**TAMOXIFEN** 26 !

[MaryAnnSingleton]

Here we go !

Think I lost 2 stone just getting my boobs cut off

And I bloody love Old Lady Dogs style !

And great news about baby Smee .
Onwards and upwards !

Morning lovely ladies Blimey, I've missed loads and loads. . .

Hi kurri lovely to see you back. Delighted that you and DH had a nice break. Thought of you when the sun came out! Let me know when you're down again. J loved his stickers and Lego man, thank you so much!! Chocolate yummy too - I did generously share on here, although there wasn't much left by the time it made itself on the the fbs trolley. . .

smee excellent news about baby. Independent breathing is a great thing. Hope DS having a nice holiday so far? You got plans to go away? Hope all good with you x x

topsy control is good - well done! I think the bald look is too frequently overlooked as a style statement. . .

gracie boo for clots. Clexane bit ouchy but injecting yourself is OK, once you get the hang of it. I did my own GCSF shots when I was on the Docetaxol.

sweetest welcome, although sorry you find yourself here, iyswim. My bc story - diagnosed invasive ductal carcinoma in january 2012, lumpectomy, no nodes involved, 6 x chemo, and got 3 radiotherapy sessions left, out of 20. Am also on tamoxifen. This thread is awesome - I would be a gibbering, dribbling wreck without these amazing ladies

Probably missed lots more, so apologies to all I have not mentioned. Hope everyone bearing up OK today, and enjoying some sunshine?

Hoooooot... took DS for a swim and the pool was full so we couldn't get in. Ended up in the park at the paddling pool, which was lurverly as a friend came too, so we sat in the shade with her lovely toddler, while DS pretended he was a shark in the pool though fortunately he didn't scare any kids

Ned, this time next week, you'll be done. Are you going to have enough energy left for your fishing weekend?? We have no holiday plans. New York at Easter and having to pay for DS's dyslexia assessment means the most we'll be doing is a bit of weekend camping/ visiting friends. Still nice though.

Topsy, where's the birthday cake?? Surely we get some before he does?

We've just had a barbecue. I am ashamed to say it's about the first time I have lit one since I met DH. He's at work. DS had a water pistol and 3 buckets of water ready. Oh-how-he-trusts-me.

take care smee i'd be far too scared to light a barbecue !!

What still no cake from topsy hope she hasn't eaten it all. Maybe she is too busy playing on the xbox .

smee I have never lit the barbecue. That is DH's domain. He wouldn't let me near it even if I wanted to. Park sounds lovely. Bless DS being a shark.

ned nearly there 3 to go is great. You will be glad when it is finished.

District nurse came today for injection. They are coming for the next couple of days as they want to check I can self inject. I recognised her as soon as she arrived. It was the same nurse who re-filled my dad's syringe driver when he was dying .

I'm here !
DS (unfortunately) doesn't like cake (faints) so we have doughnuts instead .

Been a busy old day .
DH took a half day from work and we went into town with DS .
He spent some of his birthday money on downloads for his x box (have no idea what this means)

Park sounds lovey Smee , has been glorious here too .

Gracie
Did nursey recognise you ?

A boy who doesn't like cake topsy? - do you have to eat it for him?

Gracie, oh that must be hard having same Nurse. How was the injection this time?? Any easier?

Topsy (to re-use a v.old joke..) are you sure DS's not adopted?!

If I hadn't actually been awake when I gave birth to him , I might be seriously worried ...

Yes she remembered me but not where from. She stayed for ages just chatting which was nice but did touch a nerve.

smee injection was fine. I think the miles of fat are helping.

Yum donuts.

Hi lovely ladies. Sorry for absence but have had a hectic couple of weeks here, what with end of term and serious garden redesigning shenanigans. It's all coming along nicely. I've been cracking the whip directing DH re positioning of summer house, shrubs etc. Got run over by a white van today - well, not run over exactly - more like shoved into a fence panel. But it hurt nonetheless. Drive did a runner in his van drove off but I've got the name of the company so will ring to complain tomorrow. No harm done though (apart from shock - hence the medicinal glass of ).

