Breast Cancer Care Forum

Hi olives I haVe been on tamoxifen 2.5 years. Had 3 bleeds in the last 10 months. They are like my periods were. After the first one I was referred for a vaginal ultrasound. No significant results. This week I phoned the oncology nurse and she said don't worry as I was checked thoroughly a few months ago, but call back if it starts to be regular and they will consider zoladex. It does seem to be quite common, but you do need to get checked just in case. ... View more

Hi Animalmad, sorry to hear about your situation.  There is a section called Family History and Genetics under the Have I Got Breast Cancer section.  Some of the ladies posting there might have more relevant information.  You might get a better response if you try posting the same question there.  There is so much on the forum I think people get stuck in their favourite areas and don't always look around. Good luck. X ... View more

Hi Tinkerbell, I used bio oil. X ... View more

Hi Pandorra   I was driving 1 week after surgery - automatic gears though & my node surgery was on my right side, so no strain.  However, when I'm in the passenger seat, the seat belt is still uncomfortable more than a year later! My dressings came off after 10 days, though there were a couple of leaky areas that had small dressings put back on.  I was back at work 10 days after surgery - but not doing anything heavy.X ... View more

Hi, I also had a false sense of security from my mammogram.  I was really angry, but they explained my type of cancer doesn't show well on mamograms and my breast tissue was dense and that makes it more difficult to see any lumps.  I do think there ought to be publicity about this, I had stopped checking when my mamograms started because I thought they'd got it covered for me. ... View more

Hi Angel, I was waking up between 2 and 3am. 15 months after surgery I have suddenly started sleeping through some nights. I have no idea why, but it is lovely!  I am on Tam, so blame every thing on it.  Not sure if it is a menopause thing. I tried reducing fluids in the evening and trying to keep my eyes shut and not look at the clock, drinking lots of alcohol and drinking no alcohol, but once I have woken up I have to get up for a wee before I can go back to sleep. I have found a lot of the discomfort from radiotherapy has eased off after the 12 months mark and the sleep is now improving, so I think you just have to hang on in there. ... View more

Hi Gerbera, with regard to your final size, I would ask your breast surgeon or bcn.  I had a reduction on my good side at the same time as they removed my lump.  I went from a G cup to a D. My cancer side has shrunk slightly due to radiotherapy, but my good size is spot on. Post surgery I was advised to get a sports bra one cup size bigger than the finished size - and had to wear a bra day & night for 6 weeks after surgery.  I would never have chosen to have a reduction before, but feel so lucky that my breast team offered it and did it all as one operation because I didn't have to cope with being lopsided.  With clothes on you can't tell they are different.   If you want a reduction why not ask if it's possible?  My surgeon said I could choose whether I wanted the reduction which she recommended, or a single masectomy with either implant or LD flap.  Good luck!     ... View more

Hi, also after surgery they will do tests on the tissue they remove and may adjust the treatment plan accordingly. ... View more

Hi Pat,  I was on zoladex for a short period.  I had a 1 month injection followed by a 3 month injection.  This was done at the oncology nurse clinic at the hospital.  I think the plan was to stay on 3 monthly injections, but I didn't need them in the end. Hope this  helps. E ... View more

Hi LSM, sounds like you need to get someone to frog march you there! You've had a really long wait, so it's not surprising that you're having a wobble.  Hope you feel better in the morning. ... View more

Hi Anna, I now have a dodgy elbow and shoulder which flare up if I do too much heavy lifting or repetitive movement.  I think it is just one of those things we have to put up with.  I do find the exercises help when it hurts though and it gets worse if I rest.  My hospital have also got a physio linked to the breast clinic.  I've nearly gone to see her several times, but then it eases off. ... View more

Hi Sunbeam,   Sorry to hear you are having such a difficult time. I had entirely different circumstances and went straight to surgery.  However, I have read on here that it is not unusual to have chemo first. Once you see the oncologist and they can give you a plan for your care you will have some dates to focus on.   My lump was 3.6cm and it will be 1 year since surgery on Thursday. It did seem to get bigger after they did the biopsy.  I don't know if it really got bigger or if I was just more conscious of it.   If you have a look on the 'going through treatment' section on the chemo threads you will probably find people with similar circumstances as well as lots of tips for coping with chemo.  Good luck. ... View more

