A solution to the prohibitive cost of Hyaluronic Acid
Hello I have been on Letrozole since February 2026 and have awful dryness in my vagina. I have had pretty good success with remedying it using Hyalofemme [Hyaluronic Acid] which if you get compounded in Australia costs $110.00 a month ! There are very few manufacturers here in Australia and recently one started advertising a product for around $40 a month but you need a subscription [no thank you]. I have found an online chemist in the UK which will ship me Hyalofemme (6 tubes for 6 months) for $100.00 !!! Each tube lasts 30 days. It is called Expresschemist UK. I also use organic coconut oil for daily lubrication. Kind RegardsLymphoedema Information & Events
Lymphoedema can develop after breast cancer surgery or radiotherapy treatment. If lymph nodes are removed – usually from the armpit – fluid can build up and cause swelling known as ‘lymphoedema’. Find out what causes it, ways to reduce your risk of lymphoedema, and what to do if you develop lymphoedema. Signs and symptoms of lymphoedema Reduce your risk of lymphoedema Lymphoedema treatment Compression garments for lymphoedema Coping with lymphoedema Watch Ask the Expert 'Living well with lymphoedema' - with Maree O’Connor
Suffering with Letrozole side-effects weeks after coming off it…
I think it has been discussed a lot already.. sorry… 55 y.o stage 2 ILC with mastectomy, preventative mastectomy on other side, radiotherapy. Finished all by end June this year. But I just need some HOPE that Letrozole side effects will wear off eventually… After 5 months of taking Letrozole, and going ok, I suddenly had burning pain in my wrists, hands, knees, thighs, many tender to touch, was hobbling around plus on sore feet, not even being able to clear up the kitchen after hubby cooks.. Not able to complete a shift at work.. I tried exemestane six weeks after stopping Letrozole. But for only 2 days as my wrists burned even more. I’m now 7-8 weeks post Letrozole and trying to at least go to stretch classes three times a week, and go for walks. Still relying on regular Panadol/Nurofen, can’t clear the kitchen up in the evening or go to work. Just about collapse into bed at night to make everything stop burning. When will it ever end?!!
Radiation, driving and fatigue
I was hoping to hear about any experiences of driving and fatigue while undergoing radiation. I've been told to be aware of fatigue. The radiation oncologist and nurses have raised concerns and eyebrows when I've told them it's a one hour drive door to door, so two hour round trip x 15 sessions. I'm also maintaining hope that I can continue working part time in an outdoors job where lately I'm doing 14k+ steps a day. Ultimately I'm going to see how it goes. I'm not going to break myself. If I get too tired then I have backup people to help with the driving (public transport isn't an option around here), reduce my activity at work or take leave, or get accommodation near the hospital for some of the sessions. I'm wondering if some people have got through radiation without fatigue? Or if fatigue has occurred has it affected driving? And how fast the fatigue appears - might you have been okay one morning and zonked in the afternoon?
Ovestin Cream
Hi everyone!! I accidently sent this info to myself. So have worked out how to send it to everyone else. I had a recent appointment with my oncologist which went well. He doesn't need to see me for 12 months. Got my repeat for Anastrozole. I mentioned the Ovestin cream which I have started using again since surgery. At a previous appointment he said it was okay to use as I use it just twice a week. He said he didn't say that. I'm positive he did. I've stopped using it and have gone for an over the counter product he recommended. Replens. Then in the next breath he said if that doesn't work for me go back to using the Ovestin. I felt confused. Intimacy is uncomfortable as I am dry and sore inside again. Intimacy is an important part of our relationship. Because of this I really don't want to be intimate. I would love some feed back, please.Predict - Breast Cancer app
I’ve just discovered an app called ‘Predict - Breast Cancer’. I may be late to the party on this one and you might all know about it but I’d like to know your opinions if you’ve used it and if you’ve discussed it with your oncologists. It strongly recommends that patients use this tool in consultation with their doctor. The app’s blurb says: “This tool applies to women who have had surgery for early invasive breast cancer and are deciding which other treatments to have.” ”Predict is a tool that helps show how breast cancer treatments after surgery might improve survival rates. Once details about the patient and their cancer have been entered, the tool will show how different treatments would be expected to improve survival rates up to 15 years after diagnosis. This is based on data from similar women in the past. It is important to note that these treatments have side effects which should also be considered when deciding on a treatment.” It claims: ”Development of the model was a collaborative project between the Cambridge Breast Unit, University of Cambridge Department of Oncology and the UK's Eastern Cancer Information and Registration Centre (ECRIC) (now part of the National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service) and was supported by an unrestricted educational grant from Pfizer Limited (the company had no input into the model at all). The website has been built by the Winton Centre for Risk & Evidence Communication at the University of Cambridge who are funded by a generous donation from the David and Claudia Harding Foundation and the Winton Charitable Foundation. Predict has been endorsed by the American Joint Committee on Cancer.” This is a link to the app: https://breast.v3.predict.cam/tool
