Community

Hi Ladies, I've just been perscribed the antidepressant Amitriptyline by my oncologist. I only filled the script this morning so haven't actually started to take it yet. Only 15mg. It's for lots of things really. I'm struggling 2.5yrs on with my tamoxifen. Just the usual stuff: joint pain, moods (my family are ready to divorce me!!) foggy brain, residual pain in my breast and under my arm from surgery etc etc etc. You all know them. Anyway I'm just wondering if anyone else has had experience of this drug. What I might expect etc. And when it says don't drink do they really mean DON'T DRINK or is it still ok for me to have a glass or two of wine on a Friday night. I've given up so so much in these last 3yrs. I'm not quite sure I'm ready to give up my two glasses of red at the weekends!! I know I should have asked my oncologist yesterday. I was so overwhelmed at being prescribed yet another drug that it went clear out of my head. Cheers Sarah

Hi ..Had mastectomy and lymph nodes removed two weeks ago. My arm is hypersensitive if touched, like sunburn pain. Also, If I raise or extend arm, it is very painful on the inside above the elbow, as if muscles and tendons are being/or have been overstretched. Can anyone relate to this. Will this go away soon?.. Doing my exercises for arm but doesn't seem to get any relief .Kind of difficult to describe really, but maybe someone can relate. Thanks in advance. Mar 63

Hi all I was diagnosed with breast cancer in May, had a lumpectomy and lymph node removal and 20 sessions of Radiation treatment which was horrific as I burnt so bad blisters formed had to stop treatment for 2 weeks. Now I have another lump in same breast. Has this happened to anyone else?? Surely it can't be cancer so quick, going to breast clinic on Tuesday to get it checked am so worried

Hi all, has anyone had bone/joint pain after chemo? I finished my chemo at the end of March and I have my last Herceptin treatment on 25th of this month but I have this awful joint pain. My knuckles, ankles, toes, knees, etc all feel as if there are full of fluid and ache all the time. Also my back but I just had a bone density and this confirmed that I have osteoporosis of the spine now! I just want to know if this will last or will it eventually fade? Has anyone had anything similar? Thanks

Hi All, I have just finished six months of chemo[Taxol]. because of bone mets. Then had bone scan but oncologist couldn't open disc to read it and then told me that bone scans could not tell if the Taxol had worked or not! Why bother having the scan then? He also told me that I will be beginning a new hormonal treatment this week[Letrozole did not work for me as developed mets while on it.] He doesn't plan to do regular scans as according to him they do not affect eventual outcome and only cause stress! He is going to be 'symptom driven'. Was so shocked to hear this as believed I would be scanned regularly. I was so confused and cried my eyes out for the evening. To add insult to injury have clots on my lung so will be on blood thinning medication for these [an injection every day for six months] Has anyone else had a similar experience? Has anyone else changed their oncologist midcourse so to speak? I know you always want to shoot the messenger, I am mentioning no names and would not, but would really appreciate advice. Anyone out there who just didn't click with their onc? Avril.

I am on day 8 after my first chemo and wondering how long does it take for hair to start falling out. Should I just go and get it shaved off first or wait until I see it comming out and then get it shaved . I'm on AC every two weeks . Any advice would be welcome , Is it better not to see it comming out . I know it's going to come out , I suppose it's the psychological thing of putting off the inevitable

Hi there, Hope you're all doing well! I haven't posted in a while and I'm just wondering if anyone else out there is taking Clonidine to help with hot flush side effects of Tamoxifen? I was prescribed them about ten months ago and took them for three weeks before giving up (my family thought that they were affecting my mood !) but the hot flushes have gotten soo bad now that my doc wants me to try them again.. Any feedback would be great . Thanks Resolute x

Hi there Just looking for advice on people's past experiences I'm 34 had right Dcis in 2010 had partial mastectomy and radiotherapy Now changes found on mri on left. Bx found benign change but due to my history and family hx a bilateral mastectomy with lat dorsi flap with implant reconstruction Awaiting on my date I'm wondering do people get any sensation back Are you happy with the reconstruction How long before you could get back to work. I do not have children yet and have been strongly advised to do surgery before I have children due to high risk. I appreciate your feedback Regards J

Hello! Im new here. Was diagnosed with IDC breast cancer last dec 30. Ct scan, mri, ultrasound, bone scan done last january. Startrd my first AC last feb 4. coughing on feb 6, so was asked to go to hospital, xray, blds and nose and throat swab done. Was given klacid and augmentin for 1 wk which i think is not helping. My mouth tastes like metal and bitter. when i drink water or juices, it tastes very salty. I hope i dont get dehydrated. Can anybody suggest what is the best thing to do for these tastes. Thank you.

Well into this whole thing now. Was on Tamoxifen 18mths. Had perioheral neuropathy since chemotherapy, 1st dose of tamox triggered it, unusually so. This has not gone over 2yrs later . Had very sore bones, joints with aches, stiffness & pain. Had hot flushes & other menopausal symptoms though these were just symptoms as my bloods shied I was still ovulating & I had irregular periods. (Accupuncture literally does away with all my hot flushes, I know because when I took a break they came back fast & furious-stopping again immediately on starting accupuncture again) My consultant suggested I switch to Anastrozole as sometimes one drug can react in a totally different way to another. Tamoxifen was very hard for me but I was prepared to try to stick with it. However, as my oncologist rightly said, it can be triail and error to find the right balance between life quality and the drug doing it's job of preventing a reoccurrence. I've also had to start zoladex to suppress my ovaries working, before I started new treatment drug. My bone pain, aches, stiffness is gone down to a 7/10 if it was 10/10 on Tamoxifen. I was more tired to start with but this is getting bit better. My foggy brain seems to have lifted too in a very noticeable way. However, noticing my peripheral neuropathy playing up more with 'flashes of Fire' feeling over my feet and stabbing pains in my hands/fingers. On highest dose of lyrica for this already along with morphine based pain relief. Reluctant to increase pain relief, idea was to hopefully decrease. How is anyone else finding this drug? We're you on tamoxifen prior to it? Had you any other complications/symptoms. Just curious, Thank you.