Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi Jacqui, Sorry to heat you are having such a struggle. 2-3 hrs isn’t good I’ve been there and you can’t survive on it!  For some propel things seem to settle down after a bit. I was ok for a bit but eventually had to stop any of the oestrogen blockers. Some people just can’t tolerate them for whatever reason. I think for some people they build up in their system and it can’t deal with it. i couldn’t survive on 3 hrs sleep and made the decision to come off them. I am fully aware of the risks but at least I am getting more sleep and have some quality of life. i wish you well and hope things settle for you.     ... View more

Hi PoppyRose, Sorry to hear you are having such sleeping problems, it sucks! In the end I stopped Letrozole had a break and am now on Anastrazole about a month. I have had acupuncture at the Marsden which has definitely helped my sleep plus I am doing yoga which helps calm the nervous system and think this has helped too. Walking is also good and I try and walk each day. I have also cut out refined carbohydrates. My sleeping has definitely inproved, not perfect but so much better than it was. I still get up for the loo 2-3 times a night but get back to sleep fairly quickly now. I think this is one of the side effects of oestrogen blockers unfortunately. If you can access acupuncture or yoga I highly recommend and maybe talk to your team about changing your Letrozole to a different oestrogen blocker. I wish you well.           ... View more

Thanks Mandles for the good wishes last session done, so pleased.   Thanks Wonky for what you shared about your friend, its given me food for thought. The " adrenaline dump" makes perfect sense, I feel like I've been going on it, whether I've wanted to or not, was the only way to get through. There's a lot of Job's comforters out there, they mean well but would better sometimes to say nothing!   Time for me to take time out now to heal myself.   I am too tired at the minute to decide what to do but am going to evaluate when I feel better and decide the way forward.   Thanks to you all for posting and encouraging me. Feel like there are others who understand.         ... View more

Hi Jaybro and Shi, Thanks so much for your words of wisdom.  I have taken on board what you have said and think I’ll contact people and let them know how I’m feeling. As you say it puts me in control and I can decide who and when I want to see. All I’ve done today is chill and plan to do more next week 😀     ... View more

Hi All, Sorry I have been inactive for a while. I was ill last week sore throat and glands up so did not have my chemo last Monday. After my visit to the chemo unit and running through all the side effects and how I react to drugs a lot less potent,(codeine, eterocoxib, iboprufen etc I could not get comfortable with going ahead with chemo for me. So I made a decision and saw the oncology team, who could totally understand my decision and am now going to do radiotherapy and endocrine drugs instead. This decision was right for me I feel so much more at peace. So I just wanted to wish you all the very best as you go through your chemotherapy treatments as I will no longer be part of this thread.     ... View more

I start chemo on Monday I've already had 2 surgeries. I'm having EC fortnightly for 4 rounds followed by Taxol fortnightly for 4 rounds. Not looking forward to it as I react badly to a lot of drugs. So will be glad to have Monday behind me. ... View more

Thanks to you all who have taken the time to post, give me advice and reassurance. Much appreciated I feel I now have a way forward. I haven't been sleeping well although this has been a problem long before my cancer diagnosis but in seems to magnify everything else when you are tired. ... View more

Dear Annie & Jan,   Thanks so much for taking the time to tell me of your experiences and to encourage me.   It gives me hope that it may not be as bad as I might fear and that they do take into account how you cope with drugs etc.   I can't afford to lose any weight and am trying to put weight on at the moment.   MY experience following both my surgeries was good, I have just read of so many people not being able to eat or being sick.   Most helpful, bless you. x       ... View more