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*TAMOXIFEN* the 5th

961 replies

MaryAnnSingleton · 17/07/2010 11:51

in case we forget and find ourselves at 1000 - here's a fresh new thread !

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KurriKurri · 03/10/2010 13:40

Have a wonderful holiday SR Smile

cupcaked · 03/10/2010 23:25

Enjoy Pisa, SR, a well deserved holiday. Hang loose and take it easy.

After my boasting about running a mile I got a rotten head cold - odd that haven't had one since before BC, and get one now off chemo. Nose dripping again (sorry if tmi!)- it had stopped, presume cos nose hair is now same length as head hair, about 2mm. Am disproportionately delighted with scalp!

MaryAnnSingleton · 04/10/2010 08:09

oh poor cupcaked - hope it clears soon
ciao SR ! have a wonderful time Grin

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Cakesandale · 04/10/2010 09:52

Enjoy, SR!

Cupcaked - colds etc to be expected while you are at a low ebb - the chemo seems to nuke a lot of minor stuff (not sure why it would, but that was my experience).

MAS - great news about your niece, it sounds positive. As for the cards - well, I am a spelling Nazi too, but I would say don't sweat it. If it was my card it would be a bit embarrassing as I make my money copywriting and proofing and stuff, but for you as an artist I don't think it is nearly so important. Shame though, it takes the gloss off, I know.

I am still planning to ask you to do a picture for dd, I'll get onto it this week.

Talking of dd - I lost her in M&S yesterday. She didn't let go of me for the rest of the day Sad

smee · 04/10/2010 10:33

Hello All. Am a bit feeble, but definitely climbing out of the last chemo, so phew. Still feel a bit down, but maybe that's the weather too. Anyone else have lots of hot flushes by the end of chemo? I was expecting it, as my body shut down on chemo one, but still it's a bit sapping. Any weird and wonderful ideas to offset them, heartedly welcomed. Grin

MAS, with your cards, why not try it on the next 10 people you meet and ask them what they think/ is there anything they'd change. I'd bet nobody notices though and it'll put your mind at rest. Brilliant you did the first Mindfulness session. And cautiously good news on your niece too. Poor her though, still more waiting.

Cupcaked, boo to the cold, but yeay to the running. Am still mighty impressed, even if you did only manage it once. I am going to make myself go swimming before Rads starts again. Not just yet though..! And you have hair?! Wow, that's quite fast. I've got quite good at drawing my eyebrows in, but it would be lovely to have them back. Somehow that's the thing that's bugged me most, though am not sure why.

Cakes, losing DD is a rite of passage. Must have been scary though. I thought I'd lost DS in M&S last week, but found him completely unperturbed, sitting underneath a stand of bras. He told me he'd got bored of me faffing, so thought he'd have a rest. Hmm How's the speech writing going? Must be odd writing a report with all this party conference stuff on-going. It's all analysed to death in the press, though I must admit as a news junkie, I'm quite enjoying it.

sandripples · 04/10/2010 11:05

So Smee, CC and I are all climbing out of chemo and at least 2 of us fighting colds after avoiding them all the way till now! Mine is much better but I did expect to feel stronger by now, as 'normally' I'd be stronger than this in the last week of a CMF chemo cycle. Maybe its the Arimidex, or the cold or the combination on top of everything else my body's been through. Am going to be pretty feeble in Pisa but am nevertheless all packed and ready to go! Thank-you for all good wishes.

Boringly I have to go to JOb Centreplus before I leave. Really don't know why but ' she has to see me before I go back to work' and as I'm now on annual leave, rather than sick leave, I'm technically back at work today IYSWIM.

Have a good week and 'see' you Friday!

PS I don't get hot flushes (yet!) but I do get a strange clmmy feeling at times.

Sorry about you losing DD in M and S Cakes - horrible feeling for you both.

smee · 04/10/2010 11:13

Happy Holidays SR!! Thought you'd already gone. Go lean in Pisa - due to good wine and much cheer, rather than chemo or some old tower. Smile

ps: DS has a cold, so I might soon make it three out of three of us.

MaryAnnSingleton · 04/10/2010 13:19

am feeling better about the card now-thanks for your imput -it isn't really noticeable (otherwise I'd've noticed !!) Am looking on it as an exercise in tolerating imperfection in things I do and myself
Poor Cakes and dd - but did smile at smee's ds under the bras Smile My ds used to wander about the bra section squeezing the ones with giant foamy cups.

