**t*a*m*o*x*i*f*e*n** number 14

[MaryAnnSingleton]

here we go !

yay :) Way to go Dee. reaches out for Lindt to offer in lieu of sticker from dentist scan man

There is a list of good foods for cancer patients up in a support centre I go to. Dark chocolate and red wine are definitely on that list, (cake isn't, but hey you can't have everything - it doesn't actually say cake is bad )

xpost kk would you like some chocolate while you are waiting?

xpost kk again! It is 47% extrafine dark chocolate with fleur de sel :)

Oh yes jane, I certainly would thanks very much

I can see that I am goingto have to stock up on nice chocolate again :) I think I will give up milk chocolate if the dark is better for you. There is less sugar in dark anyway.

Ooh flipping heck I 've missed pages and pages

First up, Dee, I want to say that we will be rooting for you tomorrow, and I will be lighting a candle which is a little tradition I have started for myself whenever anyone is having surgery (or potentially tough news). I hope it helps to know we are thinking of you and shining a light for you. You will be fine On the subject of when the blue wee hits, I can't remember, I am far too vague when it comes to medical stuff, unless it is actually funny, in which case it tends to stick better

Hi to 14k and Butterflies - welcome from me, too. Ask anything you like, although its unlikely I'll be able to remember, of course. But I'll try, and the others are much better.

Last week's tricky article was well received. Hooray!! it was a first (and possibly last) job for a potential new client and they have said they'd be happy to work with me again. Double hooray!!! I may be able to pay the car insurance now

Dd had her hair cut into a bob at the weekend. I am totally , it looks absolutely immaculate with zero effort. She just has that kind of hair. Wasted on a football playing 8 year old. Sigh.

I Googled about the cancer foods smacks wrist and realise it's hard to know what is worth noting apart from the obvious good/bad foods.

Would love to have a definitive list but I guess the research is inconclusive.

Would love a magic bullet rainforest berry cure kinda thing.

I did read that "cancer loves sugar" I mean I know sugar is bad but does it really feed the cancer cells?

Kurri I hope hear what you want to hear from the CBN regarding reconstruction.

Aw, the candle is much appreciated Cakes - thanks

Off for the scan in a mo.

I think the cancer loves sugar thing is true, - an oncologist explained to me a little while ago why that is true. (I think its a separate reason from the gaining weight makes you produce more oestrogen thing, but I can't remember the exact details, I'll try to find out from somewhere) but he did say it doesn't mean you have to completely give up treats, but he advised having your treat just after you've done some exercise.

There is so much diet info out there, its really confusing. And some much touted diets don't have an awful lot of evidence to back them up (I'm thinking the Jane Plant one, - I don't think there's anything esp. wrong with it, but not sure its as miraculous as some seem to think, and there are questions about having to much soya in the diet too)

I think personally, a good healthy diet with plenty of fresh fruit and veg. and cutting down on stuff that's obviously bad for you, is a sound basis.

I got book the other day called '101 foods that can save your life' it gives reasons they are effective, and a couple of recipes. - they are applicable to various diseases, but most mention cancer. I am gradually trying to include some of them in my diet. This week I am trying acai berry juice - will report back on whether it is drinkable, or utterly disgusting like goji berries

Well done on your article Cakes. Did you say you are going away for a break soon?

Our Liverpool trip is back on. We are staying over night, - the event is too late for us to get there and back in the same day. I think my graduation dress will have to have another outing. Can you wear black tights with pewter shoes (and royal blue dress) - or would that have fashion experts reeling in horror?

oops crossed posts because I rabbited on so much

thanks for the hand squeezing, - she hasn't phoned back yet. Good luck with the scan, I'll also light a candle chez Kurri

KK - I don't think black tights would go with pewter and blue, but I'm no style guru

I am going away, indeed, fancy you remembering. I am going to Cornwall on Friday - as dd would say - 4 more sleeps!!!! Yippee!!!

I'm glad you have put the overnight stay back into your plans, it'll make it so much more of a treat than slogging back same day.

Off out to see if I can get dd some pyjamas that she will deem acceptable. I could be a while.....

thanks Cakes - I need this sort of advice as I am clueless, - would you go for nude? I didn't wear tights last time, because it was summer)

Good luck with the PJ shopping, the haircut sounds great, bet it suits her.

BCN still hasn't phoned (no reason she should hurry, - its not as if its urgent, but I'm getting antsy.

Another welcome from me to Butterflies. Stick with us and let us distract you and don't feel you need to be brave, as none of us were am sure. I know I wasn't.

L4k, glad to hear your DH will be with you tomorrow. Definitely better to have someone with you. I'll have all limbs crossed for you. Hope it's the best of news.

Dee, bet you'll be glad when tomorrow's finally here. Really hope you get home tomorrow night and don't get stuck in hospital. I will ferret around for a candle too, so light will be shining for you.

forpitys, how's the day for you? Funny you should say that about cigarettes, as for some strange reason I've been craving them ever since diagnosis, yet I've never been a smoker.

