Breast Cancer Now Forum

I think that a lot of the health care professionals that advise us all BC survivors just give the worst case scenario. i was dx in january 2007 and had WLE,full anxillary clearance and rads. I'm on nolvadex and 1 year following my op i ran the london marathon!! i had completed the marathon twice previously, but managed this time to complete it faster than before. I'm back at the gym and do sit ups and press ups. i too got cording in my arm and thought it would never be right, but my arm is like normal now. although i do have some numbness underneath. hopefully lymphodeama will pass me by... i certainly hope so, but i agree with the other ladies posting on here, as long as you are careful then you should live your life how you want to. after all we are still all here... thats a definate bonus as far as i'm concerned. keep on running, walking, climbing, caving, biking, watching t.v, eating chocolate... whatever makes you happy 🙂 ... View more

Hi Jal, can't help you with the rash, but been on tamoxifen for 2 years. about 3 months ago saw my consultant and he changed it to nolvadex. which has really helped with my hot flushes. i was waking up 4 or 5 times a night absolutley soaking in sweat. now i get very mild flushes, but saying that it is warm at the moment anyway. never had a rash, have put about half a stone on with tamoxifen, even though i still run acouple of times a week, oh well only another 3 years. at least my heavy periods have stopped (i'm 43) fozzie ... View more

Kitty, I know just how you feel, I'm now 2 and half years since dx and have had a hard time. I felt very depressed for 6 months after my lumpectomy and rads, but help from my GP in the form of anti depressants helped and then back to work and slowly off the tablets. You have got to look at how lucky you are that you are still here. I know its hard, but the situation could be so much worse. Think of this time as your second chance and grab it by the horns. Some people don't get a second chance, they get wiped out in fatal car crashes, heart attacks etc, but your still here. Keep your chin up and you will feel better, I never thought I could, but it does happen. Sending loads of postive thoughts for you through the web. Fozzie x ... View more

pollym, thankyou for your reply, and I'm running with my sister , who has a place with breast cancer campaign, so I am raising money via her wepage. And there is a picture of me on the web page after finishing the Race For Life last July!!...Sneaky sister, as she put the photo on then told me about it!!! That's little sisters for you!! For the other ladies on here, keep on going with what exercise you can do at the moment. I was given really good advice last year, and that was to be good to myself. All the effort you usually put into looking after other people, working, hobbies etc, well put all that effort into looking after yourself. Listen to your body and be gentle with it. It really is going through some hard work to try and get better. And not only that but you've got to get your head round the horrid bit of having cancer. After my rads last year i was tired out walking for 10 minutes, and look at me now. So don't be disheartened, and take things gradually. Also a great inspirational book I've just finished may interest others. Its one by Jane and Mike Tomlinson called "You can't take it with you". Jane did some amazing things when she was going through her treatment, and unfortunately died last year. But the book is an interesting read..... Don't get me wrong I've no doubt that other people in the same position as Jane may not be able to do the same. But it is certainly an inspirational book, Certainly helped me when I did my 20 miler the other week. Lyn, I got cording under my left arm, with phsyio and some hard work it has completely gone. So keep your chin up :-) ... View more

Hi everyone, really enjoy coming on here and reading about all those other girls out there, who are in the same boat as me. Its good to hear about the tamoxifen hips and belly, I've never been overweight in my life, perhaps even slightly under weight. I'm now a good stone heavier than 18 months ago!!!! but everyone keeps teeling me i look really healthy, and my marathon training is going well, so i'm not worrying too much! In fact I ran a 20 mile race 2 weeks ago. Ran with my breast cancer vest on, and it was amazing the amount of support I got. The 20 miler went as planned, and I even did it 4 minutes faster than I have previously. Now I know I'm in the right frame of mind for the London Marathon, and am actually looking forward to it. I know that must sound strange, but its kind of in my head type of thing. This is my psychological last piece of the return to "normal" jigsaw for me. I know I will never be the same as I was pre B.C, but overall that is for the better. Sorry to hear of some ladies suffering from aches and pains in their joints whilst on tamoxifen. I must say I'm fortunate and do not suffer from them. The night sweats are really hardwork, and quite unbearable sometimes, but hey, its better than being dead..... funny how I think this now 15 months on from my DX. when i was initially diagnosed i thought my world had ended. when in fact once i'd got my head round everything, I've actually come out of it with a lot of a better attitude on life, family, work, opportunities etc,. well thats enough of the lecturing..... keep up the running ladies. I've just enrolled for 2 trial races in the lake district later this year, and my other half wants to go and do the amsterdam marathon in october!! so I'm gonna do the half!!!! Keep smiling girls fozzie xx 🙂 ... View more

