**tamoxifen** number 15 ****

[MaryAnnSingleton]

can you believe it ??!!

I can
Great news from your oncologist Topsy. I can feel your joy from here!!!
Amber, good luck at the hospital today. Hope it doesnt take too long.
Your day in London sounds great MAS especially the bit with the margherita Hope your hip settles down.
Pink, yayyyy for last rads session. Thank goodness thats over with.
Off to do battle with the ironing board. I may be some time........

ooo new thread - brilliant!

Topsy, yippeeee re the radiotherapy option! If they can give it a good zap, brilliant!

in the hospital. Had all the herceptin. Feel fine so far. Hurrah. Now another 4 hrs of waiting about in case of delayed reaction.

to go with that ironing mountain, Figgy? Anyone else for a mid morning cuppa?

reaches out to grab !

yay for topsy :)

so tired last night missed second half of doc martin then waited half an hour to watch it on +1...

dd and friend experimenting with batik. Maybe I should go see how they are getting on!

Just been catching up, topsy that is wonderful news, brilliant, brilliant - so pleased for you - get those heels on and have a celebratory strut

amber - was going to say good luck, but I see you have been dosed up, I'm glad its all gone well, hope you've got a good book and a to pass the next four hours

Don't mention ironing Figgy, or I'll notice mine!

Sounds like you had a lovely day MAS.

Butterflies, good luck for thurs.

15 eh? - shall we go all teenagery and stroppy?

Hi everyone

Topsy - really thrilled for you getting a boost like that - brilliant news!

Sorry to everyone else - struggling to keep up with this thread in my post-op fug. I think I just worked so hard to be upbeat and positive before the op that I've had a bit of a slump and am now upping my chocolate intake

Clinic in a week's time for the results. Still feel so grateful to be called for a routine screen at age 47. Where we used to live until 2 years ago, they still don't start until 50 (and you may not be called till 53) so I feel fortunate to be caught before I even had symptoms. Wow and double wow.

Dd off ice-skating with a friend today then back here for exam revision. Dh bought me three huge crossword books which I find help occupy the brain nicely.

Beautiful sunshine here - I'm on the computer with the door wide open.

I have a 150 page work report to read to pass the time, which is why I'm on the laptop instead!

Great news Topsy, 14K I liked your positive post, don't shut up! I've been to talk things over with an old family friend this morning and it was lovely to just chat about inane stufff as well as what I face in the next few weeks. I now have dates for pre op assessment, surgery and the results which is helping. Have sorted out various transport options, booked hotel for overnight stay prior to surgery so will get an extra 1.5 hours in bed instead of being up at 5am and having to face long drive. Beta blockers are really helping with the physical symtoms of stress, obviously still the mental worry but getting a little better. I look around me and am so much more aware of the physical difficulties that people have to put up with and impressed with the courage that is expressed here. I worry that I am a coward.

Topsy,now thats what I call GOOD NEWS!! very happy for you.

drift, you are anything like me,dates and appointments are good.I feel better able to cope with things when I can Plan and feel in control.

Dee,after any op you get low days,I hope they pass soon

Drift definitely not a coward - it is normal
Am going to see my bcn on Thursday for a cup of tea and a catch up- I always feel guilty for taking up time but every so often I feel a need to touch base and she makes me feel looked after,iyswim. She was brilliant in helping me get through all kinds of psychological stuff which came to light following dx (and I can be grateful for bc allowing me to explore these things) I feel bad that I still need to see her,that perhaps I should be standing on my own two feet.
I might sneak a rest later today as I hardly slept last night-should be working but need zzzz
Hooray that you've been dosed up amber- hope no adverse reactions.

Oooh new thread < pokes around , makes sure cake and wine came with us >

Thanks for all the good thoughts , I am still smiling . Feels so good to have happy news for once . Certainly got rid of this mornings blue mood .

Hugs to you all

mas I have come to the conclusion that BC is a life long thing . Doesn't matter what stage you are at , beginning or treatment completed . I think it is always something that we will need to talk about . So don't be feeling guilty about going to see the BC nurse !

Hurrah, back home safely. Herceptin likes me, it seems. Phew. Would have been nearly killed off by the neapolitan ice cream incident, (it's the one thing I'm allergic to and they gave me some for lunch!!! ) but survived the medication, which is the important thing!

(Drift, I think the definition of courage is being terrified, but doing it anyway. On that basis, you're as courageous as any of the rest of us.)

DH is taking me out for a quick nosh up at the local to celebrate.

MAS I feel a tad unsupported by my bcn, tbh. Since dx on 13.10 I have done my own research regarding transport, sorted, accommodation, sorted, even though I asked for "signposting". All they have done imo is to relay the dx on behalf of the medical team so as to save time.

Wise Topsy. You're so very right. Once you're diagnosed, it is always with you, but WOO-HOO FOR YOU!!! I can't stop smiling, it's such good news. So incredibly pleased for you. Celebratory strutting sounds essential. I'd bet you'll get through last chemo more easily now too.

Amber, hooray for Herceptin choosing to behave. That's a relief. Another milestone through.

And a huge HOORAY FOR PINK too. I know you're a bit battered atm, but hope you can smile a bit at least.

MAS, thank you for organising us. I'd bet your BCN likes your chats. Mine's always telling me she'd like to see more of me. Could you and Cakes include a section in the book about BCN - maybe interview a couple and get their take on it all?

