TAMOXIFEN 9 *********

[MaryAnnSingleton]

Starts here !

Hi MAS - only one carvery fortunately. I avoided the roast and had a frittata, but it was absolutely tasteless. For the rest of the time though, DH, dd and i ventured out and found some very nice food indeed

Glad your clinic appt was OK, but a bit the mammo results weren't back

Hello all - welcome back Spongy - sorry you missed the boys, - the ones I ogled will be heading towards their pensions now I imagine. Glad you had a good time and great weather

Hi RWU - lovely to see you, how are things? - I got the floaty bits - there is a very tiny X in the corner to click on to get rid of it.

Pink - sorry your feeling a bit grotty, but good news that the tablets are working. Taste in my case didn't return until after the chemo stopped - its horrible I know - makes it very hard to get enthusiastic about eating. If you feel you aren't eating enough, you could try some of those 'build up' milk shakes you can get from the chemist - I was given them in hospital, and they at least make sure you are getting some calories inside you.

Hope you get your mammo results soon MAS, it was good you saw the nice registrar again. And nice that DH is on holiday now. (Mine finishes at lunch time tomorrow and then is off until after the May Day holiday.)

I went to yoga this morning. Someone actually said to me 'have you lost weight?' I could have kissed her. (I don't think I have, but it's nice to know I'm giving the illusion of being slightly thinner )

My dad won a big decorated basket of free range eggs in his Day Centre raffle yesterday. He was rather bemused but mum was pleased!

Oh and DH has won a DVD of Nigel Slater's Simple Suppers - the winning streak returns!

Pink - my sense of taste totally disappears (apart from a really yuck taste in my mouth) from about day 2/3 then gradually comes back over the course of the first week, then is back to normal I think until the next time (tomorrow ). That's what's happened last 2 times anyhow.

MAS really lovely drawing by your Dad . Frustrating appointment at the BC for you!

Welcome back Cakes - what fab weather you had for the seaside!

RWU I get that floating toolbar thingy - really annoying! I keep clicking the 'x' in the top right corner to get rid of it but am pissed off I keep having to do it, can't seem to get rid of it permanently

my first chemo knocked me for six last time with the sickness and acid so i really dont remember if my taste went and returned last time as it was a real struggle to eat in the first few days.just my luck that this time round i can eat but cant taste a bloody thing,hopefully it will return as the week rolls on.

ooh Nigel Slater - fab.

And that reminds me, I read Toast and loved it. DH is reading it now, so thanks again, MAS!

KK - how nice that you are looking trimmer

yep,I get the pesky toolbar thing too- grrr
Sorry you are feeling horrid pink
Wow,well done KK's dad and of course lucky dh

Sorry I am way behind.... that is Easter Hols for you, no time to go online at all. I will catch up properly soon, but at this rate it will be next week before I can, when they are all back at school and work.

Been busy helping build patio sub structures, designing solar panel instalations, weeding veggie plot and planting seeds, so much washing......., painting skirting boards, drs appointments for ds, chasing drs for ds (sounds like more fun than it is ), dentists for dc, birthday parties for dc......and ds is 8 on Monday so getting ready for that too! No time to ogle boys at the beach I am afraid!

Hope everyone is ok, especially those in treatment and playing the waiting game, sorry I am so behind, but I am still here in spirit if not in cyberspace.

xx

No beaches in Staffordshire either!

Hi Sparkle - sounds as if you have been really busy, - your patio is going to be lovely. Happy birthday to DS for Monday - it's nice it falls in the holidays

Lots of luck to LJ today for chemo, - hope everything goes well

I've just got my physio appointment through ( well a card saying phone for an appointment) - not sure what to do, my shoulder does feel quite lot better, but on the other hand Sod's law says if I cancel the appointment it will come back twice as bad.

Love to all especially everyone on treatment, hope none of you are feeling too yuk today.

KK - go for the physio. I know it's a grind, but if you can strengthen it up it perhaps won't go wrong again. It is worth it, unfortunately.

