Breast Cancer Now Forum

I just found it really strange that I had 6 months of chemo dominating my life and the staff were wonderful and incredibly caring but then from the minute I walked out after my last treatment that was it, nothing.  No one spoke to me about after care or support, (maybe I was supposed to ask, I dont know).  I had private care (paid by my boss, I couldnt have done it) so it isnt for lack of funding.  Am I missing something.  I was ok because I had a pretty easy time with my treatment but for some people this would be dreadful.  Kind of like taking off the stabilisers from a childs bike too soon. Anyhow I think I wandering off into a different subject area now. ... View more

I am 10 months finished chemo and on tamoxifen.  I have the same thing with my hands, particularly in the morning.  I had bloodtests for arthritis which came back clear so yours may be a side effect. Mine started a wek after i finished the chemo and it has improved a little so fingers crossed (if I can cross them) yours will ease with time. ... View more

Well.  hello all. I joined this forum some time ago then forgot all about it.  I had a mastectomy and auxillery clearing then 6 months of chemo so I guess I was full to the brim with anything cancer related.  It really is all consuming.  I was very lucky in that my boss paid for all my treatment and the place I had chemo was incredible. I almost looked forward to my weekly treatments as the antihistamine knocked me out and it was the only time I ever used to sleep.  2 weks before my diagnosis. (another story, they did not deal with that very well at all) my freind gave birth to my godson who had many problems and spent the first 16 months of his life in hospital.  This was a huge distraction for me throughout my treatment and while I was on weekly treatment I was then at St Thomas hospital with them every day. That certainly kept things in perspective for me watching all those precious little babies fighting for their lives.  Also during this time my beloved dog died unexpectedly.  We had been inseperable for years ( Im still not over it more than a year later).  Next, my best freinds mum died on christmas day, we knew it was coming as she had kidney failure although why they decided to stop her dialysis just before christmas is beyond me.  What with all this going on my health situation was not very high on my list so I feel like I went through it really easily although if i wasnt at a hospital i was in bed or the pub.  My dod died in November and i (wrongly) drank myself stupid for about 3 months with the parents of my godson and my freind who lost her mother.  Drinking and very sick humour got us through it.  I had my very long vey thick hair cut to a short bob the day before my chemo started and used the cold cap. I did loose 50% of my hair.  Not too nociable for others but of course to me it was half my hair.  I now have tufts of hair about 2 inches long sticking out all over which is nice : ) Anyway I was looking through these threads last night to see if I could find some answers or find I am just a hypercondriac and like everyone else was surprised to find so many people feeling the same way.  Although my chemo was first class I walked out of there on the last day with no direction whatsoever.  you cant possible know what its like unless you have been through it so all my freinds have had the attitude of its over, get on with it.  Its been implied by some that Im lazy because I still struggle to get up in the mornings have no energy and feel weak.  I have very mixed feelings on this because half of me thinks that because I had an easy time with my treament I shouldnt feel like this but then other times I want to scream the C word at people. Went to my gp yesterday because Im fed up with feeling generally unwell. When I said I couldnt get up she asked me if i thought it was depression.  However, its a physical thing, I wake up and it takes about an hour before I can get up, its like coming out of a GA every morning and i ache all over and cant move my fingers.  Had a blood test but she thinks its probably the tamoxifen, so thats nice as i still have 4 and a half years of that.  And dont start me on the weight gain . . . . Sorry about all the moaning, Im usually quite positive.  One last moan.  I feel cheated. I was led to beleive that I would find this new love and appreciation of life while instead Ive got a hair that looks like a goat has been chewing it.  One boob bigger than the other with one also looking like the goat has had a go at it, no feeling in my boob,right arm, armpit and shoulder.  (those of you with the same will know the frustration of it itching and not being able to do anything about it) a stone and a half heavier, fat in places Ive never had before and a belly that hangs down past my hips.  I am so ashamed of myself for thinking this because Im supposed to be grateful for being alive but Im most angry that I got an illness that made me fat instead of an illness that makes you thin.  I know thats terrible and Im really not a vain person at all but thats the truth.  I never said I was a nice person : )   ... View more