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Original poster

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

985 replies

MaryAnnSingleton · 05/10/2011 18:19

here we go !

OP posts:
sandripples · 21/10/2011 19:46

Dee, in my case the rads were very targetted to a very specific and small area - but I don't know if its always like that. If poss they limit the area as the less rads you have the better I think, and less risk of lymphodamea - because I had no lu=ymph nodes left I didn't need rads on armpit.

DeeScent · 21/10/2011 19:54

< drools over Big Mac Blush >

Okay, thanks sandripples - have read about moisturising skin in readiness - any recommendations?

Original poster
MaryAnnSingleton · 21/10/2011 20:05

aqueous is best,in my opinion ! they might give you a tube at planning-I was.
My radiotherapy blasted both sides of my breast, not armpit- one side then it moved over and did the other side of it.

OP posts:
Original poster
MaryAnnSingleton · 21/10/2011 20:05

waves to SR !

OP posts:
KurriKurri · 21/10/2011 20:24

hello SR - lovely to see you Smile

topsy enjoy those FBS Grin

Dee - I second aqueous cream, - you can also use it as a skin wash as well as plastering it on as a cream.

I had rads all over my breast area (where I'd had my mastectomy) and my armpit, so a wideish area, but my tumour was quite large and against the chest wall, and lymph nodes were involved. Its very individually tailored to your requirements Smile

My weekend plans are going over to DS's house to collect his goldfish - they are getting rid of their garden pond, - his DP has made a vat of soup and she said if we don't come over and eat it, she'll post it to us Grin - its pumpkin from the ones they grew in their garden, so should be yum.

If weather is nice on Sunday we'll go up to Holkham, which is a gorgeous sandy beach in our area.

janechocchip · 21/10/2011 21:12

Got home to the smell of hotpot. Welcome surprise. Watching Have I got News For You. Eaten too many fruit pastilles. Time for a cider I think :)

Driftwood999 · 21/10/2011 21:27

Sandripples - thanks for that x. Were you generally fit before?

l4k · 21/10/2011 22:10

evening ladies, got myself in a bit of a state yesterday and this morning.
I admitted defeat after I got the appointment confirmed for monday,dh got home from fracture clinic with ds(wrist will be fine in few weeks) and took one look at me and proclaimed my eyes were like piss holes in the snow!!! His words not mine.I took myself to bed and slept for over 3 hours and I feel so much better.
At least I can sort of plan next week, will visit newly widowed mil on tues and stay. Will return for results,I suppose that will be thursday or friday.
Actually,how long did it take for any of you that had a core biopsy to get the results?
Drift-lack of sleep and major worry are so draining.(and I've only been at it a few days) Be good to yourself and do whatever you can to get through,be it whiskey or pills.There are no prises for being superwoman xxx
can I ask how others dh take it? my poor husband is not very good at talking about upsetting things and has not long lost his dad.I am very worried how he would take bad news.hopefully we will never find out.

KurriKurri · 21/10/2011 22:18

14k - I'm glad you got some sleep, - it will have done you the world of good, - as you say, waiting and worrying is very draining.

To be honest with you, my DH cried when I told him Sad, but first shock past he really stepped up to the mark. I think it's hard for family/spouses because they feel so helpless, as if there's nothing they can do. My DH felt most useful when he could do practical stuff, - housework or cooking, or ferrying me back and forwards to the hospital. IME, people often cope much better than we expect them too Smile

And yes, fingers crossed, it will not come to that Smile

KurriKurri · 21/10/2011 22:20

I meant to say, sorry about your lad's wrist, hope it heals up quickly and it's not too sore.

topsyturner · 21/10/2011 22:35

14k I got my basic (needle) biopsy results back same (was a one stop breast clinic though) but that just was to tell me "yes you do have cancer" . The full core biopsy results take a week to 10 days at my hospital .

Think sleep is the best thing for you right now . The emotional side of things is so draining .

My DH is not a talker either . He was very stoic at diagnosis , and generally still is . Occaisionally the pressure gets a bit too much for him and he does things like "angry tidying" . I leave him to it ,, and he belts up in a couple of hours .

Original poster
MaryAnnSingleton · 21/10/2011 23:11

I had my core biopsy on a Friday and results on the Tuesday.
Dh was very stoic too- shocked of course,but practical. Parents very stoic and matter of fact- I think this is just their way of dealing with stuff-they had my SIL's BC diagnosis a few years before and my dad had prostate cancer (now thankfully all ok) I think they have to be this way -my younger brother died of cancer aged ten and this is the way they cope.

OP posts:
janechocchip · 22/10/2011 07:10

Morning everyone. Nice to be home, but it does mean early wake up call from cat...

Driftwood999 · 22/10/2011 07:43

Good morning Janechocchip - aren't we early birds! I'm just having a catch up on last night.

l4k · 22/10/2011 08:35

morning! ds2 has woken me three times with bad dreams and sore ear/throat.
but he's so cuddly I can't resist him and I know at 4 he won't want me like that for many more years.
Hope dee's seroma is going down now.

