Nellie

Hi Nellie. I was diagnosed spring 2012 and started tamoxifen in September. I was on a antidepressant prior to cancer taking here and there. Primary doctor prescribed lorazepam. With the stress of diagnoses, surgery and rads I did take as needed. my tamoxifen experience has changed and the hot flashes are much more tolerable today. No aches but appetite has increased. Today I feel great, trying to get control of my weight and have antidepressant with me if I free anxiety coming. I actually feel lucky that I am a cancer patient with tamoxifen as a treatment option. I will continue to take it as long as my oncologist recommends. It actually makes me feel good that by taking the med it helps prevent cancer recurrence. Not 100 percent but helps. We have many decisions to make during our journey. Thanks for sharing.

Woohoo!!! Congrats on finishing the journey, Nellie! Very happy for you. Move on and don't look back!!!

Hi Nellie, I read your post to lovinglife regarding feelings of guilt when calling yourself a survivor...I used to feel that way because I saw so many who had to undergo chemo while I did not (based on oncotype testing) so I thought my journey was less impactful than theirs. Then I began to think about how I felt that day I got the diagnosis, and how I felt when I had to call my husband at work to come home, how I felt when I had to call my grown children to tell them the news, the nerves of meeting with my surgeon, oncologist, radiation oncologist, genetic counsellor, etc. The feelings and emotions are similar for ALL of us...treatments vary greatly but emotions do not...you and I are survivors in every sense of the word. I hope you are doing well and take good care of yourself. God bless!

Awe that is so nice of you to send me a bottle of Nioxon if I can't find it. I will of course send you the money. I will let you know if I find it at one of the places you suggested. Thanks again.

Hooray!!!! Treatments are over. It's a wonderful feeling, what an accomplishment. Most of us feel that exhilaration but once in a while, a little doubt creeps in. Am I really finished? Did those treatments really work? Push those thoughts out of the way, and keep moving forward. Enjoy everything, even the little things...how great that piece of pie tastes, how wonderful to breathe in the fresh air outside and walk around, steady on your feet and confident in your stride. It will take a few months, most likely, for you to feel truly well, but you'll get there. Stay strong!

Thanks for the info. I live in Chicago, IL. Unfortunately, there isn't a store in Chicago.

Hi again. I'm looking on the Beauty Brands website but I can't seem to find Nioxon. If you don't mind, can you help me find it tomorrow. I want you to enjoy this wonderful Christmas Day. Thanks.

Nellie, I know your glad to have that port out. After I got mine out it did feel better but I kept my second one for 15 years after that treatment because I didn't want to let it go.

Hope your doing well now.

Hi Nellie - must be nice to have the port finally out! i never got one for only four treatments - which has been fine by me. How are you doing with rads? Any side effects or just a sunburn? Is the fatigue similar to chemo or different. Thanks for your support!!

My onc and surgeon both advised of 50 cutoff. Also read it when researching my insurance coverage through united health care. Good luck to you!!

I just saw your post about BRCA testing. I was over 50 which is the cutoff ( not 45 from what I've read) got it covered by insurance because my onc wrote a compelling case. I also am triple negative which helped. My results were negative - which is a great relief! Hope your appeal works. Hang in there and hugs!

You go girl! Give us an update on rads. Has to be better than chemo.