**TAMOXIFEN**the 6th

[MaryAnnSingleton]

here we go !

Cakes, I had a look at the other thread yesterday and the 'ner' of the thread seemed to have dismissed th suggestions from teapot (Is it Teapot - something like that anyway!)

Not working today so am planning a nice walk to enjoy the trees and perhaps a thinking about Christms session to avoid stress later when I'm working. Have bought quite a lot of random pressies during the year and stashed them away so need to work out who I can give them to. Have also bught cake ingredients. Have a pudding left from lastyear so I'll feed it some brandy and it'll be fine. Need to turn the damson gin too - o what a tough day...

Have I mentioned that I am having a party? To celebrate my birhday and having hair again! I've booke a venue as I can't face preparing all the food so nice pub will do it (in a glass barn) - the food there is good. And I';ve sent out ivite now so there's no turning back. I've had to restrict numbers to the budget so its for local friends and neighbours who've helped me out so much this past year. I've encouraged them to wear silly air and/or pink and to be prepared for some silly games.

teapot ! I like that- yes,op seemed sensible
christmas - eek !! though have presents for my nieces sorted - the littlest is having a Persian cat Sylvanian family- so cute - I loved choosing that !
Party sounds just the thing - you deserve a celebration.
All ok at breast clinic - another doctor saw me (was seen in community hosp. as consultant does a clinic there too) -this time I had my liver pressed and back tapped -mammo. booked for April and six months check up also in April. I still hate the undressing/being examined - not offered any scrap of paper to cover myself with..

Parrty sounds just the thing SR, and I like the sound of a glass barn. But Christmas planning - yikes!

Glad appt went well MAS. I never get anything to cover my modesty either.....

Party sounds great fun SR, - enjoy - you deserve it

Pleased everything went well at the clinic MAS, I get a bit nervous because of the feelings the place evokes, but I'm not bothered by the stripping off (modesty left the building years ago, after a lot of long term gynae probs.)

Christmas - I've done nothing yet but it will be fairly small scale I think. I also need to think about what to get for DS's girlfriend/DP - don't want to embarrass by going overboard, but want her to know she's part of the family now. She does wear fairly funky clothing and jewellery. Its DD's 21st just after Christmas too, - so need to plan for that.

Cakes - very good response on the Teapot post. She never gives up does she?

Smee - intrigued by biro scribblings do you also have the tattoos? No biros here in Norfolk - they are more likely to daub you with woad

KK - yes good point about what to buyfor DC's partners! My DD is bringing her boyfriend for Christmas so I need to think about that too. Our Christmas will be small scale compared to last year's razzamatazz with all the Australians. Can't remember if I'd started posting then, but we had arranged for 6 Ozzie friends to join us for Christmas, then I got my diagnosis in December and we wemt ahead as I found (after initial mind reeling stage) that it was a great distraction to cook/wrap etc. It was time well spent as I still have some usable left-overs as mentioned above.

Yes, I remember last year's brave intercontinental Xmas, SR: you were heroic.

I think it will be quiet here too. DH's dad died in the summer and we are not having DH's Mum (phew, she's always hard work and likely to be more so this year - with good reason, admittedly) so I think we'll keep it nice and simple. Hoorah!

Nothing done for Christmas here either - except that MAS is doing me a lovely picture for DD. For the rest of it: I am stumped so far.

I remember your Christmas guests too SR.
I am slightly panicking at trying to think of Christmas stuff- will be here with my olds.
Cleaning,yoga meditation and I hope a bit of work today - am exhausted already !

Yay for the new hair ladies! Mine is now about 1cm long and I am v close to dumping the wig. Tho it is a disconcerting dark brown, I completely forgot that the blonde stuff doesn't just grow there!

Smee, I finished rAds last Fri and I didn't hear any mention of exercises. I only got tired in the last (6th) week and am really quite wiped out now, hoping it won't last too long.

SR congrats on the pleasant-sounding return to work? Did u feel ready to go back? Good for you for having a party, I would love to do that bit energy not quite there yet. But enjoy.

Started herceptin yday, in hospital all day for the first dose. And trekking back again later today for dermatology appointment. Wound problems ongoing :(

MAS, glad your appt went ok. I also have no trouble stripping off, as I don't really recognise my own body any more! Looks like someone else's now! When is your surgery KK/KCTAP?( Love it!)

gah- sorry to hear about wound problems- what a bugger cupcaked
Forgot to say-have ordered a ceramic thingy for dh's present -made by a ceramics friend of mine -fab stuff- it's a little compartmented tray for coins, specs,wallet etc I cannot bear piles of coins by the bedside (why do they do that ?)
Righto, really must do some boring cleaning....

hogweed pottery here

Okay so on closer examination they're not biros, but permanent markers. Though Kurri, that's preferable to woad. I have tattoos, as well. I get zapped with the machine in three different positions, so maybe that's the reason. Did you all only have it in one?

MAS, hooray you're free now until April. That's brilliant news.