Hello to Sweetest. I'm glad you found this thread, it's been a godsend to me and all the other ladies too. I was dx last year Jan with BC, had chemo first, then mx and node clearance in August followed by rads. I'm not on Tamoxifen, I'm taking Letrozole (for ladies who are through the menopause). I live in a corner of Essex by the sea.

Smee, great news about your friends baby. Onwards and upwards.

Topsy, glad DS is having a fab birthday. I wouldn't know a x-box download if it came and hit me in the face.

KK, glad you had a good visit to your mum's. I hope your DH managed to relax?

Gracie, sorry to hear you've got a clot. I had to have injections during my chemo but was never asked if I'd like to do it myself, it was just assumed that the nurse would do it. I'm glad she did tbh. I'm sure seeing the nurse again bought back all sorts of sad memories.

Now it's the hols I hope to be able to report in and read your news on a daily basis.

Waves to everyone I've missed and throws boxes of Thorntons chocs onto FBS trolley, courtesy of all the lovely children in my class who gave them to me as an end of term 'thank you' .

Morning!

DH cycling to work today, so I was woken at half five by the alarm....yawn! Don't think I am going to get back to sleep but am confined to the house since having an eye op on Monday, so can't take advantage of this beautiful morning to go for a walk -grrr. Might throw on some shorts and sit in the garden with my book.

How is everyone this morning?

:)

ooh chocolates !
Am about nurse gracie - must bring things back.
Hooray for lovely park visit smee and huge @ junior topsy's not liking his cake...
amber are you ok ?
Do you think I should go (or try to go) to the doctors today ? I have very sharp pain in my upper rib cage,which came on suddenly yesterday evening- it really hurts if I breathe in /bend etc I haven't done anything weird,just a normal day- took ds to shops and did feel a bit not quite right but that might well be the heat and anxiety about going away. It's my left side .

I would go - I suspect it is nothing (easy to pull those muscles in my experience) but put your mind at rest.

gracie poor you to see that nurse on top of everything else. I am not keen on our district nurse as I either get the one who calls me a yummy mummy (i don't really care but The reason I have a nanny is hardly so I can get my hair done) or the one who goes on about have I seen the hospice nurses...

smee that is great news about baby- a big step but will keep little one in my thoughts

figgy lovely to hear from you as wondering where you were but sounds like have been busy.

Acupuncture was lovely . therapist made me feel bit more dismal and hopeless so I wonder if ought to dump her - there are times now where think I get more value out of talking here or to dh or figuring things out myself. I was talking about how can get quite down when have been ok (think we all know about sudden anxiety for whatever reason). Her view was natural and that I can be quite anxious - which is true and I know this but not exactly helpful to cope! Think more Cbt might be useful.

But had lovely dinner last night out and seeing friend today so doing ok.

And at your ds not liking cake topsy.

I will have that sweetest

Need to get verdict about opening cement for Olympics from friend who went to rehearsal yesterday. His main comment was how expensive a beer was ...

MAS I would go, I think. It might be something that could easily be fixed, like a pulled muscle or something, and at least doc could put your mind at rest. Poor you, sending lots of gentle hugs x x x

Hi figgy bet you're glad it's the holidays?! Thanks for the thorntons < snaffles handful>

smee I think you're very sensible to get DS assessed privately. I know what a nightmare it is to get it done through school, and then at least things could be put in place quickly, in time for september, hopefully, and you can all hit the ground running. How does DS feel about it all? Thinking of you all lots x x

gig can yo take a break from your therapist and see how you feel, rather than dumping her altogether? I think sometimes the way we cope with things shifts and changes, and you have to do what is right for you. If its better to talk on here and to DH, then maybe go with that for now. It might be in time you want to go back to your therapist, if your coping mechanisms shift again. Just do what's right for you, love - thats the most important thing. Don't leave us though - we love you!! And [schock] at hospice nurses comment - tell district nurse to bugger right off. Have a nice time with your friend today x x

sweetest what are you having done? Nothing too serious or ouchy, I hope. Enjoy the sun!

amber hope not too exhausted? What you been up to?

