Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi onward,  i also had wle and lymph node removal and then radiotherapy and tamoxifen for 5 years. I was dreading it to be honest as I was well and truly through my menopause! I can’t say I’ve had no side effects - but have had few night sweats to contend with again but not every night  and bit of insomnia  I have been taking it for a year and think it’s  small price to pay for “keeping the cancer away”. I have tried various brands and find Tilomed is the one that suits me best hope this helps  sparkle   ... View more

Katie, it is definitely not In your head! It’s very early days and I was the same as you and kept thinking the fatigue must be gone by now! I did feel complete exhaustion for a few weeks but gradually it improved but I do think tiredness lingers on for quite a few months and our bodies go through a lot mentally and physically after a Breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. Listen to your body - don’t feel guilty - it takes time !  you will get there ! I promise.  xxx       ... View more

Hi  yes I also went this week for mammogram and ultrasound. Mine was where the muscle collapsed and causes a ridge but nothing to worry about.  Just have to learn  to live with the new me sparkle03 xx ... View more

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Hi  yes mines same - heavy with big lump I’ve just had my first annual check up and having mammogram next week and also ultrasound  seems as though it’s not unusual as theres a few of us! xx ... View more

  hi I bought these after my surgery they’re absolutely brilliant, so so comfortable day and night  hope this helps and that you’re making good progress hugs sparkle https://www.macom-medical.com/post-surgical-compression-garments/womens/post-surgical-compression-bras?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIgdHIitX5_AIVhPftCh13BQ2XEAMYASAAEgKU2PD_BwE         ... View more

Hi Denise22 please don’t expect too much too soon. I had lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy in December last year. I then had radiotherapy in March. You will be tired after surgery but just rest and try and give in to it. I think it took about six weeks to start to feel anything like normal. I had infection which needed antibiotics but they soon cleared it up. Radiotherapy in March but not as bad as I expected no skin problems but moisturised every day with aveeno. Must admit though the fatigue was worse than I expected. Tiredness just came over me when I was least expecting it but after a sit down for an hour or so I was ok. That probably lasted about 12 weeks but gradually subsided.  it is 7 months on now and my breast is still swollen and I still have a seroma but feeling so much better. I am 70 but looking forward to enjoying life again! In fact I’m off on a cruise next week. keep your chin up it is very early days for you ( and my oncologist told me it can take up to a year for things to settle down) and believe me you will look back on this and wonder how you did it but you will ! good luck  lots of love  x     ... View more

juliets moo goo and aveeno, had no problems with skin or soreness. My treatment finished 18 march good luck 💕 sparkle  ... View more

LMW i use aveeno but also at the first treatment for radiotherapy I was given a box of goodies with all sorts of thoughtful things coffee tea bags choc etc but also there was a really good moisturiser called moo goo, it’s natural and very soothing think you can get it online but aveeno is just as good  I think I was tired after my surgery but nothing like the radiotherapy. It’s kind of a different tiredness. But hopefully it won’t last long    sparkle xx ... View more

Hi LMW i am 4 weeks post radiotherapy and my experience was very similar to Melville. But this week I have been exhausted couple days and my skin is now starting to turn brown and the nipple is a bit sore and flaky and breast still bit  swollen and I’m still moisturising. But nothing major don’t worry about the treatment or the after effects  they weren’t that bad you can do it! Good luck  Sparkle 0103         ... View more

Hi  glad your improving. At our hospital I got given a little box of goodies the first day of treatment and amongst all the other thoughtful things in it was a non irritating moisturiser called moo goo skin milk. It’s soothing and you can use whenever you need to. I think you can maybe buy it online. I also use which is also good and so far no skin problems yet!  hope that helps sparkle x ... View more

Hi  i had lumpectomy and I had exactly the same thing happen to me first night shooting pain and swollen i finished my last radiotherapy session two and half weeks ago I had a really bad stabbing pain one night and felt exhausted for about 10 days and feeling better each day so hopefully it will be the same for you. I made sure I moisturised really well and still am, dont know if it helps or not.  sparkle     ... View more

Thank you Jules for your advice,  I will see how I get on and certainly consider it. x ... View more

Hi , after routine mammogram in October I was diagnosed with invasive grade 2 breast cancer 15mm er positive 8. Had surgery wle in December and have started radiotherapy yesterday for 5 days. I am 70 and like you have wrestled with to take/or not to take tamoxifen as recommended to me but decided after thinking long and hard to give it a go. I had a terrible menopause with insomnia and hot sweats for over 10 years and couldn’t face it again but it’s a small price to pay for the cancer not returning. I have only been taking tamoxifen 2 weeks and had hot sweats already just a few. And insomnia but hoping my body will get used to the medication and things will settle down. Everybody reacts differently to drugs and it is a very personal choice but good luck with everything. im also wondering if side effects may not be so bad eventually because of my age and there can’t be too much oestrogens left to suppress! love sparkle ... View more

Hi suzzflwr just read your post-  I am 69 (70 next week) and I was diagnosed with same as you in November and had lumpectomy December 10th. It was a shock and a lot to take in but tumour removed and clear margins and no cancer in lymph  node ER positive . Am just about to go ahead with radiotherapy 14th March. I read all the Information and leaflets  (there were a lot!) from cover to cover and decided to go ahead with everything that was suggested to me. I also am concerned with side effects of treatment plus am dreading the tamoxifen sides effects! I thought my hot flushes and insomnia  were a thing of the past but will tolerate them if if means a chance of the cancer not coming back. Just take things a day at a time don’t think too far ahead and you will cope with what is to come . good luck  sparkle    ... View more

Hi  i agree with charys about feeling better mentally once the surgery is over! I had my surgery 10 December and now nearly 9 weeks on I feel great and moving on to have some radiotherapy.  My surgeon and breast care nurse were so helpful and kind and prepared to answer all my questions and address all my worries.  Please put your trust in them and just go with the flow and you will be on the road to recovery  before you know it! hugs  sparkle ... View more

Hi eeyore 58, Please don’t be afraid! I had this in November, and had my op 10 December.  Yes  it is noisy and I asked them to switch the channel to classic fm! (Which really helped! It’s really relaxing ! ) the first few seconds/minutes I did think I’m not going to able to lay still here but honestly just think of other things and you will be fine. I don’t know  if you will have to lay on your front like I did which is a bit scary but as long as you are prepared for it you will be ok. And you don’t feel the dye go in! They put the cannula  in before you go into the scanner and they will tell you when they  are going to do the one with the contrast. You wont feel it! They  talk you through it all and give you a button to press if you need to speak to them or stop at anytime . Please don’t worry honestly. You can do it! lots of love and hugs  sparkle 0103     . ... View more

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Hi shi thank you for your reply. That’s really helpful 💕   ... View more