Feeling lower than low.

sorry you having a tough time, I'm starting radiotherapy on Tues, 15 sessions, and I have psoriasis under my boob, so I'm worried about burns and soreness.fully expecting to feel really tired as well. I've started anastrozle but have had hot flushes constantly since stopping HRT in Nov, aren't they horrible. when onco said side effects can include hot flushes I told him I can't cope with anymore ..already having 10 go 15 in 24 hrs, he has now put me on gabapentin,  it's an anti seizure drug but they discovered it can reduce hot flushes ...I'll try anything! you're not going mad you're going through a lot and just when you think the end is in sight eg end of surgery and in my case 6 months chemo, you realise we are still fighting through. be gentle on yourself and spoil yourself if you can, you deserve it x

HI Devon

Sorry you feel so low, This Paper is very useful to read and describes that how you are feeling is actually quite normal.

With regards to your burns - I had burns under my breast and I didn't ask the radio. team as I have scar tissue on my leg from a road accident when I was 17 and see a plastic surgeon about this.  His advice was to leave it open to the air and use Badedas shower gel as it has healing properties in it, you can get this from a chemist or a major supermarket. - so, I followed his advice for the burns under my breast and left my bra off as much as possible to avoid the band rubbing (as much as I could when I was at home naturally).  It healed remarkedly quickly.

I guess the hot flushes are worse at the moment during the heatwave and hopefully they will settle a little when the air cools.  If you continue to struggle with the tablets, do try different brands before you give up on them.  Ask for a different brand at your pharmacy each month to see if it makes a difference, as the coatings can be different per brand (Teva and Accord seem to be similar), but Consilient is very different - it is for Anastrozle anyway as that is the tablet I'm on (similar effects), but I had Consilient once and OMG it hit me like a sledge hammer, so much so that I asked for "Teva or Accord brand only" to be written on my prescription slip. 

Look at the information slip with regards to the coatings and compare them, each time you get a new brand and hopefully you will find a brand of Letrozole that suits you.  If not, I know they can offer other suggestions, so don't just give up but keep looking for other alternatives.

Kindest Wishes, Lesley 

I went through the menopause age 38 now 59. So not happy to be going through this again. Every night waking up soaked in sweat is no fun. The tiredness is easing up now but during treatment I was tired and napping a lot. I dont think my partner understands but then again men dont generally.

I just want to have the normal me back. 

I never wanted to take the hormones anyway and they told me it wasn't gonna make a huge difference to my outcome at 10 years. I am large chested (46E). So no way can I get away with not wearing a bra. I tried but it didn't make any difference. I think when I see oncologist for follow up irs going to be a big NO NO on Hormone treatment.

Thanks anyway. Miserable seems to be the new me! Which anyone who knows me would tell you is not normal.

Hi @Devon,

You can actually input your own information into this NHS predict tool to see your outcome based on hormone treatment vs none.

Yes, I am fairly large breasted too, hence only going without a bra at home - as you say, no way could I have gone without one outside the house!  But the lack of rubbing from the band certainly helped stop it getting any worse.

Kindest Wishes, Lesley

Hi, sorry you're feeling so down right now.  On the subject of bras (or not) I am a 36G so also can’t be without, but I got some super crop top bra things from M&S, even in a large enough size, and I wear them around the house, much more comfy than a bra. I also sleep in them ti give my “nuked boob” a bit of support as it's swollen.  Best wishes

Tried the NHS predict app  but it didn't get off to avoid start when what I had removed wasn't listed  I had stage 2 idc with dcis in the margins

My nuked boob is not swollen just the burn underneath and the red itchy things on chest. I get my new super bra's on Thursday. The padded dressings the hospital gave me help to some extent. Will see how it goes.

Good luck, I hope that helps

Thanks very much. x