**the 7th Tamoxifen Thread **

[MaryAnnSingleton]

here we are...

Sounds like I'd have got the English Bac - but only by the skin of my teeth.

I am back and all is peachy, but bad news - apparently swimming does not make you lose weight. I need to go the gym or run.

Go get 'em, smee!

racing off to TKD with dd so not ignoring anyone, just dashing. More anon!

Gym or running is bad for your joints whilst swimming is supportive.....maybe just more swimming? Or in my case less FBS!

Probably both options are needed here, sparkles.

I am liking your reasons not to run or go to the gym....

Good evening girls. Wow, Venus nipples, evap bogus moose (or mousse - both have an appeal!) those cocnut cakes that KK recalls and so do I but can't think of the name - this is a great thread just now . Have to confess I love jelly, custard, blancmange etc . Blancmange is just such a ridiculous word isn't it. I had an aunt in Edinburgh who always used to make raost chicken and 'shape' as she thought these were an enormous treat. I think 'shape' must be Scottish (in the 50s) for blancmange. She was a very dear aunt but my brothers and sister ad I always used to laugh about the 'shape'. (you have to say it with a refined Edinburgh accent and stress, to get the full effect.)

Its really annoying me now that I can't remember the name of those little sponge cakes covered in jam, then coconut and a cherry on top! I'never made tham as the pix always look pretty revolting but I think they'd be great at a boob party. (Britannias?? - will have to find v. old cookery book)

Best vibes to LJ and anyone else having treatment. My hair is still a most intersting style but I'm not tempted to cut it myself - am waiting for another couple of weeks then will go to a really good stylist for once!

KK - hope your cold is improving - mine is awful. But I'm reading The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo to keep me occupied (when I have a moment!)

My Katie Stweart cookbook says those cakes are English Madeleines. I think ther might be another name thouhg.

Swimming might not lose weight but it is totally wonderful for arm-stretching! My arm is so much better since I restarted swimming.

no you're right-they are English Madeleines - in Australia they have similar square things called Lamingtons.
Options meeting has made my head spin more but am sure we can sort something out. Hope limejelly is safely tucked up in bed and recovering.

Evening all - Sparkles, how awful for you. Can't imagine what it must feel like to think something you've done has hurt him. Not your fault, am sure, but still must be horrendous. Really hope DS is feeling better now. I honestly don't know how you do it. I'd have got English Bacc too, but we had to do those subjects anyway. MAS, hope DS is not too stressed by it all - must be hard when he's so young. Seems daft.

SR, thank you, I will google English Madeleines. Absurd amount of baking planned, but best friend and I are enjoying ourselves mightily.

Cakes, glad to hear consult was okay, though that is a bit of a downer about the swimming. How often do you have follow ups then? This is my first post treatment and I have a list of questions as long as my arm. Expect I'll get a baby doctor who hasn't a clue, but am hoping for top Onc, who's lovely.

Kurri, how's the hair then? Has it settled down into something stylish...?

btw -was hearing 'shape' pronounced in gentille Edinburgh accent a la Miss Jean Brodie !! They have tablet too don't they...mmm. I now feel like having some custard for pudding (am starving)

well done SR - here they are english madeleines - so glad you remembered - I was beginning to think I had imagined them.

I remember a book I read set in Victorian England, where some upper class woman says to her companion at dinner 'will you take a little of the shape my dear?' - I had no idea what it was

Hope DS is OK now Sparkle, does he have to have a lot of physio each night? - that must be very tiring for him and you.

Glad everything went well at the onc. Cakes - bad news indeed about swimming though. Did he say sitting around eating stuff was good for losing weight? (hopeful)

My hair is - well - different, Stylish isn't quite the right word I don't think.

Tablet is yummy MAS - my late MIL (who was from Scotland)used to make it - it is one of the fattest of the FBS

Hiya all - smee I have check ups ALL THE TIME every three months, that is standard around here, though not in Birmingham, which is really only next door. In my book you want a baby doctor, they may not know much but I choose to believe it means they think you are a time waster

Sadly sitting around eating does not help you lose weight either I am afraid. I have been working up to this moment but now I am going to drown my weight worries in a glass of dry white. I know it won't help, but it'll stop me worrying about it for a bit.

I bet the hair isn't too bad, KK. But I still think you were mad to do it yourself. Ever since the fateful day I cut dh's hair I have never picked up another pair of hairdressers scissors (though I am allowed to use the razor now he is almost as bald as a coot

Last time I did it I persuaded him to let me shave BUM in his chest hair [childish]

If only my DH had enough chest hair for me to shave BUM into it.

KK - quick question for you - have you had any surgery done by Elaine Sassoon? Am thinking of going to her for SGAP / IGAP reconstruction if possible.

Had one try at answering Pennies - but it disappeared into the ether!

I haven't had surgery but I know a few people who have, - they have been very happy with their reconstructions - I hear nothing but praise for her.

I expect you know about her book 'The Boudica Within' but in case you don't here's a link

Good luck with your reconstruction when you decide to go ahead - I know from friends it can make an amazing difference to how you feel, (I am also considering it, but at the same time thinking about prophylactic removal of other breast - so not sure what I'm doing atm.)

Back from Onc - was a baby one, but a very nice woman who did seem to know what she was on about, so hooray for her.

