Nerve pain after surgery and tamoxifen
Hi Ladies,
Its been one week now since I had my lumpectomy and sentinel lymph node biopsy and Ive been really lucky- cancer was still grade one and didn't spread to any lymph nodes. My treatment is going to be radiation and tamoxifen. Im seeing my radiation oncologist today and want to get it started as soon as possible. The main thing I am really struggling with is nerve pain. I have incredible numbness and tingling in the upper inside of my left arm, the arm pit and half of my left breast. My tumour was at the 1pm position of my left breast and this pain is really quite unbearable at times- it almost feels like severe sunburn. I know it is still early days, post op, but what has everyone else experienced in regards to nerve pain and did anything help to calm it?
Im also really nervous about taking tamoxifen, mainly due to the side effects. Im only just 38 and the idea of having menopause symptoms is almost as worse as the cancer diagnosis as well as what it may do to my fertility etc.
Im reading lots of information about the drug and trying to work out how necessary it will be- has anyone else thought this way?
Of course Im not going to do anything that will greatly jeopardise my health, but I am just interested to hear other younger women's thoughts on this particular treatment.
I hope everyone is doing well and going to have a lovely festive season and even better 2016 xxxx
Ness x