Useless day here. Still daftly tired, so I thought I'd take DS to see TinTin, but a horrendously huge gang of teenage boys in the queue in front of us made chicken out. DS said they'd talk all the way through and spoil it, which was quite wise I thought, so we went for ice cream instead. We'll go later in the week am sure. He's TinTin obsessed.

Waving to all x

Has anyone taken up the offer of the therapies such as Reflexology, Indian Head Massage...etc? Does it help?

drift am sorry you don't feel supported by your bcn- on the whole,from other people's experiences,they seem to be very good. I am lucky with mine in that she latched on to how I am and is sensibly no nonsense and encouraging - she is the one who helped me look for psychological help (lots of unresolved stuff) which I think is why I do value being in contact with her.
smee that is a very good idea for the book -will talk to Cakes about it.
Hope ds won't be disappointed in Tin Tin when he does see it- I would rather it was a straight Tin Tin animation but that's how I think of him. There were some adorable Snowys in Foyles on the South Bank
So happy that herceptin has liked you amber !
Cake and fbs galore on this new thread.

drift some have - I hven't as I'm too squirmy ! I have taken up Mindfulness and meditation which I find relaxing.

Going to take the teenagers to see Lion King this evening... Hope I don't fall asleep! Loved the stage version. One day would like them to see that too.

Drift - I have had reflexology and massage, and I love them, find them really relaxing -, I think its probably a question of try one and see if you like it.

Well done for surviving your first herceptin amber eek about the ice cream though.

topsy, - you are so right about that always living with uncertainty thing, I chatted to counsellor at the cancer support centre about it, and she was helpful. Definitely worth talking these things through IMe.

I'd really like to see that film Smee, I love Tintin.

MAS I think that wherever you find support and help is fine, and you have a great BCN by the sound of it. I use cancer support centre, and I wondered if I should have 'moved on' so to speak, but there are women who go there who were DX a good few years ago, but like to pop in and as you say to touch base.

I think a section on BCN in the book is a great idea.

Maybe the idea of living with uncertainty and how to cope is another area it would be useful to cover. Also maybe something about when you finish treatment - I found it quite scary being on my own without regular hospital visits, and I think that's quite a common feeling.

hello!

?

thought I'd check in and see how everyone is - found thread #15!!
you are busy girls!

seems topsy has had some good news?? fab!!

how are you, l4k ?
I haven't been able to follow a lot of the posts very well (see what happens when you duck out for a bit) but I saw you were very worrried....

Just thought I'd ask if anyone has heard of cryoablation for fibroadenoma removal?

the NICE guidelines don't seem to rate laser therapy much (reading between the lines a bit) and it seems to be more popular in the US/private practice (probably can't afford ) laser therapy doesn't seem well-practised yet so it's quite new? 25 women so far is not many.

I'm worried about it leaving a large dent etc as I'm not big anyway. I'm not so worried about scarring (I seem to heal quite well with scars) but I'd like to at least retain a bit of shape if I can

please tell me to get lost if you like as I know you all have much more important concerns.....

Where is the lump, FPS? I had a lumpectomy for a lump at the back and there's absolutely no sign of surgery at all apart from one tiny scar line near areola, and it was a biggish lump. Much depends on where stuff is?

I know that I would like and benefit from relexology, Indian head massage etc, in time, post surgery etc. Problem is, it is offered a 2 hour drive away, so that rather cancels out any benefit so useless to me. My BCN is promoting all the benefits of this wonderful charity that I will not be able to access. I am doing my own search in order to be able to access the equivilent service closer to home. I just f*ing know I will be ill for the rest of my life as the result of the treatment.

drift why do you say that ? (and if I've missed something about your health earlier then huge apologies)
kk good suggestions for the book (noted !)
forpitys you are allowed to feel and fret about whatever bothers you..apparently you can have your dent filled out,though I think it's a bit of a faff -my surgeon mentioned it to me (as I do have a dent - nicely fading scar though)

thanks for asking,forpity.I am obsessed with this subject atm and I still can't follow everyone.
I'm completely terrified ,as is dh.Every time I think of walking in the consultants office tomorrow my stomach flips,I get palpitations and I think "i don't want to do this".I've always known about the high risk,my mum was tested this summer for braca genes and was negetive,but they told us there are so many cases in the family that it can't be a coincidence its just that they haven't discovered our gene yet.

But I'm not ready for this,I know thats silly because no-one ever would be.
I can't even imagine telling my 4 children that.
But I know I will have to get on with it if it is bad news.

Meant to ask,is the nipple discharge significant do you think? or does every womans boob leak clearish liquid when squashed in a vice?

drift where abouts are you again ? Don't say if you don't want outing , I won't be offended . Just think we could all put our collective heads together and see what we could find you a bit nearer to home .
Why do you think you are going to be sick for the rest of your life ? Hope I haven't missed something important , sorry if I have .

fps like mas says , you can feel worried and concerned about anything on this board . Nobodies worries are trivial , they are all very real and very valid .

14k I just wish we could all go with you tomorrow and hold your hand . You can't second guess what they will say though , you will drive yourself mad with worry . (I know that is a lot easier for me to say than it is to actually do !) Don't know about the nipple leakage , I never had any but still got a cancer diagnosis !