What to expect - AC after Carbo/paclitaxel/pembro
Hi fighters, I am super worried about what to expect with my first AC coming up. I'll be having my birthday gathering 3 days after it too. I've got one more paclitaxel on its own in the 12 week carboplatin , paclitaxel, pembrolizumab regimen. For triple negative. I'm mid 40s. Apart from a few short bouts of intense side effects, i feel I've been fairly fortunate. No nausea. Good appetite. Side effects: Pins and needles - then used cold gloves and socks so only mild tingles after that mostly. Headaches and some fatigue occasionally in first weeks. Constipation after carbo - dealt with easily. Hints of UTI but also dealt with swiftly and all ok. Whole body red rash week 9 followed by itchy hands and feet (skin was fine) keeping me up all night for 3 nights before getting better. Fast testing heart rate in middle weeks - very out of breath and rate skyrocketing with a little activity. I attribute my last weeks being very easy due to skipping 2 weeks due to low neutrophils and getting those booster injections nearly 2 weeks straight. Also paclitaxel dose reduce due to that horrible itch. Do we think AC won't likely be so kind to me? Am I stupid for wanting to get together with friends in my birthday? Of course no sick people allowed! I have remained social and continued to work (at schools!) so far. Please share your experiences with AC, particularly if you feel similarities with mine so far. Many thanks in advance ❤️
Zoladex 3 monthly available but not PBS covered for women
I wanted to share something I recently learned as it might help ease the burden of regular monthly injections. I recently learned that the goserelin injections many of us have monthly are actually available in a 3 monthly dose (10.8mg). I was a really hopeful thinking this could significantly reduce the stress, time and cost that comes with needing to have an injection every 4 weeks. However, my Med Onc informed me that in Australia, the PBS doesn't subsidise the 3 monthly dose for women, although it does for men (prostate cancer). The reasoning given that there's `insufficient evidence of reliable suppression of serum oestradiol' in women. What doesn't make sense is that there is evidence suggesting otherwise. Recent research indicates that the 3 monthly dose is non-inferior to the monthly dose for pre-menopausal women with breast cancer in terms of ovarian suppression. For me, the monthly injections come with a real burden: financially - GP visits and medication add up every month time wise - frequent GP appointments and pharmacy trips take time out of the week. physically and emotionally - injection itself is painful, it's a large slow release implant into the abdominal subcutaneous tissue. The main alternative - surgical removal of the ovaries is obviously much more invasive and comes with it's own risks and long term consequences. Given that the 3 monthly option is already in use, clinically tested and could ease the burden for many of us, I would really like to see equal PBS access for women. I'm curious, has anyone else looked into this and how to go about taking action?Letrozole and dermatitis?
Hi all - I have been on letrozole for about 10 weeks now, following a lumpectomy and radiation for hormone positive ILC. Over the last couple of weeks I have developed a terribly itchy red rash over my legs and arms. My GP is investigating the cause, but I wondered if anyone else had experienced this as a possible side-effect of letrozole? I have seen other posts about rashes being a side effect of other AIs but not so much letrozole? thanks!Hormone Blockers Weight gain & GLP-1s
Hi Everyone, I am 53 yeards old and 3 years into hormone blockers and am managing (barely) all the side-effects except for one. Weight gain. I have always been fit and active and I am working out more than ever and eating incredibly healthy and nothing seems to make a difference. I have slowly increased from a size 10 to almost a 14 since commencing hormone blockers. I have seen some medical evidence that GLP-1's at a low dose have been helpful for not just weight loss but also a reduction in other side effects as well. Has anyone else had a conversation with their oncologist regarding using GLP-1's and potential benefits? I don't like the thought of taking yet another drug but I am getting to the point of worrying about everything I eat and also cannot afford to keep buying another size up! If anyone has any info on this topic or knows of any specialists in this space I would appreciate it very much, Thanks!!
