Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hello powerjen I agree with wintersocks above. This is worrying you and will probably continue to do so until they do a biopsy. I know what it's like to worry all the time about recurrence - it's dreadful. If I were you I would ask them to do a biopsy to put your mind at rest. Best wishes - Anthi ... View more

Hi Lottie. Don't shave it. It's a myth that shaving it off will make it come back thicker. I had a similar experience. Lost my hair on FEC (had 3 of those followed by 3 Tax). I started to notice regrowth after the second Tax. After that it continued to grow very slowly and the third tax seemed to make the growth slow down for a time, but it didn't fall out again. Good luck and take care Anthi x ... View more

Margaret I hope you managed to get away on holiday and are enjoying yourself. I'm writing to say - don't worry about the colonoscopy - I've had three and it really is OK. Hope you feel better soon. Best wishes - Anthi x ... View more

Hello Melli. I've just seen your message and very sorry to hear about your diagnosis. I was diagnosed 5 years ago and have had surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, herceptin and aromasin and I'm still here ! It must have been dreadful for you to have lost your husband to cancer. I must tell you, however, that I've done this entirely alone - I live alone - but have very good friends and neighbours who helped enormously when I was having treatment. - it can be done. I know that once you have a treatment plan you will feel a lot better as you will know that you are doing something about the cancer. In the meantime, please take care and be sure to write to tell us what is happening. Very best wishes Anthi x ... View more

Hello I'm a dreadful wimp and was terrified before my hysterectomy so I told them how frightened I was. I was given loads of pain killers -morphine for 24 hours and then voltarol suppositories which were marvellous. I had the op early in the morning and got out of bed (with help) to the loo that evening. I agree with daffodil above about the wind pain. The pain meds tend to make you constipated which doesn't help so best to ask them for lactulose or something to try to avoid that. The whole experience wasn't nearly as bad as I had been imagining. I think if you're nervous about pain then it's always best to tell them beforehand. Wishing you lots and lots of luck. Anthi x ... View more

Hello Lolly Yes I sometimes have dizziness from Aromasin. It used to worry me until I looked it up and found that dizziness is on the list of possible 'common' side effects. Take care Anthi x ... View more

Jan - glad to read that you are OK. Well done for leaving your husband. It must feel very strange after 31 years but I hope you will settle down quickly and really enjoy your lovely flat. I'm doing fine thank you. I'm still having physio and doing exercises and the arm is still painful, but seems to get a little better every day. I started driving again a few weeks ago. That's painful too, but it's lovely to be independent again. Annie - I understand your wobble very well. I'm also due to finish Aromasin in July. You say 'a bit longer than 5 years'. - what does that mean exactly? I think there was a thread somewhere on here about staying on AIs for longer than 5 years but I looked for it earlier and couldn't find it. I would love to know more about this. Oh yes - just found it. It's headed 'Exemestane'. Take care everyone. Anthi x ... View more

Hello Emwilson Clinical trials have shown that lumpectomy followed by radiotherapy and mastectomy have the same outcome - with regard to recurrence and survival - i.e. neither of them gives you a better chance than the other. As others here have said, if your surgeon has recommended a lumpectomy then he must believe it will be enough. The tissue he removes will be sent to the lab and the margins measured very carefully to make sure that he has taken enough. I had a WLE 5 years ago and thankfully the surgeon got clear margins the first time. I've never had any regrets about not having a mastectomy. Good luck with your decision. Anthi x ... View more

Hello Tresanne Yes - the same thing happened to my nipple after radiotherapy. I asked about it and was told it's quite normal for them to become paler than the other one. Take care Anthi x ... View more

Hello bingowings and sarahlouise I was diagnosed in DEC 2006 with grade 3 - 12mm BC and had WLE, chemo, rads, herceptin and now Aromasin. My affected breast has intermittently been very itchy. I mentioned this to the radiologist doing the ultra sound at one of my 6-monthly checkups and he definitely showed concern. He said 'are you sure the itching has stopped now' - which it had - and he said - OK - no problem. That checkup was clear, and another checkup three weeks ago was also clear despite more intermittent itching, and in my case I'm pretty sure that it is just the skin on the affected breast causing the itch. I think the skin there is still sensitive following the radiotherapy even though that was 4 years ago. However, I have read that an itchy breast can - in VERY RARE CASES - be an indication of BC. I don't wish to worry either of you, bingowings or sarahlouise and I think it's pretty unlikely that your itching is anything to worry about. However, I thought you should both be aware that in rare cases it can be a symptom. So please do be sure to mention it when you go for checkups - especially bingowings - as you said your onc dismissed this earlier. take care both x ... View more

Hello Alise I've got lymphoedema in my affected breast (I agree it makes the mammograms even more painful than they already were) but I don't believe it makes any significant difference to the appearance of the mammogram. In my case, the mammogram is looked at by the radiologist who then comes in to do the ultrasound so I'm able to remind him that I've got lymphoedema. Take care Anthi x ... View more

Hello Jan What a palaver with your GP. Out of interest, I've just looked up Citalopram, and it says in the possible side effects section 'Headaches - very common side effect, migraines - common side effect and hypertension common side effect'. I think you may be right, but why does your GP not just look it up before insisting the Citalopram isn't the cause of your headaches and raised blood pressure ? Anyway, I hope you manage OK when you come off it. Has your depression gone away now? I hope so. Take care Anthi x ... View more

Hello wendiewoo I had painful joints with Aromasin, but stayed on it and that side effect eventually went away completely. I have to say though that in my case the pain wasn't bad enough to stop me exercising. Take care Anthi x ... View more

Hello Jan Sorry for delay posting. (I've been very busy throwing out the dangerous flooring which I tripped over when I broke my arm !) Yes thank you, my appointment was encouraging. The arm is by no means fully healed but it's going OK and I've been referred for physio. Have my first appointment next week. I can now type with two hands again ! How did you get on with your GP Jan ? Anthi x ... View more

Thanks Jan Anthi x ... View more

Hello Jan and Annie and thanks for your messages. I'm still wearing a sling but have an appointment for an x-ray and to see the Dr this Wednesday. I'll let you know what happens. Take care Anthi x ... View more

Hello everyone and Happy New Year. Yes, that's the trouble with generics - one seems to be given a different brand every time. I'm now settled back onto the branded Aromasin and feeling much better for it. Good luck when you see your GP Jan. Let us know what happens. Haxted, hope you don't have any problems when you go back on the branded one. Take care everyone. Anthi x ... View more

Hello Jane I used to have painful joints and bones with Aromasin and was really stiff - especially in the morning. My finger joints were swollen too and there were some rings I couldn't get on. But then I noticed a gradual improvement, my fingers returned to their normal size and now most of the aches and pains have gone. Try to stay on the pills if you can - Aromasin is a very good medication. Anthi ... View more

Lactulose and senna liquid taken together is the best remedy I know and very gentle. both are obtainable over the counter at the chemist. two teaspoons of senna liquid and four of lactulose will give you relief. best wishes Anthi x ... View more

by the way everyone, belated apologies for hijacking this thread with a discussion about my bones ! Anthi xx ... View more