anyone else not having Hormone tablets after surgery and chemo ???

[jackearls1000]

Morning ...I'm just wondering if anyone out there is like me ...Ive had a lumpectomy, fec chemo and waiting to have radiotherapy ....but I'm not able to have a tablet after ...anyone else in this position ??? xxx

[Denversuz]

I am not. I was stage 1, grade 2, nodes 0/2, ER+ PR+, HER2-, lumpectomy. Finishing radiation treatments now. Did not need chemo. 68 years old.The side effects did not outweigh the advantages for me. It is a hard and personal decision. Have a distant aunt that tried the hormone tablets and for a year has had one serious problem after another. Hers was a very small early cancer too. She has stopped and is still having some issues. I feel this is right for me. Doctor seemed surprised, but did not argue.

[Debs1962]

What’s the reason why you are unable? Is it your choice or doctor advised

[waveylines in reply to Debs1962]

Debs was your bc estrogen positive?

[jackearls1000 in reply to Debs1962]

Hiya Debs ..the surgeon said because the cancer was not hormone receptive ....I couldn't have any tablets ....but no mention of triple negative ....she just said they had taken the tumour away with clear margins and no lymph involvement, the tumour was small ...just under an inch but because it was between a grade 2 /3 I needed chemo and radiotherapy ...and I was lucky as I caught it early and they were going to treat me as a young woman ..... she also said I was clear of cancer now and the rest of the treatment was to mop up any rouge cells they couldn't see under the microscope ...xxx

[Debs1962 in reply to jackearls1000]

If you are not er+ Or pr+ if you were her2 you would have been given herceptin so I assume you are triple negative, otherwise you would have been given something I would have thought? Seems odd they haven’t told you

[Debs1962]

Yes I am ER+ so take letrozole

[CounsellorSue]

I was diagnosed in May 2014 age 55 with grade 3, triple negative, invasive ductal carcinoma. Had a lumpectomy, 6 cycles of FEC-T chemo, 15 sessions of radiotherapy. It was explained to me that hormone treatment was not indicated in my case because the cancer was not hormone receptive. I've just had a check-up and I am still cancer free - whoopee!

Hope that helps, if you're worried do try to speak to your doctor and/or breast cancer nurses.

All the very best for the future xx

[jackearls1000 in reply to CounsellorSue]

This is brilliant news ...I'm afraid ive not spoken to many people during this process ...I didn't have FEC -T I just finished 6 cycles of FEC 2weeks ago and waiting for radiotherapy ...were you worried to begin with .??? x

[CounsellorSue]

I was worried the whole time! And, all the side effects of the treatment were so much to deal with. I was lucky to have very supportive family and friends, and my nature is to just get on with things I can't control. I knew I had to go through it all to have the best chance of surviving, and I tried to do things to make myself feel better, for example I got gel manicures to cover my awful nails because it really bothered me to see them looking so bad. I took every opportunity to pamper myself and accepted all offers of help. The radiotherapy appointments tended to be at about lunchtime so a friend would go with me and then we'd go out for lunch afterwards. I didn't get too tired with the radiotherapy, for me it was a doddle compared with the chemo.

Do you have access to breast cancer nurses? Or, would you consider accessing some counselling, Macmillan can provide that free of charge around here and maybe it would help to speak with someone you don't know. There is so much to be worried about, and it's such a frightening thing to be going through, particularly if you're not speaking about it. I used to lie awake at night with all these awful thoughts going round and round.

xx

[jackearls1000 in reply to CounsellorSue]

Yes I might try and get some support ...I have not too bad to be honest ...its now the chemo has finished Ive gone back to how I felt at the beginning ...I spose it will get better with time ...I still have radiotherapy to get through ..every time I look in the mirror it reminds me ...my hair is growing already ...its all just a bit of a worry ....but I'm sure time will help ...thankyou for your support it really means a lot to me xxx I spose the thing is not t panic x

