**TAMOXIFEN**22 !

[MaryAnnSingleton]

yikes- here we go...

MAS - I've PM'd you

Sterile area?! What's that Kurri? I wasn't told to do that... I just used to open it all up on my little desk. Oh dear. Mind you, bit late to find out now..

I was given a little pack with sterile wipes, a plastic sheet, rubber gloves and a plastic apron (I never wore the apron) and a sharps bucket to dispose of the needles in. Maybe they saw my house and realised special measures were necessary

Oh and it had a plastic kidney dish in it too - never worked out what that was for - maybe in case I was sick whilst injecting [grn]

I think it was there so you had the full medical kit - like the toy ones kids have. It would be good if you got a little hat with a red Cross on you could wear when injecting too.

- I'd have liked that, and a stethoscope (so I looked like a real doctor, not a Holby trained doctor)

I've been given a gi-normous sharps bucket, but no fancy doctor playing sterile kit. . . Will see what happens when see nurse on Thursday. . .

Feeling for you gig so sorry you're having a low time. Sending you lots of big hugs x x x

Ooh, am feeling might left out. No apron or anything here. Ned, demand a hat.

I've just realised the apron was a bit redundant because you do the injection in your tummy - maybe it was for DH to wear so he felt included.

@ medical kit.....

Just popping in, ds is at home today with severe neck pain, now has pins and needles in his feet too....was predictable as he has had so many incontinence problems in the last few days.... Just keeping him quiet at home at the mo, rather than calling the ambulance, only to spend hours in a&e whilst they do sod all. Might ring gp later if no improvement. Tis a bugger for the lad.

On a simialr subject to chunking....had to go into school last week and point out that floating teacher had been wrong not ds when she corrected his work and told him he was incorrect in maths....err actually he was right, and she was very very wrong! he knew it though and took it like a trooper, saying not everyone is as good at maths as me!

Sorry clicked post too soon, thinking of you all today, chemo, rads, feeling blue, surgery, results, jobs (definitely borg influence....delayed I mean really! )...keep safe and warm and dry, I will pop back later.

Poor DS, Sparkle. Hope you can get him well again without a trip to hospital.

Oh dear Sparkle. :( poor ds. Is he worse with wet weather?

Realised I am wound up about job, have woken up with achy shoulders. Job evaluation isn't really correct and what has happened to my career grade? It's not important in the grand scheme of things, but still!

Been shopping and bought a flight case, took a tape measure with me and will try not to overstuff it so it doesn't get stuck in the guage. Would have preferred a rucksac, but couldn't find a reasonably priced one of the cabin allowed dimensions. Will wear 6 layers of clothes to get through the airport :). Trying to decide what shoes to take.

weather doesn't seem to affect him as much as the old growth spurts! Heis not on top form, but we are fighting against the idea of going to hospital!!!!!

Nice comfy shoes jchoc....well that is what I should say anyway!

Poor DS, - hope he manages to stay out of hospital.

Jane - sorry about your job. My Dad is still bitter about local government restructuring over 25 years ago - nothing changes does it.

Sparkle - positive vibes for ds - hope he avoids a hospital visit.

Topsy - I'm on herceptin and docetaxol together. My understanding is that they don't know exactly how the herceptin destroys the cancer cells but there have been studies to show it works better when given with a taxane such as docetaxol. They don't give it with epirubicin as the heart toxicity risk is too great. They will give you an ECG before you start on the herceptin and then at regular intervals afterwards to look out for any problems - luckily so far (unlike Amber) I have tolerated the herceptin pretty well.

Ned - hope your doing OK. I'm bit achy today (day 8) but nothing too bad. I'm sure I would be better if I went for a walk but still pouring it down here.

Smee - good luck for Thursday. Hope you are giving yourself a break from work to recover afterwards.

Gig - baby blues, radiotherapy and endless rain - anyone would be feeling down. Be kind to yourself and take it easy.

Adding cherry cake to FBS trolley....

Aw sparkler hope DS doesn't have to go to hospital. A wait in A&E isn't nice for anyone.

oneineight I didn't realise there as a heart implication with Herceptin. I have high blood pressure, been on meds for 12 yrs and there are heart problems on both sides of my family wonder if that means I can't have it? Oh well will worry about that when I have to.

Coffee out was lovely. Been invited out tomorrow for coffee with a very old friend who I haven't seen in ages. I'm very a bit boring (as you probably have realised by now ) and I really don't have many friends but I am surprised at the way people, some I have hardly known, have offered help, invited me for coffee, etc. I am really touched by their kindness.

Hugs to everyone.

Gracie, hope I didn't scare you - I think the risk is quite small. They do the ECGs so they can pick up potential problems before they cause serious damage and I'm sure the consultants will look at what other medications you are on before recommending whether or not to have it.

gracie talk to amber about the heart implications with herceptin,she knows about these things.
Am impressed by the injecting girls- I am good at cats,if that's any help.
Had a nice time with mum and my friend S - coffee and croissants and some pecan things, then helped mum upstairs and on to her bed.She is moving so much better today,the effects of the medication wearing off-though getting up from seats,the loo and getting on to her bed take an age and I'm not sure how to help. Dad should be home by 5 - they aren't going to spend all the money on champagne though and will give the remainder to charity

sparkle poor little ds - gentle hug for him.

kk have pm-ed you back

have you seen how many posts we have ?
23rd thread here- don't forget the trolley

Hi everyone, it's been a while since I posted, but hope I can come back.

My op was cancelled as I had to be transferred to a city hospital due to an unrelated medical condition which meant I had to wait an extra 17 days for surgery which has been quite tough.

Anyway, had mx on Friday and got home yesterday. Although there was no evidence of lymph node involvement, my surgeon arranged for my sentinel nodes to be sent for testing during the op which resulted in a full node clearance as cancer was present in the sample.

It's all starting to sink in now and I'm worried about getting my full results. I reacted badly to some of the drugs I was given in hospital which is adding to my fear of how I'll react to chemo. Plus it just goes to prove that lobular cancer really is sneaky - it was in my lymph nodes but didn't show up, so how can I be sure where else it might be?

Sorry for rambling, I know it's early days, but I've gone from being told it was stage 1 and very treatable to now panicking about what I might be told on results day. Back in the waiting room again...

Tried to have a quick read through and it seems lots of us have either got appointments or treatment, etc going on at the moment. So I'm sending good wishes to all those in need and thanks for all the support this forum has given me xx

1st have replied on new thread.