Breast Cancer Now Forum

thanks for your replies. I will google the surgeon, and mary32 I've pm ed you. ... View more

Hi Primrose hill I think I'm having the same sort of problems! I haven't had herceptin but have been on tamoxifen from December untill about 8 weeks ago. onc took me off for 4 weeks and then put me on anastrozole instead assuming it's side effects. However the sickness goes on and on- still on lansoprazole, tried to stop taking it and just had really bad indigestion and  stomach pains- only lasted 3 days and had to start again. surely it can't take 8 weeks to get side effects over? I have had an abdominal scan and some blood tests to see what liver is doing- they were ok but perhaps you should ask for these just to check and put your mind at rest? I don't know what to think about it now, but it's a pain in the neck. would be really interested to know if anyone else has had this sort of problem and what the outcome was. Also put post on AAA facebook page- see you there! ... View more

Great to hear from you Judy and Amber- wish you could come, i'd love to meet you both. Glad you're feeling 'normal' now Judy- you give me hope! glad you're feeling more positive too Amber. It sounds like you found some good support. Roz-Just read your post about the spa. Do you think I might be able to change to a shoulder/back massage instead of a manicure?  doesn't matter at all if not. I'm aching at the moment because I tried to jump over a mud patch in the park too enthusiastically, slipped and landed flat on my face, narrowly missing going headfirst into the stream. A quick look around confirmed that no-one saw me, so i struggled up and hobbled off, covered in mud and trying to look like nothing happened! I think I've reached that age when you stop falling over and start ' having a fall' Perhaps i can change it when we're in Manchester. So looking forward to meeting you all  love Mel xxx ... View more

good to hear you had such a positive experience Sandy xx ... View more

Hi all went back to see onc yesterday to get blood test results to see if I can change from tamoxifen to aromatase inhibitors. Two of the 3 markers said i am post menopausal and the other was borderline. So they suggested i come off tamoxifen for 4 weeks to see which side effects go ( hopefully all of them!!) and then try starting it again because apparently sometimes this improves side effects. If this doesn't work for me I can change to aromatase inhibitors ( and have different side effects, of course). I'm so pleased to stop taking it- I stopped yesterday straight away! How's everyone else doing with it? love Mel xxx ... View more

Hi Roz I've just picked up your post- happy to go with spa if you've paid. i'll probably just have a manicure too. sandy- glad you've got mammogram over, and hope Tuesday goes ok. Great that you're getting some help now too. mel-well done on your interview, fingers crossed.love to all of you mel xxx   ... View more

evening angels sandy  i'll be thinking of you tomorrow and hope everything goes well. I haven't had mine yet. It's another big milestone to get through. Ask for help with anxiety if you need it. i went through weeks of waking up in a panic with all sorts of worries before xmas, and crying every day. Anti depressants and counselling have really helped and although I still worry, it's not as all consuming as it was- i can move on from it. Diggy so sorry to hear of your sad loss. I'm glad your mum's passing was peaceful and surrounded by those she loved. Really looking forward to the meet up, not long now!! Love to you all Mel xxx  ... View more

costa's is fine for me too- see you all there. Do you think we'll recognize each other? Think I need to try to put a photo on again! ... View more

Hi all just been catching up with arrangements. My train arrives at manchester at 3.38pm. can I meet up with you all too? I'm happy to do meal, spa, anything!! very jealous of all the new hair colours, mines still grey. Maybe I'll colour it before we meet up- if only I could decide on a colour. Still struggling with s/es and so on. ah well!! love Mel xx ... View more

Hi all Philomena-sounds like a great job congratulations! Sandy- no I'm not on herceptin, just tamoxifen.  Sorry you're suffering from se's too Lori. I'm just hoping that eventually a corner is turned like Angie and we start feeling better! I need info about Manchester as well. I know I've been told all this before but where are we staying? which premier inn? what happens about paying? do we get a room each now it's premier inn? (worried about my snoring!) I can't remember anything- marbles are well and truely lost love Mel xxx ... View more

Hi Sandy I'm back on 30mg lansoprazole too because of indigestion caused by tamoxifen- I feel sick every morning too, then have indigestion in evening even with the lansoprazole. Onc did a bloodtest to see what my hormones are doing to see if they can change me to an aromatase inhibitor instead. got to go back in a month. if things don't settle down I don't think I can cope with taking it, but they told me the tumor was very oestrogen positiveso they want me to carry on. The up side is I can't eat much so I'm losing weight!!! Spudgirl- It's really common to feel depressed and anxious after cancer treatment. I'm taking antidepressants and have had counselling too. Don't feel guilty, ask for help. Hope you feel better soon. fecinora- hope you're recovering from your op now xx Angiepops- so glad you're feeling better too- you're a couple of months ahead of me so you've given me hope too. Judy- great news about your scan!! love to everyone xxx     ... View more

