just useful to keep around the house) and i’m sure that  a change of prescription is needed. I had not associate this recent deterioration to anastrazole but your experience has led me to question if it is indeed oestrogen loss that is affecting my eyesight.  Good luck. I’ll keep you updated and will be keen to hear how you get on. JessJane ... View more

Your reply has been a tremendous help Jaybro ( and I was supposed to be helping you 😃 ! ) Thank you for good practical advice. I can tell it comes from a fellow vomitophobe. You really do understand. I am going to take your advice and get cyclizine and I think and can get by with that reassurance but I will keep diazepam / lorazepam information in mind if it all gets too worrying. I will let you know how it goes and hope you will keep me updated about your progress to hugs and support JJ       ... View more

I also have had emetophobia (fear of vomiting) for many years. I was prescribed Anastrazole in February. Side effects have been minimal ( insomnia and difficulty losing 4lb gained over Xmas) No nausea, no vomiting. Great relief. I have now been advised to have Zoledronic acid infusions every 6m to protect my bones from effects of Anastrazole and guess what? Warned it might cause vomiting at time of infusion or just after! Really having to consider whether to consent in view of this. Family are keen for me to go ahead as the infusions have also been shown to reduce incidence if bone mets but because they don’t have emetophobia they don’t know how strong that fear can be. This may not have been of much help but at least you know you are not alone. hugs JJ ... View more

Hi Nicky just wanted to say big thank you for replying to my question about ONJ. You cleared up a few things for me. I have been ‘lucky’ so far in my cancer experience (if this is possible) I had a complication free lumpectomy, clear margins and glands, low Oncotype and straightforward rads sessions. I appreciate this good fortune but to now have to decide whether to have something that might cause further problems but which also might be beneficial is a hard decision. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with me. I really appreciate it. JJ   ... View more

Sorry Anita I can’t answer your question but I am very interested in why you need this surgery and in Nicky’s response to you. i am being encouraged to consider starting bisphosphonate infusions given every 6 months to protect my bones from Arimidex. I was concerned about osteonecrosis but was told it is very very rare and as long as I start off as dentally healthy I am unlikely to encounter problems. Are there many people on here who have regretted the decision to have the infusions? I do know that the risks differ for people who take the bisphos tablets by mouth  Be glad to hear views from my forum friends thanks JJ   ... View more

Your friend probably didn’t realise how unhelpful her remarks were. Try to put it out of your mind. On here we all know how hurtful remarks like that can be and we understand how ghastly the waiting period is.  Deep breath....June 6th will soon arrive and whatever the news you will feel better when there is a plan in place.  You have loads of friends here who are thinking of you.  Hugs and support sent your way JJ   ... View more

Hi Carrie Yes  I did a 56ml round trip for 3 weeks. I honestly did not find it a problem and actually quite enjoyed the sense of normality driving gave me. I set off in good time always getting to hospital early enough for a coffee ( but also allowing myself time if there was a traffic hold up) so no stress involved. i felt just fine all the way through my rads but I did do the sensible thing of keeping hydrated, moisturising as advised and getting plenty rest. I treated myself to some good audio books and they made the journeys much easier....perhaps you would like to try this or maybe you prefer to treat yourself to favourite music? Either way please do not stress over your journey. At worst it will not be as bad as you feared and who knows....perhaps like me you will end up enjoying it as ‘me time’ each day. wishing you well JJ     ... View more

Big hugs sent to you. I’m know all the super chemo ladies on here will be gearing up to support you. I haven’t had chemo myself so I can’t speak from experience but I was fingers crossed for you today and I will be thinking of you as you go through your treatment and come out on top at the other end. ... View more