Hi Deelush, the zoladex supresses the ovaries, so no oestrogen is produced.  I think Tamoxifen blocks oestrogen after it is produced and stops the breast tissue taking it up.  In younger women the zoladex is supposed to give some protection to the ovaries and future fertility.  For me I think they just wanted to stop the hormones.   I think people react differently to tamoxifen, so things can be a bit unpredictable. The GP reacted as if I was making a fuss about nothing after 8 weeks continuous bleeding. but gynae were really great and said lots of people have irregular bleeding with Tam, but the biopsies are usually clear. ... View more

Hi Deelush I continued having periods after I started Tam although oncologist expected them to stop. My BCN got me an appointment with an oncology nurse.  She let it continue for about 3 months then started me on zoladex injections (I was pre-menopausal).  My periods were stopped by zoladex, but then I developed continuous bleeding which seems to have been due to a polyp. This has been removed & no bleeding for about 4 months now.   The oncology nurse has been really helpful with the gynae problems and now eye problems which I think are Tamoxifen related. She got the oncologist to make a gynae referal after my GP had turned me away twice.  Gynae were straight on it and arranged a biopsy, but said it was unlikely to be anything sinister as I had only  been on Tam about 6 months at that stage.  They don't expect real problems to come on until after a couple of years.  I only got it checked out as the oncologist said they would have to 'do something about it' if my periods didn't stop. Hope this helps     ... View more

Hi Jaye, I finished rads 5 months ago.  I suffered terrible fatigue where it was like my batteries just ran out.  If I tried to push myself I would just end up all shakey.  That has gone now.  I am not sure when it stopped.  I still have a dip at tea time where I will go to sleep if I sit down, but it is not like the proper fatigue. Hope you soon feel better. X   ... View more

Hi Parky   Sorry you are having all this worry.  Regarding the number of nodes taken, they told me they would take 1 and when the bcn talked through the results told me all 6 were clear. I queried why it had gone up to 6 and the BNC explained it as they are like little beads and when the surgeon takes it out there may be others in the lump of tissue.  The lab then automatically look at everything they've been sent.  I was really happy with my breast care team (perhaps I am in la la land!).  However today I was on a gynae day ward and was appalled when they ran out of disposible aprons and gauze (there were only 6 beds so not exactly busy). So can imagine how worrying it must be when you're having an important op. ... View more

Hi Toulula, I found it confusing that they call it hormone treatment but it is actually treatment to block the hormones.  Did you mean you have been coming off the HRT gradually?  I don't think you normally start tamoxifen etc until after surgery.  Good luck with your op next week. ... View more

Hi Deb, I tried out the exercises before surgery to check how they felt.  At my hospital they have a physio linked to the breast clinic.  She saw me before I went down for surgery and wrote out what exercises I should be starting on which day of the week.  It sound very basic, but was helpful in setting my expectations. T hey also have drop in physio sessions just for BC patients.  It might be worth a call to your BCN to see if your hospital has anything similar or if they need to do a separate referral to physio for you.  Even if you just have a chat with a physio they may have some ideas to make things easire for you.  Elaine ... View more

Hi ejenks, I have just come off tamoxifen because of side effects, but feel great - sorry.  It's about a month, but still having hot flushes, so don't think it has worked its way out fully yet. Eaine ... View more

Hi Ellies, I also moisturised, particularly my scars, with bio oil as that's what bcn advised for scars. I had to switch to acqueous cream during rads.  Also keeping up with the exercises is a good idea.  I didn't and got a stiff shoulder towards the end, so wished I had!  Make sure you have some dark coloured bras as they use marker pen on you every day (to write over the tatoos so they can see them clearly) and it rubs off on your clothes.  At my planning session they also gave me a list with some 'safe' deodorants on it.  You are not supposed to shave underarms during rads (but I did at the weekends because I was sure I had smelly pits).  If you are going to be exposed to the sun when travelling there you might want to think about what tops you will wear.  I got a square of 'sunburn', the corner which peeked out of my v-necks you wouldn't want that to be exposed to the sun this time of year. Elaine ... View more