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I am a newby to breast cancer!

LefrtAAs.123
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I am 72 with very little knowledge of breast cancer and very few people to talk to or to answer questions that I may have. I’m hoping to listen and read about other peoples journey of cancer in the hope that I will get a better understanding of what I have and what I can expect for my future. Many thanks Susie

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    Hi Suzie,

    A very warm welcome to our forum.

    You have come to the right place to get what you need. Most of us here are dealing with one type of cancer or another, or we are caring for those who have it. Most of us are happy to share our experiences and answer any questions that we can. Do you know what type or stage your breast cancer is and have you discussed treatment options with your care team yet?

    I was diagnosed just before I turned 60 and I am now 77. I had 2 bouts of cancer and 1 of pre-cancer, all within the first year of diagnosis. This terrified me, as I had already lost my mum to secondary breast cancer, after battling with the disease for 12 years. I have had a lumpectomy, followed by a double mastectomy. Diagnosis, treatments and after care have all made such tremendous advances, that there was no comparison between the experience that mum and I had.

    Please feel free to ask any questions you have and don't be afraid to ask your care team about any concerns too - no question is too small or insignificant at this stage. You may also find it helpful to write down any questions you have before each consultation, as it's all too easy to forget something important when you're face-to-face with your consulant.

    We are always here for you.

    Kind regards,

    Jolamine xx

  • Offline in reply to Jolamine

    Hi Jolamine, Thank you for your reply..I have invasive lobular cancer in my left breast. After weeks of tests on both breasts it has been decided that I need a lumpectomy on the left breast and an evening up to a similar size on the right breast. Going from a size 38 d cup to a petite size. 
    At the moment the most difficult symptoms I am experiencing are menopausal? A loss of oestrogen in my body. After my operation which is on the 14 of April I will receive hormone blockers, which means losing all of the Oestrogen in my body.
    if anyone else has experienced this I would appreciate any suggestions that might help! Lack of sleep is spoiling my days a little. I’m wondering if I should use a sleeping medication to help me adapt to a body without oestrogen? 
    I’m dealing with the changes in my body on a day to day basis and I’m sure there will be more changes to deal with down the track but for now I need help to get me through senior menopause. My friends really don’t understand. 
    Thank you for letting me join this group. 
    suzie

  • Offline in reply to LefrtAAs.123

    Hi Suzie,

     Hormone therapy is a cancer treatment that slows or stops the growth of cancer that uses hormones to grow. Many of us have it. I Started off with Tamoxifen and used this for the first year after my lumpectomy. I changed to Letrozole when I developed the second bout and had my double mastectomy. I took this for a further 6½ years. Tamoxifen affected my mood badly. It also caused night flushes and I found it difficult to get to sleep. All of these are common side-effects. When I changed to Letrozole, I had a lot more problems with my joints, but still had the aforementioned side-effects too. I also had problems with my eyesight and had to have both knees replaced, but this was pretty extreme. 

    There really is no telling what side-effects you'll have, if any. Reactions are very individual. Some people sail through treatment with no problems. Your oncologist will decide how long you need to take this medication for - it used to be 5 years, but more recently people are being prescribed it for 10 years, in many cases. It might be worth discussing the possibility of taking a sleeping tablet with your doctor, if you are already having problems with sleep. I ended up taking a mild anti-depressant, which was of great help. Despite the problems I had with this medication, I would do it all again, if I had to, as, so far, it has given me 16 years, which I might not have had otherwise. 

    Are you going to have the breast reduction on the right side at the same time as the lumpectomy, or is this being done later?

    Kind regards,

    Jolamine xx

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