Breast Cancer Now Forum

I'd never have thought that could happen, I naively thought your body only 'made' a certain type. So glad it's being sorted for you.  Do you mind my asking how old you were at first diagnosis- were you at menopause age when er+ ? xx ... View more

Yes, there's wiggle room with the chemo. Because of being post (or peri) meno and only one partial node infected they won't sway me either way. It's so hard to read them with their poker faces! But they're not putting any pressure on. They've invited me to do the Optima trial but I don't fancy that. I'd rather try and make an informed decision. With the liver disease risk I'm keen to try and be as clued up as I can. I'll keep you posted and thanks xx   ... View more

Thanks Jan, I know exactly what you're saying. I do fear that the result could make things even more stressful. That's very much on my mind.  They seem to be leaning toward the risk might outweigh the benefit (2% over 10 years) in my case. But as we know they won't say either way. Except they've repeated several times that chemo is no guarantee against recurrence. In desperation we decided to try and get some guidance from this test. It is the only thing I can do that might help me make such a difficult decision. I'm glad you're ok and hope you stay that way x ... View more

Oh my word, Sissy. There really is nothing easy about this journey is there? Thank you for taking the time to reply to me,  I know it's not easy to go back over it all. I had grade 2, stage 2, er+ her2- lobular tumour, with 1/19 lymph nodes partially infected.  As it stands they aren't advising chemo, but they've said the option is mine. Like most people,  I don't feel confident about making that decision without a bit of scientific weight behind it. It's a bit like a rock and a hard place, because I may have inherited my parents auto- immune. I recently lost my beloved mum to auto- immune liver disease. They aren't certain but they think it could've been triggered by medication. Therefore chemo could be extremely dangerous for me in that respect. What a choice 😟 I think I'll let the test be the deciding factor because I don't know how else to stay sane. X ... View more

Thank you Chelle56, that sounds like a cunning plan! 😉 I'll remember that x ... View more

Thanks monicanatura, do you mind my asking which brand you had least side effects with? As this issue seems to crop up quite a lot . ... View more

Oh Shablah, bless you - big hug coming your way.  I think that's so understandable,  we don't half get put through the mill in this process and sometimes it's just one thing too much. I was like that before this surgery, the registrar was going through all the things that COULD go wrong, and for some reason it just tipped me over a bit and I started to cry.  She understood and just brushed over the main points and was altogether more human.  You know you'll rally, just allow yourself your wobbly moments because they're utterly normal. This isn't easy but it'll be behind us one day. X ... View more

Hi ladies Lot less sore today.   I'm doing my exercises and trying to remember not to lift the dog. 😊 All ok  ... View more

Hi Shablah   Kind of you to think of me!   I'm not going to lie, in terms of discomfort I'm finding the ANC worse than the mastectomy, because it's made my shoulder very stiff.  However, still really early days, I'll keep doing the exercises and plod on. It's all doable 😊 x ... View more

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