Side effects following treatment

Hi Dolly1963

Welcome to the forum and I am sorry to hear that you have Secondary Breast Cancer.  While I don't have an answer for you I noticed that you haven't had any answers yet so I thought I'd reply to you to welcome you to the community.  Hopefully someone will be along shortly with an answer for you.

Best wishes

Daisy53

Hello Dolly1963, 

I’ve just joined the Macmillan community today! I was diagnosed with Primary Breast Cancer after a routine mammogram in Sept ‘21, but after a ct scan it moved to Secondary as it had metastasised to my liver, spine and pelvis. That has all been zapped with EC chemo and I’ve been on Letrazole, Palbociclib & Denosumab (now 3 monthly) since June ‘22.  I am 3 weeks on and one week off which I think you are the same…to let your neutrophils recover in the 4th week so as to have bloods and start again. I felt very tired and weary in that 3rd week until about 6 months ago. I try all sorts of things but I’ve always taken Coriolus Turkey Tail, Calcium, a wedge of 90% chocolate! Magnesium, 2x Brazil nuts, vit.D, cherry active pills…occasional Vodka and tonic!  I walk 2 fat dogs for an hour a day and sleep quite badly. 
anyway, I think it’s only normal that you are weak in the 3rd week as your white blood cells and the neutrophils will be down.  Do you take a copy of your blood results each month? I always take a copy of my bloods as it was such a struggle in the beginning to get my neutrophils high enough that my oncologist dropped the mls of Palbociclib to the lowest…70ml. It sort of gives you a window on your energy levels.  Probably too much info!  Take it easy…your body is amazing!  Best wishes. 

Thanks so much for that, it explains a lot. I was on Letrazole alone for many years but after the 2021 further occurance I was started on Fulvastrant (butt injections... ouch! ), Palbociclib 175mgs, Denosumab and Accrete D (tablets) every month; my neutrophils were very low last month; sounds stupid but I often forget the my body is going through 'stuff' and just expect that I can carry on with life as before. 

I've never heard of Coriolus Turkey Tail or cherry active pill, but I'd started having a couple Brazil nuts every day but my diet is such that I don't think I need the extra... I like the sound of the 90% chocolate though; I'd given up on magnesium but I think I need to restart that. I'm struggling to get out for walks; I don't have pets and I've become quite unaccustomed to daily exercise as fatigue is a huge problem. However I'm grateful for each day that I wake up, fatigued or not. 

Thanks again for reaching out. All the very best to you too. 

Hello again. 

I just wanted to say that I'm the same in thinking that my body must get on with it, when of course I am astounded that I'm still here! 

Can you try and do some sort of light stretches in your house, to help your body keep flexible?  I joined a cancer group at my hospital (free 12 sessions) in their gym.  I'd never been to a gym before (aged 60!) and it was brilliant.  Lovely kind people to help with the machines and suitable activity...we were all sorts of ages, shapes and sizes. I didn't know it was offered but just asked one of the nurses if there was anything like that - I also had some on line therapy through the NHS which was good.    Ask your Breast Care nurse if they have anything like that available near you. 

I know the debilitating issue of fatigue...deep fatigue.  Take care and take it slow

xxx