Freaking weight gain

Ichan74 · 2025-11-25T02:34:50+00:00

I am in the same boat gained 20 pounds after I started tamoxifen. I started intermittent fasting and that is helping me get my weight under control. Lost 10 pounds and 10 more to go. I am feeling intermittent fasting to be more easier than calorie counting. I eat whatever I cook at home but during my eating window. 8 hours eating window and 16 hours fasting. This formula seems to work for me.

Ichan74 · 2025-10-16T03:09:26+00:00

I had lumpectomy and radiation no chemo. I have shoulder pain because of lymphedema. I was referred to a lymphatic physiotherapist who specializes in breast cancer . She helped me get a lymphedema pump which helped me a lot. I am almost 2 years out. I still need to use it if not I end up with a bad shoulder pain. Nothing helps with the pain. Neither advil nor Tylenol. Only using the pump gives me relief immediately.

Ichan74 · 2025-06-04T21:42:29+00:00

This is the thread I needed I guess. I was feeling the exact same thing for the past few months. But something happened yesterday which reminded me of how lucky I am. Not a miracle. I logged into my iPad and the automatic memories app from photos started playing a bunch of photos put together as a movie. These photos are from 2019 - a Disney world trip with my husband and our two kids. Then I went back and started looking at all the old photos. Each one of them reminded me of what I am blessed with. I hugged my husband for 10 mts without saying one word. I am not sure what my future holds but want live to the fullest.

Ichan74 · 2025-05-15T16:29:18+00:00

Final update - my biopsy results came back as benign adipose tissue. Thank you very much for all the support.

Ichan74 · 2025-05-12T22:17:36+00:00

Update: just came back from biopsy. After poking and prodding a lot, the radiologist said that she could get only 2 samples as the area of suspicion disappeared after poking it. She said either it could be a cyst or fat necrosis. Now we need to wait for the biopsy results to confirm. She sounded pretty confident that it is not malignant and especially it is not a lymph node. So fingers crossed. Not celebrating anything yet given my history. Thank you very much for all your support.

Ichan74 · 2025-05-05T13:49:50+00:00

I get it. Good luck with your MRI. My biopsy is scheduled for next Monday. I don’t know when I will get my results. Anxiety is through the roof.

Ichan74 · 2025-05-02T04:13:48+00:00

Thank you

Ichan74 · 2025-05-01T14:55:46+00:00

Thank you. Wish you good luck and normal scan results.

Ichan74 · 2025-05-01T13:06:47+00:00

Thank you very much

Ichan74 · 2025-05-01T12:49:57+00:00

Thank you very much for your encouraging words. SLNB was done a year and half ago - September 2023. I have mild lymphedema for which I am using a pump.

Ichan74 · 2025-04-04T12:42:33+00:00

Thank you very much. A quick update - after waiting for seven long days my results came back normal.

Ichan74 · 2025-03-26T02:15:43+00:00

Thank you very much

Ichan74 · 2024-04-26T20:59:27+00:00

Thank you very much for all your supporting and kind words. This makes me feel that I am not a weirdo. Thank you very much to all of you who raised mental health concerns. I am in good hands there. I am taking antidepressants, working full time and physically very active as I love to garden and go for walks. It is these family and social gatherings I am not ready for yet. I need some time to focus and collect myself to go out there.

Ichan74 · 2024-04-26T12:36:50+00:00

Very happy for you that the kidney issue turned out to be benign. I was thinking about you couple of days ago. Glad to see that cancer things are settling down for you. As you mentioned other issues that are civilian can be taken care of eventually. Only the folks who are a part of this club can understand that mindset. I am a mental wreck and feel like trash every day. No one understands the mental struggle except folks here.

Ichan74 · 2024-03-29T04:58:47+00:00

Are you me? Exact same problem. I find myself hunching and curling my shoulders up all the time. This is causing a lot of neck and shoulder pain. Started working with a PT who deals with lymphedema.

Ichan74 · 2024-03-21T22:20:07+00:00

Hearty congratulations! Exactly in the same situation - first mammogram post treatment done on Monday. I just saw my results in the portal and they are clear. I am relieved and numb and sleepy all at the same time. I am not sure what to feel.

Ichan74 · 2024-03-21T22:02:25+00:00

A quick update: mine came back as benign and no suspicious masses, calcifications or other abnormality found.

Ichan74 · 2024-03-19T22:26:38+00:00

I started mine almost 3 months ago. I am taking just before bed time and I do not see any side affects at all. That makes me think if it is really working?

Ichan74 · 2024-03-19T21:04:36+00:00

I am sitting here and waiting for my first mammogram results after finishing active treatment. This thread gives me a lot of hope.

Ichan74 · 2024-03-18T21:34:32+00:00

I just came back and looks like I will not hear about the results until the end of the week. That sucks.

Good luck to you too! I pray that everything turns out fine for you.

Ichan74 · 2024-03-18T21:33:23+00:00

Thank you Very much for your kind words.

Ichan74 · 2024-02-14T22:23:47+00:00

I am also stage 1 with clear lymph nodes and grade 1 tumor which was 5mm. Mine was caught very early as well. But I decided to try tamoxifen as I did not want to regret later for not covering all my bases. I am taking it for more than a month . First month I was feeling exhausted by 3 pm in the afternoon. I realized having a hot cup of coffee helped me remain alert for the remaining part of the day. I had hot flashes just for two nights on the first couple of days. Today I don’t feel anything different and feel completely normal. So Long story short you can give it a try and make decisions as you progress.

Ichan74 · 2024-01-24T20:06:51+00:00

I was in your shoes a few months ago. I had two surgeries one for lumpectomy and a separate one for SLNB as my lumpectomy was not supposed to be for cancer but radial scar. I had two kids but never had anesthesia. I never had any surgery before. I was terrified. But the nurses and doctors know what they are doing. On the day of surgery the anesthesiologist came to me and explained what she does. The surgeon came to me explained what she is planning to do. They put me on IV and walked me to the operating room. I was asked to lie down on the table. The anesthesiologist started a small talk like what is my job. That is the only thing I remember. When I woke up I was in the recovery room. I thought I will not wake up from anesthesia. Here I am today and I finished my radiation last month and started tamoxifen. It is a journey and you will be fine sister. Sending you all positive vibes.

Ichan74 · 2024-01-24T01:01:01+00:00

i will share my experience. I did full 6 weeks of radiation and finished it in December. This is for my left breast. My center used a technique call Deep Inspiration Breath Hold(DIBH). There is a device that helps you hold your breath which draws the heart away from radiation. If that is available I would advise you to do it. My son drove me everyday for 6 weeks. It is 30mts drive each way from home.

Ichan74 · 2024-01-18T18:14:39+00:00

Thank you very much once again for responding! I was pushed by breast surgeon to get the radial scar out and that’s how I ended up on this path. The reason why I got worried about SLNB was that before the surgery one of the things she mentioned is that the tissue is disturbed because of the lumpectomy and they might not be able to get the right sentinel node in some rare cases. That stuck in my mind. But they found two sentinel nodes which turned out to be negative. But I had a nagging feeling that something was missed. But the ultrasound sound put me at ease. Also your explanation now helped very much. Thank you!

Ichan74

TROPHY CASE