Hi [@Pinny79]‍ how did you get on at the breast clinic on Wednesday? Did they give you any peace of mind re the sensations you have been having since your VAE?

I had my DEXA bone density scan on Weds. I have to wait 6 - 8 weeks to get the report after a radiologist has read the scans and written to my GP. However, the radiographer who did the scan said based on what she could see on the screen that things looked good and 'my scores' were encouraging. So, fingers crossed that should be OK when I get the final report. I'm pretty relieved as in my early career I used to work as a nutritionist in the dairy industry in NZ (many years ago), where I specialised in osteoporosis. It has made me super conscious of always ensuring I eat lots of calcium-rich foods and I have done regular weight-bearing exercise since my early 20s (I'm 52). My two teenagers have had to drink two glasses of milk a day since they were little haha -  with me banging on about bone health. I do hate the thought of this drug thinning my bones but fingers crossed they are nice and strong to start with and my body can cope with it. 

Anyway enough of me wittering on - hope you got some answers on Weds xx

Hey, I'm so sorry it's taken me over a month to reply! I'm useless!

What was the outcome of your DEXA scan, all good I hope  and how have things been going? Have you managed anymore walking?  Gosh, hasn't it been hot this week! I've been spending as much time in my garden as possible. I've been enjoying going swimming weekly too.
My appointment went fine, nothing wrong with the boob itself, the doctor gave it the once over with the ultrasound and she's put all my pain down to being musculoskeletal.

I'd missed a referral last year for attending physio for a painful shoulder due to covid. It hadn't felt so bad so I didn't rush for an appointment. I self referred for on the GP website and I went last week. My shoulder is a mess. Maybe this has been my issue all along. The physio said I had poor reflex, possibly an inflamed bicep, nerve impingement and weakness. I've been given plenty of exercises and I go again in August. 
I have also been referred by the Breast Clinic for their Family History Clinic.
I have my first telephone consultation in a couple of weeks. I sent in a family history questionnaire. They may feel I may benefit more screening and this could lead on to gene testing. 

All the best xxx
 

Hi [@Pinny79]‍ nice to hear from you and don't apologise for the delay - I am pretty sporadic in checking on here myself. 

That is great news for your about nothing wrong on the boob front, although obviously not great re your shoulder being a mess. Fingers crossed you get the support and advice needed to get that freed up and working properly for you.

Interesting to hear you are being referred to the family history clinic. That happened to me when I was 47 after my mum was diagnosed with breast cancer (and her Mum before her). Mine was decided as just moderate risk and I was put on yearly screening until I was 50. Each of those were clear but it was reassuring to be tested regularly. Ironically it was the first national screeing one in November last year when I was 51 that picked up my area of concern!

I'm doing really well on the whole - haven't had the DEXA report results through but encouraged that it looked good on the day of the bone density scan so should get results anytime soon I think.

I'm back running regularly and have done more of the South West Coast Path walking. Initially, I was really out of puff going up the hills but I feel back to normal now. We had a family holiday in the Lake District just over a week ago when the weather was amazing. My son joined my husband, 17 year old daughter and me for a few days, from Leeds as he is a uni there and had just moved into the house he and his friends are renting for second year from September. He has come back down with us for a few weeks for some summer work (we live near Bath) so it is lovely having the whole family together for a while. We did some fantastic walking in the Lake District which was wonderful - it is SO beautiful up there!

On other fronts, I actually have an appointment back at the Breast Unit on 6 August as I am a little concerned with some developments. It is only five months since I had surgery and nearly four months since finishing radiotherapy but I have a new area of thickening in my breast that is worrying me. It is near the second area of concern in my breast that they ruled out eventually after much testing. This was the area I was recalled on from my screening mammogram that they ruled out at the asessment clinic as being OK (during which they spotted a second area of concern that turned out to be breast cancer). When I had my MRI they ruled this initial area back in as needing another look at it and it was biopsied on two separate occasions. It was concluded as just a radial scar and area of sclerosing adenosis with nothing dodgy showing in the histology. My area of cancer was hiding behind a second radial scar in a different part of my breast so it is a little worrying that something may have been hiding near this other radial scar. The part of my breast near the biopsy site (below it) has definitely thickened up and started feeling firmer so I called my breast care nurse who couldn't have been nicer and didn't hesitate to get me booked in. I will see my very lovely female breast surgeon who will take a look at it and if need be they will do some imaging etc.

I'm trying to tell myself it is probably a side effect of radiotherapy or is perhaps scar tissue from some advanced biopsy techniques that were used that were fairly full-on. I'm feeling a bit unsettled though as I have armpit pain on the same side which has been pretty constant for the last three weeks as well. Weird as I can't feel any lumps  in my armpit but whenever I reach out for something or raise my arm above my shoulder I have this very tight and uncomfortable pain in my armpit which I can't think of any reason for. I am also hoping that has another explanation! I'll keep you posted with an update after my appointment.

So I need to sit tight until Friday 6 August and hope for the best. I'm not an anxious person but it is hard to not keep thinking about it!!

Meanwhile, good luck with your appt at the FH Clinic and I do hope that shoulder sorts itself out soon.

And apologies for always writing such long posts haha!

Take care xx