**TAMOXIFEN 18**

[MaryAnnSingleton]

oh my,we're starting our 18th !

Morning topsy, I have the best friends i really do, nothing is too much trouble. I moved house the day after my diagnosis and they all swept in, moved everything and set up my new home!

re the scan, its one of those where part of me thinks, dont be daft there wont be any spread and another part says hmmm i have a feeling there is something else (i have some bowel trouble which makes me think this is a possibility)

BUT whatever the outcome you are so right that once you know what you are dealing with it is much easier to bear. So, onwards and upwards. Get the kids to school then off i go! Thanks both for your support, i feel better already. The fact that anyone has an idea what its like to feel like this is so helpful.

Morning to everyone else too !

Got DS home today , teacher training day , or something like that .
DD has just left for school , DS still in bed , pig/dog in the kitchen sulking as I locked him in there when he wouldn't stop barking at the new ginger kitty that has moved in opposite .

Have sore throat today , but skin is feeling so much better . Still peely , but great compared to how it was last week .

Who has appointments today / this week ?

I have chocolate croissants on offer this morning ?

Hi Holstenlips welcome . . . I'm a relative newbie on here, was diagnosed with breast cancer on 5th January and had surgery last week to remove a tumour. This thread is a good place to hang out, ask daft questions, cry, rant, whatever. Read back, and you'll find how brilliant the advice and support is here. Sometimes it's so much easier than in RL cos it's one step removed, emotionally: I know it's easier to type stuff than to say it to someone's face. And, no-one can know what it feels like unless they're walking this shitty road too. . .

Fingers crossed for ct scan today - please come back and let us know how you got on. . . ((((((((((((((((((Holstenlips))))))))))))))) big hugs.

Morning all- what news? amberlight at oncologist today, I think. Hope she doesn't mind me saying. . . Fingers crossed for her x x

driftwood unfortunately I am "fuller of nork", so no bra or sports top will not cut the mustard. . . It's a bit uncomfy without bra, and I look like I'm carrying two puppies in a tescos bag on the front of my chest will persevere with some kind of paddingin the armpit region!

topsy glad to hear skin better- must be a relief to be on the mend

and toast anyone?

so much better than toast!

lots of good thoughts to amber, waves to topsy and ned- will be back later bearing fbs

mmmm chocolate croisant - don't mind if I do. Thanks.

Welcome to Holsten. As others have said, you can come and rant or ask questions or just prattle on about mundane things in your life here - everyone's very friendly.

Ned - the underarm rubbing is really one of the sorest aspects, and it takes a bit of a while to pass as well. Wearing different styles of thing every day - ie different types of bra, vests, nothing etc is pretty good advice. It is harder if you have big norks, but it won't be for too long. The only answer for the large of nork is to reduce bouncing and rubbing as much as possible and for that, taking to the sofa is An Excellent Idea.

Holsten - very, very, very best of my most positive vibes for you for your scan and your surgery. Please do hang around here because we absolutely understand the fear and anxiety, and you don't have to put on a brave face for us. You won't get us down or anything with whatever you want to say, and we may well have a few insights along the way. Failing that, we usually have FBSs galore. Take care x

Topsy - i am so glad the skin is on the mend.

Here, I am still coughing my lungs inside out, but I THINK it is going slowly in
the right direction

Hello from me too Holstein. This really is a v.good place to be. Definitely has kept me from tipping over the edge. Am thinking of you too. xx

Huge cheers for Camel !! Excellent that you're looking okay.

Ned, keep exercising even if you don't feel like it, otherwise you can easily get cording which makes it feel even worse. I think I've said that before

Marmite hope Tramadol smiled you through DS's birthday weekend. 6 is an excellent age, but requires absurd amounts of parental energy. Rest up now he's back at school.

Eight, eek on heart dissection. My DS would definitely adore that.

Topsy, good to hear you're on the mend. Any croissants left??

Kurri, I do shapes too. Though it's an age since I've been anywhere and had a good ol'dance. I dance round at home at any given opportunity to annoy DS though.

Sometimes, that cough sounds ropey. Are you taking anything?

Amber am a bit confused what you're up to. Is it another Herceptin-will-they-let-me consult? Think it is. Really hope it goes okay. x

Mad weekend here - very sad realisation that my parents now really do need looking after. Mum (early Alzheimers) was in London with friends on a girls' weekend, so Dad (needs urgent surgery to avoid another stroke and is crippled with Arthritis) comes to stay with us. I spent all weekend paranoid he was going to keel over and trying as subtly as possible not to let him out of my sight, then we managed to lose mum completely for several hours yesterday. Found her safely and all is well, but feel exhausted now and more than a bit worried about them both. Old age is such a sod.

Afternoon all. Holsten - I'm so glad you found us , loads of good wishes for your scan today, - I hope everything goes well, knowing what you are dealing with is moving forward, even though its scary. And lots of luck with your surgery, it will be good to get that out of the way. I think you said in your other thread that you are having some pain, hopefully that will improve after you've had the op. to remove the cancer and have healed from that.

As others have said - this is a place to say whatever you feel, whether you are feeling low or having a good day. I'm glad your 18yr old has a shoulder to lean on, - my DD was 18 when I was DX and I'm sure there were questions she wanted to ask but didn't want to upset me.

