**T*A*M*O*X*I*F*E*N 11 **

[MaryAnnSingleton]

new thread here !

Thank you for your good wishes Marian, -

I'm so sorry your DD has been ill and had to go through chemo, - it must be very hard or all of you, and as you say it is a life changing thing.

Please do pop in whenever you want, and if there's anything we might be able to help with just ask Sending loads of good thoughts and love to your little girl, and wishing her a speedy recovery.

please excuse typos, - biscuit crumbs in my keyboard -so some letters don't work

Marian I am so sorry your dd is going through this. Hope she is doing ok coming to the end of the chemo. Gosh 12, so young to face this awful thing.

I am glad your families are safe MAS and Kurri!

at bus driver, which I am sure is a reportable behaviour.

Amber can so easily believe they are giving you the run around. It is ing and just not right. Big hugs.

Topsy, I think you look fabulous in your wig!

Smee I am so jealous that your ds has broken up, dd1 has until Tuesday, ds has to plod on until Wednesday!!! Mind you he has an outward bound activity trip on Monday, so not proper school. I am going to avert any emergencies .......hopefully

Marian - hello and welcome- awful for you to have gone through this with dd - if we can help we will !
Have just had some very nice gin and tonic at parental home- Celeste came over and spat at their cats- she's very bold.

Thanks all .

I have voted!

Hi Marian and welcome . So sorry to hear about your DD . Anything we can do to help either of you , please just ask .

The wig lasted approximately 1 hour . It was so darn itchy !
Maybe build myself up , bit by bit .

Did someone mention gin and tonic ?
Would dearly love a Bombay Sapphire right now

What's the plans for this weekend then ? (Can't believe another week has gone by)
Its my mother in laws 80th birthday , so we are having a family party on Sunday . Its good because it will take my mind off my next hospital appointment which is on Monday . Its my pre assessment for Wednesdays chemo . I should get the results of my bone scan on Monday , and that's the bit I am nervous about . So positive thoughts for Monday please ladies .

DD has Asperger's too, so is hyper sensitive. She has a lovely wig, but doesn't want to wear it. My mum suggested she gets a soft cloth wig cap to put underneath it. I haven't tried this with her yet though as she's happy without anything. However, she is due to start phasing back into school in September and I think this will make her more self-conscious. She has a lot of pretty scarves if she can't face the wig. (Her treatment is just over 2 years, and she's 7 months into it now, but her hair should start to come back when we finish this bit.)

Her hair had actually started to grow back, but the intensive block has made it all fall out again.

She's neutropenic at the moment, so we're really limited for going out. Hopefully the weather will hold and we might get a chance to go out earlier one morning this weekend. She needs the wheelchair as she gets pretty tired from her treatment, so I struggle to get out of the house with her and DS, who is 2 and a total monkey, during the week. I'm taking advantage of DH being at home and will try to get out when we can.

I hope you all have a lovely weekend. I've no doubt I will soon be back as I seem to spend a lot of time on MN now! I'm really thankful to have found a thread where I can talk about DD. I find it quite difficult to do, so, again, thank you all .

Loads of positive thoughts for Monday topsy - we'll all be thinking of you

Weekend plans - my son mumbled something about meeting up for lunch tomorrow, and said he'd be in touch- but he hasn't, so not sure whether that's off or on. If its off I'm gardening

Good luck with your scan results Topsy. I will be thinking of you.

sorry I x-posted Marian, I'm sorry she's neutropenic atm, - she must feel pretty rough I hope you can manage to get out for a bit of fresh air at the weekend.

I used to wear a soft cotton beany hat most of the time when I had chemo, I found it more comfortable than anything else. And when I was neutropenic I listened to audiobooks lying in bed - didn't have the energy for reading - does she enjoy stories on CD?

I've not tried her with them as she still reads at the moment. She eats up books! I have no idea where we are going to put them all! She hasn't been too bad in herself, she just gets tired really quickly if she tried to do anything physical. I never thought of audio books though; I think she'll love that idea, thanks.

Crumbs - a lot of activity on here!

Marian - so sorry about your DD. I do hope this thread helps. It must be incredibly tough to have to support a child through all the treatement. It sounds as though she's a tough 12 year old - good on her! I wonder if there are any threads like this for young people like your DD? Anyway, I do wish her well.

Smee - my 17 year old is mainly interested in science, rock and acoustic guitar and climbing, and anthing 'epic' ie spectacular. I think he would enjoy a show if I could get round to researching what's on! Feel a bit exhausted with work, lovely visitors, and having had a glass of bubbly just now - on my own - rather nice!

Thames barrier is a good idea - wouldn't have thought of that. DS rather likes London now esp after his recent taster uni 4 day course at UCL. In fact what I really need to do is put him off the whole idea of studying in London as it'd be too expensive.....

Scars? I am really amazed by mine - the surgeon did a totally brill job. I know its only a lumpectomy and lymph node removel but honestly you can hardly see any scar at all. I've been doing some back exercises this week (yes all right I know I should have been dpoing them all the time ) and one involves stretching an arm above my head - strange how tight this feels even though I do swim every week and do back stroke. Its not sore but def. tight. I obviously need to do more of these movements.

I'm prob not making a lot of sense on here due to the glass of bubbly. But thanks for London ideas - amy further thoughts welcome.

