Breast Cancer Now Forum

Thanks, Nicky. That’s interesting and will  definitely ask my oncologist about that. X ... View more

Hello I returned to work a couple of weeks after my de novo diagnosis in September 2019. I am lucky to be able to work at home and have a supportive employer (a government department).   I worked for 2 weeks between my 3 weekly chemo and hormone treatments for the first few months, but was signed off for 3 months following a chest infection and a long bout of cellulitis. I returned to work 4 days a week in April.   For me, it’s been helpful to have something to focus on as I’m shielding. Sometimes I enjoy it, but having such a diagnosis makes you re-evaluate what is important (as you will know). I would rather spend my time doing things I enjoy, but covid has put a stop to that for the time being, so working is mostly a welcome distraction for the moment. I am currently responding well to treatment but when things take a different turn, I’ll consider Ill health retirement. The biggest hurdle has been the mental and emotional challenges,  rather than the physical side effects. The unpredictability of the disease and not knowing what course it will take is so difficult. Reading positive stories on here helps and I try to take one day at a time. Some of the time I’m okay and some days I’m not - I think it’s important to acknowledge that it’s normal to have bad days and to work your way through it. Basically I try to live a normal existence and the endless appointments and uncertainty have now become normal to me. You enjoy your job and have a great employer and colleagues, so I would continue working for as long as you want to and are able. I hope this helps a little. Good luck! ... View more

Hi Fiona   Thank you for your posts and kind offer to talk. It’s good to hear from others who are in the same boat - there don’t seem to be many on the forum who were diagnosed with MBC at first diagnosis.   I’m really keen to get the last chemo session out of the way. It was supposed to have happened last week, but I’ve had cellulitis which has taken too long to clear. I couldn’t have the chemo because the infection was still present. I’ve got a scan in mid February and see the oncologist in March when I will presumably be told how successful the treatment to date has been. I will continue to have hormone therapy every 3 weeks for as long as it works. I have to say that the chemo hasn’t been bad as I thought. The side effects have been managed well by the meds or perhaps I’ve just been lucky. Apart from the cellulitis!   Likewise, I’m trying to take things day by day and keep myself busy. Sewing sounds like a therapeutic thing to do. I thought about learning to crochet but needless to say thinking about it is as far as I’ve got!   When are you off to see the Northern LIghts? You must be so looking forward to it. Are you flying or taking a cruise? Have you had any side effects from the denosumab injections? Just curious as I recently had my first injection. Anyway, I had better start dinner! Take care.   ... View more

Hi   How are you doing? Happy to chat about treatment. Last chemo session is on Wednesday and it can’t come soon enough! ... View more

Hi there. It happened prior to my cancer diagnosis, so it is easy to distinguish the effects. I spent 4 days in hospital where I was treated with clot buster injections (I can't recall the name of the meds). After discharge, I was prescribed Rivaroxiban and will be on this for the rest of my life. For the first couple of weeks, I felt tired and I got a little breathless when climbing the stairs or doing anything vaguely energetic for a couple of weeks but then things improved. I recall having a really heavy feeling in my legs whilst walking and some muscular pain too in the following weeks, but I'm certain that this was initial side effects of the Rivaroxiban, rather than the embolism. I was off work for 6 weeks but this was mostly down to the effect it had on me mentally rather than physically - it was all such a massive shock.   It sounds like you are suffering far more than I did and I am really sorry to hear that. There are a number of blood thinner treatments available, so maybe discuss with your doctor? I hope things get better for you soon. ... View more

Hi, yes I had a PE just over 2 years ago and before I was diagnosed. What do you want to know? ... View more

Thank you for this encouraging post. I was diagnosed with MBC in September (first diagnosis too) and have mets in my lungs and bones. I'm having my 4th (of 6) chemo and hormone therapy session on Wednesday. I flip between denial, total despair and feeling vaguely optimistic. It's so good to read encouraging posts. ... View more