Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hello all Crackers who may still be checking in from time to time. I know plenty probably don't and that's not a bad thing, some may be on other forums having ongoing treatment for recurrence and one or two may pop on at this time of year. Sarah I'm so glad you are still stable and keeping in good shape.  I am always thrilled to read about new treatments for cancer and just hope they keep going forward finding more and more ways of letting people live as well as possible with the disease or perhaps one day that elusive cure. In this last year we have welcomed my second grandchild, a brother for my granddaughter and he will be turning 1 next month.  Such a happy little chap, with a cheeky grin that I know will have the ladies swooning when he grows up.  I'm in to my final stretch on AI's, which have been a challenge for the last 4 years.  Tamoxifen was a doddle compared to these evil tablets. I almost gave up after the first year, but I'm going to get over the finish line even if I have to crawl over it  I don't know whether this will be my final visit to this forum now that my 10 year long treatment journey is coming to an end. Who knows what the future will bring, but I will never forget the support I had from this group and I know each Christmas I will raise my glass to all Crackers of 2012, those still with us and those that sadly aren't.  Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year to all xx  Michelle                      ... View more

I don't know whether anyone checks in to this thread anymore, but if you do, then I hope you are keeping well and have managed to enjoy a Covid free Christmas and that 2022 will be easier on all of us.   ... View more

Merry Christmas to all crackers out there, I hope you manage to enjoy the day, whatever you do and wherever you spend it.  Maire I’m sorry you had an awful time with treatment this year and that it had to be cut short, I can’t even begin to imagine how I’d cope with being faced with chemo again.  Not sure my body would take it. I hope you are able to move forward again and that 2021 will be much better, for you and everyone else too, it’s been a rubbish year all round. I am still on hormone therapy and have 2 1/2 years left to go. It’s not been great, but I’m still here with NED so I’ve put up with the SE’s and just kept plodding on, even though it’s felt like wading in mud sometimes. Wishing a much brighter 2021 to you all, take care and keep safe x Michelle             ... View more

Oh Marie, I'm sorry to read your post.  I hope you recover well from your mastectomy and the path results give you some better news.  Fingers and toes crossed for you. Sending gentle hugs. Michelle x ... View more

Hi everyone.   I got an email alert to say there had been a post on the forum, so have swung by to check in ahead of my usual Dec/Jan visit.  It's lovely that there are still some of us who pop back onto the forum.  I know most have left the forum and moved on, but I always think of my fellow Crackers around this time.   Sorry it's been a tough year for you Sarah, but also glad to hear you've had and still have options going forward and that treatment so far has had positive results.  The physical and mental strain you must have been under is such a burden to carry.  Fingers crossed you'll catch a break and be back in remission next year, like you say.  You deserve it.   My year has involved a second mastectomy (for symmetry) and I'm now completely flat, which I've gotten used to and don't miss the ladies at all.  I'm still taking Anastrozole - 3 more years to go.  The SE's have been worse than Tamoxifen, but still JUST about tolerable.  I'm due another Dexa scan to check bone density as pre Anastrozole I had osteopenia.  Half of me can't wait to finish the course and the other half just worries what will happen when I do.  A blood test in summer flagged up raised liver enzymes and after several tests and a scan, plus a fair bit of worrying on my part, it was decided that it was linked to my diabetes and nothing sinister, although they also discovered a polyp on my gallbladder at the same time, which is being monitored now.  My splenic artery aneurysm has remained pretty stable as has my BP and cholesterol.  I still have a Buddha belly, which refuses to budge and I have some arthritis which is worse this time of year, but the best news of the year is I became a Grandma for the first time and it's wonderful!!   Michelle             ... View more

Hi Crackers, I'm late checking in this time round - I usually try to swing by near Christmas but was ill with two back to back viral infections in December and was coughing myself inside out for weeks.     So glad to see some familiar names still keeping up the annual tradition too 🙂   Sarah, I'm sorry you've been going through a rough time and I hope that the treatments you've had and any future ones that you may need will keep you stable for a very long time. New drugs seem to be coming along all the time, so finges crossed for you - keep up that positive attitude!   Maire and Cybele -  I fully get the reasons behind your choice to ditch the hormone treatment, but I'm just too chicken to take that leap of faith myself and so I plod on.  Have done 5 years of tamoxifen and 1 year of anastrazole with 4 more to go.  The SE's have been pretty dire, but I feel it's been my crutch and to date I'm prepared to suffer the side effects as long as I can manage.  Can't guarantee I'll complete the full 10 years, but I'll do my best.    Pammy, nice to hear from you on this thread.  If you find a way to shift weight whilst taking these blessed hormone pills, let me know!!    Trixielady - I'm sorry I haven't replied sooner, but I generally only look in on this thread once a year.  I had a very quick look at your profile and see you're having chemo and reconstruction.  I hope everything goes well for you and am sure you'll find great support in the monthly chemo threads.    After 6 years being a uniboober, I decided to ask for another mastectomy for symmetry.  I never wanted to have reconstruction and hated being lopsided so opted for the other breast removing and to go flat.  My surgery was on the 4th Jan and it's been much easier this time round as there was no lymph node clearance and no worries about cancer or chemo.  Now I need to work on my Buddha belly which is much more noticable with no baps to interrupt the view!!     Wishing everyone all the very best of health and happiness in 2019 xx   Michelle   ... View more

