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After breast cancer treatment

Malandra
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Hello I am currently 1 year clear of breast cancer, I had stage 2 which had lumpectomy and radiotherapy after.Was given tamoxifen which didnt really agree with me so I am on my second injection of zoladex and letrozole.I have never felt well since this I put put on at least 30lbs,I am full of fluid in my feet,arms legs,carnt manage simple tasks as I get breathless constant pain everywhere even having a shower is a mission.Since my medication has changed my breast has to gone smaller very sore lumpy  can even feel where my lump was removed,I am swollen under my armpit.Feel so frustrated with everything  is this normal should this happen am constantly shattered am trying to do more but my pain is quite unbearable most of the time.Can somebody please give me some advise .

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    Hi there ...

    Please go back to your oncology team and tell them what you said here ... l had to stop tamoxifen because I had no life, except pain after 6 months of trying ... I asked for the statistics and was told it would give me between 3 and 5 % better chance ... as I had no life on it, I weighed up knowing that was really low but that I just may have been in that 3/5 % ... 

    I took the chance and came off .. my life slowly returned ... l am glad I took that decision but I'm still clear 4 years on .. if it came back it would be on my head alone ... I'd not tell anyone to come off... I'd just say do your homework, and do what's right for you ... with no regrets .... good luck ... Chrissie....

  • Offline in reply to Chriss

    Thankyou for replying I am currently on zoladex injection this only my second dose they do say it makes you worse before better but my life is none existent .I think people think I am a drama queen but I I wonder why I am like this prior to cancer I worked between 30 to 50 hours a week and now am not capable of very much and I dont understand why. Hospital say it's nothing they have done and Gp is much the same.

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    Hi malandra,

    I also couldn't cope with the terrible side effects of tamoxifen, so my Breast care consultant suggested I try Zoladex but I would still have to take tamoxifen for a couple of years, which to me meant no quality of life.

    I asked if my ovaries could be removed as I've had my family, he said he personally hadn't known anyone who'd been down this path before but he would refer me to gynae for a consultation, my gynae surgeon has just agreed to remove them urgently as I'm not on any medication at the moment. 
     

    I'm not totally convinced it will solve everything as I'll enter the menapause overnight I'm told but its a different solution that should reduce the possibility of my oestrogen receptive cancer returning,  just thought I'd share my experience with you in case you feel your options are limited.

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