CFS/ME/FM
Hello, I had a stage two cancer removed in June, I have not decided yet what to do re radiation and Hormone therapy, I struggle daily jus coping with CFS ect, dont know how I would deal with 6 week...
Forum Discussion
I can imagine it must be dreadful having to deal with chronic fatigue but if I were you I would have whatever treatements your doctor recommends. Cancer is an insidious beast and I think we need to hit it hard with everything that is available to us. I've read too many stories on here from women who have been treated for early breast cancer, thought they were cured and then had the nightmare of it returning as a secondary.
I know that can happen even if you do have all the treatments and do all the right things - life can be so unfair - but personally I would want to do everything I could to minimise the risk of that happening.
I have had surgery (for a stage 2 cancer like you), chemo, radiation and I have now been on tamoxifen for nearly two years. The chemo was tough, nodenying that, but radiation wasn't so bad. The worst thing about that was the travelling to get there everyday for 6 weeks. It did make me a little bit more tired than usual but not much.
As for tamoxifen, I really haven't had any side effects I can put my finger on. I have mild hot flushes but chemo put me into menopause so I would probably be having them even without tamoxifen. I was very scared of taking it beforehand and even considered not taking it. But I'm glad I gave it go as it has been absolutely fine and it now makes me feel somewhat protected from a BC recurrance. I try to exercise a lot and take good care of myself (better than before BC) and I think that helps.
Do you have people that can help you through the radiation phase, perhaps drive you there at least some of the time? As Robyn says, we can always find a way around things if we really have too. Take care. I hope things go well for you. Janet.