not sure what to hope for?

McClure77

I posted a few months ago about shoulder pain. I've just come back from being abroad, and as the pain has not gone away, I'll be having some scans in the next week. I have also experienced worsening other symptoms, feeling SO stiff after even short times of sitting still, weight gain, fatigue, extreme swelling of legs, ankles and feet, etc. The idea of even being able to run, or be active like I used to be seems nearly impossible, and I'm feeling depressed about having gone through so much just to be HERE. My onc thinks that all of this is just menopause resulting from my radical hysterectomy last year.

Here's the problem:

If she's right, then that means that this awful debilitating state that I'm in is just how it's going to be from now on. If she's wrong, and it's metastasis, then it's still bad. WTF are we supposed to hope for at this point? The idea of feeling 80+ for the rest of my life is horrible. So is the idea of metastasis.

I feel like there is no winning at this point. The treatment has damaged me more than the cancer had, and I'm left wondering if I would have had a better quality of life if I had done nothing. Do I wish for it to be something, do I wish for it to be nothing, and thus, my new "normal"? I am aware it doesn't matter what I wish, but I like to have a frame of mind ready for these times.

Kathleen26

I think you just need to give it some time. That shoulder pain might be a frozen shoulder, which is fairly common after mastectomy. If it is, it will eventually get better, especially if you do PT. And the symptoms of menopause get better over time also. Some of your symptoms might be something a primary care physician or internist would be better equipped to help you with than an oncologist. I don't think you need to accept how you feel right now as a new normal that you're stuck with for the rest of your life.

I felt pretty crappy for about a year after all of my treatments were done. I slowly was able to up the exercise, and I think that was the best thing I did to help myself feel better and get back to the land of the living.

McClure77

Thanks Kathleen, I appreciate the insight. (The odd thing with my shoulder is that it's not the same side as my mastectomy, it's the other side)

It's been over a year since my hysterectomy, but things seem to have gotten worse, not better, so it's very demoralizing.

Kicks

Sounds like it might be a good idea to see your PCP. The "extreme swelling of legs, ankles and feet" needs to be addressed a lot sooner rather than later.

I went through natural menopause when I was 44 and did not have any of what you are saying you are now. There is a better 'answer' than just saying 'menopause'. Your shoulder pain is quite possibly unrelated to extreme swelling of legs, ankles, feet.

I gave up 'running' years ago when I got out of the Army but love my bicycle and am very active in all sorts of activities outdoors. But I do understand there are some who do like to 'run'. You didn't say how old you are, I'm 71 and I can outdo a lot of 50's.

Oncologists are Specialists in Chemo/cancer but do not have expertise in ALL issues dealing with the body.

Jackster51

It sounds like the anti hormonals to me. And chemo. Going through chemo induced menopause is not the same as going through it naturally. I also still have leg and feet swelling from Taxotere - among other things - 5 years out. Sorry you are feeling this way. I hope the shoulder turns out to be nothing serious, and that the other side effects will diminish with time. I know how you feel though... If I knew then what I know now.....

McClure77

Thanks for your responses

I'm 43, I was 40 at diagnosis. I'm actually not on any anti-hormonals, since the radical hysterectomy was actually a result of the tamoxifen causing issues and I am done with blindly taking drugs if I can't even tell if they are working on me. (About 80% of drugs do not work properly on me) I went through chemopause and then again when they took out all my parts the next year. It's been rough.

I agree, I think I will make an appt with my PCP.

Thanks again

SSInUK

I was feeling like you and got referred for various reasons to an endocrinologist - I told him I realised I was just old and menopausal after cancer (51) but he said - don't be too sure. Ran loads of tests and found I was hypothyroid and VitD deficient. Im not there yet but treatment made me feel v different. Your symptoms are not 'normal' and needn't be permanent - courage - find a doctor who'll believe things can be better for you. Good luck.

sbelizabeth

Have you been checked for low thyroid? Heart issues?