**TAMOXIFEN**the 6th

[MaryAnnSingleton]

here we go !

Hi All,

Sorry, been AWOL again. I went on holiday to Cyprus with the family and it was good to get away.

Since coming home I've gone and got myself a job (Olympic volunteer recruitment) and a cat (still to be named) so it's all change here!

Hello to newbies. Sorry you had to find us. I also saw OJ on here too - I hope you're OK and just passing by.

My hair's growing back slowly - I'm looking a little less butch these days. Glad to have some hair back as the weather starts to chill.

Treatment wise I'm gorging on Tamoxifen daily and still having Herceptin. no problems with Hercpetin, except mild taste changes about 10 days after it. The Tamoxifen is just about do-able, but I noted that KK went to a talk about BC and intimacy recently and Tamoxifen is putting paid to that big time.

So, to get a little personal here... a question for anyone on Tamoxifen. What has it done to your libido and enjoyment of sex? Mine's non existent and quite frankly when we attempt it it's so uncomfortable for me (despite using juicy gunk to help) that on occasion I cry . Not sure what to do about it really. I'd quite happily not ever bother again, but that's not going to be good for us as a couple. Anyone got any tips?

Just read that OJ's lurking .

Good luck SparkleRainbow.

Unfortunately not, really Pennies

i do remember my BC nurse making a big thing about this and saying that my onc will prescribe a hormone based cream that is meant to help, and that is OK to take as long as you keep up with the tamoxifen. As it is applied {ahem} 'locally' it seems to be acceptable despite the hormone sensitive nature of the BC.

Frankly this is a subject we are still struggling with ourselves. But it could be worth revisiting the BC nurse for specific advice (toe curling, I know)

On the plus side, life sounds positive for you. Glad the hair is on the return. Welcome back!

On the hair front, I am considering going a bit purple. I've bought the pack, but am trying to decide what to do (and who to lean on to help me apply it). Honest views welcome!

Pennies - nice to see you back. Congratulations on the new job - have you started it yet and if so how's it going? I'm not on Tamoxifen but sadly lost all libido in any case some time ago Toe-curling indeed. I hope others can be more helpful.

Glad your hair is flourishing though. I am ridiculously pleased with mine as the short style actually suits me. I say 'style' - its not a style as its just doing its own thing and I haven't been to the hairdresser yet. But it is quite becoming in an odd way - never thought I'd suit elfin type short hair. Its also nice having proper eyebrows isn't it, although I still colour them in a bit.

Am also ridiculously pleased that have lost one pouind this week - I know that could just be weekly fluctuation but its the first time in ages that the scales are moving in the right direction, thank goodness as we all know I'm the largest member of this thread! Can't face that other lighter shiny thread though as its much friendlier on here, and we've got good reasons for having eaten a lot at times.

Not working today. Have been to my Italian group and am planning a swim.

Sparkle - thinking about you.

Hi SR - i was also pleasantly surprised by the short elfin hair thing - and have kept it like that. It is really liberating and easy to handle. It's also had more compliments than anything that preceded it, and i don't think that ALL of those are just people being nice.

I have just swum too - nice with the sun on the water.

Woo hoo for losing a pound. I am not sure why you think you are the largest person on this thread. Actually in my mind's eye you are quite slight - as is everyone here. It's only me whose belly moves to its own beat....Seriously, just recently I have learnt the true meaning of the phrase 'belly laugh'

On the eating a lot thing - last night I got up at 2am and ate Jammy Dodgers. Now that's greedy.

purple hair ?

Hi all, - great to see you Pennies - the job sounds exciting - good for you

Really just popping on quickly, because of your libido questions. The good thing about the talk I went to was realising how common this problem is for BC patients. I think its largely caused by the menopausal type symptoms, and of course all the changes in your body which have psychological effect.

For the physical side of things I think it is worth asking about the oestrogen cream, Cakes mentioned.
At the talk we were given samples of 'sylk' which you can get from the chemist, and 'Yes' which I think you may have to get online, but they are both natural products, and Yes in particular is especially for breast and gynae cancer patients. There is an oil based one and a water based one, and the website is here.
I haven't tried mine yet (sorry far TMI)so I am just going by the BCC speaker's recomendation.

There was also a book list, which I'll post in a little while (after I've had my lunch)in case anyone is interested.

I went to my keep fit class today - I didn't do the exercise you'll be pleased to hear, just went for a coffee, and to hear a talk about Morris Dancing - which was actually very interesting, believe it or not!

Smee - wetsuit and fez - I like your DS's style - reminds me of my DS, who was mad on dressing up (and now he gets paid to do it)

Good luck Sparkles, - keeping fingers crossed for you

I am back, not sure what to make of it all, I have been googling for the last half hour or so.

I have no idea about the mammogram results, but the ultrasound found a lump in my left breast, possibly in a milk duct. The radiologist said to could be a polyp or papilloma (sp?), or still could be nothing. She said the milk ducts were slightly enlarged on that side but still within normal parameters, which would not indicate duct ectasia. On the right side, which is where I have the full blood discharge she found nothing at all except some lymph nodes invading the breast tissue, but they looked completely normal. She is recommending a biopsy of the lump, I will have to wait two to three weeks for the appointment if the Consultant accepts her recommendation. Pre cancerous DCIS was her possible dx.

