My mum has breast cancer and intense tightness in her breast

Could you tell me a bit more history? What Did she have done as far as surgeries

Hi Sherrie

She had radiotherapy on her spine to try preventing the cancer from spreading there. She had a weekly treatment for about 7 weeks, that ended about two months ago.

She hasn't had any surgery or implants, she's only had radiotherapy. She's also had a catheter put in because her lungs keeping filling with water. The doctor said it may have spread to the lining of the lungs.

She is stage four and hasn't had any chemo.

Maybe she needs other medication than tamoxifen, I would go back to her GP's if I were her, to find out if she may be more suited to a different drug. I know the NHS give that to most women after breast cancer because it is the cheapest option. One of the side-effects of tamoxifen can be blood clots though. I was never given it because of a history of clots genetically and also because I had bad pain in the breast cancer side, although this turned out to be an overdose of radiation. Tell her to go ask her GP to refer her to whichever specialist prescribed her tamoxifen to possibly get her changed to a drug she may get along better with, because there are a number of other drugs that probably could be tried for her condition.

HI,

I'm currently taking tamoxifen but I switched over from anastrazole which was possibly causing excessive stiffness in my hands and joints. 

I too have "tightness" but I think this is more due to the partial mastectomy and not the tamoxifen.  Your mother can ask the oncologist to switch meds but she should let the tamoxifen "wash out" of her body first so she can see if there is any improvement.

I just saw my surgeon on Thursday and she said I have edema in the left breast, (itchy like crazy at times and there is a "hardness" in the breast.  There isn't much to be done but I'm returning to increase in exercise, especially the arms,  It can only make you feel better!

Best of luck to your mom!