Breast Cancer Now Forum

Ladies, I had rads 3 1/2 years ago, have fair skin and burn very easily in the sun so was concerned how rads would affect me, however, I was absolutely fine surprisingly, my skin barely turned pink. I do remember expressing my concern as to whether it was working or not because of the lack of skin irritation and was told it was perfectly normal to have no reaction to the treatment. You may be surprised as to how well your body copes x ... View more

Carol, I've been on Tamoxifen since I was diagnosed 4 years ago, apart from a few hot flushes I have no problems whatsoever. Don't believe everything you read, if we believed all of the potential side effects for any drug we would never be treated for anything, you have nothing to lose by trying it and everything to gain. ... View more

Hi Helly, I had a micromet on one node and my oncologist recommended a full clearance, I was concerned about this but more concerned about the potential outcome of not having it done. I therefore did have the ANC, that was 4 years ago and I'm still fit and well, no problems on my surgery side. Good luck with your decision. ... View more

Hi Boogi, welcome to the forum, you will get a lot of support but sorry you and your wife find yourselves here. I understand that with most critical illness insurance policies they will pay out for an invasive cancer which this is but you'd have to check the wording on your policy and give them a ring - you probably have by now. In terms of diagnosis, I would just say the results of the biopsy are often not fully accurate as they sample such a small slice of tissue and the size on the scans can differ to the actual tumour size, this is nothing to worry about, my tumour was smaller than they initially thought. Your wife may or may not have scans, all hospital trusts do things differently, I've never had a scan and I was diagnosed 4 years ago. I would also say chemo will probably be recommended due to your wife's age and the the grade of the cancer. My cancer was a small grade 2 and it was recommended to me due to my age, my daughter was 4 when I was diagnosed and I undertook multiple surgeries, chemo and radio, whilst continuing to work, chemo is doable, even though unpleasant. Take care   CC x ... View more

I should add the monthly chemo threads are a great help, the ladies from our March 2012 are still in touch and meet regularly and some of us have just returned from 5 days in Spain, we have a very special bond and love for each other. I am sure you will get the support you need x ... View more

Hi Tanyette, I underwent chemo 4 years ago and never really had any problems. I was quite sick after my first one but my sickness Meds were adjusted and I was never sick again. I continued to work full time and looked after my 4 year old daughter and ran the house, I pretty much carried on as normal. I'm not saying I didn't have sofa days because I did, but on the whole I was fine, the fear of the treatment was far worse than the reality xxx ... View more

Ladies, just a quickie but I wanted to say that not everyone struggles with chemo. I coped really well, I was sick after my first one but my Meds were adjusted and I was never sick again. I continued to work full time, albeit from home and look after my then 4 year old daughter. Radiotherapy was during the summer holiday from school and I had my appointments first thing before my husband went to work and still managed to run the house, work and take my little girl for days out etc. We went on holiday 3 weeks after I finished radiotherapy. That was nearly 4 years ago, I've been in Tamoxifen since, also with no problems. The thought of chemo is more often than not, far worse than the reality. Take care all xxx ... View more

Hi Sarah, didn't want to read and run but just wanted to say although you wont be there in the way and capacity you'd like to be, don't write yourself off. I was well all through my chemo 4 years ago and continued to work and socialise as normal, i know many others who were the same, you may be surprised at how well you cope - i hope you are x ... View more

So very sorry to hear this, my thoughts are with all who knew and loved her. RIP X  ... View more

Hi Poppyfields, I only had to wait 3 days and it was hell on earth so I can only imagine how you must be feeling. Everything crossed for good news. CC x ... View more

Hi Jackie, sounds pretty much normal to me, was certainly how my targeted boosters were planned, referring to your other post  I think the radiographer was the person you needed to speak to and not the BCN, who I believe would only have passed you back to the radiographer. kind regards   CC ... View more

My eyesight has deteriorated rapidly since undergoing chemo, my optician advised annual eye tests due to being in Tamoxifen x ... View more

Glad to hear the treatment is working for you Belinda x ... View more

I absolutely agree that if taking Tamoxifen or AI's affects your quality of life to such a degree that you would want to stop taking it, my point is why would you consider not taking before you've even begun? Many people, like myself have no problems at all so why would believe that you're going to be severely affected because others are? Why not believe you're not going to be severely affected like myself and many others and keep an open mind and give it a go? ... View more

Ladies, just wanted to say if we read the side effects for every medication we took we'd never take anything. I have been on Tamoxifen for 3 years and apart from mild hot flushes to begin with have had no problems at all. I agree if you take the drug and find you have side effects that you can't live with it's one thing, but I really don't understand why anyone wouldn't give it a go when they could be completely problem free - it's a no brainer in my opinion. ... View more

Hi Miarose, the waiting really is the pits isn't it, I don't know how I got through it and I only had to wait 3 days for the results, it was very quick at my hospital. I was 43 when diagnosed with a four year old daughter and that was all I could think about, her growing up without me, it was truly terrifying. I went on to have surgery, chemo (recommended due to my age), radiotherapy and now on Tamoxifen, it's 3 1/2 years now since my diagnosis and although the paranoia never goes away life is much easier. There isn't a day goes by when I don't think about it to a greater or lesser degree but it's not the all consuming, hand wringing anxiety that was so prevelant a while back, life kind of gets back to normal. I continued working during my chemo whilst running the house and looking after my 4 year old, myself and my husband had no help - I even took her on days out during the big school summer holidays whilst I was undergoing radiotherapy. If it is cancer (and it may not be) don't fear the treatment, think of it as a gift from our wonderful NHS, we are so lucky. For the majority of us treatment is nowhere near as bad as we feared and as portrayed on the television. Chin up, we're all here to help. Take care CC x ... View more

Hi Clem, my nurse used to aspirate mine about once a week, but it was only done about 3 times and I didn't need it again. I think you should ring your BCN and see if she can help. Take care, CC x ... View more

My onc told me to wait until rads had finished too x ... View more