Hi there ..

I've accepted your friend request, but for some reason , won't let me message you .. so if you go on it again, and you should be able to message me, then I'll be able to reply .. Chrissie x

Hello my friends

My apologies for the long silence...  it is one thing or another.  One thing for sure, I have not forgotten you lovely people out there.  I hope this finds everyone keeping well and safe during this lockdown.

A quick update: as it turned out, glad I decided to have my surgery done privately at the end of February (instead of waiting till March! Would have been caught in the insurgence of COVID!)  Surgery went well. Lumpectomy of two small lobular lumps (8mm / 3mm) and lymph nodes are clear. 

Radiotherapy was to take place 5 weeks ago, but I decided to delay it due to the pandemic.  I am unsure if I should delay this abit longer till the pandemic subside further...    If I start treatment, it will be 15 days running, and the thought of visiting a hospital at this time is the last thing I want.  What are your views, my friends?  

(I will be given tamoxifen, but was told that if I suffer too much sight effects, then I could stop as this will outweight the benefit in my case.  Tbh, I dread taking this for that period of time...!)

Once again, thank you and big virtual hugs to you all xxx

Hello NeverU 

glad you are doing ok. Good news no lymph node involvement too. 

Good you have had the op. As you say it’s a very difficult time and you got it sorted just right! Great. Your timing for the radiotherapy is a bind but hopefully hospitals are getting back to normal sooner rather than later so I do hope you get that done ASAP. 

You ask for people’s comments regarding delaying radiotherapy at this time  I completely ‘get’ your reasons for doing so  of course but on balance I would likely still have it done  now or ASAP. Cancer has scared me so I have always just wanted it done with and out of my life. It’s a very personal decision though  but had your oncologist felt it was an urgent situation I feel he would have made that abundantly clear  to you.

Yes the hormone tablets appear to me to have many horrible side affects. My surgeon said much the same as yours regarding the helpfulness of them.  It makes about a 2% difference to the possibility of a recurrence. Exercise can reduce that to 1% (in his opinion) so it makes me truly wonder about the helpfulness of putting myself through such discomfort like sweating, aching joints and low mood??!!! Anyway I am about to start taking Femara which is quite difficult to obtain apparently owing to the cost of it. It’s reported (by patients) to be less draining on the body all round. So giving it s go. 

I wish you well. Stay safe

Kebbs x 

Thanks Kebbs!  Good to hear your views.  Sorry that Tamoxifen gives you such side effects.  Hope Femara works better for you.  It is strange how the drugs affect some and not others; a friend took Tamoxifen for 10 years and felt ok.  Lucky her.  Yes, I will probably book for radiotherapy soon but do dread the after effects..

I wish you all the best.  Take care. x 

Hello,

just to say the side affects of radiotherapy are it seems an overwhelming tiredness. I was very lucky and it didn’t affect me at all. Left with a slight redness on the breast but it wasn’t sore. 

I can say that afterwards my left breast has felt ‘heavy’ and a bit stiff. Hard to describe! No pain but definitely different. This is normal apparently. Ought to wear off in the coming months. What helps is doing the exercises they recommend and moisturising 3x a day or at least 2x a day. 

Stay safe. 

Kebbs x