Feeling a failure
Does anyone know if there is a phone consult available for breast cancer mental health? I had two lumpectomies and axillary clearance due to cancer in one node in early 2019. Then rads. Then hormone blockers. Started on Anastrozole, then Tamoxifen, then Exemestane, the Letrozole. All had such bad side effects I was taken off them. My liver went mad. I had such bad neuropathy I couldn’t walk or even hold a cup of tea. I had brain MRI to rule out MS. After being off them for a few days most of the neuropathy has gone except one spot on my leg. I have many other chronic conditions so pain is usual. However now I’m feeling better, I’m starting to regret not keeping on them. I know I can’t have them, but it’s making me feel like I should have persisted even if I needed help going to the loo and eating. Off them I can go walking, shopping, visiting, cooking, etc. I certainly am more healthy physically without them and I tell myself being active should help stop recurrence more than just sitting on the lounge or lying in bed. But my mind is telling me I failed. I should have tried harder. Has anyone else gone through this? I know I can get a mental health care plan but I really want to talk to someone who understands breast cancer, or any cancer actually. Any ideas?Hormone therapy struggling in 4th year
Ive been taking Aromasin for just over 4 years along with medication to help me sleep and for depression and magnified anxiety. I have back ache, stiff joints, hot flushes and struggle to think straight and get my words out. I'm not sure what feeling normal is like anymore, is this the medication or how I am now? I am 64 years old this year, I exercise, maybe Im just old now. I haven't had online discussion before when I went through surgery, chemo or radiation, although I did look at discussions and that helped. Im finding now that Im needing to know how others have managed through the long years of hormone therapy. I have had breaks of one month every so often but I find its harder getting back on the Aromasin after a break as I don't get much relief. My oncologist has said as long as I do 9 months in a 12 month period that's okay but it gets harder to go back on it. I would like to know how others have managed to finish 5 years of hormone therapy or 10 years (amazing women, my hat goes off to you all) Sometimes it feels like I'm the only one doing this, I know I'm not. Also how does your body and emotions feel after finishing hormone treatment, like how different do you feel? How long did it take to realise you were better or doesn't that happen? Is there much or any difference? I guess I'm living in hope that I'll finish and not need other medications when I finish hormone therapy and that my body and emotions will feel better. Thanks for your input. X
Hormone Therapy advice for young women who want to have children
Hi everyone 😊 I’m seeking some advice on what hormone therapy is best for younger women who want kids in the future. I have Grade 1 multifocal IDC+DCIS, 80% hormone positive, ER- cancer & I’m premenopausal, with no children. I was told after 2 years of hormone therapy I can try to fall pregnant (…but am hoping 1.5 will be enough?) I have been given three options for hormone therapy: •Tamoxifen only •Zoladex + Tamoxifen •Zoladex + Exemestane (Aromasin) All offer similar coverage in regards to my type of cancer, but I was wondering if there are any differences in regards to future fertility? ie. longer detox periods required before falling pregnant, or potential fertility issues after long term use, eg Zoladex or Exemestane? I have also read that Exemestane (Aromasin) is an *irreversible* steroidal aromatase inhibitor. I don’t want to be on anything that could irreversibly damage my oestrogen production.. Fertility-wise, does anyone know if this is something to avoid until after having children? I’d really appreciate any advice & tips for having the best chance of getting pregnant in 2 years! XZoladex immediately after IVF
Hi ladies, I was wondering if anyone has had their Zoladex injection straight after an IVF cycle? My lymph nodes were clear so I don’t need chemo, but my oncologist wants to put me on Zoladex & Aromasin for 5 years, (with a break after 2y to have children - I’ll be 38/39). I am almost through an IVF round to freeze my eggs & was wondering if it’s healthy or safe for your ovaries to be hyper stimulated & then shutdown immediately afterwards. Or is it better to wait a few days/week for them to return to normal before starting Zoladex? None of my specialists seem to be communicating with each other, so I’m finding it difficult to know the urgency or safety around the issue. I don’t want to damage my fertility for the future, or increase my recurrence chances.. Would really appreciate any advice! *** A bit of background on my cancer: I’m 36 & I have Hormone positive (80%), HER2 negative breast cancer, ki67 16% (3 tumours in the right breast). I had a single nipple & skin sparing mastectomy with an expander (in preparation for radiotherapy), 10.5weeks ago. My breast surgeon got clear boarders and tested 4 lymphnodes which were also clear, so seemed to think I would need no further treatment, (which I found unusual for early bc). My surgeon then took 3 weeks to seek a multidisciplinary meeting with an oncologist & radiation oncologist, after which she said I’d need endocrine therapy to be safe, but no longer need radiotherapy. It took 8 weeks after surgery to get an oncologist appointment - and now I am starting IVF, then endocrine therapy next week. It’s been very difficult waiting around, without being given much information. (Perhaps I’ll post another question, asking if such slow, conservative aftercare is normal!)
