Sue

Thanks so much for that Janet.  I will look into that diet.  I do try to eat a pretty clean diet, and hardly ever have processed or empty food.  I had a glass of wine last night for the first time in a couple of months.  Thought it might fix a few things haha!  But I think that type of diet is the way to go.  No body wants this disease back, and I feel terribly for those who do have a recurrence.  

As far as the tamoxifen, my oncologist was going to put me on that in the first place, but I developed blood clots after my first round of chemo.  One in particular in my jugular vein.  So there is a chance of blood clotting with Tamoxifen and thats why he didn't put me on it.  I was on clexane injections for the 6 months of chemo unfortunately.  But I will give it another 3 months and then see how I'm travelling.  I just went the the gp about my pain and he says its chronic pain syndrome!!  In other words I think he means its mostly in my head and I just need to deal with it better.  So I will give that a go too.  But I don't know how its in my head when I wake up during the night with it.

Thanks again Janet for your thoughts and ideas.  I never realised how good this site was until now.  Its just lovely to talk to others who have been thru it too.  I hope you are also recovering too.  This disease doesn't seem to discriminate.  Thanks Sue

OMG Sue you've been through the wringer haven't you! What an awful series of events. I can't really add much to what's already been said. I just thought I would pass on a diet book that has been helpful for me. It's called "The Pink Ribboin Diet and has been designed to minimise the risk of getting breast cancer or having a recurrance. Basically it's lots of vegetable, cooking everything in extra virgin olive oil and hardly any meat. I don't stick to it religiously but I do find I feel really well, satisfied and tend to lose weight when I do stick to it. It's got a lot of good recipes in it too.

I was just wondering also whether you could ask your oncologist whether you could take tamoxifen instead of Aramidix. I know Tamoxifen can have side effects too but because it works differently - you still retain some estrogen in your body to lubricate joints - I think you're less likely to get joint pain. I've been on tamoxifen for about a month and so far I haven't had any side effects except some mild hot flushes. (Maybe it takes more time for the bad side effects to kick in.)

From what I understand the aromatase inhibitors (like Arimidex) are supposed to be slightly better at preventing recurrance in post-menopausal women but only slightly. My onc wants me to switch in a couple of years but I'm reluctant as the side effects sound worse to me. Anyway, it's just a thought if you're finding the Aramidix unbearable. I hope things pick up for you. Good luck, Janet. :)

OMG Sue you've been through the wringer haven't you! What an awful series of events. I can't really add much to what's already been said. I just thought I would pass on a diet book that has been helpful for me. It's called "The Pink Ribboin Diet and has been designed to minimise the risk of getting breast cancer or having a recurrance. Basically it's lots of vegetable, cooking everything in extra virgin olive oil and hardly any meat. I don't stick to it religiously but I do find I feel really well, satisfied and tend to lose weight when I do stick to it. It's got a lot of good recipes in it too.

I was just wondering also whether you could ask your oncologist whether you could take tamoxifen instead of Aramidix. I know Tamoxifen can have side effects too but because it works differently - you still retain some estrogen in your body to lubricate joints - I think you're less likely to get joint pain. I've been on tamoxifen for about a month and so far I haven't had any side effects except some mild hot flushes. (Maybe it takes more time for the bad side effects to kick in.)

From what I understand the aromatase inhibitors (like Arimidex) are supposed to be slightly better at preventing recurrance in post-menopausal women but only slightly. My onc wants me to switch in a couple of years but I'm reluctant as the side effects sound worse to me. Anyway, it's just a thought if you're finding the Aramidix unbearable. I hope things pick up for you. Good luck, Janet. :)

Thank you Annie,  I will call and get a copy of the booklet.  I did just look it up and looks like it answers some of my questions.  Thanks again, Sue

