Page 16 | ***TAMOXIFEN number 19***

Gigondas · 09/02/2012 12:48

Hi all. Am in bed as decided not to
Get up today which is good.

Holsten hope rest helping and Lindt is definitely going to help.

Smee- unscientific ally it does sound similar as the growth is a soft tissue mass on top of muscle . It doesn't hurt as such itself but it's the swelling that causes it. It wasn't near nerves etc and was encapsulated when scanned which is good but as said am hyper sensitive in case changed. But I suppose that kind of paranoia about it being worse is normal.

Yes will have net access so should be able to update . And will stock up on Audio books so good plan.

Amber I am sorry as this heparin sounds vile.

Sparkle- the issue I have on hearing is that I forget to turn it down...

Topsy how is dress hunt going?

SparkleRainbow · 09/02/2012 12:51

Gig - Have "state of the art" thermostat (apparently according to dh ) so it will automatically turn itself back to what he has set it at, when the next timing zone passes...Ha Ha got him there! Am beginning to feel warmer, well can actually feel my toes now.

amberlight · 09/02/2012 13:02

Holsten, arrgh re the tiredness.
Sparkle, grr re the thermostat wars. Oil for heating is there to keep people warm. It doesn't have another purpose. What the heck is he saving it for??!

Herceptin: 1 in 5 women with breast cancer have the HER2+ sort. It's rudely behaved. We can't take tamoxifen like most of the others can, but they invented Herceptin instead. It's a form of chemotherapy, given in intravenous tubes once every 3 weeks, for a year. It stops the body producing too much of one sort of protein and improves the odds of us surviving. It likes most people. It hates me. If I stop taking it now, no-one knows whether that's ok or not. No data at all on that, allegedly even though tens of thousands of people have taken it for years.

SparkleRainbow · 09/02/2012 13:11

Who knows what he is saving it for....next year I guess.....

NedSchneebly · 09/02/2012 15:45

Phew - smear done - fine, just a bit uncomfy. Got told off for it being a lot a bit overdue

hospital check up fine - skin redness settled, no infection or fluid, just an extra lumpy bit where the actual tumour was. Will disperse in its own sweet time, apparently.

Just oncology tomorrow morning to think about now. . .

Have 2 finger mint kitkats on trolley today - feel free to take 2, because one is definitely not sufficient!

amber you poor thing. Herceptin does sound pretty rotten and not fun at all. hugs

topsy any joy with dress hunting?

smee video conference thing OK?

Gigondas big hugs and thoughts for tomorrow - keep us updated if you feel up to it, and we can send your our favourite jokes and amusing anecdotes to distract you!

holsten take it easy, lovely lady. Give in to the tiredness - you know that you need to. One day at a time. . .

MAS Hope you are OK. Thinking of you and your friend, and her friend.

Original poster

MaryAnnSingleton · 09/02/2012 16:12

oh phew indeed- well done ned ! kit kats most welcome.

OP posts:

SparkleRainbow · 09/02/2012 18:10

Mini kit kats...... did someone mention mini kit kats.....yes please

KurriKurri · 09/02/2012 18:39

Just whizzing on quickly. amber sorry you are still having problems - I was HER2+ and I had herceptin and am now on tamoxifen - which I started at the same time as the herceptin - I just thought I'd mention it - but there's maybe some particular reason you can't have tamox.

I found herceptin hard to start with - everyone said it was easy but I htink they mean its better than chemo , but I had lots of dizziness and fell over a lot, and had terrible diarrhoea all the time and felt exhausted constantly. I found once I'd had a few doses the s/e diminished slightly, as I got used to it, then got bad again towards the end as it seemed to accumulate in my system. I was pleased to finish it - sounds as if you are having a harder time

Holsten - take things slowly - it's easy once you feel a little bit better to get a bit too over enthusiastic and knock yourself out!

Glad hospital was OK Ned, and skin is settling down.

Just waving madly and sending love to everyone else. Have been out all day with a friend - we went to yoga, had lunch then went to art club together, and I'm worn out - only just got in, -so I'm lying I heap waiting for someone to stick a mug of tea in my hand, and some food in my mouth

KurriKurri · 09/02/2012 18:40

Of course I meant to say - extra hugs and good thought for you for tomorrow Gigondas xx

Gigondas · 09/02/2012 18:56

Thanks for all good wishes -will appreciate the thoughts and ESP the jokes when am in.

Have some nice chocolate digestives if anyone keen.

Got to love my mum - she keeps talking about when this is over

smee · 09/02/2012 19:04

Hugs in abundance from me to Gigondas. We're here rooting for you with jokes a plenty. Will be thinking of you tomorrow.

Amber, grrr for Herceptin. Must be annoying. Have you got your appt through about the neuropathy yet?

Holsten if you don't watch it we'll send Topsy over with the duct tape to tie you to the sofa. Watch Kurri, she sounds like she's in a heap, so take note.

Think Ned deserves a plate of fbs all to herself for getting through today.

MAS, no card yet. I'd bet it'll come tomorrow.

Survived the Skype call, though the cat did come and poke his nose in at one point. He sat in front of it and stared at them. Was v.funny.

jchocchip · 09/02/2012 19:31

:) at your skyping cat smee!

amberlight · 09/02/2012 19:51

No appointment is being set up for the neuropathy as I'm told it really won't get v bad...so we'll see. KK, I definitely can 't have tamoxifen as I'm not ER+. Didn't realise some people have both...blimey....double trouble!

