Starting chemo November 2012

Sneakychiquita

So sorry to hear of your loss, 5LuvBugs.

Still going strong over here...seeing my daughter grow up before my eyes. Completely panicked the other day when we felt a bump behind one of her nipples, but then had a good laugh when we realized that it's quite likely just the onset of puberty for her, lol.

Sickofpink

Hi ladies, Just wanted to check in to let you know that permanent makeup is incredible! My eyebrows never came back, so I was drawing them in with eyeshadow. I finally gave up and my mom got it for me as a gift ($). Now I can go makeup free and look normal!! Highly recommend.

Love to you all.

michellej1980

Hi everyone! I ended up back on this board via a Google search for something else! Hope everyone is well. This year is my 5th anniversary of my BC diagnosis. How time flies!

Sorry to read of your loss 5LuvBugs.

aterry

Michellej1980, Congratulations on your 5th year anniversary. Thanks for the update it is very encouraging to have folks report their good news.

5LuvBugs

I also posted this on the Arimidex discussion but if any of you girls are still reading, I'm happy that we are still here from the 2012 group

Hi Girls, I haven't been on this site for a year or so but remember many of your names, I have just decided to stop taking Arimidex!! Had BC surgery, chemo and radiation in 2012/2013 and have been on Arimidex ever since (4 years) went through and still have all the symptoms many of you complain about, however on my last Dexascan in November, showed my osteopenia has now become My joints have ached for years, I do the "morning shuffle" can't sleep more than a few hours, can't lose an ounce, every time I went back to the gym I end up hurting myself. I will be 70 (in my head I think I'm still 50 ) so I think it's safe to quit & pray I don't get a recurrence but I have made my decision. have to add that this site helped me and lots of us through those dark, lonely, scary days and night and I am grateful to have found many BC sisters here...

Oh my, now that I said all that I may change my mind told you I can't make a decision!!I just read this on regarding my oncotype DX score: 34

"If you've been diagnosed with hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer and will be taking hormonal therapy after surgery and other treatments, it's very important that you take the medicine for as long as it's prescribed and at the dose at which it is prescribed. As this study shows, hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer can come back -- even after 5 or 10 years -- and hormonal therapy after surgery reduces that risk. You must remember that. Side effects caused by hormonal therapy can be very troublesome for many women. It's important to talk to your doctor as soon as you start having any side effects, including hot flashes, joint pain, blood clots, trouble sleeping, fatigue, or difficulty concentrating. Don't wait until the symptoms are intolerable and you have to stop taking the medicine. There are steps you can take to ease these side effects, including switching to a different type of hormonal therapy. For more information, visit the Breastcancer.org pages on Staying on Track With Treatment. You can read about why it's so important to stick to your treatment plan, as well as ways to manage side effects after radiation, chemotherapy, and hormonal therapy. If you're taking hormonal therapy after surgery now, stick with it as prescribed. If you're thinking of stopping early, talk to your doctor first. Together, you can find a solution that is best for you"

IamNancy

Hi LuvBug - haven't been to this site for a while but glad I stopped in today.... I so want to stop taking this medication but am too afraid - it will be 4 yrs on the meds in July...I pray the doctor doesn't want me to stay on it for 10 yrs...

I was just recently diagnosed with a liver disease and almost hoped they said it was from this med - but they didn't... I do have to lose weight though and am on a strict diet - hope it works as I haven't been able to lose any weight since the BC diagnosis.

Keep in touch and let us know if you stop the meds or not...

michellej1980

Just popped here to check my original diagnosis date as I knew I had logged it in my profile and I knew my 5 years is somewhere around now. Well, turns out it's today! I guess every day is an achievement and although we all know that anything can happen at anytime and we are never 100% from the monster, it still feels good.

how are you after coming of the Arimidex 5luvbugs? I've never had any issues with it and am hoping that my onc lets me stay on it for another 5 years. I will be seeing her at the end of this year. It feels like my safety net and as it's not causing me any problems, would much rather keep taking it!

It's so great to be able to pop back here and say hello to you all. You all helped me immensely back then. x

IamNancy

Hi Michele- wow 5 yrs! congrats...

I recently found out I will be staying on the meds for another 5 yrs... Dr said the difference it makes is well worth the protection - hopefully she is right...