Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi,  I am 62 years old, live on my own, in theory I still have a full time job and I am an amputee. in 2012 I was diagnosed with invasive hormone receptive breast cancer stage 3 and had 6 months of chemo followed by surgery (mammoplasty and node clearance) and radiotherapy.  I was prescribed tamoxifen and took it for maybe a year but then stopped, I honestly can’t remember why! Last July I found a lump in the same breast and this was diagnosed as another stage 3 cancer.  My surgeon said I needed a mastectomy and that should be enough. For various reasons I needed to delay the surgery so he prescribed letrozole.  Within a couple of days I was like a zombie and by September I was on reduced hours at work as the brain fog was so bad.  I had my surgery in November and then it was suggested I see an oncologist.  I ended up with the same one as the first time,  I am SO angry with myself for not saying that I really didn’t like this oncologist!  I also had the test to check risk of reoccurrence and that came out as high medium.  I saw the oncologist who basically said all I needed was tamoxifen and to try it for 6 weeks to see how the side effects were.   A couple of weeks later I mentioned to my surgeon that I felt uncomfortable with this oncologist and he sent me to see another one.   The new oncologist was completely different and absolutely clear that in his view I was high risk and that chemo was needed followed by hormone blockers and zoledronic acid. So here I am chemo all done. Chemo was horrendous - apparently it’s worse second time around but luckily it was only 4 rounds. So now he wants me to start tamoxifen.  I have also had a dexa scan which showed very bad osteoporosis in my lower spine.   The thing is I just don’t want to take the tamoxifen, the side effects of letrozole and anastrozole have terrified me.  I felt so ill and the effects took months to wear off. It just seems to me that my body needs the estrogen and blocking it just makes me feel ill.  I have given almost 2 years to this illness over the last 10 years and I just want my life back. but then I think why go through the chemo etc and just stop at this last hurdle, only one pill a day.  So confused but also so sure I am not brave enough to risk feeling so bad again.     ... View more

Hi,  I have been reading the Letrozole threads and thought I would ask for any advice/help.  My situation is that I am 61, I had hormone receptive breast cancer 9 years ago.  I went through the full set of treatment including chemo,  mammoplasty and radiotherapy. I took Tamoxofin for about 6 months but stopped due to side effects. I have been well since then until a few weeks ago I found a lump in the same breast.  Seeing the same surgeon and have had mammogram, ultrasound, biopsy, Pet scan, brain MRI.  It looks like it's just local at the moment so suggested treatment is a mastectomy and Letrozole.   I started the letrozole 2 weeks ago and initially felt OK but now feel awful.  I can only describe it as similar to day 3 of chemo.  Very shaky legs, headaches, upset stomach, various aches and pains and brain fog.  I am really worried that I will feel like this for the next 5 years and to be honest I don't think I could carry on taking it if it's like this.   I am an amputee so already have some minor mobility issues and the shaking legs are really making life hard.   I still work full time and want to continue but right now I am not capable of doing my job which is really increasing my anxiety.  I work in IT for airlines and I really love my job so not being competent is very upsetting. I am having my surgery in November - it could have been earlier but I wanted to go on a very much delayed family holiday so he insisted that I start the Letrozole immediately to try and prevent any further tumour growth.  Obviously I now worry that this was a crazy decision but the holiday is with my 83 year old mother so will do us both good.  I have been reading the Letrozole threads and that was also a bit scary!         ... View more

I was on this forum 9 years ago but generally had a good breast cancer experience.  I had chemo, surgery and radiotherapy and a year later it all seemed fine.  I tried tamoxefin but after a few months decided not to continue.  I was 53 at the time and just got on with my life.  A few weeks ago I noticed a lump in the same breast and eventually managed to see a GP who referred me under the 2 week rule.  A week later it occurred to me to use my private health care and was able to see my original surgeon earlier this week at his one stop clinic.  (this was a good move as the NHS appointment only just came through for the end of next week so outside the 14 days).   So, it looks like its back,  he obviously needs the biopsy results but he was pretty sure it was cancer after the examination, mammogram and ultrasound.    I am absolutely floored by this news,  I feel like I have a ball of anxiety taking up my whole body.  I cannot focus at all even to the extent of listening to a conversation.  I am now 61 and still work full time in a job I love, luckily they are a very supportive employer.  I am due to go on a very much delayed holiday to South Africa in October with my mum and niece and I am absolutely determined to go. Finally I have a new partner of 18 months (I went through my first treatment alone as my marriage broke up a few months before),   He is so nice and supportive BUT he lost his wife 3 years ago to pancreatic cancer so I feel so guilty about putting him back in the whole cancer world. Family wise my mum is 83 and lives 300 miles away so thats a challenge.  No idea what I am asking for other than just felt the need to reach out.             ... View more