I've been on tamoxifen for 3 months and have indigestion and nausea which started after the first 2 weeks.. I've had to go back on lansoprazole which I had during chemo. I take tamoxifen in morning with breakfast. I get indigestion whenever I eat more than a small amount of food- and I too worry that it's a sign of the cancer spreading.I asked about it at onc appt and she thought it was down to tamoxifen and to give it another month and see if it settles. She suggested taking it at night but I haven't tried that yet. ... View more

I've been on tamoxifen for 3 months now and feel nauseus every morning when I wake up. It starts as soon as I move and wears off slowly during the day.It's like being pregnant!!! onc's registrar suggested taking domperidone like I had during chemo but I really don't want any more drugs. I was v sick during chemo too. no dizziness though. hope it wears off! ... View more

Hi all oh shame Amber- we'll miss you! Angie you're definitely not alone in the tiredness department- I haven't even gone back to work and I'm knackered all the time. I think i'm slowly improving but it is really frustratingly slow. I don't feel depressed now ( anti depressants are great!) and I've stopped waking up every morning feeling anxious and panicky. I do feel sick every morning though which is apparently a tamoxifen se- it's like being pregnant! and still struggling with indigestion and pain on op side. Seeing physio for this next week, the plan is deep tissue massage and exercises. back to onc on wednesday for 3 month check up. don't know when i get a mammogram oh and there's the hot flushes of course..... feel free to moan angie if you can't do it here then where? can you reduce your hours for a bit? sorry to hear about your blood sugar and pressure. hope it's under control soon- I'm not suprised you're fed up. my wedding ring got too tight during chemo and I got it off by running my hand under very cold water and then using soap. i haven't been able to wear it since- I don't think my fingers are swollen, just fat! my hair is growing at random angles some up and some down, some just straight out from my head! lol love Mel xxx ... View more

Mel-sorry to hear your hand has swollen, hope you've been able to speak to nurse today. How you feeling? thanks for dates, I'll book train now. Sandy- hope your back ache is improving now. love to everyone Mel xxxx ... View more

Oh and reassuring to hear so many tufty hairstyles- mine's just growing at random angles- it won't all stick up with gel and it won't all stay down either. I look like a gonk!!!!! ... View more

Hi all haven't been on for a while. have just been struggling through  and trying to get on top of health stuff.I can't take in all the news but congrats if you've had a clear mammogram, picc line out or have gone back to work. I've just been signed off for another 3 months as I'm struggling. Feeling less depressed and anxious though so that's good! Keep trying to take things on to help myself like exercise and diet but can't really maintain anything at the moment. having probs with sickness/indigestion, hot flushes, weeing all the time, not sleeping and fatigue. I'm putting it all down to tamoxifen and am seriously thinking of stopping taking it when I've seen onc in Feb- If only to find out if it's responsible for all these things! I'm planning to come to manchester. I've trawled through but can't find the date we're going- pretty sure it's the 4th April but don't want to book train until someone else has reassured me! no confidence in memory lol. I saw plastic surgeon last week who was great. He doesn't think fat transfer will do it for me sadly so it looks like surgery if I go ahead. He suggested breast reduction to remove scar tissue( which has tethered). This means surgery to good breast too- not sure what I think about that yet, or use tissue from stomach or back like you mx ladies are having to reconsruct affected breast to match the other one. Is anyone else having reduction to the good side? I can't do anything until 12 mnths after rads which is october for me so i have lots of time to think. Sandy- glad you're back on your horse! take it easy everyone- love & hugs Mel ... View more

Hi Angie so glad you're feeling reassured and sorted. sounds like you have a really good nurse there! take care xxx ... View more

Hi angels Angie- hope you've spoken to macmillan nurse today and everything is ok. Philomena- so sorry about you're arms. I started having problems on surgery side after radiotherapy too- it really messes up the tissue apparently. I know just what you mean about last years calendar- it really brought home how LONG the whole thing is and how life just revolves around appointments! Judy- finger in socket- lol- mine was just short and flat but has now started sticking out all over the place, especially on top. wondering if this is a sign it's going curly? Katebil- part time sounds good, hope they say yes.This all makes you realize working all the time just isn't important doesn't it? I've had plastic surgeon appt through for next week. I'll go and see what my options are but I don't honestly think I can face being messed around with just now. We must all be having anniversary of diagnosis about now- mine's on 21st, I know diggywiggy had hers. can't believe it's nearly. a year and I'm still not well love to everyone xxx ... View more