**TAMOXIFEN 18**

[MaryAnnSingleton]

oh my,we're starting our 18th !

Smee- yes I've climbed the hill of the first half, and it's now downhill all the way ! 11/20 today. Gone a shade pinker today, but nothing uncomfortable. I feel OK - good.
Amber - how long after you finished rads, did you begin to peel? Poor you. Great to feel fit with all the walking.
Good luck with the op Ned.

I've got a frivilous question, but am a bit to ask.

Ask it Drift, - don't be embarrassed,

Ooh, well done to Drift. 11/20 is definitely in the right direction.

Frivol away drift !

Rads finished 22nd Dec, peeling last few days.
Drift, go on go on go on...what are you asking??

I nearly got to the end of it when it disappeared! and it took a lot out of me.
The garbled version now.
Bit of background. It's something that has been dawning on me for a couple of weeks. Since recovering from the surgery wli/lumpectomy. (still have some pain/numbness in the back of my arm, but greatly reduced)
Around the time of dx, a breast care nurse mentioned that the surgeon might offer reconstruction/fat injection. tbh I did not take it in and my initial reaction was that I would live with it. I'm now a bit aghast as to the size of the "dimple" .
I've always quite liked my pair, they are just round and quite small, quite satisfactory and I am now worried about this tissue loss.
My question is, has anyone here that has had a lumpectomy gone through any sort of reconstruction? Or anyone with advice comments. Compared to what others are going through I am still

Firstly there's absolutely no need to be embarrassed about asking that question Drift, - its not trivial at all, its all about you feeling comfortable with your body, coping with the changes and regaining some sort of normality.

I can't be much help because I had a mastectomy, - I'm currently waiting to see a plastic surgeon re reconstruction. I have definitely heard about the fat injections though for lumpectomies. My advice would be to contact your BCN and discuss it, she will probably either refer you back to your breast surgeon or to a plastic surgeon and they will be able to help you decide what is the best option for you.

Had trouble with the internet this evening. Gosh its late. Going to work took a big chunk out of my day but it was really nice to be back and they haven't overloaded me with cases, yet. Have bought some work home ready for next week. I think I will enjoy working with my new team :)

Good to hear you are doing ok with rads, drift. Do you have a boost at the end?

Topsy - I hope the horse pills let you get a good nights sleep.

Mas your nibbles sound scrummy but not allowed on my diet Now I need a low calorie healthy snack for bedtime. Preferably with lots of chocolate...

Nighty night everyone. Hope all the dcs are tucked up happily and not too stressed with exams.

figgy meant to wish ds good luck with his blood test - ds has the freeze spray rather than Emla cream as that made his skin very red -it seems psychologically better for him too-blood tests are always pretty traumatic for him (wonder where he gets that ?!)
kk bookgroup is on Thursday -not sure who will turn up,usually several can't make it because of husbands working or away and one friend has a slipped disc,so it might just be me scoffing my camembert.Plus I don't think many have read it -tsk. It's 'Sherry Crackers gets Normal' by DJ Connell who is a facebook friend (and have met her too in real life) amber might like it as the heroine Sherry I think is most definitely on the autistic spectrum.
drift hooray for rads progress ! Perfectly alright to ask any question- not frivolous at all. When I went for my first appointment after surgery with consultant he said something about correcting the dent if I wanted but I didn't really take it in. Am not too worried about it and don't think I could be doing with any more needles etc but I think a perfectly acceptable thing to do if it bothers you- bcn could definitely advise.

waves to jane and smee - think ds is ok about chemistry-he doesn't seem unduly worried,but who can tell !

"Hope all the dcs are tucked up happily and not too stressed with exams." My ds is neither tucked up, nor stressed with his exams. Now me, OTOH.........
He had a Science exam today, and when I asked him if it was for his Chem/Biol/Phys, he wrinkled his nose and said "er, I'm not sure".... this was after he'd done it!!!!!!!! Aargh. He's so relaxed about it all, he's practically horizontal - drives me barmy.

and breathe

Thanks 1in8 - I love the idea of California, but was thinking more like Wales or Norfolk, or the south Coast of England this year .
Smee - the rest of my family love camping (dh is off to the lakes, camping this weekend the fool) but I can't stand it. I need electric light and flushing toilets and to be able to pad to the bathroom in my slippers at night. It's a proper building or I'm staying home!

backforgood sounds like my ds !!

yay- dh has booked our cottage !!!

compact and bijou it certainly is,but v near to Minsmere and Walberswick/Southwold

Ned wanted to wish you loads of good vibes and love for tomorrow xx

I going to book group followed by book group Christmas lunch tomorrow, then to a meeting about breast recon. in the evening.

So glad my DS is past the exam stage - he drove me bonkers with his laid back attitude!

So in case I'm not around much wishing everyone a good day

Ooh that looks lovely MAS

Ned, good luck for your operation today. Hope all goes well.

Jane, glad you had a good day back at work and your new team is nice. Kids are back at school today so might go in myself to work distract my colleagues.

Driftwood - I don't think you should feel embarrassed to ask about options to remove the dimple. I have absolutely no idea but will it improve naturally over time - bit of wishful thinking here I suspect.

Topsy - glad you are getting proper attention now for your skin and hope it continues to improve fast.

All this talk about booking holiday cottages has got me thinking about trying to book something for us to look forward to. How long is likely to be the gap between chemo and radiotherapy and how long after the radiotherapy did you start to feel normal? I am assuming I will not have the mega-zapping like Topsy?

Camel - how are you feeling - any luck in getting preliminary results.

lots of love to ned for today- am thinking of you xx
I went away a week or so after rads (I remember having a stash of dressings in my bag)(to Suffolk,same place,different cottage) I'm sure the fresh sea air was good but I did feel quite fragile. more mentally than physically fragile.

Good luck Ned. Thinking of you and hoping it all goes well xx

Waves to everyone else. I am not feeling too great (just exhausted really) and think I underestimated needing to recover from op. I thought I'd be 100% fine by Monday, but seems not. Will try catch up with the thread tonight.

ned lots of hugs + good wishes for today!

Just making a if anyone wants one.

Not feeling very brave today was awake most of night imagining the worst. . .

Keep telling myself its what needs to happen, what I've been waiting for for 2 weeks, and am being just a teeny bit feeble and pathetic.. .

It will all be over soon ned , and you have every right to feel apprehensive .

Camel be kind to yourself . I always underestimate how much these things are going to take out of me . Have a few sofa/fat boy snacks days , and don't expect so much of yourself .

Feeling a little bit better today . Got the nurse coming out to redress me . But apart from that , its just a sofa day here .

Hope everyone is doing well today .

Ned you are allowed to feel feeble, natural to be aprehensive. +ve thoughts winging their way from me too.

More on the go here. Then knitting and the agm of the local support group to look forward to. And fitting in a visit to Auntie would be good.

ned completely normal to feel nervous (I was too!) and not feeble at all, but you will be fine, I promise. Out damned lump! (I like to think I might be quoting Shakespeare there. I am regarding all things that happen to me on this adventure - including mastectomy - as positive: Each one is a step along the road to complete health .

camel big hugs to you too. I have had a couple of down days since my op too. I think it is all emotionally draining - and not fair that you're having to wait so much. Take care + be very kind to yourself xxx