Breast Cancer Now Forum

I am sorry that your have this worry. I have a walking app so understand where your coming from but it is just an app - if you want to know exactly what is going on then discuss it with your GP ~ proper tests could be done.   If you discuss it with your GP your mind will be at rest and that alone could lower your BP let alone a heart rate.   Best wishes ... View more

Hi I wondered if you were overcompensating with the 'good' arm rather than use the cancer side arm.  I have also had a pain in the good arm when carrying as I dont want to carry on the other side and get a terrible ache in the arm pit.  It was like having an orange stuck there so after a couple of times getting this I now carry and sometimes too much on the other side and being on Tamoxifen with elbow joint pain I have had some shooting pains down that arm or some throbbing.  Once I rest that arm I am ok again.  Just a thought and hope you find a solution soon.  I have just finished Tamoxifen and understand how awful it can be so I wish you all the best for speedy recovery to 5 years. xx ... View more

My consultant said "give up the teaching and find yourself a nice little job" - apparently high incidence of BC in teachers - I found myself in your position - long story short - I got a job in M&S lol not so challenging as teaching but I met some wonderful people, customers that come in and chat and I have now an interest in cooking! Money isnt as good but hey when I leave at night I leave it at the door - the consultant thought BC could return! I also went through empty nest syndrom which was awful so a job like this was great. Over the last two years I have had to retrain my brain a little but on Tamoxifen I found thinking a little confusing at times lol. Life is really what you make it - think about what YOU would like to do without thinking money or the anxiety of it all - think OPPORTUNITY - yay time to think about all those things that you wanted to do but couldn't because......... its not the end but the beginning - I am now quilting, walking miles, seeing shops in my neighbourhood didnt know were there and meeting friends and generally enjoying my life. Its not easy and I had some real sticky moments when I said "how did I end up here" but I got through it by seeing I had such a chance to get some time for myself and do something for my family - I look after my grandson one day a week and its bliss - just playing and having fun. Give yourself a break and go sit somewhere alone with a notepad and a coffee and just think about what you could do - including supporting others on here and writing a blog - taking an exercise class and meeting with friends was great starter for me. Take the brave step of going forward with hope and excitement - you have been through enough havent you - its time for you. Wishing you peace Delphine xx ... View more

Sorry your feeling down and I identify with the terrible weight gain! The only way that I have managed to lose weight is to concentrate on eating rather than not eating. I eat breakfast, snack, lunch, tea, and nothing after 7pm. I have been on Tamoxifen for just over 2 years and the only thing is to exercise and eat small portions. I have found that walking quickly with my ipod on and listening to inspirational speakers or suitable music - something with a beat - from Motown, R&B to proclaimers lol just anything to get you going. I also listen to Tony Robbins who puts things in perspective - why we put on wait etc., we dont diet successfully because we let our emotions get in the way - sad, grab a cookie, happy, grab a cookie as reward! lol crazy but hey there is only one way to lose weight and that is to eat less and exercise - try doing the walking around the block to start - then go further and you can check how far to go by using google maps and plot directions and it will tell you how far. Keep a chart and see how it works for you - be prepared as it does tire you out for a good nights sleep! I eat nothing processed and drink tea and cooled boiled water. Nothing in plastic. It isnt easy to do and all I can say is I still try although I dont want to be 10 but would like to float between 12 and 14 so you can see I struggle too but at least I am on the winning side. We dont do what we know can hurt us and this isnt going to hurt just benefit. I am sorry for the waffle but please dont give up trying - there are quick fix that fall flat - find what suits you and stick to it getting ready for the long term way of life rather than a diet. Wishing you all the best God bless x ... View more

Can I suggest you go to docs and get some anti nausea tabs - I have some made by Valoid - I had nausea on and off now for a year but these tabs are just about right., Worth a try. ... View more

Ladies, let me give you my experience - the side effects change over time and I have now been on it 2 + years. I had nausea first three months and occasionally still do so have some (Valoids) handy. I also had bad headaches but they went. About three months in and I had bad joint pain, was like a 70 year old getting out of bed and walking - I still have this sometimes but mostly the joint pain has diminished. I now walk at least 3 miles a day listening to my ipod. Walking will help with bone density. Then I got the night cramps and in the feet and calves etc - no longer stretch at all in case it brings it on. Tonic water for Quinnine to help with this. My skin itches and my psoriasis are really bad now - my nails are terrible and my hair looks really full now and it was always thin ??? The doc will give cream and tables for itches. My back was so bad at one time I scratched it badly so take the tabs if you need to. The night sweats went as quickly as they came and I am left with being so hot all the time - no flushes just hot when I get up, hotter when I am at work and hot when I go to bed - electric fan on all night. Crying one moment happy the next - just concentrate on my grandchildren. What I did hope to show you all is that with all the different SE I have been through they come and go and you may get one or none or some and I think we need to take it as it comes - just find the best solution for you personally to get through it. 5 years will be over and we will want to stay on it longer or we will feel freefalling - I am grateful for all the side effects as it means that the tamoxifen is working within me. I am thankful I awake every day. I see what this disease does and I just get through each day at a time with whatever gets me through. i wish all you ladies the very best and solutions for the best possible outcome - share the advice on what works. God bless xxxx ... View more