Sparkles, your patio sounds pretty state-of-the-art. Don't overdo it: and enjoy ds's birthday. Don't they grow up fast.

DD is 8 in June: she has designs on being a Keeper for the Day at the zoo

My latest get thin fit programme involves a thigh trainer thing, bought in Sainsbury's for less than £6. I will keep you posted...

You are right SpongeBob, strengthening it up and doing the right exercises is sensible. I phoned to arrange the appointment, and I am seeing Tony (or possibly Toni) on 4th May. I've got some stiffness in my neck as well - presumably all connected, so hopefully it will get things sorted.

keeper for a day at the zoo sound fun! - she is such a little character isn't she? Will she have a party too?

The thigh thing sounds good, - I might get one of those when I go to sainsbury's. Mind you I have a jogging trampoline, a thing you do sit ups with (sort of ab's firming aparatus) and an exercise bike (and a real bike) - I think somewhere in my head I imagine just owning equipment will make me thin. So far it hasn't worked. I must get off my bum and do something everyday.

We're off to My Fair Lady later this afternoon. I may paint my toenails and wear sandals.

Yes I equate buying stuff with getting thin too. Having to use it as well is always a downer.

My Fair Lady sounds fab! pull out all the stops and enjoy!

have a great time at My Fair Lady KK and I think physio is a good idea -it's worked wonders with mum !
Planning to get MIL in the car and out to lunch at SIL's on sunday- her back will ache where ever she is and a change of scene will be refreshing.
Hello sparkle- you sound busy - hope ds has a wonderful and happy birthday.
spongecakes- zoo keeper thing sounds great- my school friend had a day as a keeper for her bday a few years ago !
Lunch out with my boys today- dh bought himself nice shirt and jumper in White Stuff sale -I tried on bargainous tops but they were a bit dull and shapeless -did buy a pair of white stuff knickers for £3 reduced from £9 something !
Am feeling a bit sad as my bcn said she'd ring me on Monday but hasn't yet- my usual going away pep talk as I get in such a state of nerves -ridiculous to feel sad of course as I'm sure she is really busy. No x ray results yet either. Am not fretting about them as I'm sure they're fine-but I like things tied up !

lj..i hope your chemo goes well and your not feeling grotty.

sparkle...wow you have been busy,sounds like your going to have to hang on to some energy for monday i hope the party goes well.

kurri..glad to hear your shoulders feeling a bit better.

mas..its a nightmare waiting for results always at the back of your mind,i know its easy for me to saybut im sure you will be fine.

im kind of up and down today occasionally bouts of feeling sick that soon pass,really iffy with food and constipated.i have to keep reminding myself the joys of chemo are so worth it but its still kind of frustrating on a beautiful day like to day.

pink- hope you feel less iffy soon
Am off to MIL's tomorrow [busmile]

Hi everyone. Am up and about and will be wearing Figgy's Pootling Queen crown for the next few days, or at least sharing it with Pink who's the most recent before me. Heck, LGF and Figgy can have a turn if they want to, seeing as it's a sunny Bank Holiday!

ooo 'ello all. Is it ok for someone not on tamoxifen to join in? DX with bc in Jan this year and going through chemo at the moment but will be ending up on herceptin after surgery in the autumn...Done 3 lots of FEC so far, 5 more sessions of FEC/T to go....grr

Hello Amberlight and welcome - there are quite a few of us on chemo at the mo - so not all on tamoxifen yet if at all. It's just a bc support thread really, from diagnosis to recovery, and everyone here is lovely! I just did my 3rd FEC yesterday. One more to go then 12xweekly Taxol for me. I had surgery first, in January & Feb. There are, I think, 3 others doing the same as you, chemo first then surgery: Figgyroll, Pinkstarlight and LittleGreenFrog (pls correct/forgive me ladies if I'm wrong!)

Thanks!
(Mine's a grade 3 (was 2.3 cm) which thankfully is surrendering fast on the chemo and hasn't spread anywhere else as far as they can see, so that's some small relief in what will be 2 yrs of treatment in total). Wonderful to have some people to chat to on here...

