Forum Discussion

SawsanN's avatar
SawsanN
Member
12 years ago

All of the above

Hello Ladies,

I don't know how to describe my feelings right now: Angry? Depressed? Disappointed? Lonely? Scared? Confused? Sad?  Maybe all of the above. But mostly scared, becasue I have no friends or family members to help me or support me. I just cry every day when I am alone, and pray to be able to take care of my 9 month old baby as much as I can.

I was diagnosed with breast cancer last may and had a lumpectomy and 2 nodes removed. I had 6 week radiation with all the pain and burns and blisters that come with. Luckily no chemotherapy was recommended to me, but I just started with tamoxifen 3 days ago. I am worried about the side effects of that drug. I am worried to get too tired or too sore to take care of my baby.  I know that every woman is different and react differently to the medicine, but I need to have an idea of what I should expect. I am premenopausal. Am I going to lose my period? Am I going to be tired? Am I going to gain weight?  Am I going to get joint pain? When would the side effects start showing? when would they settle? I am sorry for having too many questions, but I really feel lonely and scared.

emotions
  • adean's avatar
    adean
    Member
    12 years ago
    Hi ,yes we all worry no matter if alone or not! Even if you have family honestly the last thing they want to hear is am I going to live,which is our normal reaction, we all want to see our kids grow or see them married or see them have children, you never stop being the mum. So what happens is we all share our thoughts here, and you get great answers from great people its acyually people whove been thereYou have your baby and that's your family,it's do able believe me and I'm sure most of the ladies will say you have good days and crap days but you do get there, it's ok to be scared and angry we all are at some time. Regards adean
  • VivW's avatar
    VivW
    Member
    12 years ago

    My bc sounds similar to yours, lumpectomy no chemo, 6 weeks radiation. Started tamoxifen in June, 3 weeks into radiation . Its been ok nothing to complain about. Have had leg cramps but it is all do able.  I have continued to have my regular periods up until now.  Not sure if it is stress that has stopped it as I have had another lump which has turned out to be a seroma.  I was excited that this was going to be my last period as I am having a total hysterectomy with ovaries removed in 3 weeks.  I am 49 and no signs of menopause, runs late in my family.  BC was ER+ & PR+ Her2 neg. Clear margins with no lymph node involvement.

    Yes we all have the feelings that you are experiencing, you are not alone.

    I hope you can find some support, you don't have to go through this on your own. Talk to your doctors, do you have a good GP and breast care nurse, they may be able to put you into contact with support people.

    I also want to say that you are going to be ok. You have a team of specialists looking after you.

    Thinking of you and your baby.

    Viv

     

  • TonyaM's avatar
    TonyaM
    Member
    12 years ago

    Welcome to this network where you won't feel so lonely.It must be hard for you to be on your own, caring for a baby and getting through breast cancer .Did you get some help with your little one during treatments?Sounds like you had a difficult time with radiation. I have been taking Tamoxifen for 3 years now and it's sort of tolerable.I've had bc twice and the first I was 47 years old- I tried to take Tamoxifen and I got alot of side effects.I was perimenopausal and this drug just made my cycle a little more irregular.It gave me hot flushes,low mood,and problems sleeping.After many months I stopped it.My friend,however,had no side effects at all. With my second bout of bc,I was 54 years old and past menopause and this time Tamoxifen wasn't too bad. This drug has been around a long time and is fairly safe to take.The most common side effects are  hot flushes and perhaps disturbed sleep but this doesn't mean you will get them.When I first started Tamoxifen,my oncologist told me to take half a tablet a day for the first week to get used to it and then increase it to full tablet.You are unlikely to get joint pain with this drug but there could  be a little when you first start.It doesn't make you tired unless you have problems sleeping at night. If you do have side effects then there are other medications you can take which will help. You won't necessarily gain weight but I would say it's hard to lose weight-  for me anyway.You can only give Tamoxifen a go and see what happens.You might feel fine like my friend. Blog back here anytime for support. Sending hugs, Tonya xx

  • TonyaM's avatar
    TonyaM
    Member
    12 years ago

    Welcome to this network where you won't feel so lonely.It must be hard for you to be on your own, caring for a baby and getting through breast cancer .Did you get some help with your little one during treatments?Sounds like you had a difficult time with radiation. I have been taking Tamoxifen for 3 years now and it's sort of tolerable.I've had bc twice and the first I was 47 years old- I tried to take Tamoxifen and I got alot of side effects.I was perimenopausal and this drug just made my cycle a little more irregular.It gave me hot flushes,low mood,and problems sleeping.After many months I stopped it.My friend,however,had no side effects at all. With my second bout of bc,I was 54 years old and past menopause and this time Tamoxifen wasn't too bad. This drug has been around a long time and is fairly safe to take.The most common side effects are  hot flushes and perhaps disturbed sleep but this doesn't mean you will get them.When I first started Tamoxifen,my oncologist told me to take half a tablet a day for the first week to get used to it and then increase it to full tablet.You are unlikely to get joint pain with this drug but there could  be a little when you first start.It doesn't make you tired unless you have problems sleeping at night. If you do have side effects then there are other medications you can take which will help. You won't necessarily gain weight but I would say it's hard to lose weight-  for me anyway.You can only give Tamoxifen a go and see what happens.You might feel fine like my friend. Blog back here anytime for support. Sending hugs, Tonya xx

  • Carol's avatar
    Carol
    Member
    12 years ago
    We all fear the unknown. Being so much younger than me I can appreciate your concerns. I also wondered if I would see my sons complete their education (they both are qualified teachers now) one is married and I fully expect to be a grandma at some point. i already am a fluffy grandma to 12 beautiful Japanese Spitz puppies. Just because I or someone had this or that side effect does not mean you will. You may sail through it all being young with a low grade cancer no chemo like the majority of women young and old. Your doctors and medical team will provide guidance. I know of women who had chemo and went on to have children. Some went into temporary chemically induced menopause. Believe me most of us are just happy to survive our journey on the cancer train and emerge as the new butterfly at the other end so much stronger than before. For me at 50 menopause was a blessing after years of chronic migraines and other menstrual issues and I had completed my family with 1 son already at uni. I would suggest you join a group for young women. There are several around. BCNA even has separate sesions for them. Young women used to be pre menopause, now I notice the sydney seminar in october is for 45 or younger. Maybe due to city numbers. Certainly those with young children or no family yet have different issues to those of us with high school or uni age students . Hope this helps, thinking of you Your pink sister, Carol