Hi MM Where do you live? if I could I would be more than happy to come with you! i am very fortunate and i’m doing well. I had a grade 2.4cm tumour ( invasive ductal and lobular.) Oncotype DX score was 10 ( huge relief) so following lumpectomy ( January) I had 15 sessions rads( March) and now I feel fine and I’m back at work. Please  don’t write that new job off yet. Congratulations on getting it. Well done you! Now take one step at a time.  Bear in mind that even the worst news ( yes it is cancer) doesn’t always mean that things will be unbearable or impossible and you don’t even know that the news is bad yet. My mammogram was 30 November and recall clinic appointment was for 17 December. There is now a sense of unreality about the last 6 months....a feeling of ‘ did that really happen? Have I really had cancer?’ You are doing brilliantly at such a bad time. Stay as strong as this and you will be fine. Well done on not telling your husband yet. It would be so hideous for him whilst he is away from you and who knows....there may be no cause for anxiety. You have been recalled for further checks, nothing more. As yet there is no news to pass on.  Try to keep this in mind. My own appointment was only 17 days after mammogram so I don’t think your 2 week appointment signals anything to cause anxiety. My letter arrived 10 days after mammogram.  Nothing that I can say will stop you worrying....I wouldn’t expect it to. Keep busy, keep active. Try to retain some normality in your life. This awful waiting time will soon be over. We have all been through it and we all know how worrying it is. To go through it when your husband is away must be especially hard. Go to bed as tired as you can possibly be and above all remember that ‘this too will pass’  Whatever the news is you will feel better when you know and when you can get on with whatever life throws at you. please keep me updated as I will certainly be thinking of you hugs and good thoughts coming your way JJ   ... View more

Hi MM. so glad you came to this forum where you will find all the support and help you need at a very worrying time. What rotten luck your husband is away at such a time. For what is worth I think your decision not to tell your husband is brave, loving and the right thing to do. i didn’t take anyone when I went to clinic after a mammogram recall as I really thought it would be just be a machine blip. It wasn’t and as soon as I went in I had an ultrasound , biopsy and fine needle aspiration. I was told results would be a week. I explained that as a nurse I had a fair idea of where the news was going and Dr asked if I had anyone with me. I said no but I explained that for me I preferred to hear news (even awful news) alone and then explain it to my husband later when I had absorbed this new reality. Dr agreed and told me he was almost certain it was cancer( which it was). I was so grateful for Drs understanding and even though news was bad I felt better that I wouldn’t have a week of uncertainty before knowing the diagnosis. But that’s just me!  Of course not all stories are the same. Your problem may be very innocent....I certainly hope so and there is every chance that it will be. Don’t despair. It is entirely up to you if you take anyone with you. No rights or wrongs but many people think that a second set of ears listening to what is being said is of great help. Just do what feels right to you. 23rd will soon be here and whatever the news is it starts to feel better when the waiting is over and plans are in place. First step....get to clinic. All on this forum will be with you in spirit anyway!  Let us all know how it goes big hugs JJ    ... View more

No. Not afraid to say the wrong thing. Not afraid of admitting any shortcomings. Just an adult who responds if I have something helpful or supportive to say but who also knows the value of stepping back if I have nothing to add.  Thank you for your concern regarding how people choose to use the forum. Sorry if they don’t always fit in with your expectations. ... View more

My story is similar to your wife’s. I have just finished 15 daily radiotherapy sessions. They were very quick ( in and out in 15 mins and most of that time was undressing and dressing) Nothing to be nervous of and radiographers will guide her through. I was told no deodorant or toiletries to be used during treatment and only the brands of deodorant recommended by radiographers to be used at other times. i was given a huge tub of the skin cream they recommended (Aquamax) and advised to use it several times a day to keep area well moisturised. Your wife will need to keep well hydrated and I found soft bras comfortable. Didnt blister until end of treatment but on final day noted a rash of small blisters. Left cream off these areas and after initially getting worse they are now subsiding. I wish your wife well. JJ ... View more

Sorry the news wasn’t what you would have wished it to be. Now you know what you are dealing with though and you are on track with a treatment plan. On here you will find loads of help and sincere support at each stage of your treatment. Diagnosis is always a shock so allow yourself time to gradually come to terms with this new reality. Be kind to you and put you and your needs first on the priority list for a while. Sending big hugs and always here if I can be of help. JJ ❤️   ... View more