Good friends are a Godsend at times like this, and I would take every offer of help that comes your way while you are recovering. Looking after a 4yr old is hard work even when you are not feeling poorly!

Any way, pull up a comfy chair and settle in - we do cake and other sugary things (which we call FBS - fat boy snacks) and and definitely .

Hello to everyone else - Sometimes have you been to the doc with that cough? - get yourself some AB's girl or you'll wear yourself out.

Good vibes to amber for onc. appointment.

topsy - thank goodness the skin is on the mend, - you've had a lousy time with it.

waving to Ned, Drift, MAS, Camel, BFG, and jane and anyone I've missed.

Yoga this morning - God I ache now!

Oh - does anyone hear from pinkstarlight? haven't seen her for ages, wondered if she left over the facebook like thing? - If anyone is in touch with her on FB give her my love, hope she's doing well

Oh smee, how exhausting - and how very sad

They live at a bit of a distance, don't they? Would they be willing to have a bit of help, do you think? Is your Dad's op scheduled?

You asked me whether hampton Court is worth doing - yes, it is. Avoid Sundays because you can't go into the chapel which looks beautiful in the guide book They have characters in costume and all the staff are great with kids. It's a nice day out.

Camel - woo bloody hoo!!!! Sorry, I read your news and i am so pleased that they have not found lymphoma. Don't go though, we do need to know what they say from here on in, and that you are going to be looked after properly. You don't get away from us that easily.

Do you think I need ABs KK?

I'll go if it isn't better tomorrow, but i think it is on the retreat.

I was wondering about pink as well.....

yes,was thinking of pink and stars t his very morning- hope they are both ok,we miss them !
Crikey that cough has hung on sometimes
Hope underarm feels less ouchy soon ned - I do remember being extremely sore for a while.
smee a huge hug- being old does suck- am seeing it a lot in my parents (not so much dad-he remains active in mind and body) thankfully they are so near.
I have giant choc buttons and some shortbread here,if anyone's interested

I wonder about Pink too. Will try and PM her.

Sometimes, get to the docs tomorrow. It's lingered for far too long. Yes you're right, my parents are a couple of hours away. When they're both well they kind of muddle along quite reasonably. Just Dad being ill has made me realise how tenuous that is really. His op should be within the next 3 weeks, so we're waiting for a date. All a bit scary really.

Hampton Court sounds fab. Will definitely go there soon.

Ooh MAS Giant Choc Buttons are my favourite. Are they Montezuma?

Smee- I x-posted, so sorry about your parents, it is so sad when you can see them getting less and less independent. And awfully worrying when they wander off, - Dad used to do that, - we always armed him with a phone, and a piece of paper with his home phone and address on it in case he got very lost.
Alzheimers is such a bastard disease - But I hope your mum had a lovely time with her girlfriends.

IF your mum has had a firm DX then they should be entitled to SS help - care needs if they have any at the moment, memory clinics, day centres, helpful things round the house (raised chairs/loo seats, walking frames, wheelchairs, alarm buzzers that you hang round your neck etc etc.) - def. worth finding out about because there are often things you are entitled to, that you'd never think of - they keep it all a bit of a secret! Also they might be entitled to certain benefits.

Sometimes - I would see how you feel, if you think its on its way out then maybe leave it, but you must be fed up of it now - I'd pop in just to check you haven't got an infection. Glad you and DD had fun at HC, - was it sunny? (it was up my way) - Did you do the Maze?

MAS, I'd like shortbread please (but worried I might miss out on the choc, buttons, so could you balance one on top of my piece of shortbread? )

It can all get swept away so easily. DH's Mum had a new hip last week, she has always been a bit doddery (well since I have known her anyway) but she does look vulnerable on her crutches

In the meantime my Mum is getting over her 3rd broken wrist (and always the same one).

They are a worry.

MIL's already in less pain than she was before the op though, so where there's life there's hope. I hope your Dad gets sorted soon.

Buttons? Wot are Montezuma Buttons??? I hope hey aren't chilli flavour or something because that would be wrong

balancing giant choc button on shortbread for kk and passing bag to smee (sadly not Montezuma )

It was sunny and lovely, KK. Didn't get a chance to do the maze as we only had the afternoon and had been tasked (by school) with getting lots of pictures of Tudor-related stuff. But next time, definitely. Still loads to see and do.......

I'll pass on the FBSs as i have already necked a Crunchie and several Maoams

sometimes Montezuma chocolate is very,very yummy - once dh got me a huge kilner jar of mixed giant chocolate buttons- heavenly treat !! (actually twice- I have 2 jars in the kitchen,one empty and one with some wheaten crackers in it)

Is it Hampton Court that has a real tennis court, and I'm thinking I remember an orangery too?

I may plan a trip to London with DD to visit HC.

Although actually she is swanning off to London with a friend for a couple of days next week, - friend has got free tickets for Les Miserables, and they want to take in some galleries too.

yum

ooh thanks MAS

Ooh they do look nice

YY to real tennis court and orangery, and also a tiltyard - and the world's largest grapevine which is very

The formal gardens are absolutely stunning as well.

Also at Christmas they have an ice rink and a lovely old fashioned carousel, but we just missed those this year. Ah well, you can't have everything.

I'd like a tiltyard in my garden - for the many occasions when I want to poke DH with a sharp stick