hi all those exercisers out there!! I've bee n on tamoxifen 11 months, after have a lumpectomy and wide local excision 12 months ago. i had 15 rads which finished last june. I'm back running and have a place for the london marathon in april this year!!! cannot believe that my weight is not dropping like last time i did this marathon training in 2005. I am fortunate that i have not had joint aches, but my legs and body do feel tired sometimes!! i'm running 4 times a week and am up to 14 mile long runs..... although they are overall about 45 minutes slower than when i ran this in 2005 Keep up the exercise everyone, and i must admit jane tomlinson really did spur me on when i first started getting back into the running. when i'm running and getting a bit tired, or i've reached "the wall", i start saying to myself over and over " i can do this, i beat b.c, i can do this" seems to work for me and keeps me going!!!!! well done everyone 🙂 ... View more

Hi everyone, I've been on tamoxifen for 10 months and the hot flushes have got worse and worse, I have them through the day, and at night as well!!! My weight has also incresed, I've put a stone on since my dx a year ago. But on the good side of things, I'm back at work full time, and training to run the Flora London Marathon on 13th April this year! The weight side of things is quite hard. I've never been as heavy as i am now, in fact i've always been slim, so finding i have some bumpy bits is quite difficult.But then I think I'm glad to be here and be fit and well, so cares about a few pounds or so??? Keep your chins up everyone, fozzie x ... View more

Hi everyone. I went back to work at the begining of september, having being dx in jan this year and had a lumpectomy in feb followed by 15 rads. i went back phased, and after 3 months i'm now back full time. It does feel great to back in the swing of things and i feel that i am now nearly back to my old self than i was in september. i found it quite hard at first, just remembering peoples names, who does what, how to log on the different computer systems at work!!! and i went into a new role on my return to work as well!! which is good as its really interesting but does not put me so much at risk as my other role, what with the risk of lymphodeaoma. You will be fine, just take things easy, and listen to your body. If you need a day off, then take it and give yourself time to relax and get back into everything. you may find, like i did, that work is not half as stressful or important as it was when you first went off. i found that work has taken its place as just that, work... which i enjoy, but there are so many more important things in life than that. i used to do loads of overtime, and really thought i needed the money. afater being off for 8 months, and on a basic wage, no overtime, i come to realise that i'd rather have the time at home, and less money!!!! keep your chin up girl, we are survivors. x 🙂 ... View more

Hi julie, i had alumpectomy and all the nodes removed under my left arm in february this year. i'm 41 and am now well on the way to recovery. i've come through 3 weeks of radio therapy and the tiredness that went with it and am now convalescing, 've had refloxology, back and leg massage, yoga class and pilates, which i had never tried before!!! i do some running, and have not run since late january, but last week on the 4th july i complated the 5k Race For Life at Blackpool. i was over the moon as i complated the run without stopping or walking and it meant so much as i did it with my sister. you will get through the next few months, although at times you will think you perhaps won't. the best advice i was given was to be kind to yourself, whatever maximum effort you put into other things, like work, family etc,. you now need to re focus that energy and put it into yourself and getting better. certainly something i've never done, but your body and mind deserveit. take care and good luck for the op. bev xxxxxx ... View more