Breast Cancer Care Forum

Thanks so much Chelle56,   Encouraging to hear, and yes I will speak to my G.P as you suggest X ... View more

Yes I've been told 10 years Cornishmum, so as you say it's really important to get on with the medication. Reading through some of these threads left me scared and depressed because some people are unable to cope because their side effects are so bad.   I'm really hoping that I'm able to cope with them and stay on track.  Thanks for your input and encouragement x ... View more

Funnily enough I'm much better in the evenings too, it's the mornings which really get me and I'm really reluctant to come out from under the duvet and face the day. I hardly recognise myself and I'll be so so glad when we can look behind us at this in the wing mirror. X   ... View more

Thanks Nannyof2   We really deserve super hero medals after all this. You need nerves of flipping steel and the patience of a saint! X ... View more

Thank you Shablah, I had spent  removed 5 weeks ago so that's probably them just starting to try and mend now- and tomorrow they'll disturb them all again! There's so much waiting around in this isn't there? It's horrible x ... View more

I have ANC tomorrow and I'm starting to get really anxious. I've had this horrible stabbing pain in my armpit today which hasn't happened before. I don't know if it's my brain playing tricks or whether it's just nerve damage from the nodes they removed during the mastectomy- but it's beginning to freak me out!   Has anyone else had an Anc separate from OP?  ... View more

Thank you Cornish mum. That's reassuring to hear. I think they plan on giving me letrozole. No issues with bp or cholestrol?   You're very lucky to live in Cornwall! 😊 ... View more

Thank you all for replying, it's comforting because I was honestly really scared about taking them after reading so many horrible side effects people were having.  Especially the raised bp and cholestrol - I think I mentioned there's a propensity for fatty liver in family so I was terrified at the idea that was an unavoidable side effect. But by the sounds of it not everyone gets those symptoms which is a relief.  I hope you're all well and enjoying life x ... View more

I can SO identify with you Nannyof2. I consulted Dr Google and put myself into a state of acute anxiety which I'm still struggling to come back from.  It's so tempting - but we really don't need the kind of negativity and scaremongering which the internet is so full of. Every case is different and only those dealing with us personally can comment on it with any real knowledge.  We should police each other- give a heads up when someone's tempted to Google 😥 ... View more

Thanks Libby, Anything remotely positive helps because there's so many grim side effects it feels pretty daunting at the moment. x ... View more

I'm particularly concerned about liver damage, because it seems a weakness runs in our family and medication can trigger it. I know tamoxifen and letrizole both raise cholestrol and blood pressure, which are risk factors for fatty liver disease.  I'll speak to oncologist about which medications might be least toxic to liver and hopefully reduce risk.  But this horrid disease really is the gift that keeps on, isn't it? It seems obscene to think about it coming back after all we go through to get rid of it.  Hopefully that's considerably the minority of cases.  ... View more

Thanks Sandpiper!  You've given me a glimmer of hope. I really was beginning to feel a bit desperate. 😊   ... View more

I took your advice Jan, and rang helpline. They obviously couldn't be definite as they're not on treatment team, but they said two possible explanations; 1. It's possible my 'gateway' to lymph nodes wider than thought - in some people it can be 3-4 nodes wide 2. The lymph node in question was sat just behind the 'gateway' nodes.  They said the nodes are like 'a messy bunch of grapes' and not necessarily in order.    So, perhaps I just have a messy armpit. 🥴 x ... View more

Thank you very much Jan, and I hope you're well on the mend now.    The situation could change, surgeon had written note to herself that she wanted to take them all out if the one she could feel was positive, I think it bothered her that it wasn't the sentinel node. So I go back next week for full clearance and they could find more.    Can I ask how you're doing after your ANC - does it cause many issues? X ... View more

Thank you very much NarniaGirl, that's very helpful.  I've had just the one positive node so far, removed during the mastectomy op. It wasn't the sentinel node apparently though, which I found odd...I must remember to post a question on that to see whether it's happened to anyone else. Surgeon must've thought it odd because she noted to go back and clear all the rest. I'm worried about the cholestrol because there may be a genetic weakness in the liver running through our family. I'm slight but I already have fat around the liver and we've been told to be 'mindful'  It's a difficult call. I didn't know whether any alternative meds were kinder to cholestrol? So much to think about.    ... View more

Thank you very much Evie. It really has been the year from hell and I'm punch drunk and overwhelmed with it all. Unfortunately no sister to talk it through either.  I am not sure how to private message on here?xx ... View more

Hi Evie, Thanks for that, I'll take a look at the book. My mind and body don't feel like they're in my control at all at the moment. I'm grieving for the loss of my beloved mum shortly before Christmas and I think that's making me view everything very negatively on top of the normal fears you'd expect in this situation.    ... View more

 Hi mini mad It's torturous isn't it? All this checking and then waiting for results and decisions. Your mind goes automatically (in many cases) to the scariest scenarios. I'm really struggling with it at the moment. I bet it doesn't really get any easier either for most of us x ... View more