DeeScent · 22/10/2011 08:49

l4k yes make the most of the warm snuggles while you can (although dd still snuggles - sometimes - at age 13, which is lovely!)

The seroma is about the same but I'm not taking paracetamol anymore. The only thing is that to avoid experiencing the "slosh" I've been a bit more sedentary than I would have been, which I need to change so I don't waste away post-op and get weak.

So a few gentle circuits of the garden this morning I think before an afternoon snooze.

Now I'm through the op I'm allowing myself to do online research about further treatment just to feel I have a bit of knowledge (a dangerous thing?!) before the clinic results.

Original poster
MaryAnnSingleton · 22/10/2011 09:08

aw, ds is 14 and still likes the occasional cuddle - make the most of it when they are little !
dee I think a bit of knowledge from a reliable source is a very good thing !

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Iamseeingstars · 22/10/2011 09:11

Hi everyone. Just a quick hello and hugs to everyone.

Have just spent a few nights on a cancer ward and am shocked at a) how many people there are, and b) the great variety of cancers there are. BC is the most common one but there were several men with lymphoma, all of whom had been complaining about symptons but were ignored by their doctors and it was only caught at stage 4, by which time they were all in a bad way.

It really got to me because I am going to be spending months in this ward and everyone was just so sick. On the day wards the nurses are lovely, make each person feel special and really caring, but in the ward the nurses were all heartless and uninterested. Their caring compassion was absolute zero and this really shocked me. They also didnt seem to wash their hands as much as would have expected them to.

I dont know if it was a one off but it has certainly got me panicking.

topsyturner · 22/10/2011 09:15

dee I understand totally ! I couldn't process any information till after my surgery . It was (in my case) that I just wanted the bastard cut out , and then I'll deal with the rest of it .
Have you been told what your treatment plan is yet ? Or do you have to wait for pathology ?

14k my DD aged 8 still does the snuggle thing . DS aged 12 still does it occasionally too . It is nice isn't it ? Although sorry for the nightmares and sore throat .

Morning All . Wild day here . All I can hear is gusting wind , am refusing to open the curtains to see if it's actually raining or not .

I won one of my Ebay auctions last night for a pair of leopard print shoes .
I shall reach my aim of being Bette from the Rovers Return by November !

topsyturner · 22/10/2011 09:21

stars it always shocks me , every time I go , just how many people are being treated for cancer in my hospital . There are sadly too damn many .
What were you on the ward for ? If you don't mind me asking ?
I think as far as the nursing staff are concerned , if you are going to be in hospital for a significant amount of time , you need to make a concerted effort to build a relationship with them . Not that you should have to . But it will make your life easier whilst you are in . Ask them questions about themselves , this will force them to interact with you !
The more arsey people are with me , the nicer I behave towards them . And quite often this embaresses them into being nicer human beings !

It's like phsycological warfare isn't it ? Grin

Iamseeingstars · 22/10/2011 09:33

Hi Topsy. I got admitted after they decided they needed to do some urgent tests to see if they can find out why my blood is deteriorating quicker than it should. I am bleeding internally but they need to find the source. They didnt so will be having more tests next week. The doctors are finding my case a challenge because lots of things are happening to me that are not expected and they are completely baffled.

I know what you mean about building up a relationship with the nurses. I was just so surprised at how unfriendly they were compared to the Day Nursing staff.

DeeScent · 22/10/2011 09:37

Bette Topsy I'm waiting for the pathology but have been told it will be rads.

I guess if there's nodal involvement that will be chemo too? Not sure.

There seem to be plenty of drug innovations in the pipeline including gel-applied tamoxifen which would reduce SEs - not available yet though.

Anyone know how drug therapy would be different for me as I am pre-menopausal?

Stars, that sounds a bit grim. You're going to have to put your mind somewhere "safe" to deal with that attitude so you don't have disappointed expectations and can survive in a self-sufficient way. Hopefully you can buddy up with patients when you are there to mutually support each other.
Forgive me, I can't remember but is this a UK hospital?

DeeScent · 22/10/2011 09:39

Stars, I'm sorry to hear that - I hope they make quick progress in finding out where the source of the trouble is. Hugs to you.

Original poster
MaryAnnSingleton · 22/10/2011 11:15

stars it all sounds horrid- think topsy is right about the building a relationship thing..just to get them on your side and to see you as a person rather than one of many patients. It shouldn't have to be like that though.
dee I'm pretty sure that tamoxifen is the thing for pre-menopausal women -the aromatase inhibitors are for post-menopausal and by the sounds of it they have more/worse SEs- AI's stop oestrogen in the body,whereas tamoxifen just blocks it's uptake.

OP posts:
DeeScent · 22/10/2011 11:27

Okay, thanks very much MAS.

Sunny here, hope everyone has a good day.