What type of breast cancer do you have?

@Dmg1965

The first two cycles were a breeze - virtually no side effects apart from a bit of tiredness, some heartburn and dry skin on hands and feet. No diarrhoea, which is one of the biggest possibilities! 

This cycle has hit me a bit harder - more fatigue, blurry vision, dizziness, increased heart rate (may be a side effect or may be that I've just come off betablockers that I was put on in June after an episode of tachycardia which it was felt might be thyroid related) After seeing GP yesterday, have now gone back on a small dose of them, which seems to have reduce the rate a lot. The hand and foot soreness (another major side effect) is also worse this time.

The oral chemo is better than IV in some ways - it seems a little more gentle on the system overall and it doesn't involve trying to find veins! I was told I would have to have a central line put in for IV chemo this time as my veins tend to hide, so not having to have that is a bonus. 

However, I think that if it gives you horrid side effects, it might be difficult to persuade yourself to take it at home when you're not 'supervised'. The tablets are taken for 14 days, then you have a week off, but due to the extended period of tablet taking, the side effects can carry on throughout the whole three week cycle rather than just being in the first few days after the single IV treatment, which is a pain given that this is now a permanent thing until it stops working - the thought of potentially feeling rotten on a permanent basis is slightly depressing at times. However, if the side effects get too much, the oncologist can reduce the dosage to try to reduce them, or give you a break. 

I have also been told that the side effects, especially fatigue can be cumulative, so they can build up the more cycles you do! Eeek! 

Overall, I'm coping okay, but I'm lucky that I am off work and have good sick pay conditions so I can just do what I can during the day (in between hospital appointments - not sure I would have time to work at the moment!!!) and take things as they go - some days I feel 'normal' and feel I could be at work whilst on others I feel a bit rubbish and just rest and try to keep myself occupied. I've retaken up knitting and have quite a few commissions from work mates, so that's keeping me out of trouble... 

Best wishes - hopefully they'll find a good treatment option for you! 

Cathy

Sorry, double post..

I have had Her2 Breast Cancer, have had herceptin for a year and on tamoxifen for 10 years, I am on my 5th Year of tamoxifen now, at first I was having bother with the hot flushes but as time went on they reduced, my periods stopped for 3 years, they stopped on the 3rd dose of chemotherapy but have come back but just now and again and is only about 3 days at a time very light. It's been now 3 months since my last one but hot flushes have come back terrible, I had heard about the lady care magnet, but it's too early to tell with that yet not long had it. The chillow pillow I still have just not used it in a while. I was just wondering if anyone else is struggling a bit with the tamoxifen, I know they are supposed to be our wonder drug, what I just don't understand is a few years been ok but now the hot flushes are getting worse. I thought at first I was maybe going through the menopause when my period completely stopped. At first I got my brand of tamoxifen changed and been on the same one now for a while, when was reading up on them, I know a lot of woman have had a lot more side effects, the joint pain I have isn't too bad, it's just the amount of flushes, I'm kind of struggling with at the moment.

Does anyone have bone and finger/ toenail aches ??? 

Yes, I've just started to have some bone pain in one of the hotspots in my ribs - it's not too bad, but is beginning to affect what I can lift with my right hand. I also have a sore patch over one of my vertebrae, and there was a hot spot there as well on my bone scan. I had a chest xray three weeks ago and am having another on Monday to see if there are any changes between the two dates, and am due to have a CT in the next three weeks as well. I also have lower back pain, but already had severe degeneration in one of my lumbar vertbrae, so that's not new! Due to have denosumab injection tomorrow, and the oncologist has suggested that I may need radiotherapy on the ribs to try to improve that bit! 

My fingers and toes are quite sore but numb at the same time -  probably due to the hand/foot syndrome from the capecitabine, but I've not had any nail problems.  

Never a dull moment - you just get used to something and then something else comes up!! 

Hi everyone, don't forget about this conversation, as it allows you to share information and to show support to one another.

I have metastatic breast cancer, following primary diagnosis in Jan 2012.i found the lump a few months previously, but convinced myself it was just my monthly cycle. Perhaps that delay was what caused my issues now. My fault.

Went through treatment in 2012:  surgery, chemo, radiotherapy, and finally tamoxifen.

2015, started not feeling too well, but nothing really specific. Didn't go to Dr's cos didn't know what to moan about out. 

Eventually I collapsed on a day out for my granddaughters birthday. After a fortnight in hospital with all sorts of tests, they found several metastatic tumours in my liver. 

It's in my bones now too, and after a couple of years on chemo, the latest (which was working wonderfully) has now failed. Today I go to see my consultant - I feel like I have run out of options now. I will keep fighting - just not sure what for now. 

Anyway, that's my story so far. Let's see what happens next ehh? 

I was diagnosed with stage 2 Breast cancer In the middle of April 2017. I had lumpectomy eventually after a mistake was made at hospital in middle of June and thankfully my lymphnodes that we’re removed came back clear. Started my 20 sessions of radiotherapy on august 22nd. I am  slowly getting on with my life and trying to get some normality back in it. 

@Bernadete how was it diagnosed in your eye can you tell me any symptoms please

@Bernadete how was it diagnosed in your eye can you tell me any symptoms please