Hi JG10,

A very warm welcome to our forum.

I am sorry to hear that you couldn't cope with hormone therapy. It is always difficult to predict what the right course of action with cancer is. I don't suppose that we ever really know until we are either cancer free for several years or we have no recurrence or further metastases. I know that we are all different and no two cancers are the same, but I thought that I'd give you my story. You don't say what type or stage your breast cancer was. Mine was Pure Mucinous, stage 1. I had a lumpectomy in 2010 and was told that if I had to have cancer this was the best type to get, as it was unlikely to recur. I took Tamoxifen for a year and was advised to have radiotherapy. Six months later, I discovered a larger lump in my other breast. This turned out to be pre-cancerous lesions. Due to unexpected hold-ups, I didn't get radiotherapy in that first few months and was finally offered it 11 months on from diagnosis. I saw two eminent researchers in radiotherapy for advice. While one was of the opinion that I might as well still give it a go, the other was adamant that unless I had been given it within 3 months after my lumpectomy, I was wasting my time. He seemed much more knowledgeable about the subject and I decided to follow his advice.

A further 5 months down the line, I discovered a second cancer in my original breast and had a double mastectomy. After that I changed to Letrozole, which I took for a further 6½ years, despite some horrendous side-effects. I do wonder if I had received radiotherapy at the right time if this would have prevented a recurrence so soon again. However, I am now 16 years down the line from my first surgery and, although I'm not the same person I was pre-cancer, I still lead a busy and fulfilling life. I must confess that, in spite of the side-effects, I'm glad that I persevered with the hormone therapy, but it was hard going at the time. It is difficult to cope when you lose the safety net of routine mammograms. Make sure to  check your breasts regularly and if you notice any changes, don't hesitate to get your GP to refer you back to the breast clinic. Having had the double mastectomy, I can no longer have mammograms, but I have had to return a few times for US scans  and the staff at the clinic have been very helpful with this.

I am glad to hear that you remain cancer free after 5 years and I sincerely hope that you continue to do so.  

Don't forget that we are always here for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Thank you so much for your reply it’s reassuring to know that you are not alone and that others are there for you. Thank you for sharing your cancer journeys and yes I will keep checking my breasts and if any concerns I’ll refer myself back to my GP

Regards

Hello JG10, and thank you for your post,

I am sorry to learn that you had breast cancer a few years ago and that you had a difficult time with side effects from the treatment, but it is good since treatment there have been no further signs of cancer.

When planning treatment, Doctors will look at several things, such as the type of cancer, the stage of the cancer (its size and how far it has spread), and how well a person is generally (whether they have other health conditions), and they will weigh the benefits of treatment against the side effects.

In your situation, it sounds like the doctors were concerned that the risk of you coming into the hospital daily with COVID outweighed any possible benefits. The main thing is that the breast cancer was removed, and although you were unable to complete the hormone therapy, you still managed to take it for a few years, which will have reduced the risk of the cancer returning.

The highest risk of the cancer coming back is usually within the first 1-3 years after treatment, and each year after that, with no signs of the cancer, the risk is reduced.

It is difficult living with the uncertainty of whether or not a cancer may come back, and no one can say with any certainty what a person's outcome may be, but it is good news that there has been no signs of your cancer coming back 5 years on after treatment.

As Jolamine has mentioned, the main thing is to be breast aware, and if you feel any abnormalities that are causing you concern, be safe and get checked by your GP.

I hope this helps in some way. Please feel free to get back to us. If you would like to speak with one of our nurses on the helpline, give us a call we are available between 9am and 5 pm Monday to Friday and the freephone number to call is 0808 800 4040.

Jemma