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Cakesandale · 04/10/2010 14:09

Tee hee! My dd likes the bras as well! She knows my size and rifles through all the sensible white ones for me (she knows I only like comfy practical undies Blush )

I think the hot flushes are going to be something that will linger smee, sorry to say. The tamoxifen makes them happen big time as well. I get so hot at night i still have the summer duvet on. Sigh.

Speech writing hasn't really started yet, thought it will have to. But first I have to do stage 2 of that report i wrote a couple of weeks ago. It has now been officially well received (phew).

Got to fly - off to the opticians - dd went to a swimming party yesterday and I volunteered to be one of the parents in the water. All the tidal waves as they repeatedly fell off giant inflatables washed my lenses out (hope they don't bugger up the pool filters)

KurriKurri · 04/10/2010 14:23

Sorry to hear you ladies finishing chemo are a bit under the weather, I think it is just the build up of knocks to your immune system that does it, - I managed to get shingles just after I'd finished my last one, - so I think you maybe get a bit lower in WBC terms each dose, and some things get you before you start building up again (does that make any kind of sense??)

Drippy nose can last for a while afterward - because of the damage to your nose lining, and having a cold will obviously make it even worse.

But - you have all done really well, and should congratulate yourselves on getting through this part, - its a long haul and you have to dig deep sometimes, but you have all held it together brilliantly Smile

Smee - regarding hot flushes - no real solutions but suggestions I've been given to alleviate it a bit are, - cotton bed linen, cotton clothing. Layers of clothing so you can remove and replace easily. Electric fan in the bedroom if it's a problem at night, and try to avoid things that trigger you off (hot drinks in my case, and confined spaces).

Sorry DD got lost Cakes - it's awful when it happens isn't it?, - absolute feeling of panic. We lost DS in the Science Museum when he was little, - the doorman was completely uninterested and I was shrieking 'he's only three, he's only three' Blush

We found him sitting happily in a steam engine he'd climbed into (probably Stevenson's Rocket or somethingBlush)

smee · 04/10/2010 15:50

Thing is, DS though only 6 looks more like 8 (think v.tall), so nesting under the bras maybe won't wash for much longer. Grin

Hot flushes, mmm. Am trying to think positively, as was very strongly er and pr positive, so hot flushes hopefully show that's all successfully supressed, so no more cancer growth - well fingers crossed. Am a bit dreading the Tamoxifen though, as you're right Cakes that might well make them worse. Kurri, that's interesting about the hot drinks. Mine are mostly at night for now though, so am not sure what could be triggering them. Will try and have a logical think.

Cakes, am impressed you volunteered. My niece had one and I have never been so wrinkled or bruised, so am not surprised you lost your lenses.

Cakesandale · 04/10/2010 18:21

Hot flushes at night are the most common I think. I get one within moments of lying down, every time Hmm. Alcohol of any kind makes it much worse - double Hmm

Am very Grin at the thought of a big kid looking a bit creepy in the bras section.

MaryAnnSingleton · 04/10/2010 19:13

oh dear - ds was lurking in the bras at about 11 - think he would be too embarrassed now !
Am feeling really wiped out today -it's making me feel a bit sick- my own fault-should go to bed early.

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smee · 04/10/2010 20:34

DS is far from the embarrassed, MAS. He thinks bras are funny and wishes he could wear one. I used to work in the holidays at M&S and almost daily there was some strange creature lurking in the lingerie dept. We used to take great delight in going over in pairs and asking very loudly if we could help. They'd soon run. Wink

Sorry you're tired, MAS, though am not surprised as you've got a lot on by the sounds of it. When are you getting that kitten. Is it soon?

Hot flushes are mostly only at night here too Cakes, but last night it was virtually one an hour. I'm a light sleeper, but still that's a bit of a disruption to say the least. Am not drinking at the moment as still in chemo land, so I can't blame that. Ever the optimist, but am hoping they might settle down once all the drugs leave my system.

MaryAnnSingleton · 04/10/2010 21:20

Kitten comes next Monday - am excited but also really anxious about it - the responsibility ! it's ages since we've had a kitten. Dh is making me go to bed early tonight !
Was too tired to work today,my stomach aches,but think it's nerves- what a state ! Am going to new Forest for fancy hotel weekend which is fab, but I am nervous about that - we went last september and it was totally gorgeous but I was churned up inside- used to be like this when younger-my brother is the same. BCN rang me today- i'd emailed her- was v nice to talk to her.
Sorry- enough of me - am also cross that pesky golf meant that University Challenge was cancelled - grrr

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cupcaked · 04/10/2010 23:08

Smee, glad u r emerging from the gloom- welcome out! I also missed my eyebrows most of all, and have a kind of 5 o clock shadow over each eye now which pleases me no end every morning! What is on my head can't really be called 'hair' yet, I was exaggerating, more like 'mould' Grin But it's a start!

