Breast Cancer Now Forum

I was on Arimidex but was switched to tamoxifen after about 2 years because the oncologist said that arimidex wasn't proving worthwhile. I didn't suffer dizziness or anything physical (other than zero libido) but I did develop an annoying inability to remember words and names of things.   i was on arimidex in 2008/2009 and Tamox from 2009 to 2011.   I am now 61 and in a technical work situation it is annoying, and rather early for senile decay so i suppose it must be effects of chemo or other drugs, but i couldn't say which.   probably not much help to you, but I am enjoying life as a survivor, so that is the main thing.  ... View more

Well done Lads, BC is never over but you can adapt to the "new normal" and continue with most things that you enjoy. NOw to get my clove on and go and play in the workshop... best wishes to all. ... View more

Gutted, No-one wants to go though all this anxiety and pain, so I find it best to be frank with everyone. The thing to remember is that cancer is never "over", "cured" or "finished". I recently went to the doctor with a suspected lump in my remaining breast, he didn't have the benefit of another breast to compare it with and referred me to the consultant. The consultant agreed that it merited investigation even though it was not the same as my original lump. they did an ultrasound scan and found nothing, so we (note joint decision of consultant and patient) agreed to wait 3 months and see if it changes. So I could have 3 months of worry, but after all I've been through I have learned only to worry about what has been found rather than what might happen. Your concerns are very real, as is your right to be received and examined as a potential BC patient. I tell my employer everything, then they have no excuse for not being sympathetic. I don't expect understanding or sympathy but I do expect respect and acknowledgement of my genuine needs. Anyone who can dismiss cancer or belittle its effects and needs is little better than pond life. Your health and family are paramount, everything, and I mean everything else is of far less importance. This is hard on your wife and children, so don't make it any worse for them - be open and honest and get through it all together our family is much closer through my wife and myself getting through cancer treatment and our outlook on life is better too. with best wishes for negative results, Clunk ... View more

Thanks Rattles, I do some of the excercises which help for the shoulder - as the sleeve also helps, but I haven't seen a massage ball or taping. I have used a ball on my foot before to ease a tight cartilage but have no idea what taping is. I do cycle too when it is dry, and I cheat by using electric asistance as I can't bring myself to travel slowly. Leaving the sleeve off hasn't helped and only made my shoulder worse, so I am back to all day in one sleeve, a couple of hours break in the evening and then a different sleeve at night. I haven't noticed any rubbing but one sleeve (a lymphodiva pattern) doesn't grip at the top for more than about 6 hours and if it slips down it bunches in my inner elbow which is really annoying. I shall have to experiment with exercises i think, so would wlecome more details on balls and straps - all in the best possible taste. thanks again, Clunk. ... View more

Tinger, I'm so pleased that the second taxo wasn't so bad for you. It almost seems as if you strat getting used to FEC and then the change to Taxo is really hard but i can't really say why it seemed so tough. Anyway, you only have one more to go and then in about mid June you will start to enjoy the tastes of summer. Taste will come back, but not as quickly as you might hope. beware of the cumulative effects of radiotherapy, after the first couple you think that there is nothing to it, but as it accumulates you get that feeling of weariness like you've had a long day at the beach and have a touch of sunstroke. Again, it doesn't last but don't plan to do anything special like holidays or family functions during that time as it becomes very tiring. best wished for the final stabbing session, Clunk. ... View more

Dear Lympho Ladies, I am single breasted man - mastectomy, nodes, 3 x FEC, 3 x Taxo, Rads, 2 years Arimidex, 3 years Tamoxifen. I have slight lympho in my arm and shoulder (bulky under-arm and shoulder blade) and when I ride a motorbike, which involves reasonably still horizontal arm for about an hour, My arm feels really heavy and it is hard to bend my elbow an reach up to open my visor. The lympho specialists said that I would be better off wearing a sleeve so I have a selection - including black for the bike and tribal tattoo for social events. The arm is now better for motorcycling but since wearing a sleeve, my elbow hurts right on the bone. I realise that this is opposite to how this thread started, but does anyone else have an aching elbow since wearing a sleeve, and how long do you wear yours for? I work in an office so my new ache isn't particularly work related. I really didn't want to join this club... best wishes, Clunk (58 y.o. man) ... View more

Gutted, I wouldn't bother about being embarrased by breast cancer, men have breasts too, or in my case one breast and a scar. I'm not familiar with the treatment for Prostate that you mention but BC usually involves surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The Surgery will leave you lop-sided in the chest and prone to lymphoedema in the adjacent arm for the rest of your life, Chemo makes you feel awful and is a great hair remover while radiotherapy fries flesh and muscle and renders good giblets inoperative. When that is over you take hormone tablets for 5 years which has several side effects but mainly loss of libido, erectile dysfuntion and general impotency. Sorry to be so brutally honest but I've been through all that and am still around to provide for my family, watch my children mature and enjoy life. I'm not embarrassed about breast cancer any more than I would be about prostate cancer as neither show when you wear clothes. My wife has had tongue and neck cancer and nothing disguises either of those, so not just no sex but we can't even kiss properly. Feel free to rant, its good for the soul. best wishes for good outcomes. ... View more