 I had a WLE and SNB in January. I had 23mm ER and PR positive tumour removed. I went for blue dye injection the afternoon pre surgery and I had the nuclear marker insertion on the morning of surgery. Due to local policies both of these procedures were done in a different hospital to the actual lumpectomy. So I arrived at ward for op at 12md and was home for 7pm. As soon as I came around from anaesthetic I had tea toast and a wee ( not all at once 😃 ) then they sent me home. There was very minimal discomfort in all procedures and I have never needed to take a painkiller during this whole treatment process ( I do know that I have been lucky though) I was fine to potter around the next day ( but I milked it a bit and had a long lie in!) No sutures were used just Steristrips and dry dressings. I was allowed to shower but tried to keep dressings dry. i wore a soft pull on crop top bra night and day for a week.  I saw surgeon for check up 7 days post surgery for some results ( clear margins, clear glands) I did have an Oncotype test done on tumour but this result came 3 weeks post surgery. I was very fortunate and just needed 15 rads which was uncomplicated ( just a little fatigue and skin redness) I hope you are as lucky as I have been but whatever the outcome you are in the right place here to find help and support. I wish you well on 30th. Let me know how it goes or if I can help in any way. big hug JJ ... View more

Hi Mel. You may have read my history on another thread that we have both responded to. Just to say I am in much the same boat as you only a little further along. Lumpectomy and SMB were much easier than I anticipated  and recovery was swift. Most of the sleep was lost whilst waiting and anticipating Oncotype result which thankfully was low. Radiotheraphy was just fine. Lovely staff and a nice lie down each afternoon! Many chats and laughs at it progressed. Now a bit sore and blistered ( 10 days after last rads) but it is all gradually  subsiding. Be reassured it is nothing to be anxious about honestly. will be thinking of you and wishing you every good outcome on Weds big hugs JJ ... View more

I had routine mammogram in December. A stage 2 BC was diagnosed and confirmation of ER /PR positive and HER2 negative status was given on Xmas Eve. Ho ho ho!, Had lumpectomy and Sentinal node biopsy January and a week later found my glands and margins were clear. I have just completed 15 sessions radiotherapy. All went well for me throughout surgery and radiation withno more than very minor discomforts and no complications. Even had a low oncotype DX score ( predicts the chance of recurrence)  Even with all this good news I am still shocked to the core by my diagnosis and in need of all the support that is given by the fabulous forum friends here. As they are already saying take one step at a time ( you will be guided through). There will be horrible worrying  times as you await results but these are unavoidable and you will be helped through them. For me the waiting periods have been the worst and for me it helped to plan something ( even something very small) to treat myself to each day. A good read, a dog walk, a long bath, a hairdo have all been therapy for me between my results appointments. Be nice to you! Maybe a good cry will help....if so don’t be afraid to howl. Hope you will be as lucky as me ( lucky with a BC diagnosis? Wrong words.I should say fortunate in your treatment pathway given your diagnosis but you know what I mean.) Even if not you are not you will find strength you didn’t know you had and your husband will too. You are in a strange new cancer world but your supporters here will help and it will all become more familiar and less scary soon. wishing you well JJ ... View more

Mini mad. So sorry to hear (read) about your recurrence. Glad to know that you are taking a philosophical approach to this. It could have happened anyway regardless of  yourchemo decision just as you say. Sending you every possible good wish and a big hug. Rotten luck but onwards and upwards. Nicky. Sounds like possibly good news but I have to agree with Mini Mad and say think long and hard ( sure you don’t need me to tell you this) Even  very challenging ( chemo) times will pass. Wish the Oncotype result could have been a more conclusive ‘yes’ or ‘no’ for you as this decision must be difficult but whatever you choose I wish you all luck and offer all support. BTW How was Aintree? ... View more

Had my final session today and I was quite emotional at saying goodbye to a lovely group of therapeutic radiographers. Sessions were quickly done and we had a few laughs along the way. I’m sure all will go well for you but if you have anything you want to talk over here I am ( along with all the other great rads ladies on this forum)  big hug JJ ... View more

Thinking of you today here in chilly Cheshire. So sorry to hear of recurrence. Oh how much do I loathe cancer! Fingers crossed all news will be as good as it can be for you. sending hugs and positive vibes. JJ   ... View more