Lisa Maree

Hi Leonie,

It is so true to enjoy the moment, whenever you can. I can completely relate to your feelings on losing close friends. I have lost three group members in the last two and a half years. People have asked me how I manage the grief and loss. It is never easy, and following the death of a close friend in August 2011, I began to focus on the way she positively enriched my life. When I remember her, those thoughts comfort and strengthen me.

Lisa  XX 

Hi Lisa, I do dragonboating and we are all very supportive of each other.  It is good to have group discussions in a relaxed environment.  Unfortunately during the first 2 years of my first diagnosis I lost a dear best friend to BC then we lost 3 dragonboaters to the disease.  It was really hard to handle.  During this time I also lost 2 work colleagues to cancer.  Thank goodness that the losses have stopped for a while.  However in the last 1.5 years there have been 5 of our dragonboat group diagnosed with secondaries (me included).  You just have to keep on going and enjoy the MOMENT. XLeonie

Hi Jill,

Thanks for your reply. Just wondering were there other symptoms with your cyst? Did you experience any pain with it? A friend of mine who hasn't had BC mentioned fibroids can sometimes cause sudden pain. I'll see what the test results reveal.

Trying to stay positive, and not think the worst. Talking with lovely, supportive women really helps.

Take care

Lisa

Hi Lee,

I know what you mean when you say 'heavy'. Glad to say, haven't had that since the D&C. When my periods stopped in March 2011, I was thinking great as I'd be quite pleased to see the back of them, though I'll just have to wait and see what happens.

Enjoy the holidays

Lisa

Hi Leonie,

Thanks for your support. It takes that panicked feeling away, when you realise we are all part of a strong network of women. Did you find the support you needed, with your Dec 2010 diagnosis? During my time of overseeing my support group, I've had women who are well, not so well and extremely ill. It has been a learning experience of personal growth for me, and how to best support them and encourage open communication with members.

I will monitor my symptoms, though feel much better reading these kind messages

Thanks so much Lisa

Hi Tanya,

Thanks for your encouraging words. It is comforting to talk with others who have similar experiences. As the pain has settled, I think I'll wait two weeks for the scheduled appointment with my oncologist, unless it flares up again. 

Great to talk with you

Thanks Lisa

Hi Lisa,   I was diagnosed in October 2008, had left breast mastectomy, chemo, radium and started on Tamoxifen in February 2009 for 1 year.  Hormone Blood Test done as no more periods in that time.  Result Post Menopausal.  I was switched to Femara in February 2010.  In August 2010 my hot flushes ceased, a short time later i got another period.  Off to internal scan which showed a cyst on one ovary.  Checked in to a gyne who did a D & C  in December and found something (big long name) not cancer related .  The cyst had collapsed on itself prior to the D & C.  I havn't had any bleeding since but the hot flushes returned after the period.  I hate it how everything is treated as cancer until proven otherwise.  It is so stressful.  I hope all works out well for you.

     Take care      Jill   xx

I was first diagnosed back in Oct 2006.  I started on Tamoxifen in late January 2007.  From my memory, my period (I was in my 51st year) stopped but kept coming back intermittently.  Each time I had a bleed I had to have it investigated as my gyne was very vigilent.  This went on for a couple of years until I had a D&C and I think that was the end of periods.  I never had any big bleeds but I never used to prior to BC anyway.  Can't remember when the last period was.  I was again diagnosed in Dec 2010 - a whirlwind year 2011.   I am hoping that the chemo etc with the Arimidex has stopped everything now.  My poor old mum was 56 when all of her periods stopped.  Tamoxifen is known to do strange things with bleeding so it is wise to have it investigated.  It became a bit of a nuisance for me with having to get investigated all the time but all was good so it was worth the check.  Good luck with your tests.  As Tanya says it is always worrying when we have the BC "behind" us but at least you will know what it is once the tests are done.  XLeonie

Hi Lisa

I too was diagnosed in 2007 and have not yet had a period, however a good friend of mine had a similar experience to you, really bad cramps, back pain, however she had a really heavy period that lasted weeks.  Hers too had to be investigated and proved just to be thickening/thinning (I cant remember exactly) but that was the one and only period that she has had since 2007.

Good luck with your tests, you do know it is just a precaution, and there are heaps of things that it could be, sad that given our previous history, cancer is always the first thing on our mind and can give us chills thinking of the "what ifs".

Stay stong, I am sure it will be OK.

Tanya xx