Tamoxifen 28

[Gigondas]

Another shiny thread

Mmmm enjoy :)

I must get to bed now and not be so soft as to let the cat in again. he has climbed through the blind again, silly mog. Will try and go in to work early again and get a handle on my emails, not recovered from my week off :( Should be a quiet office though, Friday is a popular day for WFH.

Just nipping in to wish MAS well for tomorrow. I think your bro's right you know. I kept diagnosis from my mother and she's never really forgiven me. Also it's incredibly hard on you and your lovely dad if you can't let on. I'm sure she wouldn't want that. Hope it's straightforward and goes smoothly tomorrow. We'll be waiting for you with fbs xx

Hello Curly. Sounds like you're doing the best thing you can, which is be there and listen, understand, have a laugh. My friend went to my wig fitting and we laughed a lot. Hugely helpful to have people around you who are real about it all and not full of platitudes. Ask us anything you want. One of us will know the answer am sure.

Gracie, thinking about you and wishing you home tomorrow. xx

OTM, hope side effects are staying away.

Jane I wish you hadn't said Chocolate Mascots. Want one now.. Hugs to all who need them. Night all.

Good luck for tomorrow MAS xx

curly - welcome, I think Smee has said it - the fact that you are going with your friend, shows what a good friend you are. Just be there for her, have a laugh and be prepared for her to maybe have a little cry - the fact she has cancer might hit home when she is trying on wigs.

She might also want to think about getting a couple of soft cotton beanies or scarves for times when she can't be bothered with her wig - or when she's relaxing at home and is having a break from wearing it.

gracie, - hope you get home tomorrow my pet xx

ok, I'm soft. Let the cat in, but he slept quite well and I did too. I think he is missing dd1, he spent a lot of time with her! must get dressed and off to work so will not be back until much later. Just wanted to say hello and I am thinking of gracie and mas today. Has anyone else got appointments?

Got some strawberries from Tesco yesterday so I think I'll have them for breakfast...

wasn't gig obsessed with chocolate mascots ?
thanks for kind wishes - and yes, feels right to tell mum- she's not stupid and would pick up on it and then be very hurt - we are trying to protect her from more anxiety,but I can see it might get horribly confused.
jane -yes,cat must be missing dd - glad he was well behaved.
Love to gracie -= hope you are doing ok.

Good luck for today Mas
What time are you heading off ?

Good luck today mas - and agree that telling your mum for the best .

Yes I was (am) obsessed with chocolate mascots.

Arm really sore from picc line and feel bit crappy (hopefully accounted for have low bloods) but may go and get line checked anyway. Fingers and toes crossed it is nothing and I don't end up in hospital.

Wishing gag gracie home

Gig, you youngster!

MAS, bloomin' good luck for today - let us know what's going on?
And hugs all round for everyone, too.
Gracie, how are you doing??

Curly, the thing that helped me most of all with friends was someone being beautifully calm and normal, being on hand to take me to and from stuff if I needed it, and just chatting away with me to take my mind off stuff when needed.

Wigs - I've been Queen of the Wigs for the last year. In fact I love them so much that I can barely be parted with them, even though now I have some (horribly unruly curly) hair back again. I've used Rene Amore wigs, which are adjustable and breathable and can't be told apart from real hair by nearly everyone.

I also had soft beanie hats for overnight if it was a chilly night.
I went to a good wig specialist who told me exactly which one would work. She was more expensive to buy from, but gave me such confidence.
Other people never do get on with wigs. They feel uncomfy for a few days until your brain gets used to having them on there.
Chemo - I'd really recommend taking ginger supplements for a few days before each one. Good research showing it makes a big difference to nausea for a lot of people. And I used those sea bands wrist strap things, and sipped ginger beer afterwards when I felt a bit 'urk'. The medicines for nausea are very good, though.
Hair falls out after 10-17 days, normally. And pretty much all at once in many cases, which is a shocker. Many of us 'took charge' by shaving it off when it started to do so. But in a way it's the bit that causes the most tears for many, so get ready for that reaction from your friend.
Hope that helps a bit...

Welcome curly - I have nothing to add to what's been said, but welcome anyway.

Just wanted to send lots of positive and fuzzy thoughts for MAS for today, and also to second the vote for telling your Mum. x Let us know how you get on at the appointment, there'll be cake for later. xx

And Gracie - hope you can break free today.

