**Tamoxigang thread 51**... no more sangria, but maybe some mulled wine!

[MarthaCostello]

Hello all,

The old thread has nearly run out so I hope no one minds me making a new one. And am I allowed to mention the Big C... Christmas?! our last thread was started in July so I reckon this one might take us into December.

In honour of that, I will lay out some mulled wine, mince pies and I have wrapped myself in tinsel.

A warm welcome to jomidmum, but sorry you've had to join us. No one wants to be in this club, but this thread is a rather nice place to be. Wishing you a speedy recovery from your op, and hoping the pain eases soon.

Massive hugs to beccajoh

A big yippee for Marshy, what utterly fantastic news.

Sitting on the paranoia box for ConsiderablyBiggerBuns, I hope your MRI results are good - when will you hear?

Waving and sending love to everyone else.

I wonder if seeing as we are on a new thread, it might be worth just giving a bit of history for new posters? I will put mine anyway, and then others can if they want to. I am coming up to two years since my bowel cancer diagnosis (grade 2, stage 3c, T2N2M0R0). I had major bowel surgery and six months of chemo.

Thanks Martha.

I was diagnosed with Grade 2 Breast Cancer and left node involvement, ER+ in October 13. Had 4 x FEC chemo, 12 x Paclitaxel, bmx and nodes out of left side in May 14, 15 x radiotherapy which finished in July 14. I'm now taking tamoxifen.

Well done Martha!

buns I too hope your MRI results are good. I am ok with MRI but DP had one the other day and found it very hard. I mocked him

Good idea about history.
DX with BC Aug 2013. FEC chemo. BMX Feb 2014, Node clearance Mar 14. Docetaxol chemo Mar - Jul 2014. rads complete Sep 14. Now back at work. (Also had nasty moment in May when lesions found in liver but these turned out to be non cancerous)

Marking my place

Thanks, Martha. One of the old-timers here, dx nearly four years ago with 2.3cm HER2+ Grade 3 lump but nothing in nodes. Had 4 FEC, 4 Tax, lumpectomy, rads, and a failed attempt at Herceptin 'cos it hated me. Managed 4 doses. Left with pain from surgery and nerve damage in hands and feet but enjoying life and rather hoping to see more of it.

Diagnosed with stage 3c melanoma in April, in my left thigh and all the nodes on the left side of my groin. Had the whole lot removed in May. It spread anyway and I was told I was stage 4 late July/early August. Currently taking vemurafenib and having an exceptional response.

If it's possible, I feel worse today. I just feel like all my hopeful spirit has gone. No desire to play the game anymore

Becca, are you taking a fairly big dose of Vitamin D? I found that my mood improved a lot when I did...and really drops when I forget. Possibly a side effect after cancer treatments. Worth a go, perhaps, if you're not. Sending a . Do talk to your team as often as you need to, and to us.

DX with Stage 3 lobular breast cancer June 2013. Scan then showed that I also had bone cancer. 6 rounds of chemo (Tax) and have since taken Letrozole, Capecitibine and Tamoxifen over past year. Back on Capecitabine ( oral chemo) which has been most effective in reducing tumour. Work full time with adult (?) DSs. Saw Oncologist yesterday who seemed to think I would be around a long time yet so am making further plans to spend the DSs inheritance!

Wonderful news lily!
Not been posting a lot recently but welcome to the newbies and I hope you find this thread as supportive as I have.
Me - diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer almost exactly a year ago, 8 weeks after having DC3. Had 4 FEC, 12 Paclitaxel, followed by double mastectomy and node clearance, and three weeks of radiotherapy. Having salpingo-oophrectomy in November as I am BRCA2 positive.

Hello everyone and hello thread 51!

Myself - diagnosed with stage 3 triple negative breast cancer a month ago. Have since had a masectomy and reconstruction. Currently preparing myself for what's coming next...

My chemotherapy starts, appropriately, on Halloween. Not looking forward to this - was hoping for a slow and steady course but I'm getting a few lots of AC in the first two weeks then a weekly dose of Paclitaxel for 4/5 months with a some Carboplatin thrown in now and again. And dont forget the radio after that. Sounds a lot!

Been told not to bother trying to save my hair. So what was long is now very short. Wig shopping for me next week.

Really hoping I'm not too affected by it all ...

The support and advice on here is great - thank you especially to foofooyeah, malteserzz, momoftwogirls, amberlight

Becca - BIG HUGS and so sorry to hear that you've been struggling. I hope the world world is seeming a kinder place by now xx

marshy - fab news on the path report! Am so pleased for you!

speedy - wishing you a quick recovery. I'm two weeks post surgery and almost back to normal (although can't lift too much) - did you get any physio? I found the exercises they gave me helped. Drains are a bit gross aren't they - it's a wonderful sense of freedom when they get removed though!

Dx with a stage 1 11mm tumour in May this year, I had actually presented with another lump which was fine, but the mammogram and ultrasound found this. Had a lumpectomy and sentinel+3 nodes removed 10 days later. Nodes clear, I've since had 15 sessions of rads and take tamoxifen now until menopause in the next couple of years when I will switch to a different drug. I consider myself to be very lucky to have been dx early.

Hello, I don't post much now as very busy with work (and looking for a new job).

DX May 2013 with 1.3 IDC ER+ (8/8) and large DCIS. Micronet in 1 node only so no clearance required. 3x FEC, mx and reconstruction with tissue expander then 9 x weekly Paclitaxel. Implant swapped in Jan this year, nipple created 2 weeks ago (!!) and lift on remaining breast scheduled for 7th November.