Hi amberlight - you are very welcome of course, but also I'm sorry to hear about your DX. You've come to the right place, several ladies on here are at roughly the same point as you with their treatment - so you will be able to compare notes.

I was DX nearly 3 years ago, - I was also a grade 3 and herceptin girl - so any questions I might be able to help with, just ask away. I can tell you the herceptin is not nearly such hard going as the chemo, - just telling you that because 2 years of treatment does feel pretty daunting when you are at the start. How are you getting on with the chemo? - not feeling too awful I hope.

LJ - sorry you had a bit of a stressful day yesterday - you don't need that at the moment. Sorry also you are feeling very tired, do you think perhaps the driving to fetch your mum wore you out a bit?

Pink I hope you're feeling a bit better today. have they given you anything to help with the constipation? its such a pain - make you feel generally lousy even if you aren't having chemo! - I was given a huge box of movicol to keep me going (in both senses of the word). Can you get outside to enjoy the sunshine a bit?, just a sit in the garden with a cup of tea is nice for a change of scene.

MAS - have a lovely break at you MIL's - I hope you manage to get her out to visit SIL (is it LaLaa? if so please pass on good wishes and hope she is doing well).

My Fair Lady was very good last night. It was a local (ish) operatic society. The girl playing Eliza was only 18, still at school - she had the most amazing voice - a very talented lass, I'm sure she'll go far.

I have just realised we have no hot cross buns (harrumph), I'll have to do something about that.

Love to all x

Kurri - I think you have hit the nail on the head there about my mum. The stress started to build on Weds, thinking about the chemo. Found I couldn't wait to get rid of my mum which made me a bit snappy with her, which I'm sure she picked up on so that's pretty for both of us. Feel guilty. She did still enjoy her stay tho, and altho the drive on Weds was tiring, I went pretty countryside backway roads, and kept drawing her attention to things ("Look - a thatched cottage/nice woods/lovely view/watercress farm") which helps to draw her out of herself so she doesn't just sit in the car and brood. So hope I redeemed myself a bit there and the visit ended with a nice experience for her.

I remember doing Pygmalion as a school production. I was Mrs Higgins. Our Eliza was fab too, got a rave review in the local paper, I also got a favourable mention [proud]. 'Eliza' went on to do drama at uni I think.

Hope you have easter egg(s) if not HCBs! xx

Thanks KurriKurri - yup, not feeling too bad on the chemo so far. About a week of and tiredness but the other two weeks are alright (er, so far - anything could happen when they swap me to the other chemo!). Permacath fitted next week.

Shall have a read through and try to catch up with who's who and what's what (though with my brain it's like feeding info into a sieve so please be patient with me )

Amber you aren't the only one with a sieve brain, especially me at the mo with my added chemobrain! When did you have your last FEC? Is your next lot Taxatare (sp?) or Taxol? I too feel tired and sicky - and awful mouth with grainy gums, yuck taste but not tastebuds working - for about a week then really OK for the next two. I also have a portacath in my chest which I must say I have found really good as I have tiny hiding veins. Does show more than I expected tho and is sited just under where my seat belt goes which hurts now I'm not wearing a thick coat. x

FEC was a week and a bit ago. One more FEC to go and then its docetaxol which I think is taxatare but I'm not sure. I found sipping loads of ice water during chemo means I've avoided the budgie-cage mouth feeling this time (hooray!). Eek, thanks for the tip re the cath and seatbelts - I'll see if they have a cunning plan for that...

I had 3 grade 2 lumps, ER+ and PR+ but H- (is that the right lingo?) So no herceptin for me, but will prob be on tamoxifen. Had basically a breast reduction jobby to remove the lumps, as lucky they were all in one segment and have large breasts. Unfortunately cancer was found in one lymph node so had another op to have all those out. CT and bone scans clear altho there is something (they are saying innocent) in my liver which keeps hiding behind my ribs when they try to look at it.

You'll see that 2 of the others having chemo first, like you, have seen great reduction in the size of their cancers so far