23rd **TAMOXIFEN** thread

[MaryAnnSingleton]

oh my !

(((((... hugs Topsy back...)))) Nice thought.

Gigs, what time's your appt tomorrow? Will be burning a bright light for you. Great list, though you absolutely have to add Edie Falco (for me and MAS), also Brigitte Bardot, Sheila Hancock and Maggie Smith.

Amber, I do love your stats.

Added those names - appt about 9.30 tomorrow Morning .

My sister is ranting about per una and the Olympics by text- It is most amusing how her mind works

I too thank Heaven for amber and her stats and links .
Infact your most recent link to me re combined Herceptin and chemo came very useful yesterday in my Onc meeting . I was able to understand about median survival rates and ask the relevant questions .

Gig good luck for tomorrows appointment .

I think I shall leave a candle burning all week . It feels appropriate .

What are median survival rates ...

Amber - wow and phew, - it's been a long old treatment trek for you, and here you are crossing the line, that's got to be worth a or ten two

Good luck for tomorrow Gig.

1Step - it's good your BCN phoned and had a chat - you will feel a lot more normal once that drain is out and you can get about properly.

Hello Elibean - nice to see you

I've just got back from weaving my way round some very narrow country roads (some of them had tufts of grass growing up through the middle of the tarmac ) - one or two stalling incidents, but not too bad.

Median survival - sort of averages.

KK, hurrah for surviving the narrow country roads with grass features! I find Flora the (t)rusty Land Rover splendid for narrow country roads as you can at least see over the hedges and spot the oncoming Combine Harvester or articulated lorry

Ooh me too for a hug!

1Step - I too was told my armpit was clear (from ultrasound) but then little buggers were found hiding out when they did the SNB, so had clearance. Only one of the two they had sampled was affected tho. I asked the surgeon if he could put the others back then, please!

Jane - Bon Voyage! Hope you have a fab holiday.

Sparkle - hope your wee lad is better x

l4k - positive vibes for you tomorrow.

My mum's in hospital again. Am going to try to go up and see her while the boys are at school tomorrow.

Kurri I love country-road driving, it's my favourite, all that weaving about and sudden lurches into passing places! Proper driving! Much more fun than all that straight lines in traffic stuff. I avoid motorways whenever possible and work myself out a lovely cross-country route

I rather like it too Lime - a surprise round every corner (why do pheasants always try to fling themselves under the car? they really are the stupidest of birds)

oh yes, a country lane is fun ! nicer than motorways !
Am feeling a bit stressed by the amount of work in line- not complaining of course, but rather a lot all at once.
Missed the group hug !

OOps pressed post too soon. - Sorry to hear your mum is in hospital again, hope she's out soon.

Are you using these group hugs to get some secret orange action from when I left Tom on the FBs trolley topsy

I think Gavin has gone though- was saying something about needing to check his tan in the mirror.

Hi

I am not on Tamoxifen. I have been diagnosed with Breast cancer today. I am in shock and could do with a chat. Is this the right board? if not any ideas?

thanks

Yes it is. You must be reeling snoopy. This is the scariest time I think - as cancer is such an emotive word but as it is treatable.

What have they told you so far?

Yes Snoopygirl you are definitely in the right place. Most of us have had bc, a few have had other types and we even have some who got the all-clear but can't bear to leave!

Poor you, it's an awful shock. We can help though, with advice and support, chat and virtual cake. What have you been told so far?

And I don't have bc - another type but was only diagnosed (dx) in jan so know how it feels.

Snoopy, Tamoxifen's not at all essential, so yes this is definitely the right place. We've all been through some version of cancer and the majority of us are Breast Cancer. Sorry you're here at all really, but now you are stick with us and ask whatever you want. Really helped me when I was diagnosed.

Kurri, excellent driving skills. Avoiding grass clumps. Is that on necessary to pass the test?

Amber has a land rover called Flora?! Why did I not know that before. If it's one of those old tank-like ones.

MAS, am feeling work stress too. Haven't told current big project about my op. We need treats.

yes,v sorry to hear about your mum lime

Ok thanks.

I am 42 and have 1 DS 6. I am a regular MN'er on recurrent miscarriage board. Treatment for this was steroids for last 6 months and Letrozole on Super Ovulation treatment to boost eggs. I was diagnosed last Sept with V High Killer cells and saw specialist privately as given up hope after 5 m/c's. the steroids dampen down your immune system as he believes this is attacking foetus at conception. The treatment has been v succesful for ladies on the thread on MN.
Can;t believe I have been dampening down immune system. and also that I've been on a breast cancer drug (letrozole), the side effect of this drug is that it boosts eggs.

Sorry for rambling, I am a mess, but thought I would give you background.

Had biopsy this morning, mamogram and ultrasound + two other tissue biopsies. Consultant said has BC in 3 diff places in left breast. One is 4cm across other two think they are connected and much smaller. Biopsies sent off and having one other one as they couldn't get at in on Friday. they felt breast was too truamatised with needles etc. BC nurse making me an appointment with Oncologist for hopefully in next week.

They were all great. Totally shocked, think myself and family thought it was just a cyst as lump had come up quick. How the hell do I keep it together for DS I don't know.

thanks for listening.

welcome snoopy - you are in the right place here. Very sorry though - scary and frightening and overwhelming at first. Stick with us x

sorry,cross posted. You will get through this - it seems impossible right now, but you will. Ask any questions you like as there'll be someone who can answer I'm sure.

Oh snoopy you have been through it . Having had 3 mc and lost a baby at 21 weeks to abnormalities (and was on the ttc boards as took 3 years to conceive dd2).

On a practical level if you can try to focus on your daily tasks with ds but allow yourself "breakdown" time when he isn't around. It's hard but works for me ( I was dx when dd2 was 2 weeks old so became quite good at the secret weep).

When the time comes (when you feel ready and know what treatment is) then there are books on explaining it but i would go by what others have said here. I know smee topsy amber and Ned all have kids of similar ages.

Mas is right - you will learn to get through this. Much as I would rather not have had any of this happen, mc does teach you some hard lessons on coping with shit things . It sounds odd but I have drawn on a lot of that coping strategy to help.

Hi snoopy and welcome .
You will be in shock right now so I am not going to give you any cancer info .
You need to take it one step at a time , you will find the waiting to find out what is going on the hardest thing at this stage .
Once you have a plan for treatment (and breast cancer is very treatable) it will start to get a little easier .

I have 2 DC - aged 9 and 12 . So if you have any questions about how children deal with it all and how to speak to them feel free to ask (when you get to that stage)

But I would hold off saying anything just yet , till you know what you are dealing with .

Stick around , no questions are too embarrassing or too silly .
At least one of us will be able to help .