So, for the past two and a half years I have been in what they call 'medically induced menopause'. I have been on tamoxifen and have had zoladex injections every 4 weeks. The zoladex puts my ovaries to sleep. The whole reason for this treatment was to lower or stop the production of estrogen in my body. As my breast cancer was estrogen positive. Having my ovaries removed was not an option I was given. That was until my recent recurrence - also estrogen positive breast cancer. I had my ovaries removed two weeks ago. Tomorrow I will see my gyno for any results. The surgery wasn't as easy as what I had expected. I had a few complications and oh so much pain. Apparently, I had a lot adhesions due to a previous cesarean and they had to be removed so the surgeon could get to my ovaries.
I have been in menopause for the past two years. I also have medication to help relieve those symptoms. Efexor. Unfortunately, that stopped working for me a long time ago. I get all the not so wonderful symptoms of menopause. Instead of feeling like a 45 year old I now feel more like 75.
Since having my ovaries removed I had a brake from the sweats and hot flushes for the first week. I couldn't walk straight and I was in pain but at least I wasn't sweating. Roll on last Saturday and I woke early in the morning dripping wet like I had been sleep walking and had a shower. Most of the day was spent with my body overheating. Sweating was out of control and hit with no warning. Luckily for me I had no where to go. So, I hid inside my house, sweating and hot flushing all day. The flushes were so strong that I also had nausea. What a rotten day.
Just as I am thinking, this will be my life now. I doubt there is any other medication out there that I can take to help with my menopause, everything has stopped again.No hot flushes or sweats since Saturday. I have a feeling that at the moment I am on a roller-coaster ride, not able to get off. Hopefully, the ride will stop soon and let me get off and leave my menopause symptoms behind.
Monday, 16 November 2015
Saturday, 14 November 2015
Friday, 13 November 2015
Adrenal Gland Tumor
I wonder how many people have been diagnosed with an adrenal gland tumor and breast cancer?
I have just learned that I have an adrenal gland tumor. One doctor says - its nothing, most people have them. The other doctor tells me I need to keep check on it. Here we go again.
Could this be the reason for my recent breast cancer recurrence ?
I have just learned that I have an adrenal gland tumor. One doctor says - its nothing, most people have them. The other doctor tells me I need to keep check on it. Here we go again.
Could this be the reason for my recent breast cancer recurrence ?
If Only............
Sometimes I wish I could go back to my life, pre-cancer. Get all my medications and throw them in the bin. Eat what I want, when I want to without worrying about gaining weight. Rarely visit a doctor and usually only because I have something minor. Sometimes, I miss the little things that cancer takes away.
Thursday, 12 November 2015
Fighting the Storm
Now available at amazon
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B017UTFFRQ?*Version*=1&*entries*=0
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B017UTFFRQ?*Version*=1&*entries*=0
Sunday, 4 October 2015
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Here is an interesting article on detecting breast cancer.
Doctors offer advice to help women detect breast cancer at an early stage
Posted 4:14 pm, October 2, 2015, by Alexis McAdams, Updated at 04:59pm, October 2, 2015
Doctors offer advice to help women detect breast cancer at an early stage
Posted 4:14 pm, October 2, 2015, by Alexis McAdams, Updated at 04:59pm, October 2, 2015
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (Oct. 3, 2015)-- One out of every eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer, but there are not always symptoms. Doctors say knowing your body and doing a monthly self-exam can save your life.
“If you detect a breast cancer before it is actually palpable, we call that stage zero or one. Survival is excellent. It is going to be 90-95 percent or more,” said Dr. Erica Giblin of St. Vincent Woman’s Center.
Some women experience uncommon symptoms like discoloration, persistent breast pain in one spot, or changes in the color of the skin. Those are some of the more uncommon signs that you could have breast cancer.
“Some women will notice a dimple starting in the skin and it starts to pooch in almost like a divot. That is abnormal. That means the skin is being pulled down by something inside of the breast…they need to see their doctor,” said Dr. Giblin.
Doing a monthly self-exam can help women find breast cancer.
“You take your fingers, the pads of the fingers and you start pushing gently on the breast so you can test the tissues that are superficial right beneath the skin. Then you push harder so you can feel the deeper tissues of the breast,” said Dr. Giblin.
Doctors say mammograms are also extremely helpful in finding breast cancer at an early age because they can detect cancers before they are actually palpable. For those that do not do a monthly self-breast exam, doctors say the opportunity for cancer grows.
“By the time most women palpate their nodule, it is greater than two centimeters. What does that mean? It puts you at stage two breast cancer,” said Dr. Giblin.