Gigondas · 09/02/2012 19:52

Cat probably has more sense than most people I work with

holstenlips · 09/02/2012 19:58

Tis snowing here, just thought I'd say!
Smee, your cat is a legend!

OneInEight · 09/02/2012 20:04

Gigondas - lots of luck for your operation tomorrow, I am sure they will take great care of you.

Amber - how many months have you been on the Herceptin now. My consultant said there was a study in Finland where they had used it for three months but I think it was alongside some of the chemotherapy drugs so it is so difficult to compare directly. I don't think anyone knows exactly how it works and it is just a guessing game how much is needed.

Ned - good-luck for your appointment tomorrow. Smee & Amber gave some really good advice on how to cope with chemotherapy before I started mine. First week In January I think which is well worth looking up. I am finding it (so far) not as bad as I expected with the main side effects being sickness and tiredness in week 1. It is definitely too cold to have bald patches though so worth investing in some wooly hats if you are not going to try the cold-cap
route.

Waves to everyone else.

smee · 09/02/2012 20:10

Waving to OneinEight. How are you on no.2?? Is hair still there, or bald patch bigger? Hope you're okay-ish.

Holstein, I want snow! Just looked it up and it's a possible.

Ned, good luck tomorrow. Hope the Onc's lovely. Mine is. I know it's daunting, but I felt better once I knew the whole programme, so maybe you will too.

OneInEight · 09/02/2012 20:29

Waves back to smee. Bald patch slowly getting bigger but still have fringe - will give up cold cap if that goes too. Second cycle better than first as had stronger anti-nausea drugs. Still felt sick but avoided actually being sick. Been back at work this week albeit on very light duties and less hours than normal so am doing O.K.

smee · 09/02/2012 20:31

Ooh well done for going back to work, Eight. I was lucky as I mostly work from home, so was able to keep going quite easily. I think I'd have struggled if I'd had to actually leave the house! Bald patch is annoying, but fringes are good. At least it's wooly hat weather.

NedSchneebly · 09/02/2012 21:03

Thanks smee think I will feel better when I have a timescale and some idea of when chemo will kick off. . . Love the thought of your skyping cat

Cheers for thoughts eight will definitely look up good advice. I remember it being posted. Not liking the idea of cold cap as i hate being cold, and don't feel too bothered about losing my hair, so think will just take it as it comes. Good thought about getting hats etc before the event. . . Good effort for being back at work- respect to you!

What news of junior topsy 's parents evening?!

Waves to all x x x

BackforGood · 09/02/2012 21:13

I think if I had to do a Skype conference (or any kind of web cam set up where they could see me) I'd have to sit close to a wall with my back to it, so they could only see me and the wall, and not risk anyone seeing any of my very messy 'homely' / 'lived in' style of living
I hope the forecast snow doesn't clog up the roads between the Midlands and the Channel Tunnel for tomorrow. dh and dd are going on a (scheduled to be) 20 hour drive to Switzerland tomorrow. dh is coach leader, and I don't think he want's to be responsible for any extra hours with 50 excited Scouts should there be delays !!!

Original poster

MaryAnnSingleton · 09/02/2012 22:27

quick wave to everyone- smee love the skyping kitty !! grr about card- I pposted 2 last Friday,first class and recorded (as is yours) and still not arrived
Loads of good thoughts to Gigondas for tomorrow. And safe journey to backforgood's dh and dd.

OP posts:

smee · 09/02/2012 22:46

BackforGood, believe me I positioned the screen v.carefully! I put myself in front of a shelf of books.

MAS don't worry, I'm sure the card will turn up.

We have snow.

topsyturner · 09/02/2012 23:11

Now have visions of smee and backforgood on skype looking like hostages in a ransom video

Well that was 3 hours of my life I will never get back ! I refer to parents evening . I had to see 17 teachers . And I only missed 1 of them . < proud mummy emoticon >
All had the same things to say , lovely manners , pleasure to teach , achieving well above the year average . 1st in class in Geography , 2nd in Tech and Design .
Although I did get told off by the Tech teacher for not signing his homework often enough , felt about 9 years old !

And then I managed to embaress myself on a major scale .
I was in the queue waiting to see a teacher when DS started waving to me from behind a glass door . I ofcourse started waving back and pulling strangely bizarre funny faces , when I noticed DSs science teacher sitting right in between where I was standing and DS was waving .
Yes , Dr Rea now thinks DSs mother fancies him ...

Good luck for tomorrow Gig and Ned . Hope all goes smoothly for you both .

I am now all alone on the sofa . DH and the DC and the pig/dog have all gone to bed .
I am mumsnetting , catching up on tonights Location , Location , Location , and eating Doritos .

A very good night to you all , catch you on the flip side

jchocchip · 10/02/2012 06:59

Positive vibes winging there way to Gigondas. Hope all goes well.

Thinking of ned for her appointment to. Glad I'm not the only one who would have to position the skype camera rather carefully.

Topsy fancies Dr Rea! lol :) Well done all seeing all those teachers. We managed about five last week, but dd2 had only managed 3 appointments. Art teacher visibly excited when she said wanted to do gcse. Don't have any worries about dd2, different story from ds (still worry and he's at uni) and dd1 (omg dd1 got arrestted and brought home in a police car when she was 13. Then grounded and ran away! She is lovely now though and I'm glad she got the teenage angst over early!)

Morning all will be making porridge with golden syrup for Mum and coffee and toast and marmalade so on the go here! Will go down now and see if she managed to wake up to take her sleeping pill...