SR, glad work's feeling okay. Your colleagues sound like a nice lot. Party sounds good - remember to behave at least a little bit disgracefully and then report back.

Cupcaked, sorry to hear your wound's still a problem. Is that the seroma, or have I got that wrong? Think you're doing better than me on the energy front as I feel wiped out and it's only week one. I have been cycling every day though so maybe I'm overdoing it. Congrats on first Herceptin. Glad you didn't have a reaction to it. And your hair sounds brilliant. By Christmas you'll be spiky!

But all this talk of Christmas. Shame on you! I haven't planned Bonfire Night yet and that's tomorrow..

Hi Kurri. Love the seasonal name! Yeah, layers work. And sometimes a spare top to change into after a particularly sweaty hot flush.

Smee - you're on Tamoxoifen for five years too? I've done two months worth of pills. The hot flushes have been my only real side effect and they aren't too hideous, tbh.

SR - your hair sounds fab! I finished chemo in July. I, too, have had some very nice and genuine (I hope) compliments on my super short 'do' and will be keeping the elfin look. Not least of all because last time I grew my hair long (it was almost to my waist when I got my diagnosis) I got cancer. Not that I'm superstitious or anything...
I like the idea of having a party to celebrate new hair though.

Hi smee

i got zapped in two positions. You are doing very well cycling, I did NOTHING.

Cupcaked's hair sounds great even if the wrong colour: it could have come back grey, which would have been more of a shock, possibly. I've had mine cut again this morning: it remains radically short. I like it like this.

Nice pots, MAS.

Hi smee

i got zapped in two positions. You are doing very well cycling, I did NOTHING.

Cupcaked's hair sounds great even if the wrong colour: it could have come back grey, which would have been more of a shock, possibly. I've had mine cut again this morning: it remains radically short. I like it like this.

Nice pots, MAS.

I was zapped in 2 positions (did you mean the machine crossing over to do the other side ?)
Called for a smear test - grrrr -can't understand why as i only had one 3 years ago and I'm no over 50,so it should be every 5..I hate them

Oh look I keep repeating myself

Oh look I keep repeating myself

Go for the smear though MAS. You know it makes sense.
(You do have my sympathy though )

you're right of course Cakes...

Hi all,

pottery on that site is lovely MAS, - great idea, I wish my DH would keep his junk organized. (I refer to his bedside area as his 'midden' ).

Sorry the wound is still playing up CC, what a bind, very debilitating I imagine because its gone on a long time now hasn't it?

I think I was zapped in 2 positions Smee, IIRC, I had a sort of jelly pad thing taped to my chest (presumably to protect the non zapped bit ??) I only had 15 though, so got off lightly compared with you and CC. You will soon get through it though.

BB - I also associate long hair with my DX - daft really, but don't think I could ever go back to long hair now.

Quiet Christmas sounds nice Cakes, I think ours will be too - not sure who's going to be here yet.

My op. is tomorrow. I have been feeling very restless and butterflies in the stomach today. I know it's a pretty straightforward procedure, but it's just the whole going into hospital for an operation and all the connotations that has for me. Oh well - it'll soon be over. Had an info. booklet from the hospital which said 'you are required to provide your own painkillers' ! (actually probably a good idea if it saves money, because they used to hand out a bag with about 200 paracetamol in it - completely unnecessary)

Love to all, have you done any horse riding yet RWU?

Send me good vibes for having my giblets stuffed back in tomorrow

Oh - just glanced at another cancer thread (a poor girl who's mum has just been DX with oesophageal cancer- very sad.) But would you believe it another loon has popped out of the woodwork, calling itself 'healthebody' with a load of old bollocks. Someone has told them to clear off fortunately. How I hate these oddballs, they are like vultures lurking round the cancer threads

grrr -they are menaces...
a big hug from me for tomorrow - it'll soon be over and done with- will be thinking of you xxxxx

popping in to say good luck to KK tomorrow, no horse riding yet- Sunday is my first outing!

Off back to Aberytstwyth tonight- will explain when i have more time later.

take care RWU

thanks MAS! (forgot you knew via facebook lol!) xx

thanks MAS, and RWU. Good luck in Aberystwyth - what ever your reason for going xx

RWU, how intriguing. MAS saying 'take care' makes me think you're on some sort of top secret mission.

Kurri, will have everything crossed for you tomorrow. Hope they don't keep you hanging around too long. Make sure you have plenty of recuperative treats waiting for you once you've returned home.

I have three zaps because they're doing my neck too - well not quite the neck, but can't remember what they call it. Think Cupcaked had that too. Kurri, the jelly thing sounds like a Bolus, which I have too. It's to bring the rays closer to your skin. They use it dependent on where your tumour was - ie there's no need if your tumour was deeply buried in the breast, but if it was closer to the surface you do.

BB. good to know the Tamoxifen's bearable. Does anyone know if the hot flushes wear off after a while? I don't like taking it, but have met some women who are triple negative, so feel lucky really.

MAS go for the smear or else we'll keep nagging you. I know what you mean though; I hate them too.