**TAMOXIFEN 18**

[MaryAnnSingleton]

oh my,we're starting our 18th !

ah,just heard- funeral next Monday at the London Buddhist Vihara,followed by the crem

Well that's time for him to think of what to say, so good in a way. Bit of a shame it's not this Friday though, as I'd bet it will hang over you all.

Topsy, yeay for dressings!! Take pain killers at night. I did - seem to remember a co-codomol and a glass of red was a good combo.

I don't like crems, and this one (am assuming it's the local one) has been where many dear ones have ended up. Still,the Buddhist ceremony will be uplifting.

Topsy glad to hear cooling gel pads are helping

Still got everything crossed for you camel. Glad to hear move gone off OK.

Dig got everything crossed for you too- will be great if you don't need to come back, but great if you decide you want to, iyswim!!!!

Thanks georgeclooney boss said about occupational health- do I need to contact them soon, or worry about it when I'm closer to getting back to work?

smee the thought of you all descending on my boss is entertaining! Luckily not needed. I saw my GP this morning, who told me in no uncertain terms that I was NOT to work, not worth the risk, definitely more important things to worry about, and better to get the most chance to rest etc. He has signed me off for 3 months initially, and then reassess where I'm at.

My boss was awesome. She was totally brilliant, very supportive, keen to help, and wants to ease concerns. She talked through everything for an hour this morning, not just work stuff but everything. Coffee and tissues flowed. . .

Anyway ive said that I will get all assessments and marking done this week, otherwise I will go nuts waiting for surgery next week. She said not to worry if I didn't feel like it, which is lovely. The deputy head is taking over my year 6 class until such time as they can get a supply in. She's realistic about needing to cover me until the end of the year, which totally takes the pressure off. Feeling relieved to have that big bit sorted. She also said that I was welcome any time if I wanted to get out of the house, or come in after school to see my friends etc. So lovely, she made me cry even more by being so kind!

Feeling a bit drained by emotional but productive morning.
Lump feels more lumpy today. Just want rid of it now.

Catching up with latest recorded Russell Howard series. Need a good chuckle. . ..

hooray for your head teacher ned - that's one thing not to be fretting about.

That's really good news ned . It definitely helps when your employer is on your side !

Dig , don't take this the wrong way . But I really hope you don't have to come and join us after tomorrow
Sending you all the positive thoughts I can muster for the morning .

Camel glad the house move has gone smoothly , you have so much on your plate right now don't you ?

Smee lots at the thought of us lumpy chested women descending on hapless employers up and down the country !
Shall we have a uniform ?

MAS hope your Dad is holding up , and he will be ok at the funeral .

Just had a major sense of humour failure with the DC over a plate of peas .
Think I might be a little tired and emotional ...

ned So pleased you had such a productive and supportive meeting with your head. Must be such a relief for you to know that's taken care of.

Hope everyone else has had a good or OK day. I am being driven bananas by my itching at the moment and boring myself silly with my constant internal monologue whining about the waiting/frustration. Am having (an extremely rare) Chinese takeaway tonight and and will hopefully be a distraction.

Well done to your head, that is fab!

Ah Ned, that's lovely. Must be a huge relief. I won't need to flash my scars now either.

Topsy, a uniform sounds essential. Something for chest flashing. I sense the need for velcro. Sense of humour failure goes hand in hand with motherhood, then pile on the guilt and add a healthy dose of self loathing.

Elusive, itching's annoying, Camel. Can you take an anti-histhamine or something?

Not much time now, as have to work (grr), but Dig will be rooting for you in the morning. I hope you won't need us for much longer either.

Internet connection playing up so I hope this message is posted.

Marmite - glad the op went well & hope your home tomorrow.

Dig - really good-luck for your appointment tomorrow.

Topsy - hope the three remaining rads appointments go well.

Ned - great you don't have to worry about work. I have a lovely boss too and it does help.

Hugs to everyone else becuase my brain is woolly tonite and I can't remember where everyone is at.

Well, I have survived my first dose of chemo including the dreaded cold cap. Bit of a wobble before I went in but was not half as bad as I was expecting - only time will tell if it worked. I thought perhaps it was not on properly infact because it didn't feel uncomfortable but I did have ice on my hair when they took it off so I guess it was cold up there after all. (took Smee's advice about the paracetomal which helped I should think). DVDs ordered for if I feel rough in the next few days.

Ooh really well done OneinEight !! Excellent to get through one. Hope you're feeling okay. Remember to take the anti-sickness drugs regardless of how you're feeling. Bet you'll sleep better tonight having got through that.

Oh I'll definitely take the anti-sickness drugs as I'm feeling a bit queasy already although I think this is mostly because I am expecting too rather than it being real.

been travelling all day but now I have t'internet. Soon be back in Yorkshire. Bit tired and emo, something to do with getting up too early I expect. Haven't read all the thread but noticed smee wanting to organise chest flashing! A la flash mob? ;) will catch up soon, but now is the time for fbs...