Waves to everyone else - hope we all get a chance to enjoy the sun today x

Iced peach tea, anyone? It's absolutely glorious here!

MAS, definitely go and get that checked out. It is probably nothing, but best to put your mind at rest.

Ned, during surgery to remove the tumour, my facial nerve was cut so my left eye was sewn at the outer corner to reduce the exposed surface, since a lot of people who've lost the facial nerve can't blink. However, I can blink quite well, so I had my eye reopened and good weights sewn into the eyelid so that it will close at the same -or similar -speed as my good eye. I look as if I have gone ten rounds with Joe Bugner (insert heavyweight boxer of your choice here!).

It's true, cancer is the gift that just keeps on giving!!

God it's hot here- humid too,which I hate. Am off to see dr at 10.40- not my own doc, but one I don't know-not that that makes a difference. Took 2 ibuprofens which have eased it.
Glad you had nice evening out gig - agree with what ned has said about therapist- a break might be a very good idea and possibly a top up of CBT to help deal with anxiety.

Hope dr helps mas

And ned that is an idea about therapist (I have no intention of leaving here). At moment it feels a bit more like something I have to do whereas in past it felt like was doing good. I have a few more Cbt sessions I can use so could take those up.

That said I am just going to see nutritionist (who always cheers me) and am sitting in sun, with a coffee and m and a granola slice while I listen to music - this has made
Me feel quite cheery so maybe the small simple things are much underrated to cheer us up?

And agree about humidity mas was horribly sticky despite air con unit last night.

Morning all

MAS - I would go to the doc. to set your mind at rest. - AS Gig says its very easy to pull a muscle there (I've done it before from coughing - and you had a bad cough/cold recently didn't you?), it always hurts a lot - it's one of those muscles you don't realise how much you use until it starts hurting!

Gig - glad the acupuncture went well, and you have nice nutritionist today. - I don't think your therapist should be making you feel down, - definitely they often leave you with plenty of food for thought, but I think it should be a positive experience.

Figgy - lovely to see you, - sounds as if you have been very busy, - it must be nice to have the holidays to look forward to now. Oooh thorntons yum . I really need these virtual treats at the moment

Sweetest - your eye problem sounds very tricky, - do the weights feel strange? - they must do I imagine. But its good you can blink, is your nerve likely to heal gradually or is the damage long term?
I would lie out in the sun with you in my shorts, but I'm not sure the world is quite ready for my legs yet

Waving to Ned, amber Smee and everyone else. Hot and humid here, old lady dog has her fan on again - she's started asking me to put it on now by poking it with her nose

Quick question - does anyone know of any good paraben free deoderant for men? - DH has decided he will not wear deoderant (as it is dangerous and will give him cancer) - Part of his health anxiety I think, but I respect his feelings on the matter, and I know parabens are not the best things in the world!
However I have told him I am not at home to Mr Whiffy, and he needs to find a substitute or wash very frequently, especially given the hot weather. I had to point out that boy-sweat is not virile and masculine, it is just gross. So any suggestions welcome

Is there any news from Bollocks? - feel a bit worried about her, has she posted since her appointment?

kurri the body shop ones are paraben free and quite decent.

I am worried about bollocks too.

Thanks Gig - I'll check them out, it's taken me a long time (30 yrs) to convince him that a man who uses nice smelling products is not a big girl

I think Weleda do nice natural deos...
Yes, no word from bollocks so worried too.
Been to gp - she sent me for a blood test (I managed it without embarrassment and chest xray) She wanted to check for a blood clot- the radiographer at the community hospital looked at the films and said there didn't seem to be a pneumothorax (which isn't a blood clot,is it? just reduced lung capacity from my ER/Holby/Casualty training) Pain is still there- and noticeable on breathing in