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Re: Conceiving & Hormone Blockers
Hi Nicole, I had an early stage of breast cancer in 2019 and am now a mum to a 14mth old and pregnant with my second. I didn't go through chemotherapy so your experience in conceiving is likely to be different to mine. However, I was taking Tamoxifen and on Zoladex for 2-3 years prior to my pregnancy. I would have started trying for a baby earlier but my Oncologist encouraged me to complete 3 years of hormone therapy first. Basically I had to come off everything and wait until my periods returned to normal before I could get pregnant. During pregnancy I had a breast ultrasound instead of MRI. After pregnancy I chose not to breastfeed and went back on Tamoxifen for a while, but in the end I did not complete the 5 years of treatment as per my cancer treatment plan. I hope this helps. Best of luck with it all!51Views0likes1CommentRe: Duration of endocrine therapy in premenopausal Australian patients
I was stage 1 grade 2 ER+ PR+ and I was prescribed tamoxifen for 5 years alongside zoladex for 2 years. I ended up stopping tamoxifen after 3 years to have a baby. Baby girl is now almost 9 months old and I haven't bothered to go back on it.104Views0likes0CommentsRe: The Age Factor
Right now you are in the thick of it but you are more than halfway through chemo and hopefully, radiation will feel like a breeze in comparison. As for the 5-10 years of hormone tablets... only you can decide to take them or not. I have thought about quitting Tamoxifen so many times. When it really starts to affect me I stop taking the tablet for a few days to a week until I feel better and then I get back on it. It's not a perfect system but we all do what we have to do :*22Views1like0CommentsRe: Should less treatment be offered to 'older' women with BC? Over 70s ....
In the USA patients are often 'over treated' in comparison to Australia. In Australia it is common to treat ER+ PR+ HER2- early stage cancer with lumpectomy surgery, 3-4 weeks radiation and 5 years hormone tablets. In the USA those same patients might undergo mastectomy with full axillary clearance, radiation, chemo and 10+ years hormone tablets. If the article is looking at scaling back treatment for early stage hormone positive cancers to be more in line with Australia that might be a good thing. I totally agree that people in their 70s still have plenty of living to do... putting everyone through unnecessary treatments that can take a decade to recover from might decrease quality of life.23Views1like0CommentsRe: First time lump: from a concerned husband's POV
@Hubby2021 In my experience, after your wife has the ultrasound the results will be sent to her GP. It's unlikely they will give you any information at the imaging centre as the radiographer is usually not qualified to do so. The GP will then decide if they need to refer you to a breast surgeon or not. IF the lump is suspicious and you are referred to a surgeon then they will get the ball rolling with other appointments like a biopsy to determine exactly what type of lump it is. Best of luck with the results.Re: I feel worse now than when I was having radiation
Hi @RipleyandJones I hardly come on here anymore but I just wanted to reply and say it did get better for me. I'm coming up to 3 years on Tamoxifen and I feel really well but it has taken time to get to this point. The first two years (post surgery and radiation) was tamoxifen + zoladex + covid lockdowns and it was such a physical and mental struggle. I'm finally at a point where I am eating well, exercising, sleeping and not thinking about bc all the time. Give yourself time to heal... it's hard but hopefully it will get easier for you!8Views2likes0CommentsRe: Due to have a biopsy
Hi @Samalex hold on to the fact that your mum is still here almost 20 years post diagnosis. That's a great story! The unknown is really scary so my advice is just to push for the biopsy to be over and done with as soon as possible - when you know what you are facing it might settle your nerves a bit. Take care x13Views2likes0CommentsRe: Side effects covid Pfizer
Oh wow, I'm sorry to hear that @Tracey96 I have had my first and second Pfizer jab with literally no side effects. Heavy arm after the first jab, nothing at all after the second (to the point that I wasn't even convinced it had been administered). Weird. I understand everyone is different though and while the vaccination comes with some risk, the risk of COVID is far greater. Well done for stepping up.31Views1like0Comments
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Young women & breast cancer
This group is for young women affected by breast cancer. In the context of breast cancer treatment, ‘young’ usually refers to women who are pre-menopausal. Here, you can connect with others who understand the unique challenges that come with a diagnosis at a younger age. We talk about things like fertility, pregnancy, early menopause, ovarian suppression, relationships, and the emotional impact of treatment and recovery. Whether you're newly diagnosed or further along in your journey, this is a safe space to ask questions, share experiences, and support one another. You are not alone during this uncertain and overwhelming time.Let's talk: vaginas, menopause & me
PRIVATE GROUP. This group is a safe, supportive space to talk about sexual health and emotional wellbeing during and after breast cancer. We discuss topics like menopause, vaginal dryness, pain during sex, UTIs, and changes in libido, and share ideas and products that may help. Whether you're navigating intimacy with a partner or reconnecting with yourself, you're not alone here. This is a place for open, respectful conversations and shared understanding.