Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hello dolph I am nearly 2 years past stopping arimidex I didn't really have too hard a time whilst on it minor stuff that was no big deal really but since stopping weight gain (slight) dry skin dry hair puffy feeling to body but no swelling as such,etc etc. turns out now have mild hypothyroidism apparently linked possibly to the treatment they say.what are you experiencing? ... View more

Hi, yes I read the article today too and also was surprised at the imbalance of it. ... View more

Hi knew couple of people with this-they said, tonic water(has quinine in it) helped also plunging both feet into a cold bowl of water helped also-were told something to do with circulation . Hope you find relief thru whatever means! ... View more

Hi there, Just to say I took arimidex for years until late last year. I really never had any effects at all -apart from tipping me into oesteoporosis possibly.That said I sailed thru menopause before that with no effects either,so maybe I just didn't have much oestrogen anyways! I don't know.Then again my bc was 100% 8/8 ER+ I took mine in morning with milk or tea-never water.Good luck with yours wish you well. ... View more

thanks for that cackles. I'm not concerned that it is anything directly bc connected really, just more puzzling than anything-unpleasant sensation bit achy thats all-feel a bit of a fraud mentioning it when others have it severely..Maybe i will see if i can get it defined as lymph or just some other oddity! I don't know if i have to be referred or if i can just call the bc unit and book it that way?-I guess it's how it is with all this stuff -don't want to leave it till it gets worse or is a problem but don't want to take up clinic time when there are others more in need and may be nothing- oh the joys! ... View more

Yup me too Buzzy- 5 years on,still get it! ... View more

I had the flu jab offered from GP the year that I had radiotherapy in(no chemo) but since then was just on arimidex and didn't have one either offered (or voluntarily). ... View more

Hi Steris, thanks so much for that info.I have a suspicion that it is in store for me! I will definately take your advice if it is. Thanks so much and I really hope things are going well for you. ... View more

Hi Happyshopper. I also have just last month finished 5 years arimidex,but in my case I am happy to be off of it.Re your question about oncs. My experience was. I saw onc when first diagnosed only.After about 4 years had significant bone loss,oesteoporosis so my GP requested an appointment with onc to discuss coming off/staying on it.I had that appointment,but must say although he was pleasant I got the distinct feeling that this really wasn't something to take up the onc's time.He said,very nicely though, that'your GP is panicking' In many ways I think I agree with that,there were some obviously very poorly people waiting also to see him and I did feel a bit uncomfortable being there since as far as I know,as we speak, I'm NED.Believe me I know the feeling of 'would love to have peace of mind that nothings there'but not sure we can ever truly get past that. I wish you well ... View more

Hi Ladies, can anybody give me a bit of advice please? does anybody know what is involved with a biopsy of fluid in the pluera?I have had pheumonia and plural fluid (small) showed up.I had fna which was ok, just wondering what is a plural biopsy? many thanks if you can help. Best wishes to all of you ... View more

Hi O&L sorry your visit was a bit of waste of everyone's time! Don't it just drive you mad!! I know you are around the same age as me and I guess if your anything like me we get impatient to say the least at all this sort of crap. Think it happens all the time.. I went recently as emergency case from GP surgery cos I had an ECG done there that was abnormal. was told could be heart attack or angina so had to go hospital..right. in there for 5 days - back for outpatients results etc-was told.. echocardio was 'fine'. I asked so what was the problem? was told 'perhaps the leads were not connected correctly for the ecg!! now once possibly-but I had 4 ecg's done.when I queried this I got a duh blank look-no answer-more waste of our time and nhs resources -drives me nuts...sorry for rant!!! ... View more

Hello solomummy I can only give my experience of radiotherapy. I had mine 5 years ago 15 sessions with 1 booster. For me there was really no noticable effects, really none. Maybe just a slight redness on surface but that was all I had. I was not told about , didn't know to ask really about creams and special soaps etc.I used nothing different to normal.We are all different and re-act differently but very,very many women have nothing really noticable or bad with radio so hopefully that will apply with your mum too. ... View more

Does anybody know at what point we all start to crackle??? ... View more

Each to their own I say! My surgeon and onc both,when asked, said direct effect of alchol on breast cancer is inconclusive,not proven link.Also,surprisingly the same was said of smoking on breast cancer. Having children,doesn't mean one deserves a longer life-but it certainly does change one's perspective on all things and I believe those ladies who have young children do have another dimension to their illness that emotionally makes it all that much harder to deal with. ... View more

It would be fine if we did have the 'informed choice'! advice re this changes almost every week dependent on which report you read. Good for you 1 month-very bad in next months 'study'.It's tiresome I think.Speak to any of a breast team-and they will give different answers depending on their own thoughts on the subject. There is no conclusive results anywhere,just 'slants'.I do have a wine when I fancy it, not much probably 1-2 bottles a week at most,but once once a total non drinker for decades-then found the pleasure.Oh and I smoke. My one saving grace is I'm not fat!! make up your own mind and go with what suits you personally I think. ... View more

I think this article should not be taken at face value,like all media hype. Report was referring to all cancers across the board,not just BC. So very hard as it is there must come a point where a balance of benefit / cost must come into the equation.We tend to see only our own personal perspective/situation as do all with whatever illnesses they have.I believe that if there were more professional awareness and a different approach early diagnosis is the key to both patient health and effective use of funds.I can only speak of parts of europe where I have lived. There the approach is much more of - patient presents with odd/vague symptoms which could well indicate serious desease-then they first run tests to eliminate that-then move onto the more minor/mundane things it could be-but they check First for the more serious things.Here it does seem to be the opposite. ... View more

Hi Alise I have just finished(1 wk ago) my 5 years on arimidex.Shows how much we all differ not only physically,but just as much emotionally- for me I just couldn't wait to come off it although really I had none of the terrible se's others have had. I did go from oesteopenia to oesteoporosis,but that has been improved and now I take nothing for that either.My cancer was 100% er -but even so for me I prefer to be without it.I was post men. at diagnosis,but then I had an early menopaus at 40-so for 15+ years there wasn't much circulating in me anyway-but still got hormone related cancer, so I don't know good luck ... View more

hello ladies, can I ask a personal question re rad lung damage- would you say where on your boob the lump was? it appears I may have some damage although nothing was mentioned at time of having rads mine was left boob at 9 oclock position (sort of 1/2 way down inner side. don't answer if you feel it too personal thankyou ... View more