Last chemo

Hi Louise, I think I am coming to terms with having my other breast off. Hopefully they will look more even once they are reconstructed. I guess initially I was under the understanding that if cancer was caught before lymph nodes affected, then chemo could be avoided but my dr tells me that chemo would still be recommended so I don't want to go down that path again if there is a way of avoiding it. I think my main concern is if there will be discomfort when lying on your side or stomach so I hope to find a bit more out as the weeks go by. Hope you are feeling okay by know - my aches and pains are just starting but at least I know in a week or so, this will be better.

regards

Di

Thanks for all the congratulations Ladies!

Di, I wish in retrospect that I had had my other breast removed at the time that I had breast cancer in the first breast - at least then I wouldn't be having to go thru what I am going thru now!  However, at the time I wasn't ready to do that....I think you really have to be sure in yourself before you can make that decision.  When I had the cancer the first time everything seemed to happen really quickly as far as decisions were concerned and I felt a bit out of control.  I really didn't think it through properly (I was only 35 and had two small children).  It's all very well saying that I should have had it removed then, but I may have never had any problems in the other breast and may have continued on to a ripe old age with only one reconstructed breast instead of two. 

When you have a reconstruction you have no feeling in the reconstructed breast - this is something that I would have regretted if I had had the other breast removed for no reason.  However, if I had known that I would get breast cancer again in that breast then I would have it off in a heart-beat.  It is a really difficult decision for you and I really feel for you in having to make it!!

Best of luck with everything,

Louise x

Hi Leonie

Thanks for the info on tamoxifen as I am heading down that road when I finish the radiation. I had not had my menopause when I got BC (51) and at my last appt with oncology they talked about starting tamoxifen and then switching later.

Louise and Diane congrats on finishing your chemo such a great feeling.

Good luck all of you

Sarah xxx

First Di to answer your query.  I was diagnosed at 50 and because I had not gone through menopause I was started on Tamoxifen.  At the time the Medical Oncologist said that he probably would change me over to Arimidex after 3 years. (probably thinking that I should go through menopause by then)  I actually didn't continue with the medical oncologist and chose to have my reviews with the surgeon.  Anyway having been diagnosed with secondary bc in a lymph node - diagnosed 20-12-10, my surgeon immediately changed me over to Arimidex as it works a bit stronger????  I am still to see the medical oncologist on 25th January but having spoken with him he has agreed that changing to the Arimidex is a good choice.

As far as I know at 54 I still have not gone through menopause.  (My mum was 56 when she went through the change!!!!!! )How I know I haven't gone through menopause  is:

whilst on Tamoxifen there is a risk of getting uterine cancer so I have been closely watched by my gyne. Results have shown that there are still a few hormones hanging around!!!  For all intent and purposes I don't get periods as such and any bleeding that I have had over the last 4 years has been checked out - hystoscopy d&c etc.  On tamoxifen you have a false menopause.  In theory you don't start on Arimidex until you go through menopause. But anyway here I am - problem child!!!!!!  Hope that all makes sense.  XLeonie   PS keep that in mind re having a watchful gyne

Hi Leonie,thanks for your comments. Just curious why you are now on Armidex - is it because you have gone through menopause as a result of the Tamoxifen? I will see my oncologist in a month to discuss Tamoxifen and I got the feeling the switch could be made once menopause is permanently reached. At 45 I thought I had a few years before I needed to start about menopause but BC has changed all this! Best wishes to you x Di

Well done.  You go girl.  Onwards and upwards.  I will take inspiration from you having followed your search for wigs.  Looks like I will have to search for headgear soon.  Once I see the oncologists I will know if I have to have chemo this time. Anyway you enjoy your freedom from the chemo and tell yourself that you won't have any side effects from the Tamoxifen -  I did and I was fine.  Now I'm on Arimidex since 20-12-10 and I hope the same technique will work.XLeonie

'Congrats on your last treatment. Today, Jan 7 I have had my last treatment. My story sounds somewhat similar with my next appt in a month to discuss Tamoxifen. The naturopath I've been seeing (with my oncologist approval) says the chemo is by far the hardest part so she tells me not to stress about the Tamox. I need to make the decision whether to have my other breast removed and then at the same time do reconstruction, so some big decisions to made but will just let me get through the next course of side effects (hopefully in 2 weeks will start feeling good again). So well done to you - when treatment started it seemed like an eternity but to get to the end is a good feeling, well maybe in a couple of weeks it will be. I didnt lose all my hair either, the last 3 treatments aren't meant to cause hair loss and its not feeling as spiky now, bit more fluffy. Basically I've lost my eye lashes so have given up on mascara, just use eye liner though this comes off when I go through the watery eyes stage. Eyebrows have thinned so using a little pencil to fill inthe gaps.

All the best to you for your next stage.

Regards

Di

Hi Louise, that's great! Happy New Year! May your hair grown back lovely and thick and gorgeous!

And may your life be filled with relief, gratitude and love! 

Lyn x