Hormone Treatment

Hi Vicman31 I have a different cancer to you, but I have been on anastrozole and goserlin also called zoledex, for several years now. Both of these medications will put you into a menopausal state. It has not been easy for me, but with my cancer I have no choice but to continue on the treatment. You can read all about my journey by clicking on my profile picture and going to my profile page. 

The thing to remember is that not everybody has the same side effects. I have heard from people who have had no side effects at all with anastrozole, and others that have really struggled with bone and muscle pain. 

If this is a choice that your oncologist is giving you, then maybe try it to see how you get on ? 

Can’t help but following with interest as like you I also have estrogen positive lobular . Just awaiting results of re excision after first lumpectomy didn’t get 100% clear margins

then it’s definitely HT and radiotherapy and very possibly chemotherapy too which I’m terrified about tbh 

looks like you have smashed through so much already. Are you now on the HT for 5/10 years?? Some people seem to have side effects and some none. A lot of people seem to swear by exercise?? 

Wow!! Just read your profile, you certainly have bn through it but I'm so pleased things seem to be on the up for you now and that your cancer is still stable.

I have to have the HT as without it my cancer is very likely to return. I want as much time with my kids as possible so will do anything to get that. Just hoping the aide effects are manageable.

Thank you for responding I really appreciate it

Thanks for commenting.  I really hope you get good news from your latest surgery, I'll keep everything crossed for you as I know how hard that wait is.

Originally I was told 5 - 10 years for the HT but that's now bn reduced to 5 years and we will review were we are as possible other treatment will be needed. I have a high change of reoccurrence so keeping fingers crossed it'll just be a review and continuation of HT and nothing else needed.

Good luck with the rest of your treatment. I didn't find chemo too hard so please don't be frightened of it

Thankyou vicman really good to hear that the chemo wasn’t too awful for you

how did you cope with your twins?? Or maybe I should ask how did they handle it all?

reckon you are through the worst of your treatments now

im beginning to wonder if it’s better to but even think about the side effects of the HT as I reckon I’m someone who once they hear about a side effect almost goes looking for it!

havibg said that I’ve done a lot of googling and it seems to be sweats and muscle ache are the main thing?? . I can’t quite understand if that’s the drugs themselves or the side effects of menopause? Maybe - you basically get what you were going to get at menopause anyway - but maybe quicker?? Really not sure!

May I ask did you have the oncotype test? Is that the recurrence issue you mention??

I've read that bn chemically put into menopause can give you worse side effects than if you naturally go into it so I'm preparing myself for the worst and hoping for the best. I'm one of those people that if I'm going to get something I get it full blown, my mum always says that if I know something is free I'll have double esp when it comes to illnesses . My surgeon wasn't to pleased when I told her this but thankfully all was OK.

If I'm honest my kids are struggling with my diagnosis. I had thought they were coping OK(ish) but I think that was me just wanting it to be that way. One of my sons is really struggling and often breaks down crying saying he doesn't want me to be ill anymore. He has also said I've ruined his life with getting cancer. I know he doesn't really mean it but it's still like a knife to the heart. I already have terrible mum guilt for putting them through this.

With regards to the reoccurrence it was due to me asking my oncologist outright what my chances were of it coming back. I haven't had the oncotype test. The oncologist based it on all the other tests I've had, etc.

I 1000% get the mum guilt thing. Mine are having the most boring no holiday summer holiday. But you know it’s life eh and as a friend said to me - you’ll be amazed how in the end it’s like they’ve grown an extra limb. It’s so tough when you are on the middle of it. Man I feel guilty…… which is nuts because it’s not as if we asked for it. 

also at the start ( only a few weeks ago) I was saying yes to everything , no rules etc etc and the same friend told me they actually need “ tucking in tighter “ and if you suddenly drop all your mean rules it actually throws them right off. So just trying to keep everything normal. Which I won’t lie is absolutely flipping exhausting!!

Also just spoke to a lady who’s 20 years post BC. She said she actually found being on the HT massively reassuring and coming OFF them was the tricky bit…… so a different angle I guess 

Oh my two have mentioned on more than one occasion about the fact we aren't going on holiday anyway this summer and it's not fair that their friends get to go. I've stopped apologising for it as its not as though I've chosen to ruin ther summer. We've explained it's not how any of us would like it and that once I'm 'better' (less hospital visits etc) we will take them away somewhere. Doesn't help my guilt though. Just feel incredibly bad that they have just had their SATs, getting ready to move to secondary school and they have this to deal with on top. We've tried to keep things as 'normal' as possible for them and I've tried to do as much of my tasks (eg school run, taking to clubs, etc) with them as possible which I think has helped. It's just so hard isn't it x