Thanks Dee have asked her to do this. Many thanks for responding. xx ... View more

The SE is a way of letting you know that the Tamoxifen is working. I too had terrible headaches, nausea, joint pain, weight gain, tendonitis and you name it I had it. What I do want to get over is: :the side effects seem to change over the period of time :used to live on Valoids for the nausea but that lasted a few months only :the joint pain eased enough in the ankles for me to walk to exercise :although I was post menopausal I had all the symptoms of repeating :I lost weight while exercising and eating carefully :lost the headaches, nausea and general brain confusion :I gained back so much of myself :I have smear tests every 6 months I am now two years down and I know that seems an age I am so pleased that I persevered and feel more confident now. I know that I could get any number of weird symptoms but I do think that the "keep moving" and eating well is key and that sleeping for long enough does wonders. I hope you all find your way with this tablet and things get easier and you live happily and healthily with smiles and laughter and peace of mind. ... View more

Stuart, you and Vicky knew love and such a love to happen in a lifetime is precious. I am so sorry that you didnt have more time and know that in time you will smile again when looking at the photos and remembering the good times that you shared. I wish you peace of heart and mind and that you can indeed think of Vickys smile and the love you shared. God bless you xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ... View more

There was another thread that identified stress as an instigator - high incidence of BC amongst teachers - I no longer teach. I had DCIS/invasive dx on 2nd routine screening. Biopsy, WLE then mx/snb and just tamox for 5 years - 6 monthly checkups/mammo. I also know of someone who had just the mastectomy and no tamoxifen. I think we have to see this disease affecting different people differently. The tamoxifen side effects drive me mad at times and especially affecting my joints but feel lucky to have gotten off so lightly. good luck everyone. ... View more

I thought I would add here that being a teacher of disaffected youth (16yrs) and going through a lot of stress that I didnt realise I had my onc told me that there is a high percentage of teachers with BC because of the stress of the job. So think twice about going back there! I no longer teach but work 4 days a week in retail - tedious but can cope with tamoxifen brain lol. Money is awful but I am happier and with 3 days off a week I have never been so free. I always worked 7 days a week and prepared lessons etc., even on a #sunday! I do believe that stress can be lived with so much so that we do not notice that we have already gone past the danger zone - how many of us put up with a pain somewhere and three months down the line say "I must see the doctor about this) Stress lingers on and we feel we are over it but it can still affect us later on. Divert your stressed thoughts, dont think about it just relax. We can have the life we want if we smile, think happy thoughts and relax. Why not!!! ... View more

I had DCIS and a little invasive cancer and had biopsy, WLE and because it was found on screening and no lump to detect on feel I was lucky and decided to have mastectomy/SNB and therefore no need for chemo or rads. I am on tamoxifen and deem myself so lucky as it could have been worse. I would also mention that I was 52 with grown children and it meant for me a complete change of life. The decision is individual - and we must be able to live with our decision. Now having gone through it i find it was the right decision for me. I am more confident that the cancer was caught in time and although I know it could be back etc., I have learned to be the person I am - happy. Good luck to everyone in all decision making wishing you all happiness and health. xx ... View more

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Forgot to mention that I now take a different brand of tamoxifen and think that may have something to do with it. dx ... View more

I had a rash around my mouth area and as I have psoriasis I thought it was connected and the doc gave me tabs and a cream - not much differenced. On my 6 month check up the consultant said Tamoxifen gives a rash as a side effect and said it would go. He didnt seem very phased and I thought - he doesnt know what it is either ha. The rash did go and hasnt come back. It was very red and raised and it itched. I hope this helps and that you can tell your gp there is a rash while on tamoxifen etc. this is different for everyone but maybe it is connected. The tabs were an anti histamine. good luck xxx ... View more

I used to have seroma problems and this is what worked for me. I started to recognise when i was overdoing it - and rest. I also didnt lift with that side arm. I even didnt do all the walking that I used to do - just paced myself daily. Exercise a little to keep things moving but do not overdo things and it should just all go away - mine took a while to settle but after that it seems to sink back to the body. I think we just try to be the person we were but we are not that person anymore. Try to rest as many times during the day as you work hard. hope things settle for you too - its still new and I think you need to rest a bit. wishing you the best possible 2011 xxx ... View more