I don't have hot flushes so much as hot sweats, wonder if it's the same as SR? I get an unpredictable wash of sweat over my scalp, which is horrible if I have my wig on & am not in a place where it is easily flung off!There isn't any obvious provoking factor. But am also reassured that is it is v good news for any lurking er-positive nasty cells, so bring them on.

Cakes, so traumatic losing dd. (I lost ds aged 3 once at a packed swimming pool in Portugal, so traumatic I can't even tell u, but suffice to say that although he suffered no longterm effects, I will never ever forget it..)
Much more amusing to 'lose' them under a rack of bras!
Hope SR is well leaned over by now!

cupcaked · 04/10/2010 23:13

And KK, thnx for the congrats- indeed thnx so much all of you for your help in getting me through the chemo with my sanity intact, you lovely ladies have been more of a help than you will ever know. [nose drips onto iPhone] Cxx

MaryAnnSingleton · 05/10/2010 08:40

awww

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Cakesandale · 05/10/2010 10:04

Shucks Grin

The lack of eyebrows was the one that really got me as well - I'd never really given them much attention before, but without them my face just looked so naked. DD has a photo of me when I was at my baldest and I hate it, but she won't let it go.

smee - those chemo sweats are not nice. Sympathies. Stay optimisitc - the tamoxifen ones aren't quite so toxic-feeling.

I am almost as excited as you over the kitten, MAS - and I remember your fab weekend away last year! if I remember rightly the beds were super luxurious so that sounds just great to me!

I want you all to be impressed at my super coolness now - i am going to see Plan B in Nottingham tomorrow. It has been a long time coming round, and now I'm not even sure i can be bothered, but it'll probably be great when I make the effort. We'll be the four old bats looking shocked at the back Grin

smee · 05/10/2010 10:30

Monday, wow.. I'm excited too. Smile I loved having a kitten in the house, though they are demanding. Might make you sit a bit more though, MAS as I seem to remember ours would climb up on a lap as often as he could and it always felt mean to move.

Cupcaked, you said what I wanted to!! Everyone on here has made chemo so much more manageable. Just to hear others have been through it and can still grow tomatoes - flippant I know, but 'tis true! Honestly it's helped me stay vaguely sane. Though I'd put the emphasis on vaguely ..

Eyebrows are looking a bit over zealous today. Was in a rush to get the boy to school. Now Oncology hotline have asked me to zoom to GP as I think I have a low level chest infection. Bit boring, but better to stop anything before it starts and am lucky as it's the nice doctor.

Cakes, am going to have to google Plan B (and you thought you weren't cool.. Confused

smee · 05/10/2010 10:32

Okay back from Google. Cakes, you is well cool and down with da yoof..

Cakesandale · 05/10/2010 10:42

That's right. Innit. Grin

Cakesandale · 05/10/2010 12:45

Bleurgh.

I just found a spider in my knicker drawer. They will all have to be washed...

MaryAnnSingleton · 05/10/2010 14:00

Cakes is def. well cool Grin
A big spider ? eee...
talking of knickers- when S,the little girl I mind and I were looking for Me To You bears in the charity shops I noticed rackfuls of pants and knickers - not new ones - seriously,who would wear someone's cast off undergarments ? even bras...
Have just had hair cut - on a whim asked for shorter and choppier (and apologies to you chemo heroes who don't have hair yet to squander) and it is- but am a bit in shock -it was shoulder length and layered,now its many layered and much shorter - hope I don't regret it- am in such an emotional state it mkight be a mistake,though equally a well needed lift - eeeee.

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Cakesandale · 05/10/2010 14:17

ooh good on you for the haircut, it sounds fab! But may take getting used to. Seriously, short hair is really liberating.

People do send the most appalling stuff to charity shops. I used to work for an animal charity which had a charity shop on site - they all used to hate opening the charity bags because it was NOTHING to open a bag and draw out old pants with (sorry) skid marks still inside. Shock They all used to refuse to do it without rubber gloves, and went outside if at all possible, so that the smell was less contained.

Spider not screamingly big but definitely tummy-lurching big.

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