DH has gone to Cambrudge toi collect DD and bring her home - I was planning to go but not now I have this backache. So I waved DH off merrily in the hired vamn and set the Tomtom for him....it'll be strange having DD back - I hope she finds work soon as she'll be bored here within a few weeks.
Must stop rambling - but welcome to all new folk on here. I had treatement over 9 months last year but am normal again now. (well, sort of)

I love Celeste but not quite as much as Orlando.

Okay, it's official; I can't keep up!!

Hello to Marian though. So sorry your DD's having to go through so much. Definitely pull up a chair and natter with us. We do the whole cancer thing, but we also do cake.

Topsy, I'll be thinking of you on Monday. Better once you know and I'd say the CT scan's already told you the worst. Hope family party is the best distraction. And go buy a bottle of Bombay Gin woman. If anyone deserves a G&T, it's you.

Too tired to post more and anyway Newsnight's calling. I am an addict. [geeky newshound emoticon!] MAS, I've voted for Celeste too. SR, I'll have a think about things for your visitor and post tomorrow. Why are you drinking bubby?! I approve.

Night all x

thank you for Celeste votes - she's currently at number 8 ! ds has removed my link on his facebook page as he seems to be totally embarrassed by his mother - bah !
Am trying to think of teenager London things- ds likes tall buildings so he loves just trailing about the city. Canary Wharf and the DLR might be an idea,though haven't been for many,many years. London Eye and what about one of the boat/car things that goes on land and then on the river ? I suppose Covent Garden for the shops,touristy bits.
Topsy - you looked lovely in the scarf, though the wig was stunning,but horrid if it itches. I'm sending you special love and good thoughts for Monday.
Marian- my brother was very ill with cancer aged 10 and had a wig which he did wear when he was out,but I think mostly not at home.It seemed very scratchy. I remember saying appalling things like 'keep your hair on' when he got cross. He was nursed at home as he was terminal- many years ago now, but I do remember how it felt.

Marian, I'm on the autism spectrum as well as having breast cancer and going through chemo (er, and having other disabilies too). I wear wigs and love them. It really helped me to wear the wig caps underneath, as it evens out the pressure. Hasn't been at all scratchy that way. But it's an individual thing...

PS morning everyone - will get my brain working the right way round in a minute

Morning all. I am all caught up, but I have got a frantic weekend just sorting out the dc, and next round of chicks hatching, 6 hatched 4 alive, lost 2, heh ho, I am not sad really (I am too much like Barbara Goode, a soft touch) they were too good roast dinners there!

Hope everyone is ok, good luck on Monday Topsy, I will be thinking of you. Marian I am so glad you have come to chat here, and share your thoughts and cake, and gin and tonic too it seems. I really hope it can help you through this awful time.

I am going to light a candle now for those poor Norwegean parents. A small gesture, for such a tragedy.

SR look here -www.londonducktours.co.uk/the-experience

MAS - DS likes this idea and so do I! Thanks.

Smee the bubbly was left over from the evening with NZ friends - the jetlag meant they didn't want to drink much!

Topsy - good luck on MOnday.

My back still sore - very frustrating.

However home grown cucumbers are delicious and I've had to cut back the tomato plants as they are so tall and bushy I can hardly get inot my little greenhouse at all! Dwarf French beans also doing well - I expect first crop of those tomorrow.

Have never eaten so many cucumbers before! They're nicer than shop-bought .

Tea tonight will be Jamie's Pesto risotto with home grown basil. Yum. (Apologies to those with distorted taste at the mo - don't worry, it will only be a few months now till you too can enjoy all your favourite ymmy things again.)

hello all, hope everyone is having a good weekend. sorry your back is still playing up SR - miserable for you. My DD went on one of those duck bus/boats in Liverpool and said it was great fun, so I hope you enjoy the London one

I had my first crop of beans last week - and very nice they were too hope yours are yummy, also some tasty yellow courgettes, and have had a good crop of spinach and cabbage greens. - So much nicer eating your own home grown veg.

Sad about the chicks Sparkle, - I Think I'd be very Barbara Goode about such things too.

My Dad is apparently in a state about the Norwegian tragedy - he saw a headline in the paper, and somehow in his mind thinks he has to deal with it (He often thinks he's responsible for organising rescue missions etc - I think possibly because he was involved in rescuing refugees after the war) anyway according to mum he has be writing reams of notes all morning which she thinks are his strategy (You can't read his writing because it's very tiny and I suspect not real words )

What an appalling thing - those poor parents waiting for new of their youngsters.

Topsy, keeping everything crossed for you.
Sparkle, eek re the chicks...I'm a real softie for animals and birds kept at home.
SR, hope your back improves pronto.
KK, heck re your Dad. Is he distressed about it, or quite happy planning for the rescue? Having spent many years caring for a parent whose brain was elsewhere, I know what it takes out of the family trying to cope with it.

Had lovely wedding anniversary day here - went to see the Wallace Collection in London, which is breathtaking! Now back for a rest...

amber - I think he is agitated about the whole thing, he gets agitated and anxious quite easily, then he gets into a sort of loop of saying the same thing over and over again - which can be quite trying, although Mum is wonderfully patient with him.

Happy Anniversary to you and your DH, I'm glad you had a lovely outing. How many years have you been married

KK, tricky indeed if he's getting into a state over things. Hope there's a wise medic thinking about how to help him...

23 years!!

Congratulations that's a good long time

he does have hospital test fairly frequently, to measure how much his memory has deteriorated. he also goes to a day centre 3 times a week and does various activities with the people there, which he enjoys.