Doctors say taking action now protects your health.
Click the link below for the full article
http://cbs4indy.com/2015/10/02/signs-and-symptoms-of-breast-cancer-that-can-help-woman-detect-the-cancer-at-an-early-stage/
Doctors offer advice to help women detect breast cancer at an early stage
Posted 4:14 pm, October 2, 2015, by Alexis McAdams, Updated at 04:59pm, October 2, 2015
Doctors offer advice to help women detect breast cancer at an early stage
Posted 4:14 pm, October 2, 2015, by Alexis McAdams, Updated at 04:59pm, October 2, 2015
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (Oct. 3, 2015)-- One out of every eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer, but there are not always symptoms. Doctors say knowing your body and doing a monthly self-exam can save your life.
“If you detect a breast cancer before it is actually palpable, we call that stage zero or one. Survival is excellent. It is going to be 90-95 percent or more,” said Dr. Erica Giblin of St. Vincent Woman’s Center.
Some women experience uncommon symptoms like discoloration, persistent breast pain in one spot, or changes in the color of the skin. Those are some of the more uncommon signs that you could have breast cancer.
“Some women will notice a dimple starting in the skin and it starts to pooch in almost like a divot. That is abnormal. That means the skin is being pulled down by something inside of the breast…they need to see their doctor,” said Dr. Giblin.
Doing a monthly self-exam can help women find breast cancer.
“You take your fingers, the pads of the fingers and you start pushing gently on the breast so you can test the tissues that are superficial right beneath the skin. Then you push harder so you can feel the deeper tissues of the breast,” said Dr. Giblin.
Doctors say mammograms are also extremely helpful in finding breast cancer at an early age because they can detect cancers before they are actually palpable. For those that do not do a monthly self-breast exam, doctors say the opportunity for cancer grows.
“By the time most women palpate their nodule, it is greater than two centimeters. What does that mean? It puts you at stage two breast cancer,” said Dr. Giblin.
Doctors say taking action now protects your health.
Click the link below for the full article
http://cbs4indy.com/2015/10/02/signs-and-symptoms-of-breast-cancer-that-can-help-woman-detect-the-cancer-at-an-early-stage/
Saturday, 3 October 2015
Breast Cancer Recurrence
It has been two and a half years since I was first diagnosed with er+ pr+ her2- breast cancer in my right breast. Most of my treatment was well over. I was still on hormonal treatment, including my monthly zolodex injections and tamoxifen tablets daily. I was stage 2b with my first diagnosis and the chances of recurrence were supposed to be slim. I was still on three monthly visits with my medical oncologist and surgeon. My life was beginning to feel almost normal again. I had just started to relax. I stopped fearing, everyday, that every ache in my body was cancer. After two and a half years I was finally feeling calm again.
My G.P(general practitioner) suggested that I have a mammogram and ultrasound as he didn't have any records on file since September last year. He figured I was due and should have the left breast checked as well because "sometimes cancer can return in the opposite breast". Now, I owe my doctor a second time as the mammogram picked up a cancerous lump in my left breast.Again, I thank my doctor for being so thorough as he has probably saved my life for a second time.
Two weeks ago I had a lumpectomy on my left breast and lymph node removal with all clear margins. This time I won't be having chemotherapy but I will have radiation therapy again, starting in a few weeks.
My G.P(general practitioner) suggested that I have a mammogram and ultrasound as he didn't have any records on file since September last year. He figured I was due and should have the left breast checked as well because "sometimes cancer can return in the opposite breast". Now, I owe my doctor a second time as the mammogram picked up a cancerous lump in my left breast.Again, I thank my doctor for being so thorough as he has probably saved my life for a second time.
Two weeks ago I had a lumpectomy on my left breast and lymph node removal with all clear margins. This time I won't be having chemotherapy but I will have radiation therapy again, starting in a few weeks.
Wednesday, 30 September 2015
Recurrence
How do you react when Breast Cancer returns?
How are you expected to react when Breast Cancer returns?
Shock?
Scared?
Do you just go through the stages as you did the first time?
Do you react differently this time?
You know what you are in for this time, so is it easier?
Feel free to answer these questions and any others you can think of. I will have my answers tomorrow. I was rediagnosed just a couple of weeks ago.
How are you expected to react when Breast Cancer returns?
Shock?
Scared?
Do you just go through the stages as you did the first time?
Do you react differently this time?
You know what you are in for this time, so is it easier?
Feel free to answer these questions and any others you can think of. I will have my answers tomorrow. I was rediagnosed just a couple of weeks ago.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)