We had a fab night last night - finally got to see Michael McIntyre t seems ages since we got the tickets. He was very, very good. Good thing I put waterproof mascara and eyeliner on

Nipping in to see if MAS has gone yet. Thinking of you until you're safely back xx

thanks to all for good wishes - my chemo day is always a out that long but traffic was especially crap that evening. Friend stayed throughout - too far to o home and back again as over an hour normally. she was good value but as not n especially 'best' friend did feel a bit weird discussing all my symptom in front of her - she now knows far more than she should about my bowels!

gracie chin up, they are being cautious I think but understandably so.

gig you are a mere babe - rock that look in the pub!
curly just by going you are being a good friend - it is so wonderful to have someone along who just sits and waits and says daft things in support. be honest about the wigs though - i found it really hard - and my sister helped me to pick a god one. it was very emotional though. And now 'she' sits on my chest of drawers staring at me!

am off to watch more West Wing, working my way through the box set as I am in exhausted post chemo mode so can do very little. beginning to find my routine quite comforting - i know when i will be crap and just plan around it. I worked out (thank you ladies) that it was just stressing me out trying to fight it

OTM that's a coincidence as I watched the West Wing when I was going through chemo too. Which series are you on? If you didn't watch Homeland, go for that next. Definitely addictive. Hope you're not feeling too ice xx

Sometimes if you're out there, I think you were spot on about my DS following in your DD's pattern, as last night he went to Judo and loved it. A year ago no way would he have done that. Was so ridiculously chuffed for him, even if it did mean he had to practice his throws on me (ouch!).

Hello Ladies I hope you don't mind me coming on here as I don't have bc but a rare tumour in the pancreas with spread to liver. Having chemo 6 cycles every 21 days for eight hours. Side effects mainly manifested as slept for two days, felt very drugged up, bit of nausea but no where near as expected and killer stomach pain from steroids. Oh and I look like someone's painted my face white. Today is the first day I feel like me. I wanted to ask if it gets worse or better the next time? Is it cumulative?

ooh bravo for ds, Smee! So glad he enjoyed it, even if it's ouchy. And there really is nothing to beat the confidence they get from knowing how to handle themselves, if they had to.

Dd has just been accepted into a very good local drama workshop - there were no auditions or anything ( just a waiting list) - she is v keen and I think that this, too, will help with confidence and poise, even if she only does it for a short while.

Thebarnes - you are very welcome here. It started as a BC thread but we have others here too as well now, and even some who proved not to have cancer of any kind after all. So sorry about your dx though, and to hear that you have been feeling rough and pale Certainly from my experience it is cumulative. But on the other hand, you get to know what to expect, which helps you reach an accommodation with it, and to manage life around it. be kind to yourself - treats really help.

Oh and I would also say don't put up with the killer stomach pains. Tell the unit as they may well be able to change the meds. The advice I was given was - don't put up with anything horrible. If you tell them they will usually be able to help.

Thanks sometimes I did speak to them about it and hopefully they will sort it for next time as the other stuff was doable but I felt like a small bonfire had started in my stomach. The whole thing is a learning curve and will be much better prepared for it next time especially a liking for spaghetti hoops and waffles which has really helped.

Ah, good - self indulgence can keep you sane. Red wine and salad were my strange cravings. One good, one not so much

On here we also tend to recommend ginger and pineapple for pesky stomach issues. Ginger beer should be available on the NHS, IMO.

Thebarnes, hello. Sounds like you've been having a hell of a time. Stick around and let us distract you. I had horrendous stomach pains - was given something (can't remember what sorry!), but also told to avoid caffeine, acidic food (so fruit). I ate lots of yoghurt, but I think it has to be pasteurised as you don't want any chance of infection. I'd bet others will be along soon with more thoughts. It does get easier, but it got me every cycle. I learned to manage it better though so it lessened iyswim.

Sometimes, how's the work? still piled up?

Blardy freezing here. I have put my big slouchy work sweater on for the first time since winter (huge thick, moth ridden!). Sigh..

Yup, freezing here, too. I've got a warm new jumper that I bought with my leftover Euros, and it's gone on, along with a pair of spotty socks. Wow I look cool and edgy (not)

Yes, the work is still piled high here. I am very pleased. Only down side is - all of it is very, very hard. My poor brain

How's yours (work, not brain)? Was it hard to get back into it after Oz? bet it was....

Am really struggling with work tbh. Sort of skin of teeth as energy's lacking. I am spoilt, but could really do with a holiday! Brill about DD's drama course. Though you now risk the 'I want to be an actress' ambition.

True, true - but I am also hoping that it will prove an outlet for all the drama that is part of the package with a 9 year old girl

It is hard when you hit the down part of one of these work cycles. I normally reach that point when no-one is calling me, or answering my calls. I just spiral into inactivity then. you have my sympathies mind you I'm procrastinating like buggery myself because today's tasks are too hard

And I'm horrible to live with at the end of a wasted day, because I'm so fed up with myself

Waves at thebarnes- omeprazole is what they proscribed me for that feeling of indigestion, hurting stomach and windpipe.

Am not happy as hungry (stupid me for not grabbing lunch) , still waitin to see someone about my arm and will not be kind when the lazy arse junior dr goes through their usual thing of Trying to keep me in.

Sympathy for those who are having work issues as it does get on your nerves.

And you can sit next to me as I definitely look an interesting greige too.

If you need us to pitch up at the hospital with placards Gig, just let us know.

I think junior doctors get very, very nervous around chemo patients

procrastinates still more