Thanks everyone! Yes indeed, very glad to have practical stuff sorted. Can concentrate on the next bit. . .

No scars yet, except for a fading biopsy bruise, but happy to join in scar flashing after next Wednesday

Well done eight on getting thru first one. Counting down!

eight well done !!!

and welcome home jane !

Ned - you don't have to do anything re Occupational Health. It's when you are due to start thinking about going back, your school will automatically have to refer you. (My manager came round last week so I could sign the form giving OccHealth permission to talk to my GP - she said it had to be an automatic referral as I'd been off for 8 weeks or more.) Glad your HT was so supportive. Mind, IME, people in life, generally are. DH's colleagues have been really supportive of him too .
Had my last rads today. Then got all emotional - felt all sad and weepy instead of feeling chuffed . Stupidly then managed to scrape the car against a wall in the hospital car park - that's an expense I could do without . Am dead itchy this evening.

1in8 well done on getting over the first chemo hurdle . Don't forget , if the nausea gets bad , phone your unit . They can give you stuff for it , there's no need to suffer at all !

backforgood am more than slightly jealous of you completing your rads . Understand completely the weepy feeling . Have a blue day , stay in your jamas and eat fbs . As for the car , it is just a thing . Don't worry about it . (Says the woman with a DH who would cry if he scratched his beloved car !)

Welcome home jane . I have been jealously watching your photos on facebook and begrudging you every minute of your exotic holiday

Have woken up this morning with lovely black and peeling skin . Oh the joys ...

backforgood don't fret about car- the whole ending of rads is very emotional,do not underestimate it -I think most of us felt similarly. Hope itching not too bad. And hope black skin soon turns to pink again topsy
smee am hoping my dad is feeling a bit better, though doubt he'll feel very cheerful for a while. Have made a card for P's wife which I must finish and send. Am off in search of smart black trousers (as opposed to my unsmart jeans/faded black trousers)
Stitches out today- am also thinking that I should book my next mini op while I'm on a roll (same thing again)

Morning all. Thanks for the welcome home. :) Bugger about the skin peeling, Topsy, but you are nearly through and it will soon start to feel better.

Back to reality today. Cat wanted feeding at the crack of dawn, and he knows a paw on the face gets attention! Have to unpack and do loads of washing and excavate the kitchen after leaving dh in charge...

Hope everyone has a good day :) Time for a ?

Good luck Dig

OneInEight well done for getting through your first session. Must be a scary prospect.

MAS, hope stitches pulling isn't ouch. Definitely book next one. Onwards is always better I say.

BackforGood, that's excellent - HOORAY !! But MAS is right - end of Rads is huge I think - both physically after all you've been through and emotional. Hope your skin doesn't decide to break down.

Topsy, black's a bit of a shocker isn't it? Have they given you ointment for it to stop infection, and soothe? Keep trudging through. You're so nearly there.

Eight, how are you today?? Hope not feeling ick in any way. Keep drinking water as much as you can. It helps to be hydrated somehow.

Ned, when are you going to tell your class? I imagine that will be tough. Definitely the right decision though.

Hope Dig's okay - her appointment's about now. Have just lit a candle. Not sure why we all think that helps, but there's something to be marked as we all go through all this.

I am being good today - have cleaned, got a wash on and am about to hurtle through a pile of work. Might even go for a run today if I can keep the energy going. DS has an after school club, so I have a bit longer on Tuesdays.

Waving to Jane and Camel. Hope kitchen's restored soon, Jane. Sounds like you need that

Am using avoidance tactics to put off completing my writing assessments for Year 6. . . I will feel better once they're done, but they are sooooooooooooo boring to do all in one go!

Thanks BackForGood that's reassuring to know. I'll leave things for now then. My HT did say that I wouldnt be able to go back until I had spoken to them anyway, but glad I don't have to see them anytime soon! Congrats on finishing your rads - definitely a momentous occasion, and I'm not surprised you're weepy. Big hugs from me in cloudy Dorset.

Thinking of Dig. . .

hows the skin doing topsy? What can you put on it to make it better? are you still using the gel pads?

How are you feeling today eight? Hope sickness hasnt got to you. I'm definitely more nervous of chemo than anything else, hope you're doing OK.

You home safely Marmite?

How you bearing up Camel? Feeling more sorted from moving palava?

Question - what are they likely to do in my pre-op assessment? is it just height, weight, blood pressure etc or likely to be more traumatic? DH in Edinburgh, so will have to go on my own. . . just wanted to be ready for whatever!

Hope this finds everyone OK this morning. Definitely time for a here. . .