6 Months post-op; I feel like yuck! Help!

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Mom2BoysISU
Mom2BoysISU Member Posts: 2
edited September 2016 in DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ)

46 y/o female; DX 2/25/16 with DCIS, left breast only, surgeon did not check lymph nodes. Due to family history I requested double mastectomy. Surgeon said "I'm not going to give you Baywatch Boobs." (I missed the part where I asked for them.) Had lumpectomy, 30 "double doses" of rads which my skin still has not completely healed from, and was put on Tamoxifen in June. Fast fwd to end of Sept and I'm in a great deal of pain in my hands, hips, feet, neck, my ears feel like they are on fire, hot flashes, pimple-type breakouts on my scalp (OUCH!), red pin-point spots all over my legs to where it looked like I have the chicken pox, and now a bad breakout of acne on my upper back. Doc took me off the drug a week ago. I have my repeat mammo 9/28/16 and if well enough, will have a revision surgery on my ankle I had to put off once dx with cancer. M question is: if I can't take the Tamoxifen, is that ok? I feel like I've turned into a complete hypcondriact since I was diagnoses, I'm homebound most of the time because I'm too depressed to leave my house, I'm too tired to do anything.....I feel like I'm losing my mind and don't know how to cope. And please don't say "get out and meet people." Where? Where do I go??

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  • Wicked
    Wicked Member Posts: 141
    edited September 2016

    If you are too depressed to leave the house and too tired to do anything, you need to talk to your doctor about this NOW. I think something CAN be done to help you feel better. You shouldn't feel this bad.

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited September 2016

    Mom2BoysISU, thank you for posting -- it's important to ask for help and advice when you're feeling such terrible side effects!

    Definitely, as Wicked suggested, talk to your doctor about what you're experiencing. Your doctor will surely be able to help!

    In the meantime, you may want to check out the main Breastcancer.org site's side effect pages on Depression and Fatigue, for some tips on how to help manage these serious -- and common -- side effects of breast cancer and its treatment.

    We hope this helps. Please keep us posted on what your doctor says.

    --The Mods

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  • Blinkie
    Blinkie Member Posts: 169
    edited September 2016

    Mom2BoysISU ~

    In 2007 I had a lumpectomy (right) for DCIS. Because it was not invasive, lymph nodes were not checked. There is no history of breast cancer in my family, but there is a history of stroke, so I did not take tamoxifen, which was recommended.

    This year my annual mammogram showed something was wrong. They thought it was DCIS. There was an enlarged lymph node that was biopsed (is that a word?) that showed nothing wrong, & I did not have a sentinel node biopsy. After a lumpectomy (left), diagnosis was changed to invasive ductal carcinoma, stage 1.

    I have no recommendation or opinion on whether or not anyone should take tamoxifen; I'm just telling you what happened to me. My experience could be taken as a lesson for either taking it or not taking it: I didn't take it and had no sign of cancer for 9 years. I didn't take it and after 9 years I got cancer in the other breast.

    Like you, I feel like a hypochondriac now. & I stay home & I'm depressed & I'm tired. I go to my therapist and to the doctor. Otherwise I really have to push myself to go anywhere (but I'm sort of like that anyway.) Maybe these are normal reactions to an abnormal situation. Maybe staying home when we are exhausted is smart.

    I hope you feel more hopeful.

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  • Mom2BoysISU
    Mom2BoysISU Member Posts: 2
    edited September 2016

    Thank you everyone for your reply. I've always suffered from depression and anxiety so my diagnosis didn't hekp. I have ZERO support from family. Just me and my 2 boys. But I hide how I'm feeling from them as they need to focus on college. I just feel very alone so thought I'd reach out to those who know how I'm feeling. This condition is so unfair. It affects more than just your body. And just because your primary treatment has ended, the mental and physical pain does not. I was told I have permanent nerve damage from my surgery because the tumor was so deep. I can't move my arm like a normal person. I've already been on oxygen for 5 weeks from developing radiation pnumonitis. It's just been hard and I'm terrified of my upcoming recheck with my surgeon. I know I need to relax but I'm scared :( But I appreciate you all!! xoxo

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