Post treatment support

sue417.
Thank you for sharing a resource. Many of us were given resources in our journey, but i love knowing tons more are out there to support us on this journey.

Hi
I was given nothing so I was very excited to find this book

My main resource which I found out accidentally is Mayo Clinic Connect. Here I meet wonderful people who share experience and provide comfort without judgment. Thank you all!

Amen to that! This is such a wonderful resource.

I’ve started taking letrozole and it’s made me ache, which, along with arthritis makes for a great life. I’m hoping this is just temporary. Going to the gym 3 days a week, hoping that helps. These drugs are awful! I was stage 1, no node involvement . I’m 77 so I often wonder if I need to take them and make my final years a misery.
I also feel very sad and cry at the drop of a hat.

Hi
I was
Stage zero d c I s took tamoxifen for 1 week and had a discussion with my radiologist and oncologist . There was no guarantee that taking an AI meant no recurrence so I stopped it. both my physicians were on board. All in all , it's a personal decision you have to make for yourself and be ok with. Quality of life is important to me.

I tried an aromatase inhibitor and STOPPED. There is not enough evidence it does what’s hoped for, and the side effects are too risky. If you choose you can stop that Rx and let MDs know you prefer to do strength and weight bearing exercises and a positive attitude to prevent reoccurrence. I hope the pain lessens as it all leaves your system.

I received no help, book, or resources. I even asked for counselor or therapist or support group and got “we haven’t heard enough interest in that. There’s some group online” no helpful. I’ll get the book. Thx.

Hi
Go to breastcancer.org. sign up and go to the support tab. Find your type of cancer . You can choose in treatment or done treatment. Fantastic support groups on zoom meet Monday nights and Friday afternoon. I am in the non metastatic support group. We call ourselves Bresties great women lots of sharing. The moderators are very helpful.

Thank you @sue417 for sharing this resource it is a pretty great book. Mayo came out with one last year that they actually recruited a few members to interview right off of this forum, but it is skewed to BC survivorship.
https://mcpress.mayoclinic.org/product/beyond-breast-cancer/
Like you, I had no survivorship care, I was in my 30s and the one support group they had locally met when I was at work.
I met a couple other young patients the year of my treatment and we started our own informal meetings. It was born out of a need for an evening meeting. Those meetings continue today and I am still invited even though none of the original folks go anymore. They always send me an invite, and even ask me to come specifically now and then, and I do. I guess there is a little wisdom gained from all of this time since diagnosis.
Do you ever just meet up with other patients or survivors?

Hormone therapy is proven to be an effective treatment for breast cancers that are found to have receptors for the naturally occurring hormones estrogen or progesterone. Aromatase inhibitor therapy is one of the most effective ways to treat ER-positive breast cancer in people who have gone through menopause. Studies show 95% of people who receive aromatase inhibitor therapy after breast cancer surgery don't have breast cancer signs five years after completing treatment.

Aromatase inhibitor therapy has side effects that may affect your quality of life. For some people, these side effects can be managed. The choice to discontinue treatment is a personal choice. If you’re taking an aromatase inhibitor, you may wish to talk to your oncologist or symptom management nurse about ways to reduce side effects so you can continue treatment that helps you live free of breast cancer.

Strength and weight bearing exercises and a positive attitude are not a substitute for hormonal therapy. That said a healthy lifestyle that includes eating well and physical activity as well as taking care of your emotional health contribute positively to one's overall health and wellbeing.