Thanks Moira, Its funny, I joined up last year when diagnosed and read lots of things on here, but because I was so sick, never really got to the point where I felt like sitting at the computer looking for things I needed to know.  Now I'm at a different part of this dreadful time and finding comfort in what others have to say and that everyone seems to have gone thru similar things.  I think the treatment is worse than the disease, really.  But its nice to know that other ladies have been there before me and are there to say its ok, and you're not stupid.  I am getting to the point of anti depressants too.  In fact, I'm so sick of myself, I've booked into the dr at 9 in the morning.  I would rather be happy than be miserable and make everyone around me the same.  I'm just not like that normally.  So off I go!.  But I did have that feeling, of not another tablet to take.  But some things need a helping hand.  And I'm sick of all the fit people around me saying, exercise, it will make you feel so good.  No it doesn't - not yet anyway. lol.  Its ok when your joints all work good, but I do walk every second day, and there has been no improvement in mood, or movement.  But its still good to do though.  But thankyou so much for your encouraging words.  I will keep coming back, now that I know all these lovely people behind the little stories.  Makes me think I haven't got it too bad after all.  And I'm still here.  Thank you  Sue xx

Hi Sue

This is Annie from BCNA's Policy Team. Sorry to hear about the rough time you have had, but I'm glad you found your way here. As you can see, there are so many women floating around the network who have their own experiences to share with you.

Sue, we recently developed a booklet on hormone therapies, which you can access on our fact sheet and booklets webpage. Page 6 of the booklet talks about how hormone therapies significantly reduce the risk of the cancer coming back. You can also order a free copy by calling us on 1800 500 258.

Also Sue, I'm not sure if you've spoken with your oncologist, but they can explain the benefit of taking a hormone therapy (using statistics) for your particular type of breast cancer. Perhaps you could have a chat with them?

All the best,

~ Annie

Oh My God, have just read your posts, and i think you have every right to Vent, as if BC isnt enough to go through without all the other crap beside it.

I noticed as well you feeling emotional, of course its a really emotional time, after i went through all my treatment, i became depressed, had never had anything like that in my life, by specialist suggested anti depressants for a year, (I can hear you saying Oh no, No more medication), and thats exactly what i thought also i thought im a strong person i;m not depressed, but after a bit of umm and ahhing, i took them ,and it was the best thing i did, a year to the day, i just knew i was ready to come off them. So dont be hard on yourself, you can come on here and laugh, cry or just let off steam, we are here for you and all know at least a bit of what you have been through. PS i am on Arimidex, and after a couple of months i had very mininal side effects, by fingers are stiff and sore in the morning, but once i get them moving they are fine, but i know a lot of the ladies on here have had to change to a different hormone treatment.

Take Care and please keep comming back and let us know how you are doing.

Regards Moira x

Oh My God, have just read your posts, and i think you have every right to Vent, as if BC isnt enough to go through without all the other crap beside it.

I noticed as well you feeling emotional, of course its a really emotional time, after i went through all my treatment, i became depressed, had never had anything like that in my life, by specialist suggested anti depressants for a year, (I can hear you saying Oh no, No more medication), and thats exactly what i thought also i thought im a strong person i;m not depressed, but after a bit of umm and ahhing, i took them ,and it was the best thing i did, a year to the day, i just knew i was ready to come off them. So dont be hard on yourself, you can come on here and laugh, cry or just let off steam, we are here for you and all know at least a bit of what you have been through. PS i am on Arimidex, and after a couple of months i had very mininal side effects, by fingers are stiff and sore in the morning, but once i get them moving they are fine, but i know a lot of the ladies on here have had to change to a different hormone treatment.

Take Care and please keep comming back and let us know how you are doing.

