**TAMOXIFEN 18**

[MaryAnnSingleton]

oh my,we're starting our 18th !

oh kk a hug for you xxx

We always love to see you and your insightful posts, epic or otherwise Kurri big hugs for you today - sounds like you need them. . .

Yay MAS - so excited!

smee hope you're not working too hard. I have done my exercises today, and the new ones for 7 days after. . . Ooh, its my one week anniversary!

Thinking of holsten

We need a candle emoticon for this thread. . . will consider suggesting it to Mumsnet HQ.

thank you all - hugs gratefully received. I am seeing the endocrinologist next week, so will have more idea what is going on then. - Can't decide whether it feels like thyroid problems, a bug, or just feeling down. Am sure I'll feel better tomorrow. DH has had a lovely photo of Dad enlarged for me, so I will get a frame for it tomorrow, - I'll get Dh to send it from his computer so I can put it on my profile.

Anyway I am having a cup-a-soup and toast , and finishing off reading my detective novel - lazy moi??

kk depression is a well documented side effect of thyroid problems , so keep an eye on that and be good to yourself .

I have just been out to lunch with a friend . Was lovely thai food . We always have bizarre conversations . We were discussing how they like to have an open coffin at funerals over here . And I announced that I shall get the mortician to do my make up like a drag queen so that anyone mournfully approaching my coffin would have heart failure

Just remembered I have a packet of yum-yums (those nice long doughnut type things) in the kitchen . Anyone want to share ?

Topsy, I so like your style. You could add a moustache for shock value.

topsy -brilliant idea ! I like the sound of your Thai lunches.
Happy week-anniversary ned and good on you for doing your exercises !
I forgot to draw the little house in your picture,but thankfully found a space which works well [bgrin]
kk maybe it's just a combination of everything ? horrid for you to feel down.

Yes please to yumyums - they are very moreish, thanks.
Ned you are only very recently out of surgery. I reckon the anaesthetic and drugs numb you for the first few days and lead you into a false sense of security, then when you start having to cope on your own, it seems to come as a suprise that it hurts a bit! Amazed ds got sent out for talking in show and tell. If you sent every 4 yr old out for talking, the class would be half empty . Perhaps his teacher was just having a bad day - hey, who knows, maybe she has health worries too.
I went into work for the first time today - it was lovely to see everyone and start to ease back into things gently (I've got up to end of December with going through my e-mails ). I've been told I have to "phase" my return to work and they don't want to see me again now until next week! I could get used to this, that's the only problem.

Just found out my Aunt (mum's sister) has been DX with BC - she's 87. Having an op. next week to remove tumour and see if its spread to nodes, - hoping very much they've caught it early as chemo. would be pretty tough at her age I imagine.

Am writing her a letter offering support, and am looking for a good book to send her to read in hospital and while recovering from op.

Bloody disease

Oh dear, Kurri. I hope chemo's not needed too. An op alone is a huge ordeal at 87. Is your mother very close to her?

yes they are very close Smee - ring each other twice a week etc., I meant to say - she's been assigned a MacMillan nurse, - does that sound worrying?, or do they just do that in some places? (she's in SW London) - I think she might be BUPA or something similar if that makes any difference.

Maybe it's because she's elderly and lives on her own?

I'd imagine it's because of her age. Does she live alone maybe too?

Yes - on her own, although one of her sons is visiting from USA atm, and he has stayed on longer to take her to appointments etc.

Kurri I think it is unlikely that they will suggest chemo at her age. My aunt was dx in her late 70s and,although she had 16/23 nodes involved they just did mx and rads.

oh kk My aunt (mum's eldest sister) was dx a year before me and had a mastectomy -she is 88 I think,so 84 then- no other treatment apart from tamox. but her nodes were clear. I would imagine they wouldn't advise chemotherapy for the very elderly especially if frail.

I thought that might be the case pranma and MAS - she does have some kind of kidney problem as well, so even just the op. is a bit of a risk. We are just hoping it hasn't spread beyond the immediate area. - Poor old girl

Worry over her aside, it's interesting on the hereditary side, Kurri. Are there any other women in your family who've had BC?

KurriKurri Hope you're feeling a bit better. Your poor aunt. What an ordeal at her age :( Reading the last few comments about ladies of that age having mastectomies has made me think about my friend, Lisa. She was diagnosed when she was 36 or 37 and didn't have a mastectomy because it was too late and they told her it would make no difference :(

Ned My little boy has recently turn 4 and I can't imagine that his 'Not talking' skills would be that good! Can't believe they sent your DS out for that. Underarm hurts here too and I didn't have another operation on top of it like you did. Sucks, but hopefully you're getting better every day. Try more brownies :)

Hope Holsten's op went well.

I was the first one to have it (that anyone could remember) Smee, but yes it is interesting - I have to say a lot of the women in my family seem to have lived to a ripe old age (both on mum's and dad's side)

Camel - so sorry to hear about your friend

Hope the sore arms start improving soon for everyone who's had ops.

smee I have a friend who had an elective mastectomy/reconstruction - her mum, her aunt and her grandmother had all had BC. This was in a different country. Not sure whether they do that in the UK.

Hello Everyone, it's great to see some familiar names still around.

Its been a while since I was here. Finally been discharged from the ward (took a long time). Had lots of major setbacks but hopefully on the mend now. Extremely fatigued and struggle to do anything but nice to be home again.

in the ward there were so so many people with life threatening uncurable cancer and it was really sad. We are just one of a number and everyone coped very differently. The nurses were great, they made you feel like you were the only person in the world that mattered and the treatment and care was fantastic.

It looks like the transplant is working but it is something that will continue to be monitored constantly. My bloods are checked every single day.

So after being given a poor prognosis and that I was at critical stage and not much time left, it looks like I might be ok, so feeling very pleased.

Downside is all the medicine I am taking and the side effects from those!

My thoughts and best wishes are with you allxxx

How nice to see you Stars - and home at last - I bet that feels good.

great news that your transplant seem to be working, and that things are looking up for you - After all the treatment you have had, - you must be completely fatigued and exhausted, - but you will get your strength back little by little - I hope you are being thoroughly spoilt by you family

Hi Kurri Kurri. Its great to be home, and yes I am being fussed and looked after. Extremely fatigued, worse than I thought I would be. Glad to know that so far transplant has worked, time will tell but so far so good. Hospital was hell. I was in isolation for weeks so not much physical activity at all.

Hello all,
Stars that is good news, kk, MAS. topsy, smee and everyone else I hope it is all smooth sailing at the moment. I have had a difficult time the past month or so. DD1 has had endless infections and been in hospital, DS got into the med school where his dad studied which was bitter sweet but terribly dd2 came home from school one day, was overcome by grief and took an overdose. Fortunately she is ok physically but I just have to hope the counselling will work. It was the first anniversary on Monday and we got through it but it was a stretch. Let's all hope for a good 2012.

stars, so glad you're on the way back to life again. You've had such a tough time, but it's fantastic it's working. Now you're home, don't over do it. Come spend a bit more time with us too, it's lovely to see you again.

ILGC, that's awful. What a dreadful thing to happen. Am so glad to hear she's okay physically. I suppose it's not surprising after all you've been through, but must be incredibly hard for all of you. Is she talking to you about it? I hope she hasn't withdrawn and will let you help her through.

Well done to your DS though. You must be very proud of him. I get the bitter sweet, but still, it's excellent news. Poor DD1 getting infections on top of it all. Is she okay now? Huge useless hugs from me.

Camel, yes they do elective mastectomies here too. I am living proof, as I've had one.