[CounsellorSue in reply to jackearls1000]

You're right, it's all about time. My hair is back to how it was before, in fact my hairdresser says it's thicker than it used to be. I dyed it purple with a vegetable based dye when it first came through though I've gone back to (dyed) blonde now. I also got a tattoo on my leg when I was back to looking my old self and had control of my body again, not having people doing awful things in the hope of saving me. I'm not the same as I was before, I hate my scar, but I am proud of coming through it all and now, three and a half years on from the operation which took the cancer away, I try to be ok being me and live life to the full, even if that means slobbing in front of the telly on occasions.

We're all different, your battle won't be the same as mine, what I am sure of is that we are the lucky ones, fifty years ago I would probably have died. It's really terrible going through this but the courage you have already shown by sticking with the chemo says so much. We are survivors!

All the best, and lots of love xx

[jackearls1000 in reply to CounsellorSue]

I was wondering about tattoos ...I like tattoos and have quite a few and would like some more also about dyeing hair ..My hair was black before and now its white ...I look very odd and looking in the mirror all the time reminds me ,,,and gets me down ...how soon can I get rid of the white ?? on the plus side I always wondered about being a blonde ..( I'm a 50s throw back ) but that's a defo no ...also I like to go to festivals ..in fact ive booked a weekend for March 16th ..but wondering if my radiotherapy is going to be over ...I'm still waiting for date but have done the set up scan ...and will I be up to going and can I drink??? ....I feel scared to do anything ...I follow the slimming world plan ...lost 4 half stone ..that's how I found the lump ..losing 10 inches off my bust ...allowed me to find it ...but I now worry about having sweetner I my yoghurt and drinks .....eeeeuuwww xxx

[haagr]

I had a lumpectomy and radiation in 2016 for ER+ DCIS. My oncologist recommend an estrogen blocking med. I did a lot of research and did the math. Although they said I would have a "50% " risk reduction for recurrence, this really meant an actual 2% risk reduction for me. The potential quality of life and life threatening side effects were not worth the risk to me so I declined.

[Moirs1964]

I had her2 positive breast cancer. Chemo and herceptin followed by mastectomy on left breast and reconstruction. Caught really early and no lymph node involvement which was great. Mastectomy was due to DCIS.

I was 49 when diagnosed and had quite a severe reaction to my first chemo which had a knock on effect. As a result I’m unable to take any blockers (horrendous side effects) so I’m just extremely vigilant about check ups/scans/etc. I’m now 54 and so far so good 😊

[carolinenailsea]

Hi again

I too had chemo, then surgery then radiotherapy last year. As my cancer was triple negative ie not sensitive to hormones or hercepin I do not have to have any other treatment - no tablets. I am grateful for that as I hate taking tablets and the side effects of the tablets can be a problem for some people it seems. Good luck. Caroline

[1735]

I also had breast cancer 3yrs ago and for the last 3yrs suffered horrendous flushes all day/night I have been on tamoxifen and leprozole and both don’t find any difference, it is so depressing and very embarrassing as my hair is soaking wet, water running down my face don’t know how long I can cope with this😩😩

[Kate407 in reply to 1735]

Hi 1735, I'm so sorry that you are having to deal with the hot flashes & night sweats. I'm on Letrozo & will be starting Ibrance in the next couple of days. I've been taking two 400mg capsules of Neurontin (generic is gabapentin) to help with the neuropathy in my legs & feet at night. It also helps me with pain and hot flashes & night sweats. My Oncologist's Nurse said that I can take up to 600mg 3X/daily (1800mg max). In the past I also have taken 1200mg Evening Primrose Oil Caps, 2X/day. However, you should always check with your Oncologist before taking anything to make sure that it doesn't interfere with your treatments' effectiveness.

God bless and sustain you as you walk among us as our sister in this journey of life.

Kate

[1735 in reply to Kate407]

Thank you x