So I carry on with the antibiotics and the waiting game continues......with no wine

because I can

Just read your post Cakes, - one of my friends has purple streaks in her hair - I think it looks fab. I'd say go for it, (is it one that will wash out fairly quickly if you decide you hate it?)

SR - I have large belly and distinctly saggy rear end, you are probably taller than me (most people are) but I doubt you are wider! Well done on losing a pound this week.

I love purple!

Don't worry SR I found your pound, and I am looking after it for you,

Pennies- lovely to see you -and the job sounds great !
Sparkle - so really they suspect possible DCIS ? so sorry you are still having to wait for things-it's so frustrating,and no wine to soothe you either
If it's DCIS then it's very treatable - sometimes invasive cancer can lurk underneath but if it was there then the chances of it's being very small & a caught in good time is possible. Try not to google too much though. Well done for getting through this bit.

2 choc digestives and i might find the Haribos

I am having a giant mug of hot chocolate to comfort myself, the baby saw me preparing it and announced "Yes Please Mummy",

awww

Didn't give her one though, she had an apple and a cup of milk. I am saving the drinks equivalent of FBS for me, she has to be healthy.

Sparkle - I really feel for you with all this waiting, but at least you are in the system and moving forward (with a bit of luck, your biopsy appointment may also come a bit sooner than they said, - I hope so, because once you know where you stand, you can start getting your head around it all) Hot chocolate sounds good.

here are the books I mentioned earlier:

Becoming Orgasmic: A sexual and personal Growth programme

The complete guide to sexual fulfillment

Resurrecting Sex

For Women Only

Rekindling Desire

Hope that's helpful. (I dread to imagine what my Amazon recommendations will include now I've looked up that lot )

Hi Sparkle - so, more waiting. But, as MAS says, this sounds like a potentially very treatable diagnosis. Too bad there is no chance of wine, but no-one said anything about cake or sweets, did they? You've done really well, bet you are knackered. Enjoy the hot chocolate (and what a polite baby)

KK - thanks. i think I will go with the purple, then. I had purple streaks once before and they were nice. This time it's an all over affair, but more aubergine than anything I suppose. 24 washes, which is only three weeks for me as I am obsessed with hair washing.

MAS - I see your choc digestives and haribos, and raise it - two slices of chocolate cake and a bacon sandwich

I had an M&S cheese knot roll too

You're just boasting now MAS

!

Sparkle - hope you're having a good rest. Its rotten you have to wait so long for the next tests but it suggests they are not worried or they'd have whizzed you through more quickly I suspect. Thank-you for looking after my pound - if you don't ant it you could give it to a charity shop.

Cakes - aubergine hair sounds great! My DD had that sort of colour at one time 9in between the usual greens, blue, henna phases she enjoys...) and I really liked it.

Swam 20 lengths and enjkoyed them a lot. Would have done a few more but got horrid cramp in toes which wouldn't go away.

Special K for b'fast, healthy salmon and salad for lunch then 3 Spanish biscuits with nuts - yum. Thinking veg curry for this evening. So that should be a good day as long as I can stay out of the biscuit box...

because I'm worth it....

SR - your meals today sound everything mine have not been, healthy well balanced.....too ashamed to list mine, if you were to slip up and end up in the biscuit box, it would just be part of a balanced diet.

The Consultant said in the original apppointment on Monday that even if it was cancer, the operation would not be before January anyway, so I guess there is no pressure on the scanning derpartment to do it any faster anyway. They did say there was always a chance of a cancellation before the three week period, so i shall hope for that, at least I would know more.

because......

Sparkle am mortified as I said you should remember to chill a bottle of something and you can't drink can you?! Gah to me for rubbing that one in!! Well done on scans being done though. DCIS must sound scary I'm sure, but as MAS says it's on the very treatable side if it is that, so try and feel reassured. I know that's a ridiculous thing to say.

Hooray, Pennies is back! Hello again. Glad you're still standing. Can't help much on the Tamoxifen as have only just started taking mine. Was thinking maybe once I was through radiation I might remember how to do sex, but from what you say, it sounds unlikely. Let me know if you find the answer.

Kurri, if my DS turns out like yours I'll be delighted, as from all you say he sounds most excellent. How's your wound? Is it less tender now?

SR 20 lengths is very impressive. You definitely deserve that bear, just remember not to eat it..

Still far too much for me to go back and catch up on, so am not going to even try. But Cakes, go purple. Sounds like a fab idea and Cakes/ MAS am raising you both with a small bar of Green & Blacks accompanied by a side order of Monster Munch. I blame the radiation..

am upping my bid with 2 more chocolate biscuits...

Yes having to stick to cup of tea, but I shall make up for it when these antibiotics are over...no worries there. Mind you after two weeks of them I shall probably only be able to stomach a small glass before I fall over

Am trying to be good, but eyeing up a Dundee cake.........