Hi all, the diagnosis seems the easy part, but I am finding that the waiting and amount of information is earth shatteringly difficult to process. I have kept in contact with my ‘boob buddy’ who I met on surgery day and that is super helpful but I am really struggling with the anastrozole.
I am 68 and a lump was found at my routine breast screening in July. I had a lumpectomy and lymph node biopsy in august. The lump was removed and margins were fine but one of the two lymph nodes contained cancer cells. My cancer was 12mm and estrogen +ve. My oncotype test came back at 13 so I do not need chemo and refused further lymph node surgery. Saw the oncologist last week who has prescribed 15 radiotherapy treatments, as well as anastrozole and IV bisphosphonates. After 8 days of anastrozole I am experiencing migraine type headaches and tremendous fatigue that are very difficult to manage.
I had similar finding but at the beginning of the year. Fatigue is a common thing with hormone blockers. I'm still learning how to live with them. Someone on here stopped hers and then her cancer came back. I will keep going although it's far from easy. I am trying to rest when I need to but do exercise when I can. I had 5 sessions of radiotherapy. My ribs were sore and sternum recently, which I wonder if it was to do with radiotherapy. I've just had an x-ray to find out. I have osteoporisis as well, I had Alendronic acid as a tablet weekly. 1 yr Mammogram next month exactly on the same day as my op last year.
Walking for 30 mins X 5 days weekly is good I was told. Massaging your wounds and breast gently and arm exercises. Self care essential, in fact learning to love oneself. The services at my local Macmillan centre are really good. Help to keep me afloat. Such a lot to adapt to, also a similar age. Ageing isn't pretty and this makes it harder in some ways. Younger women have other losses. My body was already cracking up slowly. Dancing is my oxygen mask. 
What a lovely response, thank you 
. I just needed to know I am not alone and that I am doing the right things. I spent an hour with the oncologist last week and I am still remembering things that she explained (and now writing them in a journal). It all seems a lot daunting at the moment x PS my little yorkie is nearly 13yrs old and is making sure I walk everyday x
