Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi All,   I've been having a bit of a stressful time of late and have ended up with some low depression and anxiety. It crossed my mind I could try taking St John's wort temporarily until I feel happy again so, as I take anastrozole,  I googled for any interactions. Most comments and advisories sounded ok but one said : "Aromatase is an enzyme closely related to P450 and several herbs interact with P450 - St John's wort the most prominent. People should avoid herbs known to interact with the P450 system."   Of course, I don't know what I'm saying! But can anyone else enlighten me or suggest a natural pick up from feeling low?  Many thanks, love Cherry ... View more

Hi, I;m not sure where to post this query but maybe someone can enlighten me a bit on what this scan entails? I had my breast cancer, mastectomy and radiotherapy over 4 years ago now and apart from anastrozole twinges am enjoying a happy healthy life.However, at under 7 stone I mentioned to my GP that I was now half a stone lighter than I used to be (and my missing boob would only have weighed a couple of ounces!)   All blood tests proved normal but she has nnevertheless referred me for a CT thorax and abdomen scan which will be on 26th January (next week). Having enjoyed four years of feeling it's all behind me, which it most likely still is, I find myself nervous about this scan, especially the bit that says I will have to drink a litre of liquid before the scan. What liquid? Water I don't mind, but yukky stuff fills me with dread. And scan with contrast - what's a 'contrast'??   Any shared experiences or info most welcome - thanks!  love Cherry X ... View more

Have just arrived here in Tideswell for a few days and forgotten my anastrozole! How bizarre when I recently posted about coming off it early. 4 years I've been on it - will I survive without recurrence or long term damage by missing four days?  X ... View more

Having just about reached the four year mark of anastrozole and, at 68, managed okay-ish on it, I now find myself in a lot of joint pain and lack of mobility. As an active walker and with no excess weight to lose, I feel now as if I'm sliding amazingly quickly into disabled old age. This is quite sudden and I'm swinging between thinking arthritis in hip and knee or, fear of fears, bone mets.   It was grade 1 and stage 1 BC so I'm hoping out of the two, it's arthritis or even just anastrozole. Could this ease if I stopped anastrozole? Or if I tapered it down to one every other day for 6 months, then one every third day for the last stretch. Does anastrozole cause joint pain AND arthritis or are the two unrelated?   My quality of life is being compromised now to the point I'd negotiate risk (small only) for relief. My GP nods compassionately over these aches and pains - sometimes I can hardly turn over in bed at night, but surely this isn't right? I just don't know quite what to do ...  I need to talk to someone don't I?   Your stories and thoughts welcome, please....love Cherry         ... View more

Hi Everyone - anyone heard of this? Flibanserin is supposed to be the new female viagra. I'm three years post surgery and radiotherapy and three years down the line with anastrozole .... and I have no libido. My erogenous zones are about as receptive as my big toe. I've been googling flibanserin and it seems it's ok for breast cancer patients: This is a link to Breastcancer.org :-   http://community.breastcancer.org/blog/stay-hopeful-flibanserin-may-finally-be-approved-for-help-with-libido/    And here's a clip from their website:   Flibanserin is a non-hormonal medication that is completely unrelated to testosterone or estrogen. Flibanserin works centrally in the brain to adjust a variety of neurotransmitters (chemicals that transmit signals in between the nerve cells of the brain) that are believed to regulate sexual desire. Specifically, Flibanserin increases the neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine and decreases serotonin, which results in an increase in sexual interest.Flibanserin is similar to antidepressant medications, which are safe for most women with a history of breast cancer. Additionally, flibanserin was studied in 11,000 women, but not specifically studied in a breast cancer population. You should always consult your healthcare provider before taking any medications and ensure that the medication is right for your individual situation and diagnosis...   I know it's not the be all and end all, and  for myself, I'm primarily thrilled to be alive and feel well, I'm so happy to have a great husband, and anyway, after 44 years of marriage it's not urgent, but sometimes, I just wish my 'big toe' could respond and enjoy it a bit more! For any of you much younger than me, it must be a lot worse. Anyone feel the same as me? Or anyone on flibanserin?   love Cherry x   The above is from the American site but I think it's available here, too. ... View more

Hi all, I had my mastectomy 26 months ago and have since been on anastrozole. I feel really well, ok - hot flushes are a pain a times and aching joints a nuisance but overall I'm doing good. Before BC I was on HRT and testosterone implants for several years but obviously these screeched to a halt the second I was diagnosed. They were very happy supplements ensuring a feeling of being thirty something ! (I'm 66.)      For a while I had ups and downs, reeling from the shock of cancer, surgery and coming off hormones mixed with a positve mood of having it all behind me, enjoying such closeness from family and support from friends and in many ways, feeling better than I had for some time. Our love life continued although without my surge of hormones, it became tickover and non-urgent. Fine. At 66 after 43 years of marriage we were happy to slow down a bit. He was so kind, patient and caring it seemed ungrateful not to respond, so where libido lacked - I faked my pleasure. Again, fine. But now, 26 months down the road, my libido is totally non-existent; my clitoris has little more sensation than my little toe and all the patience and kindness in the world cannot evoke a sexual response from me. There just isn't any to be had.  Now for him to know this would be cruel and enormously disappointing for him ....he can understand my slowing down and occasionaly not needing an orgasm, but I simply can't bring myself to tell him that I NEVER have one anymore, nor am I likely to ever have again - so I fake it. If I didn't, he'd possibly try for hours and I think I would up sore and nauseated. We often use a vibrator as he knows I need 'extra help' but between you and me, even that doesn' work. (Too much information, but I once tried this on my own and it DID work, but it was a physical reaction - neither pleasant nor unpleasant but certainly not sexual.)   In my head now, it's becoming an issue. If I have permission from somewhere that my 'lies' are understandable and okay, I might carry on. But a bit of me feels guilty ... yet what can I do? I can't tell him I fake it. Yes, I know the closeness is what matters - and it does. But I'm absolutely sure closeness alone wouldn't make him feel sexually happy.... and he deserves to feel sexually happy. He's the bestest husband ever. Has anyone else experienced this problem?   I do feel better telling you. A secret shared is a secret halved etc... thanks for listening. love Cherry X   ... View more