Hi there ..

I'm in a Simerla position, as I had a grade 3 breast cancer and total right masectomy in July 2017 ..  no lymph node effected... and like you have ostio, and stenosis and scoliosis and trapped nurve in spine to mention a few ... 

Luckily I didn't need chemo, and declined radiotherapy because of health ... though I took all the pros and cons... weighed everything up, did take tamoxifen for 5 year .. with quite a few of the effects .. I'm 65 now .. and looking back, I don't regret any of my decisions, though like you, if I'd been younger with a family, at home, I would have taken anything and everything ..

Only you can make your decision .. I had an amazing family who support every thing I decide ... it's my cancer, my decision ... so if anything goes wrong it would only be down to me .. I must admit, there's not much more percentage with or without .. so for me at my stage in life , I want quality over quantity... 

But I listened to everyone and then thought it out .. took time, and one thing is really important, don't regret whatever you decide ,.. dont look back ...  hope you get other points of view .. this is just my way, Chrissie x

Hi Sheltie lady I was diagnosed with second breast cancer in March after a year of misdiagnosis. I am 71 and had a mastectomy in April, 9 lymph glands removed no cancer shown.I am triple negative which means my cancer could go to my bones. 6 sessions of chemo then offered 3years of Adjuvant  Zoledronic Acid 15mins injection  every 6months. I feel that any help to keep cancer at bay and allow  me to enjoy my life  is worth it. Hope you  continue with the treatment  you  are offered good luck. When my chemo finished  I had a chemo party  for all my family and  friends  who supported  me through this journey. 

Hi Chrissy,

Thank you for your reply. May I ask what your side effects were?  I have visions of going through another menopause. Also I have read of some horrendous side effects suffered by some people and knowing myself if I had bad side effects I would be so grouchy my kids would suffer.

Christine x

Hi Claire,

Thank you for replying. Would you mind telling me how you felt during and after your treatments?  I am trying to figure out if I could have a normal, happy life while suffering side effects.  I can see how you would willingly undergo the treatment in your circumstances and I am happy for you and hope you stay well and happy for many years to come.

Christine x

Hi there ..

No one told me a side effect was emotional .. I turned into a crying emotional wreck , from being a really tuff lass who sailed through my masectomy and was on top of things ..  

It was only on here, I read others were going through the same emotionally... if I'd been forewarned,  I would have been prepaired and understand what was happening ... once I knew , I went on a mild anti depressant and it evened out my emotional problems ...  there are things like aching joints and bones .. my problem there is, I have so many medical problems , I don't know now if those extra aches and pains are from arthritis / tamoxifen or Mets.... 

But I have been on them two years now ... and still wouldn't advise anyone one way or the other ... the only thing I would say is, ask the percentage of difference of reassurance for 5 years, with or without tamoxifen ...  from what I've learned there's not much of a difference ... but do your homework, and go from there ...  Chrissie  x

Hi sheltie lady my sister was 72 with lobular breast cancer diagnosis she had the full treatment surgery with nodes removed chemo radiation and tablets she couldn't tolerate the tablets as it was living hell with her joints as she was already arthritic so after 4 months she decided to come off the tablets that was 8 years ago and she's had no reoccurrence and lives a very happy active lifestyle some arthritis but manageable she said it was the best decision for her and she doesn't regret coming off them however everyone's decision is personal to them and should be considered carefully I'm just starting my journey with radiation on the 9th December and will be starting letrizole which I'm dreading after hearing of the side effects I am 58 luckily I didn't need chemo I guess I was lucky.

best wishs marie x

Oh Marie,

thank you, thank you, thank you for this, it is the kind of information I have been looking for and will be taken into consideration when decision time comes.

At your age, I would have accepted any and all treatment without question, but in my 70's my priorities are not the same.

Best wishes  and good luck with your treatment,

Christine x

Thanks, Chrissie

 I do intend to do my homework, as with everything else on this cancer journey all experiences are different. I already know the percentage difference between doing nothing and taking hormone therapy is only 2% and if I were to do the whole gamut suggested, i.e. Hormones, bisphosphonates and chemo it is only 5% for a five year life expectancy. As you can imagine, that is why I am questioning the value of treatment if those years are made miserable by it.

Christine xx

Hi Christine 

I looked on the  chemo as a friend because it was going to get rid if the  cancer. I used to say every three weeks I was going to the chemo club. Every hair on my body fell out I felt sick but wasn't , had bad constipation  but liquirce  helped. It was the lack of energy that for me was the worst, I am normally  a very active lady and sleeping  at the drop of a hat was not something  I did. You have to stay positive and think it will  come to an end and it does. My life is now back to normal walking  in the  lake district and playing tennis three times a week. There is light at the end of the tunnel just keep  going. Xx

Hi Claire, 

Thank you for replying to me again. Actually my surgeon said he didn't recommend chemo for me because of the side effects versus improvement in longevity, probably because of my age and radiotherapy isn't recommended because of the left breast mastectomy, something about damage to Internal organs, so I'm only being offered hormone therapy because my tumour was ER+ and PR+, plus bisphosphonates for my bones. 

My dilemma is like the old joke, My doctor says I have to stop smoking and drinking and I have to lose weight. I asked him will that help me to live longer, but he said "No but it'll feel like it!" Boom! boom!

Christine xx