Anxiety, hot flushes and gebapentin- help
So I thought chemo was hard.... tamoxifen is kicking my arse!! Went to the menopause after cancer clinic today and they were lovely. She has put me on Gebapentin for the hot flushes, just wonder how others use of this has worked for them? Has it also been successful with anxiety and moods? I am really struggling with feeling anxious all of the time! I don’t know if it’s the post cancer struggles, tamoxifen, menopause, the pressure of a new job or all of them!! I’ve never really had a problem with anxiety before but I can stop feeling sick, crying and just generally feeling rubbish!!! Any tips appreciated
I think I am reading too much :(
Morning everyone. I am reasonably new to this cancer world and still in the overwhelmed stage. I had a right breast mastectomy on NYE and the pathology report showed nothing in lymph nodes, but small invasive cancer in breast tissue. I am oestrogen and HER2 positive. I had first of 12 weekly paclitaxel chemo treatments on Wednesday. I started Herceptin last week (every 3 weds for 12 months) and will start goserelin (zoladex) next week (every 4 weeks for 5 years). I have been reading so much from this site and others and have delved into various posts on this forum and what I'm reading is making me feel quite low. The side effects that you are all experiencing on the hormone suppressant drugs read like a horror movie. It makes me wonder if it is worth it before I've even begun. I am 46 and until BC hit I was playing competitive sport 3 times a week, walking 5km a day and teaching full time. With all my reading I now fear that in a few months I'll have the body and mind of an 80 yr old and I'm not coping with that. I know it is different for everyone, but I've not heard anyone say that that the side effects aren't bad or that they have been able to continue their lives as before. I'm already grieving for the life I used to have and I'm struggling. I am usually so positive. I'm definitely not doom and gloom, but today is not a good one for me. Not sure what I am expecting people to say, I just needed to get it out. Thanks for listening x
Yay for clear scans and I think my brain is toast.
Howdy beautiful people.I haven't been on here for a bit and I've missed you guys. The usual chaos of keeping my poor old farm from falling apart and planning for our yearly "still here" family holiday. There's just not enough hours in the day. I hope everyone is travelling ok on whatever part of the rollercoaster you're on and are coping with the train wreck that is 2020. Sooo...another follow up lot of scans just to be sure that the MRI is not seeing anymore strange things. The doctor came in to tell me straight away that mmg and u/s were all good. It's nice when she does that even though my confidence in those two machines is minimal and it's always the third one that throws a spanner in the works :) So Yay to the all clear from the MRI for the second time in 6 months. For those that know the story, the birthday cake people were ever so nice and professional. Actually they have been ever since I had words with the area manager. There's probably a red flag on my chart or something :wink: The latest oncology check up brought with it another new doctor. Although I go to a private hospital, being a public patient there I tend to just see whoever is available these days. I think this onc number 5 or 6, could be more. Anyway it does give me the chance to ask all the same questions to multiple doctors and see if I get different answers. Mostly no difference but some slight variations of opinion. I'm off for a bone scan and hormone level bloods just to see how everything is going and off the drugs for a month so it doesn't throw out the blood test. I've not taken a break for a while as it's really not making any difference these days which is kinda sad. I have a sneaky suspicion that this doc is going to want me to change me to letrozole when the last few doctors have said I should stay put on the Tamoxifen. Anyhoo we'll see what she says after all the tests are in. I'm probably not going to change drugs now I have this beast somewhat under control. I think my brain is toast. My memory and speach is really shot these days. It did come better for a while. So I am undecided as to whether it's because I'm not as proactive with my puzzles and crosswords as I was or am now just a permanent ditz lol Hugs to all xoxoxoxo
Side effects for the Hormone/AI tablets verses taking none ??
After today's Radiation treatment I have 3 to go Yahoo !! Then meet up with my oncologist to see which tablets I will be on for the next 5 years. 😢 I cannot imagine having lots of side effects for 5 years, I am still having them since chemo with no end in sight. I am going to discuss what is the options of taking or not taking?? Love to here your thoughts Thanks Cheryl
Endocrine therapy-induced hair loss (ETIHL)
Hi All, Food for thought (no pun intended). I'm considering taking supplements (are they safe? contraindicated?) and looking for proven topical scalp treatments (waste of money?). Started with this article: Management of hair loss associated with endocrine therapy in patients with breast cancer: an overview https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4864803/. "Vitamin C may loco regionally reduces the HL ...when locally applied with an oil-based buffer that enables vitamin C to pass across the hair texture. (Where would we find that?) Low levels of vitamin D in serum and/or lack of Vitamin D receptor have been found to be associated with HL ...However, it is still uncertain whether vitamin D supplementation increases the proliferation of hair follicles. Vitamin E has been shown to decrease the effectiveness of estrogen in the breast tissue and low levels of vitamin E are also reported to be associated with increased levels of estrogen. However, according to the results of the SELECT study in which an increased rate of prostate cancer was reported, Vitamin E carried a potential androgenic and anti-estrogenic activity in patients receiving Vitamin E supplementation. (So that's good for BC patient, right?) Folic acid is also reported to have a positive effect on hair health...However, unfortunately, there are some epidemiological studies that suggest folate may increase the tissue levels of estrogen, indicating that high levels of folic acid might lead to BC. (Sounds bad) Oral supplementation of omega-3 and -6 fatty acids is also known to positively affect the prognosis of BC (Bartsch et al. 1999) and many other cancers and also increase the apoptosis of BC cells in tissue cultures. Additionally, it has been recently shown that 6 months after the use of these fatty acids were found to protect and improve the hair health through antioxidant effects on the scalp tissue. (Definitely sounds like a good one) 5-alpha reductase enzyme inhibitors (local cream or shampoo forms) could possibly be the most appropriate and potent treatment options in the treatment of ETIHL. (I've no idea, and am suspicious of product claims anyway - but is there a good one available?)
Effect of High-dose Vitamin C Combined With Anti-cancer Treatment on Breast Cancer Cells.
Please see medical research link below regarding this topic. I haven't been on this site for a while and surprised I couldn't find topics on this subject except a comment from a BCNA staffer. As well as the usual Specialists, I see an integrative GP. She administers high dose Vit C infusions to breast cancer patients, including me. I've been clear now for 8 years. The medical evidence for this being beneficial in the fight against breast cancer cells is becoming clear and more widely accepted now, even among the old guard. So, I am wondering, why don't more women know about this? Are there any other women having it? If so, how is it going? https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/30711954/