Regards Moira x

Thank you so much Tonya, I needed to hear that.  You just get so caught up in it all and its a long time of drs appointments, tests, operations etc that now that the actual treatment is finished, its not that I miss it, but I sort of feel like I don't know what I'm supposed to feel and feel at a loss, because I don't feel the same way I used to.  Everyone asks everyday, how are you feeling today and I just want to scream.  I know they only want me to get better, but I have to live it and I want it all to get better too.  So I do just try to keep everything to myself so as not to be a burden on my family.  I have the best husband, but he also just likes fo fix things, where I want to just have a winge, lol.  He has been so supportive though, and couldn't have done it without him.  The dr said I am limited with which tablets to take, because during my treatment, I developed blood clots.  Just another in my comedy of treatment.  So some of the different medications can have that affect.  But it has put me thru early menopause and have really bad hot flushes etc, and emotional.  I have never ever been this emotional!  I want to shut me up, let alone those around me.  I just wonder what the statistics are if you don't take these medications.  I want to ask the dr next time if it makes a recurrence of breast cancer alot more acute.  I will give the Arimidex another 3 months to see if I could get better.  I can't believe you had breast cancer twice.  You poor thing, to endure all this twice.  I can only imagine.  You sound like you are very positive though, and I think thats what does get us thru this awful disease.  In all honesty, I really try not to complain to anyone, this is my first time, as I don't want people around me to feel sorry for me.  I want to have a positive outlook, and other peoples sympathy can sometimes hinder that.  But thats human nature.  We all want whats best for others.

As for the radioligist, I am taking legal action against him.  It should wind up fairly soon.  He was negligent in all his dealings with me.  He even rang me while recovering from the lung operation in hospital and then again a month after discharge.  And he has never said sorry for it, just blamed everyone else, even me for it happening.  So thats when I made the decision to sue him.  If he had only said sorry, I wouldn't have gone down that path, as it has been time consuming and and extra burden at this time.  But you at least had success after your botched operation.  How negligent.  You deserve to be compensated for it.  They need to be held accountable for what they do.  I could have been none the wiser.  Just never woken up from my op.  I'm lucky!

Im pleased you also told me it took you 2 years to feel healthy and confident again.  There is hope for me yet.  We do get impatient though.  Thats mothers I think.  We are the ones that does everything for everyone else, so why aren't I better!  I guess I just have to take time.  Thank you again for your support and kind words Tonya.  Sue xx

Thank you so much Tonya, I needed to hear that.  You just get so caught up in it all and its a long time of drs appointments, tests, operations etc that now that the actual treatment is finished, its not that I miss it, but I sort of feel like I don't know what I'm supposed to feel and feel at a loss, because I don't feel the same way I used to.  Everyone asks everyday, how are you feeling today and I just want to scream.  I know they only want me to get better, but I have to live it and I want it all to get better too.  So I do just try to keep everything to myself so as not to be a burden on my family.  I have the best husband, but he also just likes fo fix things, where I want to just have a winge, lol.  He has been so supportive though, and couldn't have done it without him.  The dr said I am limited with which tablets to take, because during my treatment, I developed blood clots.  Just another in my comedy of treatment.  So some of the different medications can have that affect.  But it has put me thru early menopause and have really bad hot flushes etc, and emotional.  I have never ever been this emotional!  I want to shut me up, let alone those around me.  I just wonder what the statistics are if you don't take these medications.  I want to ask the dr next time if it makes a recurrence of breast cancer alot more acute.  I will give the Arimidex another 3 months to see if I could get better.  I can't believe you had breast cancer twice.  You poor thing, to endure all this twice.  I can only imagine.  You sound like you are very positive though, and I think thats what does get us thru this awful disease.  In all honesty, I really try not to complain to anyone, this is my first time, as I don't want people around me to feel sorry for me.  I want to have a positive outlook, and other peoples sympathy can sometimes hinder that.  But thats human nature.  We all want whats best for others.

As for the radioligist, I am taking legal action against him.  It should wind up fairly soon.  He was negligent in all his dealings with me.  He even rang me while recovering from the lung operation in hospital and then again a month after discharge.  And he has never said sorry for it, just blamed everyone else, even me for it happening.  So thats when I made the decision to sue him.  If he had only said sorry, I wouldn't have gone down that path, as it has been time consuming and and extra burden at this time.  But you at least had success after your botched operation.  How negligent.  You deserve to be compensated for it.  They need to be held accountable for what they do.  I could have been none the wiser.  Just never woken up from my op.  I'm lucky!

Im pleased you also told me it took you 2 years to feel healthy and confident again.  There is hope for me yet.  We do get impatient though.  Thats mothers I think.  We are the ones that does everything for everyone else, so why aren't I better!  I guess I just have to take time.  Thank you again for your support and kind words Tonya.  Sue xx