**TAMOXIFEN 29**

[MaryAnnSingleton]

crikey !

medicalxpress.com/news/2012-10-optimal-duration-trastuzumab-therapy-women.html nifty re herceptin results showing 6 mths is probably as good as a year. I had to give up after 4 mths so it's a bit more of a relief.

And hello!! Will catch up shortly...

medicalxpress.com/news/2012-10-optimal-duration-trastuzumab-therapy-women.html

no steroids, just taking a fancy to salty and fruit things !
Am off to GCSE exam meeting, hope it won't be dull - am going to miss University Challenge

mas I craved cheese and crackers and salt and vinegar crisps. The two foods which I have always detested are melon and cucumber. Still don't like cucumber but absolutely love melon now much to DH's amusement as I used to pull all shapes of faces when he ate melon.

amber thank you for that link. I am a little concerned how my heart is going to cope with Herceptin (that is if the onc will give it to me in the first place).

gigs hope your chemo goes ok. Is this your last one?

First rads went fine although they were running a bit behind as there were 2 small children before me . Really puts things in perspective. One of the wee boys was about 4 and a really pleasant wee soul. Had my batman cape on which at least covered one side. They forgot to give me any aqueous cream though so will have to ask tomorrow.

Waves to all. Off to bed soon as this cold/sore throat is really taking it out of me. I may have had a little doze before school pick up

Waving to all. Hope Gigs is okay and has nice neighbours. Gracie well done on first rads. Bet it will fly by from now on. Mas, keep taking the anti-ick pills. Horrid feeling sick.

Kurri, huge thanks for sending those books. I will have a look through later. They look ever so helpful.

No time, but just wanted to say hello. Hope everyone's as well as they can be.

Am not doing too badly thanks although late finish - iplayer helped me through tho

Well done Gracie - I remember seeing little kids too when I went for my rads
Hope you're ok Gig
Good night all xxxx

I know - that made me sad too when doing rads. Always think however shit I feel about this crappy disease better me than some child.

It is the return of the chatty night nurse (different one)- 40 minutes on his blue ray collection and shopping habits. Does the man not know I have montalbano to watch?

Would you recommend Gig? I think I've missed the boat on that one. It started ages ago didn't it? Well done on getting through. Fingers crossed for no delays in getting home x

Yes I would- it did start a while ago and I am late to the party (topsy knew about it as crime lord in chief) but episodes are stand alone so no real need to watch all of them.

Can't sleep now - bastard steroids !!

Got new Beth Orton album on though

Morning all! gig hope you managed to rest a bit.
I've not got a good excuse - just been staying up far too late. Been working on the family tree, may solve a family mystery one way or another but have to tread sensitively. Tired now. But have to get up and go to work.

morning all. hi to gig who may still be awake!

day before chemo and big results so today is my day to rush around the house like a mad thing trying to do all jobs needed for next fortnight! already had fight with dd about her not getting her arse into gear in the morning. warned her at weekend so after i'd asked her to get up straight away (at 7.10) went in (at 7.18) and took away her shiny new laptop. she will get it back if she gets up on time tomorrow. which is chemo day so all rushing around madly

can i ask, how long after complete end of chemo did you all begin to feel 100% back to 'normal' again?

Hi all, I went for second chemo yesterday and was sent home as bloods too low ds has a cold so could be fighting that. Is this a normal thing to happen? It's been booked in for next week now so have to have blood locally on fri to check levels. Can i just walk in to local hosp (having chemo in different hosp) and get bloods done as need results same day?

Thanks all. Good wishes to all having treatment, appointments etc. I must admit it was tough after all psyched up to have it then sent away.

Hope you get it all done today- I had a frantic action day on Monday too before chemo. And will have everything crossed for you tomorrow .

The curse of chatty nurse hit me again this morning - but aside from needing a am doing ok.

Yes thebarnes this can happen- happened to my cousin a few times. You can do it locally provided your chemo hospital is ok with that and can pick up the results (mine rings through to local hospital). I usually get my bloods done a couple of days before so there is the warning if an issue then rather than when you are all psyched up on chemo day.

What was low in your bloods? White red or something else?

Cross posted before so sorry.

Thanks gig White ones I think they said neutrophils? I had bloods done on fri and it was 91 they said it should go up enough by mon so was to go ahead. Unfortunately it went down to 87 and they won't do it unless it comes up to 100. They think although I don't have a cold I may be fighting one off so that's affecting the count. Fingers crossed Friday ill be ok it's such a pain as you just want to get on with it but I guess this is going to happen.

Hope yours is going ok, how long are you in for?

In til Thursday morning- it's over 3 1/2 days .

Sounds right if neutrophils low will wait (with red blood you usually get a transfusion) but still annoying for you.

Any nice plans for when should have been chemoing?

thebarnes, yes not that unusual. Happened to me. They reduced the amount of chemo they were giving me from then on. It's not an exact science, as they just give you a dosage based on your height/ weight ratio. Everyone reacts differently so they can be unwittingly overdosing you. You'd better check on the bloods with your unit. Last thing you want is another hold up.

Gig, glad you're okay. What's are the day shift nurses like? Hope they'll let you snooze.

OTM, don't overdo the rushing around. Am liking your tough love.

MAS, how are you feeling today? Hope the anti sickness drugs are still working. xx

So much work to do. Better get on..

Hugs to The barnes and Gig.

OTM - realistically, in my case it was about a year before i felt 100%. Sorry. You do feel quite a lot better within a couple of months, and then it just moves up from there.

Hope you are feeling OK MAS - I can't remember a specific craving for salty stuff, but definitely do remember cravings for odd things. x

Quite a stint for you gig thank god for iplayer. No special plans here house is unusually tidy and organised as spent weekend getting ready for it so until small ones get home I shall enjoy the peace and tidiness.

My specialist nurse said typically 3 months and worst of fatigue gone but varies and people can still be suffering months/ years later.

Sorry, OTM missed your question. I'd say a year too. Takes more time than you think and I'd imagine we'd all say we have far more aches and twinges than before. tbh I can never work out what's getting older, what's post treatment, what's due to Tamoxifen and what's just pesky paranoia.

hugs to thebarnes and gig and hope all goes well otm
I have to have bloods done the day before I see onc,no earlier he said. I will nip over the road to my GP surgery as have booked it in advance- they know to lie me down there and use teeny needle so I feel better there !
No nausea today, haven't taken any meds either- I think maybe yesterday';s maximum dose has built up !
There's a Cancer thread on here which I've just discovered- Ileft a friendly message to say hello.

Hi mas -I have seen that thread too and cross posted. If no nausea, does that mean its waitrose time?