Good idea

I was diagnosed May 2013 though to be honest I'd put off going to the doctors for a few months. Stupid ! Lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy in June which showed cancer in my sentinel node so had fec t chemo then node clearance in december. All of my other nodes were clear so then had radiotherapy and now just on tamoxifen for which I have no side effects ( good thing but also makes me worry it's not working )
I'm 43 now, was 41 when diagnosed and am a teacher which I love

Am currently on a weekend away with the family as it's half term

This thread was a real lifeline for me last year, to speak to others going through it and who had been through it and were out the other side helped me more than I can say

Becca I wish I could say something that would help you, hope tomorrow is a brighter day x

sorry - forgot to say - I'm 46 now and on Tamoxifen. Last week started to take Venlafaxine which has been a miracle cure for the awful hot flushes that I was suffering. - I am so happy!!!

Diagnosed in March this year with grade 3 triple negative 18mm lump and then mri found 5mm Her 2pos lump. Sentinel node was clear. Had 4 lots of FEC then 4 docetaxol. Have had two lots if Herceptin so far. Had BMX with immediate reconstruction on wed. No rads needed.

Thanks ssaver- am very sore on one side but not too bad on the other. Glad you are feeling much better now.

Good news lily.

Hope your op goes well wee and yours too kitkat.

Malt hope you are having a fab time.

Becca - still thinking of you.

Dx Jul 13. Grade 2, 6mm lump, er+ pr+. Also showed in one of the four nodes removed. 8 sessions of chemo, 4 AC & 4 Taxol, followed by almost 7 weeks of rads.
Very strong family history, my lump was found on MRI during my intensive screening.
I will do an elective BMX and reconstruction early next year.

Forgot to add, I'm 49 and from South of Ireland.

Question to all suffering from NP.

I'm beginning to wonder if that is what is wrong with my feet. During chemo my toes were numb. I still have 2 numb toes.

I have a problem where my feet seem very weak. Once I went back walking I had problems with arches in both feet. This has now cleared up, but my feet are constantly aching, and it is tops of feet rather than soles of feet. None of my shoes feel comfortable, and I limp when I walk fast.

I will get it checked out, but could this be NP?
Should I go to podiatrist or GP? I'm not due a visit to my oncology team until January.

This is me - Diagnosed December 2013 aged 45 with Bilateral Breast Cancer. Originally found lump in left breast and ultrasound revealed lump in right breast. Six days after diagnosis had lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy. Luckily nodes were clear but had to have further surgery for a better margin. Left side 12.5mm IDC grade 2 ER+ and right side 8.5mm IDC HER2+ grade 3. Have had 6 x FEC, followed by radiotherapy. Now have sub cut Herceptin every three weeks and started Tamoxifen in July. Having terrible hot flushes due to Tamoxifen and occasional numbness in fingers which I think is connected to Herceptin. Considering acupuncture to help with hot flushes. Not sure how I would have coped without this thread - you are all amazing!

Celebrating DS2's 15th Birthday today

I wish I could make things better for you Becca x

Enjoy your weekend Malt we have another week here before half term begins.

Speedy wishing you a 'speedy recovery' x

Hi all, thanks for the shiny new thread!

I was diagnosed 8 July 2014 with a grade 2, stage 3c tumour measuring 17mm in left breast, also DCIS. Had left breast mastectomy in late July, and lymph node clearance - 13 nodes removed of which 12 had cancer cells, but thankfully there are no metastasis elsewhere. Started chemo at the end of Sept and am having 3x FEC and 3x Taxol. Then I'll be having radiotherapy, followed by more surgery to give me a new nipple and lift the other breast to match. My cancer is hormone responsive so I will be on 5 years of Tamoxifen too.

I am 37 yrs old with 2 DC aged 3 and 6.

Mummywheel - i struggled with hot flushes since last October and although my consultant suggested Venlafaxine in June I looked at the possible SEs and decided I would battle on. I finally caved last week and gave it a try - I feel like a complete idot as it has been amazing, I feel like I am back to my normal self and finally I can sleep!! It's only now that I realise how much it was affecting the whole of my life.

I'm struggling with hot flushes too - and they'll get worse after the ovaries are out. I'm currently on Megastron (which I keep calling megatron, I have a transformers obsessed ds1). I think there are more options after the oophrectomy but they can't give me anything hormonal till then.
I have horrible insomnia and awful rads-created chest wall pain too. But, I am in Portugal with the family and having a much better time than this time last year!

Ooh we're doing ages too. I'm 23, was 21 at diagnosis.

Hope everyone's had a good day.

becca I have no useful words, but I'm thinking of you. I hope things feel easier soon. Why not have a party sooner than your 40th? Not because you won't be here for it, but because maybe it would give you something to focus on/look forward to now? Could you have a massive first birthday party for your little boy or something?

I had a big 21st birthday party with all of my family. It was quite a while before my diagnosis. I think it was one of the happiest days of my life. It was something to look back on when I was recovering from my surgery and stuff.

I am 41 with two dcs 8 and 12. I had MX when I was 34, 12 nodes involved. I had 4 x EC and 4 x taxotere then rads. I had lung mets diagnosed last year and had my lung fused with talc. Did six months capecitabene now on letrazole and zolodex.

I flip between the depths of despair and getting on with things. One day at a time.

My god, this is sobering reading. So much we go through and continue to battle. We are amazing people.