Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi, I’ve been taking letrozole for 9 months and my cholesterol has gone from 6.2 to 8.7!! I’ve got another blood test next week but then it looks like it’ll have to be statins.  How has anyone else found statins?  I’ve always exercised, ate healthily, don’t drink or smoke, have low blood pressure and weight, so must be the letrozole 😩 ... View more

Hi Christina, I signed up for the Moving Forward course (2 sessions of approx 3 hours) via Breast Cancer Now.  It was really useful and was an online course with about 7 ladies on it.  We set up a WhatsApp group and continue to support each other.  I also had the 6 free counselling sessions from BUPA through macmillan .  Hope this helps xx ... View more

Hi, just to echo what the others have said, the tattoos were more of a dot with a marker pen which I didn’t really feel and the radiotherapy sessions were very short and straightforward.  The most uncomfortable bit of the radiotherapy for me was how cold the room was! I had 10 sessions and didn’t really feel any different during or after.  I kept moisturising with E45 about 3 times per day for a couple of weeks before starting and after finishing and my skin was fine ( just a bit pink.) Hope it all goes smoothly for you. sending hugs xx ... View more

Hi, I’m fine on letrozole….been taking it 6 months now.  Some minor aches in elbow joint and fingers, but it’s perfectly bearable, haven’t needed to take any pain relief .  My chemist always gets me the same brand .X ... View more

Hi ,  I just wanted to say that I had always wanted to manage the depression and anxiety without meds.  I struggled so much after the diagnosis though, especially with having to come off HRT cold turkey too, that I followed the doctor’s advice and started counselling (via Macmillan free  if in UK ) and Sertraline.  Both have helped so much.  It did take me a couple of weeks to get used to the Sertraline ( took a half dose to begin with.) xx ... View more

@Pommy8 @So glad that the pain has now gone away.  I’ve had some pains from where I had lumpectomy in the last few months,  but they seem to have died down now.  I’ve also had some joint and muscle pain from my arm/elbow which I’m assuming is the letrozole, but otherwise ok 👍 xx ... View more

Ahh, that’s good news.  Hope you can relax a little and recover now xx ... View more

@Pommy8  Did you get results from your biopsy?  Hope everything is ok?  Xx ... View more

Hi, I was diagnosed last June at 58 between mammograms ( 2 years after my last one) with a 12mm ER/PR positive, HER 2 negative grade 3 invasive ductal tumour.  I had a lumpectomy which went well although the tumour was close to chest wall.  Thankfully my sentinel nodes were clear and the oncotype came back low enough that I didn’t need chemo.  I had 10 days of radiotherapy and now on letrozole for 10 years.  As Kay said, please ask if any questions xx ... View more

When my oncologist examined me in December ( 6 months after op and 2 months after radiotherapy) he said he could feel the fibrous tissue around the site of the op and said it will soften with time.  The pain started after seeing him, but BCN did say was normal as everything knits together and recovers, like Kay said.  Fingers crossed Pommy xx ... View more

Such a worrying time for you , but hopefully it is breast changes after the op and radiotherapy etc .  I’ve had pain in my breast over the last month, but is seems to be easing now.  I spoke to my BCN who said it is normal and is everything knitting together.  Fingers crossed for a clear biopsy and then you can hopefully try to get back to a bit of normality.  Sending hugs.  Keep us posted xx ... View more

Hi Helenh111, My boob also looks like I’ve had a spray tan!! It also feels a bit swollen and hard around where the tumour was taken.  Funny that we had exactly the same number of radiotherapy.  It’s good to chat to someone in the same situation 😊. The joint pain from the letrozole is fairly mild and is where I had a bit of pain already … one knee and a couple of finger joints.  Ive found that keeping active really helps.  I’ve also had hot flushes in the evening, but again bearable.   As I had to come off HRT cold turkey, my GP put me on sertraline to help with the anxiety and hot flushes….they’ve definitely helped. I guess it’s now trying to get back to some kind of normality.  Sometimes it all still feels surreal .  It’s also learning to live with the niggles about recurrence.  I think I’ll see my oncologist again in a few weeks and then I think it’ll be annual check ups. Good  to hear from you X ... View more

Hi,  just thought I’d give an update as I finished radiotherapy 2 weeks ago.  I had a week to the whole breast and then a week targeted to the chest wall.  Thankfully I haven’t had any bad side effects , just a bit sore and itchy but bearable.  I’ve been on the letrozole about 9 weeks now and so far, so good.  I’ve had hot flushes ( mainly evenings) and some mild joint pain, but again all bearable ( so far 🤞🏻).  My pharmacist has ordered me the same brand of letrozole each time, so hoping that helps. How is everyone else doing? X ... View more

I had quite a wait for radiography….10 weeks from op until the measuring up appointment!  They said it was due to covid back logs etc .  They said they have a target of starting within 12 weeks of op.  I started the letrozole the day I had my oncologist appointment, about 5 weeks after op xx ... View more

That’s great news! Same as me then…radiotherapy and letrozole.  Had my measuring up scan today which was fine.  I’ve been on the letrozole for 5 weeks and so far, so good 🤞🏻. ... View more

Hi Pommy 8, Did you get your oncotype results yet? I’ve got my appointment for radiotherapy measuring up on Monday…felling a bit nervous after weeks of nothing happening x ... View more

Hi Pommy 8, mine was invasive ductal, Stage 1, grade 3, 12mm with no lymph node involvement.  I was never given a k27 score and wasn’t given a % score until after oncotype .  My oncotype score was 8, so no benefit from chemotherapy. I had a lumpectomy 9 weeks ago and radiotherapy starts next week. have you got your oncotype result?  ... View more

Hi Pommy 8,  My oncotype was 8, so just waiting for radiotherapy no chemotherapy.  I was 58 too when diagnosed in June with a grade 3 12mm invasive ductal tumour. let us know how you get on , fingers crossed X ... View more

Hope it’s not too long to wait?  I think I waited 2 weeks.  Will keep fingers crossed for you, let us know how you get on X ... View more

Hi again,  I'm glad your skin has calmed down, like you said, this hot weather won’t help.  The oncologist said to me that I’d always have to wear strong sunscreen on my chest after radiotherapy as it’ll always be delicate.  My measuring up scan is booked for 5th Sept and then I start on 15th.  I was concerned that it’ll be 11 weeks after my op, but everyone assured me that that’s fine!  I will let you know how it goes, fingers crossed! I wonder if us both being 8/8 for the ER+ affects the oncotype result?  I remember the breast nurse saying to be when I was first diagnosed ( and very upset and shocked, especially with grade 3) that 8/8 was a good sign that the medication would work well.  Fingers crossed.  The main side effects  I’m having from the meds so far are hot flushes and night sweats ( this weather doesn’t help!). I can definitely live with these though if needs be.  A friend who’s on the same drug as me also got joint pain after a couple of months, so we’ll see, I guess it’s early days. it must be really hard still having children at home.  My twins are 23 and working and living down in London now. it is lovely to be able to message someone in a very similar position.  I’ve a few friends who’ve had BC ( think it’s our age! ) but none the same as mine. Take Care xx ... View more