**TAMOXIFEN**22 !

[MaryAnnSingleton]

yikes- here we go...

Tim
A couple of links on fertility livestrong and another one fertility.

I echo what Mas says but I would imagine that the diagnosis is so hard for your Gf given her family history.

Line I have The anxiety pretty badly at the moment - am going to try to do some meditation and also keep an anxiety diary to help see what triggers it (lovely though The London marathon is the relentless charity sob stories aren't happy viewing ).

Puzzle books or Nintendo ds/phone apps games - sometimes I couldn't focus on books but trying to do a puzzle or something distracted me.

all round for those feeling Must be a lot of it about, because I am too.

Tim, welcome from me too. Most useful thing? Letting her know that her friends love her for who she is, and will stand by her. Worth more than its weight in gold. And free, too

Hi Tim . Not a fraud at all , all are welcome here .
Firstly what to send her for hospital , how about a kindle ?
Secondly , chemo doesn't automatically make you infertile . Infact my oncologist told me to be extra careful whilst on chemo not to get pregnant .
It most definitely can cause temporary fertility problems , but a lot of women's systems return to normal post treatment .

And as it was just said , what's the point of being fertile if the cancer gets you !

Good luck , and keep posting and asking any questions you want . Nothing is a taboo subject here !

Morning to Everyone

Beautiful rainy day here in Belfast , set to last for the rest of the week too (deep joy)

Think we need to give the paranoia box a good group kicking !
Sitting on the bloody thing isn't working

I have a lovely big box of Fruit and Fibre for the fbs trolley

Fruit and fibre - bleugh.

I think we should put paranoia box into another room (sort of like room 101) then nominate someone annoying to guard it. Maybe holly willoughby for first shift?

Thank you.
I might mention the not alive to get pregnant when we skype in a bi
Puzzles, smelly things, games, kindle - thanks I'm sure Amazon can take care of them.
Will pass it on to her Mary but she doesn't like computers (for some unknown reason even when they would make her life easier)

You might also want to mention that others (lady on your other thread, Sam Taylor wood are just two that come to mind) have had kids post bc.

I think treatments have come a long way in recent years in terms of after effect.

sod off with your healthy stuff, mrs topsy ! Anyone got any doughnuts?!

Sorry to hear the paranoia is kicking in with vengeance at the moment. Agree with the idea of shipping off the paranoia box somewhere else. Happy to offer a spider-infested corner of our garage, where the mouse trap lurks? Who else could watch over it? Maybe that annoying man from Homes under the Hammer. Not a patch on the lovely Phil from Location. . .

timmy so sorry to hear about your gf. I am currently in the middle of chemo, and my sister sends me postcards every couple of weeks that she has made/ painted, with a little message on the back. I always cry, because she always writes such lovely things, but it makes me feel really supported and loved. Perhaps your gf might like something similar? Maybe an itunes gift card, or Amazon voucher - they sell such a variety of stuff. I bought some guitar picks, some bubble bath, a kindle book, a DVD and some other random stuff with a voucher one of my friends sent me, and had such fun browsing the website to choose things! Maybe a magazine subscription, if she's into a particular one?

Chemo is rough but do-able. I don't think I would have been true to myself and my family if I didn't give myself the best chance to get better, and beat this bastard thing once and for all. I think if I had refused a particular treatment, I would always be wondering if what treatment I had had was enough to stop if from coming back. Its a tough time, and your gf will really appreciate your support. Stick with us, send your gf this way too if she likes, and we can support you both through it x x

Timmy - a friend of mine had bc in her early twenties, whilst at uni actually, had chemo etc, and is still here about 20 years later with three children. As Gig just said, treatments weren't even so sophisticated in the past either.

In fact, this lady's story is something that should cheer us all up

Hi from me too, Timmy. Sorry to hear about your GF. Must be tough being so v.far away. The others have said it all, but I just remembered she can ask for percentages in terms of chemo, which might sway her decision. So for example mine the Oncologists told me that chemo increased my chances of no recurrence by 15% - varies hugely dependent on the pathology. As the others have said, there's lots that can be done for fertility. DVD box sets are good - something to distract her while she's recovering.

Hooray for your friend, Lime. Am cheering. Love to hear stories like that.

Fruit and Fibre from Topsy?!

I will supply a huge padlock for the Paranoia room.

Some more nice stories for smee (and others ) - here is my list of people I know (and it's not exactly exhaustive as jot them down as I see/remember) of cancer survivors. Starting with the bc:

Kylie
Olivia newton john
Cynthia nixon
Sheryl crow
Sam Taylor wood
Giuliana rancic
Anastasia
Jennifer Saunders
Other types:
Sharon Osborne
Rod Stewart
Fran drescher
Steve parry (Olympic swimmer)
Mark James
Claire balding
Sean o Neil (journalist )
Lance Armstrong
Danny baker
Jordan (!!)