Hi Crackers!      Dropping in to wish everyone a very Happy Christmas and New Year.  So glad to be at the 5 year milestone and still doing well, although did have a bit of a minor scare earlier in the year with a very small bump that grew on my chest  (mastectomy side) and because it wasn't 'normal', albiet not cancerous, they whipped it off, so I have another mini scar to add to the rest.      I've now been prescribed Anastrazole for the next 5 years which I'm starting in the New Year once I've finished off my stock of Tamoxifen and can't say I'm looking forward to it, but will just have to see how it goes.  Had a bone density scan and have been put on high strength vitamin D and calcium tablets, which hopefully will help with the effects of  Anastrazole.  Will have another bone scan in a couple of years if all goes to plan.     Both my girlst have flown the nest this last year, so it's pretty quiet at home - hubby and I are now semi retired and spending more time enjoying the simple things in life.   Fingers crossed for another 5 years of being cancer free.  The doubt never leaves you, I know, but you've gotta live your life while you have it, so onwards and upwards.   All the very best eveyone xx   Michelle ... View more

Ooooh, I'm a bit late this year but I've made it onto the forum just in time to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year for 2017.         I try not to look back too often, but at this time of year I allow myself to remember all that we went through in 2012/13, the people who didn't make it this far and those still fighting the battle.     I'm ok myself, still taking Tamoxifen and putting up with the side effects.  They're rubbish, but I dare not take it so I just have a whinge every so often and then get on with it.    All the best Crackers!     Michelle xx      ... View more

Oh no, I'm so sorry to read your news Lisalouw. Having to face chemo again must have been awful, so I hope you had and are still getting all the support you need now your chemo is finished. Fingers crossed this time round you will be rid of the evil "C" for good. I'm sure if any of the other Crackers stop by, they will also want to wish you all the very best too. Once a Cracker....always a Cracker!!! xxx ... View more

Well, I may be posting entirely for myself to read as it seems this thread has just about been resigned to the archives, which is a little sad, but must mean everyone is doing so well that they no longer feel the need to revisit and that's no bad thing really.   However, just in case anyone does pop by, I will wish you a Very Happy & Healthy New Year for 2016. I always think of the Crackers at this time of year and those who are no longer with us.     Not much has changed for me over the last 12 months.  I'm still popping my Tamoxifen pills and putting up with the aches, pains, thinning hair, dry skin, flaky nails, flushes and 'hit and miss' memory that go along with it.  My next Oncology appointment is in May and perhaps, if I'm deemend to be post menopausal by then, I may be put onto an AI instead of Tamoxifen.  I don't think that's anything to look forward to .....but hey ho.   All the best.   Michelle  xx ... View more

Merry Christmas everyone, I hope 2015 brings you good health and happiness xx As I raise my glass today, I will toast you all but my thoughts especially for QD and her family as well as SPO whose fight continues xxx Love and Best Wishes Michelle ... View more

Shocked and saddened to read this news. I wasn't aware of QD's secondary diagnosis. Her family and friends must be devastated and my heart goes out to them. A solemn reminder of the uncertainty and indiscriminate nature of this awful disease and although I feel sad and deflated at QD's passing, I also feel grateful to have had the opportunity of sharing one of the most difficult times in my life on this forum with her and the many others who continue to fight on xxx ... View more

I'm pretty sure Tamoxifen is the cause of many of my ails Maire. Aches, pains, stiffness, thinning hair, dry skin, headaches, nausea, sweats, mood swings.... the list goes on. Feel rubbish a lot of the time but I just plod on with it hoping it's doing its job. When I was told I'll be on hormone treatment for "as long as possible" at my last oncology appt. I couldn't decide whether that was a good thing or a horror story. Seems the original 5 year plan has been extended! ... View more

I don't know whether anyone from the thread still drops by, as I don't really check in myself that much anymore, but as it's been 2 years since my diagnosis I feel drawn back,  just to say hi.  I'm still here, alive and kicking and hoping that all who shared a good 6 or more months of their lives with me through chemo, are all still doing well and enjoying life, as I am.    Lots of love   Michelle xxx ... View more

I'm just the same. I get tired, go to bed and as soon as my head hits the pillow I'm wide awake and it takes ages to drop to sleep, then I wake up 2-3 hours later, then drop back off again if I'm lucky, then wake up 1-2 hours after and toss and turn then maybe get another hour's sleep before I get up. I'm shattered 😞 ... View more

Marie I echo your fears and sufferings. I too have numerous aches and pains and sleep problems which I'm positive are due to tamoxifen. I seem to cycle through one problem after another and no two days are alike. There are some days I don't feel too bad and others I feel horrendous. The price to pay to try and keep the blighter from coming back! ... View more

.....and breathe! Lump nothing sinister, just a fatty nodule. ..hurrah for fat! MRI next Thursday to see what's causing me so much pain and why blood tests showing inflammation. ....holds breath again 😞 Good luck with your results Cybele, fingers crossed it will be scar tissue and thanks to everyone for their good wishes too x x ... View more

Cybele, I can fully empathise with you.  I too have found another lump, although mine is in my remaining right breast.  I have an appointment at the breast clinic next Thursday and am trying my best not to think too much about it. I came to the conclusion that worrying is a pointless waste of energy.  It serves no useful purpose and does not change the outcome of a situation.  Of course it's easier said than done, but I remind myself that I shouldn't miss out on enjoying the right here and now by wasting time worring about the past that has gone and cannot be changed nor the future that I cannot see because it hasn't been written yet!    A wise man once said.......you can carry s**t around with you if you wish, but the longer you carry it, the heavier the load feels and the more your arms will ache! ... View more

Cress your poem was brilliant! Wishing you and everyone on the forum a wonderful Christmas and a very happy and healthy New Year x x x ... View more

Just had my bird's nest chopped down and am back to a pixie cut hairdo. . Not doing too bad with hot flushes which are tolerable but joint pain and muscle aches are a nightmare. Hands and feet particularly painful but arm and leg muscles constantly aching and am getting 'dead leg' sensation almost all the time. GP unhelpful apart from noting BP is high so need to recheck in a few weeks. ... View more