Breast Cancer Now Forum

I know, it is a real nuisance isn't it.. really feel for you.   Can you ask what the alternatives are then, if they are not allowing you oestrogen products? I feel sure that the only reason (and I may be wrong) is that if they did give the green light for the pessaries and the cancer did return, then they would be fearful of you pointing the finger so to speak, I don't know.   Anti depressants as I understand, can lift the mood if this is what is needed, but also feel sure they can interfere with your libido, so would be wary of taking those. Besides, do you feel depressed?   The psychological argument also sounds like a fob off too. Your issue sounds physical, not psychological..so the medics need to be finding ways to help you overcome your problem, not offering drugs and making out that it is all in your head!   Maybe go back to basics, hand holding, touching, kissing..then see where it all leads??     ... View more

Have you tried Replens or Sylk at all? I have heard that these are meant to help get things going...   I cannot undertstand why the ostrogen pessaries are a no no as pretty sure the amount of oestrogen is negligible, but just enough to sort the dry issue out. What about oestrogen cream which is applied topically?   It makes me mad when these oncologists say no to anything oestrogen based. Don't they understand that quality of life is so important after wretched BC?? Obviously not. I would be pushing for the pessaries (as long as you are okay using them). Anti depressants?? Now they may well kill your libido..what a cheek!   Really hope you get things sorted very soon. Naz x     ... View more

Hi I stopped taking tamoxifin after a couple of years as it made my periods irregular and I was experiencing a lot of lower abdominal pain and a few other 'women's' issues! Since coming off, my periods are regular (apart from the occasional blip) and I am back on track. I am not concerned that I don't take this drug at all. As someone mentioned, you can take it for 5/10 years and the cancer can still come back or you can develop something else. The same drug is prettt much offered to all women who have high oestrogen scores, but in my view, the body needs some oestrogen!   I had chemo and that was enough for me.. 6 years on and I am still here, watching my kids grow. If it comes back, I will deal with it then as it will be an entirely new journey.   At the end of the day, we can all keep ourselves super fit and healthy and STILL cancer can enter our lives!   Live for today, not what MIGHT happen in the future 🙂 :     ... View more

Hi Poppy, I totally get where you are coming from. This journey can be VERY lonely and isolating indeed.   What kind of support do you feel you would benefit from? For me when i hit that brick wall, it was chatting to the counsellor attached to my then place of work that helped.  Every day I would dump a load of 'stuff' onto her, I felt so guilty at the time, but the truth is that I knew that no one around me would understand those feelings of exhaustion, despair and sadness which I was experiencing, No one was able to empathise with what it was like to face those scars each day and even now, 3 years on, they just don't and it is never spoken about anyway.   I think the best support comes from those who 'get it; due to personal experience. Or perhaps a trained counsellor would be able to offer a listening ear?   Thinking of you. Naz x ... View more