One of the hardest parts of cancer survivorship is realizing that treatment doesn’t always end when treatment ends.
For those of us with ER+ and PR+ breast cancer, some of the most important treatments happen after chemo, surgery, and radiation are over.
The best way to reduce the risk of recurrence for my type of cancer is to deprive any remaining cancer cells of the hormones they love to feed on: estrogen and progesterone.
For me, that means Lupron to shut down my ovaries, Letrozole to block estrogen production, and Kisqali to help prevent cancer cells from growing and dividing.
Lupron and Letrozole for the next 5-10 years and Kisqali for 2 years….
I am incredibly grateful these medications exist because they are helping me stay here. Helping me watch my son grow up. Helping me build a future.
But I’d be lying if I said they don’t come with a cost.
Some days my joints ache when I get out of bed.
Some days my brain feels foggy.
Some days I lose words mid-sentence.
Some days I feel older than I am.
Some days the fatigue hits hard and I wonder why I’m so exhausted after a full night’s sleep.
Some days the hot flashes are unbearable.
Kisqali itself can cause fatigue, low white blood cell counts, nausea, headaches, digestive issues, hair thinning, and changes that require monitoring of the heart and liver. It has similar effects to chemo but it highly effective and is my best chance to stay cancer-free.
I previously tried Verzenio and unfortunately my body just couldn’t tolerate it. The side effects were too severe for me. Thankfully, so far, I’ve been doing much better on Kisqali and I’m grateful for that win.
Still, survivorship often feels like a balancing act.
How do I reduce my risk of recurrence while still feeling like myself?
So I’m doing what I can.
🚶♀️ Walking 10,000+ steps a day.
💪 Starting strength training to rebuild muscle.
🥩 Increasing my protein intake to help my body recover and stay strong.
💧 Staying hydrated.
😴 Prioritizing rest when my body asks for it.
Because these medications are doing important work, but they also take a toll.
Some days I feel strong.
Some days I feel frustrated.
Most days I take it one day at a time.
For those of you also taking Lupron, Letrozole, Kisqali, Verzenio, Tamoxifen, or other long-term therapies…
How are you managing the joint pain, fatigue, brain fog, hot flashes, and all the other side effects?
What has helped you stay consistent with the regimen while still maintaining your quality of life?
I’d love to learn from this community because survivorship is a marathon, not a sprint, and I know many of us are figuring it out together.
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