Kurri, I asked about recurrence/ cancer in the other breast and she said there's only a 1-2% higher chance, than women who have never had cancer. She also explained that the cancer wouldn't migrate across, so if you do get cancer in the other breast it's seen as a new primary cancer, rather than an off-shoot (not sure she put it quite like that!). Her view was that as my cancer was strongly hormone positive, and as any cancer in the other breast would odds on be similar, then the Tamoxifen should stop anything growing. I'd imagine they'd say the same about Herceptin? All very reassuring, but still I will keep asking. I get to see my Surgeon in a couple of weeks, then another Consultant not long after that. Am also going to ask them to forensically examine my mammogram, which is due in March. If there's any evidence of DCIS I think that will make a huge difference to my decision. I had extensive DCIS in the breast that was removed.

Cakes, apparently I get seen every 3 months too. Am mighty pleased, I must say.

Nice to see you, Pennies. Hope all's only good.

Hoping that LimeJelly's soon to be home and isn't feeling too sore.

Better get on. Got to work, then the party to organise... Breasts a plenty being created tonight. Just realised I have somehow to explain all of this to DS.

That's interesting Smee - thanks for the info, I'll ask at my appointment in Feb. as well.
Glad yours went fine. I get seen every three month also - I hate going but its reassuring to be checked often I find.

Your DS will write it in his news on Monday - 'My mum made lots of booby cakes'

Also hope LJ will soon be home, and not too sore. Put your feet up and take it easy LJ - it takes a while to recover from the GA let alone the surgery.

I have two hunky young men in my garden replacing my oil tank - hooray

Forgot to say - I slipped on the wet concrete in the garden yesterday and did a spectacular crash onto my bum with my legs at quarter to three!. (I screamed when I did it ) I am so achy today, I can't bend, and (TMI) by bottom is sunset coloured - similar to this

ouch KK !! mandrill bottom ! have you some arnica ? my mum swears by it.
We are seen every six months -some places do it yearly
Limejelly- hope to see you up and about soon but don't do too much at once- I very foolishly went into the town 2 days after and was totally shattered.

Can't properly answer any if your posts, partly because must cook dc something to eat before they go out to Beavers etc, but alos because you have made me laugh so much I am crying. I love this thread, boobie cakes, blue bruised bottoms (ouch!) bum shaved in chest hair and all!

Ds much better today, all back in place, he is bouncing around like tigger and frightening me. We do have to do physio for him every morning and night, it is a pain, he hates it, and it doesn't even help me lose weight!

Thank you ladies, will post properly later.

I shall get some arnica tomorrow MAS - thanks.

I'm glad DS is feeling better Sparkle, - even if he is scaring you with his tiggering

Hooray for you, smee, and OUCH for KK. That does sound quite bad in a sore way, and also quite embarrassing, which is even worse. Were the hunky blokes there at the time? Glad about the tank at last.

I am glad you have had a laugh sparkles, it does help, doesn't it? Sometimes I just weep with laughter and it does me a power of good. Good old ds, back with everything clicked into place, and hell bent on putting it all out again. Boys will be boys.

Did I tell you about my aqua aerobics class? The other women are lovely but some are rather BIG, and some more joined this week. We all had to ponce around in a big circle waving woggles , and keep changing direction. I nearly got drowned in the backwash God love them all, they do make me feel a bit less mahoosive....

Kurri, what are you like?! Are you even over your bug yet? I prescribe sofa and Friday night snacks. Doesn't have to be FBS, just indulgent.

Hooray for new oil tank with added hunk accessories. Do you get to keep them??

I didn't do it in front of the hunks thank God (although I have done similar in the past in front of the oil delivery man - tripped on the hose and sort of somersaulted down the drive I think he was even more embarrassed than I was)

I am slightly notorious in my family for falling over - mainly because I scuttle about not looking where I'm going. DD is the same if not worse

Bug is gone (as are the hunks )

laughing at the thought of the giant backwash Cakes

Hope everyone has a good weekend.

Just collapsed at computer in fit of giggles at cakes disappearing under a backwash.

dc now eating so can answer more sensibly.

Ouch, ouch Kurri. that must have really hurt! Arnica is supposed to work wonders, it has anti inflam properties, I hope it helps. Hooray for oil tank, are you having all the top soil removed too?

3 to 6 months seems reasonable check up time, but yearly is a bit of a shocker!

Do hope LJ is resting comfortably.

Smee - have fun creating breasts tonight...is the party tomorrow I have lost track? That is quite a low percentage increase in risk in terms of the other breast. I don't know if that makes decisions harder or easier. Being led a bit by the DCIS findings seems a sensible approach to me. I guess marc isn't too long to wait to find out more then.

SR hope your cold is getting better, I have heard that book is really good. I might get a copy to read whilst I am recovering.

Glad bug is gone Kurri, sorry hunks are gone too!

Ooo sofa and friday night snacks.....can I be prescribed that too!

Sparkle, I grant you your wish - sofa for you too and total snack indulgence.. Yes party's tomorrow. Got loads to do to get ready. Got some black balloons earlier, which DS loves. Bet your DS would too.

Laughing at Cakes and the backwash. Thank gawd for woggles, otherwise you'd surely drown.

MAS if you're about, what did you do to stop Celeste wee-ing in inappropriate places? Friend's got two kittens and they're both doing it.

Kurri, big shame the hunks have gone - maybe you should find a 'fault' and demand them back for repairs. On your mousse (though I still prefer to call it moose!) any tips for getting it out of the bowl? I never manage to do it with jelly and have never wrestled a moose out of a bowl before. Will try calling on my inner Nigella - not that I have the breasts (obviously!)..

Not sure about getting out of the bowl Smee (I usually gobble straight from the bowl) But with jelly it is supposed to help if you dip the bowl into hot water then just loosen the edges a bit with a knife and invert, so that might work. - I didn't think about how to get it out when I suggested it - hope it turns out OK.