Breast Cancer Now Forum

Thanks for the reply Marli. If it was that brand I guess I could understand, and I would have assumed they would offer a generic version? But she definitely said no more at all, and that I would have to go back to my doctor to get something else. It's very odd. I will ring the doctor on Monday. If it had been yesterday I would have thought it was an April fool! Emxxx ... View more

Hi Guys Thank you so much for all the replies. Whilst it is horrible to know there are others out there who are also feeling low, it does help to know that I am not alone and that maybe it is pretty common to feel like this after treatment. Riversidedawn, I hope you are feeling better (and more appreciated!) today. Take care. Emxx ... View more

Hi Riversidedawn I'm sorry that you are having such a long wait to get help 😞 So much for improving access to talking therapies. I don't really do anything to relax! We are about to move house again for the second time in a year and sometimes I think it is only the fact I am so tense that holds me together at all 🙂 I will work on that - might help me sleep too. I'm sorry you are still up at this time too and hope you get some rest. Take care. Emxx ... View more

Thanks for all your replies. I saw the breast surgeon last week and he doesn't want to see me for a year as I cannot have any reconstruction at the moment with the way things are. So I saw my gp yesterday and he couldn't see that any plan has been made for any follow up care, so he has written to the oncologist to ask him to see me again. Hopefully I will get an appointment soon. One or other of my daughters always come with me, but they are only in their early twenties and aren't much better than me at being forceful! I might ask about some counselling as I feel that that might help. Thank you for all the support ladies. Emxx ... View more

Thank you for the replies. I have downloaded the piece you posted, thank you sameoldme, and wil give it a read (its very long! 🙂 ). I'm glad to hear your wobbles are rare these days. I have looked at the Moving Forward courses, Riversidedawn, but I'm not very good at going places by myself, especially as the nearest one to me is still quite a way away. I hope your recon and rads went well and you are doing ok. I think a big part of the problem is that I'm not skipping anywhere at the moment, Feistyflora. I have lymphedema from my surgery that can't be treated at the moment because I have a blood clot from my picc line that won't go, even after 8 months of heparin. And I am waiting to see a cardiologist as my heart has been enlarged and causing problems since the chemo. On top of that I have quite bad side effects from exemestane - very frequent hot flushes are making my palpitaions worse, my joints are painful and swollen and I don't sleep more than 3 hours a night. I have been treated at 4 different hospitals (cardiologist will make 5), and seen a total of 7 breast surgeons and 6 oncologists. Not exactly continuity of care. I think you are right and I'm just exhausted and probably expecting too much too soon.  All the times I was at the hospital I saw so many really poorly people and I always felt like a fraud, like I wasn't really sick like them. I don't think I know if I'm coming or going at the moment. Thank you again for your replies. Big hugs. Emxx   ... View more

Hi Bobbity Boo   My lump was initially confined to my nipple, and I was told it was excema and to put some Nivea cream on it and it would go away,or just wear a bra with more cotton in. Eventually, after 2 and a half years they finally did a biopsy and I was diagnosed with IDC.  My feeling is that they struggle with rare diagnses like Pagets Disease, and if your case isn't a text book one they are more likely to dismiss it. I was also told that they didn't want to do a biopsy as it would require an open procedure, rather than a fine needle or punch. I understand why the media sees cases like Angelina Jolie's double mastectomy as good for raising awareness, but I wonder if, with the increased numbers in women coming forward with concerns that this brings, the doctors are more likely to dismiss genuine problems?   I hope that you now get the proper treatment and wish you all the best 🙂 Emxx ... View more

I have this problem too - I have never had dandruff in my life but now it is like a snowstorm. I have found that kerastase oil treatments are helping. I am currently using Elixir Ultime Rose Millenaire, and also the elixir ultime shampoo. It isn't cheap but it does seem to have made a difference. Emxx ... View more

Hi pleasant1 I'm really sorry you have secondaries 😞 That really sucks. I'm 48 now, although like you I think my cancer was there for quite a while before anyone actually listened to me. Best wishes, Em ... View more

Thank you ladies. Now I know that it isn't unheard of for people to stay on Zoladex for a while I won't feel bad for staying with the injections for a bit longer 🙂 Thanks again, Em ... View more

Thank you. Can't believe it can be more painful than using my arms 🙂 Do you know if the readings from a calf measurement are equivalent to arm readings, or do they have to be adjusted? Em ... View more

I said exactly the same to my GP on Monday! She said "but at least you don't have cancer..."  I hope the surgery went well on Monday and you are not too uncomfortable - you picked a lovely warm day to have it 🙂 I had to have a dexa scan recently but only as a baseline thing because I have just started having Zoladex injections.    I really felt that when the chemo was over I would be out of the woods, now I feel like the forest is bigger than I thought! Take care Marli, Emxx     ... View more