Tinger, Thats how I felt about Taxo but I deliberately didn't tell you That I found it hard. I can sympathise with the weakness, Just walking from my car to the office door was only about 50 yards but it felt like a marathon. As for taste, you've lost it but its only temporary, so just eat and drink whatever you feel like as long as it doesn't sting your mouth its ok - fish & chips (but no vinegar or sauce) is ok but no curry, its too spicy! I indulged my love of sausage rolls and pork pies... However, you will feel better after a week or so and now you only have 2 more to go. You can do this, and by the time we reach May, it will be all over and the weather will make you fel better too. Stick with it, you're doing well. very best wishes, Clunk. ... View more

Hi Tinger, I'm sorry to hear that you are having a tough time, but as Libralady says, your "suitability" for treatment is really down to your blood test and the Oncologist. I only had a one week delay when my blood count wasn't good enough but you really don't want to delay anything as the treatment is accumulative (as you are experiencing) and you don't really want your "level of treatment" to fall until it is all over. Taxotare is not better or worse than FEC, its just different. You certainly wont miss the Epirubicin (the viscious red one that makes you pee red afterwards) but Taxotare is tough in a different way. On the food side, since you probably can't tell the difference between tea and coffee anyway, unless you are diabetic just go for anything you like the taste of - I was heavily into Pepsi and Ribena drinks and ginger biscuits - anything that tasted of something but didn't sting my mouth. As for food, jsut go for anything you fancy; its not junk food if you can eat it! You can go back to proper food and drink when you finish the chemo and can taste again Just stick with it Tigger, you can do this and the benfits are huge. Any time you feel down or rough - tell us and someone will sympathise because we all remember how bad we felt. Feel free to have a good rant now and again; but not at your wife or family as it is really tough for them too. I hope test and meeting with Onc go well, Spring is coming, it will be a good summer and you've got a life to pick up again in less than 3 months. very best wishes, Clunk ... View more

Hi Peter K, Welcome to the club that you never wanted to join. As someone else said, it depends how physical your job is. The official line is that everyone is affected differently but you will suffer the effects of the surgery and chemo is controlled poisoning so that if you are on a 3 week cycle, you will feel quite battered for 3 - 5 days after a chemo session and then you will improve every day until just before your next treatment you might even feel quite good - then back to square one again. I also felt that the chemo was accumulative as recovery was a little longer each subsequent time. But there are some unknowns about how sick you will feel in the first few days and how bad the drug side effects will be; any sort of steroid will rob you of sleep if taken too late in the day and other drugs mak make you feel somehow slightly removed from reality, but the unknown is how much and for how long. After mastectomy, your upper arm on that side will have a sort of nettle-rash tingle and you'll probably have no feeling in your armpit. they will show you what arm exercises to do, so make sure you do them every day. About being self-employed, in this I can sympathise. I am a self employed engineer and spend my day in front of a computer, so it's not exactly strenuous, but I found the mental detachment was hard for me. I had Chemo on a Thursday, spent Friday & Saturday in bed, moved around a bit on Sunday and went to work on Monday. It was a 45 minute drive so I went early and didn't take my pills until I was safely at work to reduce the side effects. At work I shuffled along like a man of about 90 yrs old (I was 54) and it was tough to concentrate. I would imagine that if I had a physical job like a plasterer, I would have neede to take on a lad to do the lifting and holding as you really would struggle with carrying and positioning a sheet of plasterboard certainly in the first week of the cycle. On the other hand I was riding motorbikes in the 2nd and 3rd weeks when I felt like clearing my head a bit. The only light at the end of the tunnel is that it is usually finished in about 21 weeks - about 4 months. I hope that helps you to plan things. Very best wishes Clunk. ... View more

Hi Tinger, Indigestion will be a problem because the chemo kills off the friendly bacteria in your gut but the acids are still active, so acid reflux can be a problem. Make sure you drink lots to keep things well flushed and try to eat food that is easily digested. My big fear used to be hiccoughs because once they started, they could carry on for over an hour and made everything sore. Well done, it sounds like your using the tablets well. Clunk. ... View more

Tinger, I wrote a reply but somehow it was lost... I am so pleased that your chemo went well, now just make sure that you have plenty of rest through the grotty bit and don't push yourself too hard - but keep up those arm exercises! You made good time through the day and I hope that continues too. keep us up to date and fire off sany questions to us. very best regards, Clunk ... View more

Have a really good Christmas Tinger and enjoy all the different tastes and flavours. Keep us up to speed on your progress and ask anything you like. ... View more