*** TAMOXIFEN * 12 ***

[KurriKurri]

Tada! A shiney new thread - get me with my fancy asterisks

thanks for the pointer Sparkle

• we used to call those buns white mice at school, or white rats if they were big ones

I found you (phew) Hello everyone

hello Earth and welcome, but as we always say - sorry you find yourself here. I posted on your other thread, so won't repeat myself, but hope we can be of help if there's any questions you have we might be able to answer. Otherwise pull up a chair, have a and there's bound to be a bit of virtual cake floating about

HI EarthMotherImNot, welcome from me
I'm just finishing off chemo and have surgery and herceptin ahead of me.

Yes, we have my dsis and ds with us who can do quite a bit, thank goodness, but because dh and I run a business, with both of us out it's going to be a real problem there too. Hey ho, it'll work out somehow.

Cake and a cuppa sounds lovely. Thank you

What is tamoxifen btw?

I don't know what questions I should be asking, it's all going round in my head and things are happening way to fast.

I think that whatever it is it won't be good, the level of pain is rough and I suspect it's being numbed somewhat by the strong painkillers I'm on for a dicky hip.

I've also been losing weight (no appetite) for some months, around 3 stone since March.

I could certainly afford to lose the weight but now I'm thinking its not really a good thing

tamoxifen is a drug used in the treatment of breast cancer Earth, - we aren't all on it, not everyone on the thread has BC, some people have family members with BC, some people have had surgery for other breast problems, or like you are waiting for tests. Tamoxifen is just a catch all title

It does all seem to happen very fast, - one minute you are fine, next you are caught up in hospital visits and worries. - I found keeping as busy as possibly during the day helped take my mind off things, and if possible going out for a walk - fresh air clears the mind a bit, and also makes it easier to sleep.

Good to see you found us, Earth.

Ask anything you like. It'll all move fast. I had BC a couple of years ago - lumpectomy, chemo and radio, and now tamoxifen. I can still remember most of it despite my best efforts to forget so ask away. Or just stay and chat.

First see what they say, EarthMother. If it's something minor, phew. If it's breast cancer, then best to take a trusted sensible person with you who can take notes of what's said, as you won't remember a darned thing they tell you or what to ask either.
People here know a lot - and the breast care nurses are there to ask lots of questions of all day every day so no need to get it all right on day one.

Wow this thread moves fast-you just think you've caught up when there's more.It's a good place on mumsnet a real sense of sisterhood here.

Earth - the weight loss and loss of appetite could very easily be related to the pain in the hip and the medication. But whatever it is, you'll find out soon, and that is definitely better than NOT knowing, but worrying about all manner of things.

Hi earth , pleased to meet you / sorry you are here
I am 2 months post mastectomy and node removal , have lung secondaries , and have had 2 courses of chemo so far .
How are you ? I will go find the other thread to get your story .

smee - please stay safe . I am watching all the coverage with my sister , who is flying back to London this evening (lives in Fulham) and I really don't want to let her get on the plane

Got my new boob yesterday . It is mahooooosive . I think I shall name him Bobby
Somehow I feel I should assign a masculine gender to him ?
BCN said my scar is healing really well , she was a bit shocked that I had been diagnosed with secondaries since I last saw her . She said she would have bet money on me being clear .
Scored a new bra off her aswell , she had some freebies from M&S . Any freebies are good eh ?

Did I hear someone say cake ?
Although I have a cheek as my sister and I have just come home from Sainsburys with 15 (yes 15) cream buns , 3 yum yums , and a bag of triple chocolate muffins ! (Sis says its because when she gets back to London all the supermarkets will either be closed or totally looted and she won't be able to get any food !)
I will say goodbye now as I can feel myself slipping into a diabetic coma ..........

Thanks guys

Dh got up and we've talked, it wasn't an easy talk as he's a head burier while I'm a heads up sort of woman. I've tried to ring the BCN but I put the phone down.

Will the medics know on Thursday? I mean, will there be another wait before I know something definate?

It could be either Earth, they might want to do a biopsy, which you probably won't get the answer to straight away. And also an ultrasound, which they might well be able to tell you there and then what they can see. But I would say to be prepared for a wait.

Its understandable you found it difficult to ring the BCN, its hard when you aren't sure what to say, but just to reassure you they are used to speaking to people who are upset, confused, worried etc. they will help you through any conversation.

Would your DH ring for you? he could explain the situation, and ask if they could give you a call, that way they'll be taking the initiative in the conversation, so it might be a bit easier.

I banged the top of my head this morning, and the bruise has come out as black eye, - weird - and obviously extremely attractive.

Thats odd Kurri, a few weeks ago I woke up with a huge bruise under my eye. I know I hadn't knocked it or anything. It took well over a week a fade

That's a weird place for the bruise, KK! V confusing. I have a massive mystery bruise spreading right the way across my left foot and i have no recollection of doing it any harm. So far it covers half of the entire top of my foot. Obviously similarly attractive in sandals.

MAS - dd has risen to the challenge and is writing (and illustrating) you a story. Hold onto your horses it's going to be a goody Apparently you said you'd like to see her stories so you only have yourself to blame.

Ooh yay. cross post. So here we have a thread filled with women with sore and/or lopsided chests, and a weird mystery bruising thing going on. God what a load of man magnets.

haha cakes - as you know, - I am cat nip to strange old men, and with all these technicolour bruises I'm going to be beating them off.

I think one bruises more easily as one gets older (not suggesting this is the reason for anyone other than me!!!) my skin is getting rather wrinkly loose and easily bashed.

Earth, did you have an ultrasound when you had the mammo? I had both together and then had to go back a couple of weeks later for a needle biopsy, but I know some people on here had the needle biopsy done when the ultrasound picked something up straight away. I think it depends on how your local hospital organises themselves. Sometimes the appts are very quick to come, but that doesn't mean that you have become a "priority" case, it is just that the breast clinic waiting lists tend not to be long. By the way, I had a mass removed from my left breast, behind the nipple which turned out not to be cancerous, so keep positive if you can. A walk in the fresh air really helped me at times in the waiting period.

Ooo I am feeling left out, no mystery bruises, but the breast still remains lopsided, so I do belong after all. Phew.

The dc have had a great day, thank you smee!

xpost Kurri, personally I carry enough spare wrinkly skin on my body to create a whole new sparkle.......I order a petite, well toned version.

Not a lot of bruises, but I can add some swollen ankles, a muffin top and a fair number of scars??

sparkles and amber - you are both officially in anyway, just for hanging around here for so long.

I have the saggy, dry wrinkly old skin, the lopsided boob, the bruises, several large and livid scars and a memory that is going south rapidly. I am DEFINITELY in, with knobs on.

DH has gone to London on business today. Hope he gets back soon, can't reach him

Cakes I am sure he will be fine....but have fingers crossed he rings you soon.

Waving to Earth. Sorry you're here, but there's still a v.good chance it will be nothing as it quite often it is - and if not, well you've found us already and we're living testimony to BC not meaning the end of anything. I mean look at all the wittering we do.

Topsy, hope Bobby's comfy and the cake's left the country. Am sure your sis will be fine. They've piled in the police for tonight, so it should be a lot quieter.

I have no strange bruises. Am feeling quite left out.

Hi smee. Don't venture out, just in case.

Sparkles - i guess you are right. He's not very street smart though, he's more like a big old trusting teddy bear.

Smee's right, this is a comforting place to be. Stick with us, Earth, whatever the outcome.