Kurri, has nurse called yet?? I totally get why you're a bit ansty. I would be too.

Cakes, excellent work news then. Shame you can't spend money on a treat rather than car insurance though.

On diets, I did look into all the various theories, but ended up not really changing much . I don't eat Soy anymore, eat more fish and eat organic as much as I can. Also I avoid parabens in creams/ shower gel, etc.

I successfully got through a new work pitch with my trusty drain still by my side and nobody noticed. Yeay.!! DH is going to pick up DS, so I'm allowed to collapse in a heap now - shift over on that sofa, Topsy. What trash shall we watch?

Thanks for all the candle lighting

Have felt quite shaken after the two hosp appts today. I think the marathon biopsy has left me prone to over-reacting to other things.

Anyhow... just the wire to cope with tomorrow and presumably putting a line in my hand (?) then I shall be blissfully asleep for the rest and awake just like Sleeping Beauty cancer-free (thinks positively).

Has the phone rung yet Kurri?

Dee, you're bound to feel shaky. Soon be over though. Have you got restorative treats planned?

feeling shaky is definitely par for the course Dee, - it a lot of physical and mental stress, once tomorrow is out of the way, I'm sure you'll feel more settled

No, no phone call, - I think its getting a bit late now for her to ring. obviously I'd rather she was dealing with people who really need her, but I just hate waiting for phone calls. (Part of it is having to see my breast surgeon again, he's a nice enough man, but I associate him and his clinic with scary stuff I think!)

Well done for keeping the drain hidden Smee, - and tomorrow it will be gone, - hooray!

I am of Cornwall Cakes, - I've never been, but it always looks so beautiful (Did you see a programme the other week with Sue Perkins, Stephen Mangan and Alison Steadman - doing walks in various parts of the country that meant a lot to them. That was in Cornwall, - I think SP lives there - it looked amazing)

I have two Sainsbos deliveries organised for the next two weeks and there are (coughs) various puds, chocs and the famous (infamous) Cheeselets which MAS has mentioned that I just have to try!

We also had a big load of frozen fish delivered for dh to do his cheff-y thing with, including exotic fish like marlin and tilapia.

Should I expect much soreness and pain with a wle (see I'm picking up the jargon ? I suppose it's very individual.

Waiting for important phone calls can be horrible. We put a lot of trust in these medical people don't we? I don't the lack of control and shopping around I do for everything else in life.

I've been impressed so far, but this is a whole new ball game and I'm only just learning the rules as I go along. Really amazed at how I've come to terms with it though - I guess that's the great human survival instinct.

Oh definitely no diet rules while you are convalescing - treats are compulsory then

What cheffy thing is your DH doing? - that fish sounds interesting, - I've never heard of a tilapia.

I'm making fish pie tonight, but it's just smoked haddock, (thought I had some other fish in the freezer but I can't find it )

sorry - I didn't have a WLE, so can't answer that one.

The loss of the control is one of the hardest things to deal with I think Dee. - You have to totally put your trust in other people, and its hard. (I actually think that things like changing diet and exercise are good because they do you give you a bit of control back - you don't feel quite so powerless)

hello all- am back from my outing - no school shirts -damn you M&S/Debenhams and BHS - it's not too much to ask for one of them to have blue shirts for a 14 year old,surely ? and none online...grrr,will have to go to the expensive school uniform shop. Did buy the Build a Bear bed for dn's birthday- it's pink and quite hideous.
I have bought 2 barrels of cheeselets as I noticed them in the Tesco when I nipped in to buy some tissues - buy 1 get one free- bargain!!
Also bought a huge bag of dried apple to compensate.
Will be thinking of you tomorrow dee - well done for getting through the dye bit-the wire guide should be ok -not like a biopsy.You will most probably feel sorest under your arm -that bothered me much more than my WLE- but it's all tolerable -you'll be fine and dandy.
KK - is pewter grey ? perhaps some silvery grey-ish tights ?
Cakes- hooray for report-well done and have a fab and well deserved holiday. I bet dd's hair looks great in a bob- she has fab looking hair anyway,am envious too
Oh and I have my cards- they look v nice -the Pink Place is jolly pleased with them !

Yes, I was saying to dh that at least changing our diets would feel proactive, although I read in the online D Mail today that perhaps 40% of cancers are virus-related so perhaps a limited amount we can do?

Dh will just get his Nick Nairn book out and add half a pint of cream rustle up something - fish is quite easy and light on the stomach after an op. He loves cooking which is bliss for me apart from clearing up the kitchen afterwards We had tilapia in Red Lobster in Florida and actually it's half the price of cod in this country and delicious. Not sure if you can get it in the supermarkets.

Dd home from school in a minute - just hope she's still cool about the op and not getting stressed.

Thanks for the reassurance MAS. You ladies have be great over the last fortnight