People in real life - 9
Non tamoxifen mumsnet - 11

In the "didn't make it column" there are 2 threads on mn about terminal diagnoses. Three in my family (2 of whom were over 70, one smoked 40 a day for most of her life and one other who had a major drug habit and ignored symptoms). Of the other two recent losses I know o in rl, neither were straight forward (one refused treadment at first and the orher ignored symptoms for a good while).

I know it's not scientific but it does sometimes help my paranoia .

I'll add for bc
My SIL Lalaa
My Aunt
My dad's cousin (dx many years ago and still going strong)
2 non MN friends
celeb : Edie Falco
prostate c
my dad

smee roll on deo- is it allowed in hand luggage ? I could by ds a mini aerosol but he doesn't like squirty things x

If its under 100ml and in a plastic bag. Boots, SuperDrug erc usually have a section with travel friendly toiletries .

Great list, Gigs. I'd have added Edie Falco if you hadn't MAS. Love her as an actress.

MAS, he could always buy one once he's through customs. There's always a Boots in departures.

Hi all! Am back and just waving at you all for now while I catch up on work.

Have read about all the medical appointments everyone has - can i add me to the list? it looks like my back op is back on! At least I have come home to two letters inviting me in next Monday for pre-ops. Yikes! Gulp!

Hope you had a good break, MAS. Love to everyone and I'll catch up with some highlights later.

(Loving Smee junior's signalling clothes peg

xx

Yeay, Sometimes is back. Have missed you. How was holiday? Hope not too soggy.

Back op sounds a bit gulp making - though honestly having gone through it, it's best done. Made a gi-normous difference to me. You will be same, am sure.

I'm back and by the looks of it I have lots to catch up with. First chemo was not the nicest experience I have had but one down. I was dosed to the nines on anti-sickness and although I never actually vomited (sorry tmi) I have the sound effects down to perfection (retching is no fun), but my goodness I'm like a 90 year old. Totally knackered and breathless. Going up stairs I sound like I've smoked 50 a day for 30 years. Haven't been online since last week which is unheard of for me but I did manage to crawl make it to DD GB display. I sat at the door and kept a large bottle of water handy and just nipped out when I felt queasy. She got a couple of shields and badges for glad I didn't miss it.

I've had a quick look through and hugs to everyone feeling down or waiting for appointments this week. Topsy will be thinking of you on Thursday with your CT scan and hope the result is better than you hoped.

gigs any news on your rads appointment yet, or have I missed it? and what about nanny of the year?

jchoc how is your mum? Is she getting out today?

Waves to everyone else and I'm off to catch up on everything I missed - hope there have been no links to tanned ancient men as don't think I could stomach it.

PS I have Roses (of the chocolate variety) for the trolley.

Ooh Gracie, sounds rough, but it really is one under the belt. Onwards and upwards. You'll get to the end faster than you think - well done for getting to DD's display.

Think I'll keep my candle lit all week for everyone with appointments, don't want to miss anyone.

Smee - I am sorry to sound like a broken record but did you miss much work? I've got a lot on and, while i obviously need to get my back done, I'd rather be able to keep things ticking along, the work's been too bloody hard to come by to turn away now....

Holiday was great, thanks. Three hot beach days and three soggier ones which seems reasonable for an April break in the UK

Sometimes glad holiday was nice.

Gracie so lovely to have you back and that you are one round down - ESP as know what it must have taken to go to dd display.

Rads may start this week- follow up scan tomorrow (eek) . Nanny ok but has had her moments .

Am baking peanut butter and pecan cookies so will offer those up.

Gig - eek making, indeed. Hard to relax until that is over. Here's hoping it is just a formality and you can get started with no surprises. It will be so good to have rads over with.

Smee - I think you asked me to let you know how the Horrible Histories stage show was. Well, having nearly forgotten to go we really, really enjoyed it. We saw the Terrible Tudors one, and it has a great second half with 3d special effects so it looks like there are cannon balls hurtling straight at your head. Also Mary Queen of Scots' head gets cut off and then hurtles in front of you, turns into a skull and starts screaming in your face. Not a restful evening, then, perhaps, but great fun. Can recommend it. I think the Vile Victorians one also uses 3d, but not sure how.

Hi to Tim, and welcome.

Gracie I am glad to see you back, and Topsy I am sending you big hugs.....I will sit on the paranoia box if it helps.

Hanover it figures......

Hope your mum is ok MAS, I have kind of missed what is happening....but I realsie you are worried, so I am thinking of you.

Have had a very busy weekend. Nikki doggie is home, but has been in an awful state. She is a little better today, the pain is better under control. She will be very grateful for the doggie treats left for her on the fbs trolley.

sometimes glad the holiday was good.

gigs be thinking of you and your scan tomorrow and fingers crossed rads start this week.

Might just try a cookie as sound yum. Have had a strange craving for ready salted crisps and crackers and cheese which is just about all I have eaten over the last few days.

Crossposted.

sparkle glad Nikki doggie is home. Poor wee pet. I have a black lab, just love him, even though he is a pain in the bum at times. I remember being looked at strangely because we visited him each day when he was in the vets having a stone removed from his stomach. Hope Nikki feels better soon.