**Tamoxifen** the 30th thread !

[MaryAnnSingleton]

Am wheeling the trolley over....

He was delicious, though will have to hide the bell he was wearing as DS will guess immediately and be outraged.

Don't say that I have a Lindt advent calendar (I found a milky bar one in sainsburys) and it looks very tempting. But am cooking chocolate cake so should wait (will put some on trolley later).

Ooh, Lindt Advent Calendars. Didn't know they did those. I did actually eat the whole of a chocolate Advent Calendar once before Dec.1st.

How are you feeling Gig? Is your leg any easier? I think you must have your appt soon for MRI results, can we hold your hand? x

Yep - got my calendar from ocado where they were on offer (also sainsburys have them).

Leg ok- it's more stiff where have Been using other muscles to compensate or if I overdo stairs or bending. Appointment is tomorrow lunchtime- so a bit nervous (reason tells me it's muscular or rads damage cos of how it feels, what sets off Etc but the tiny voice of paranoia does worry- although chance of recurrence of old tumour meant to be less than 5%).

Will have all things crossed tomorrow lunchtime then. I think you should scoff the calendar if good news. Am sure it will be.

Did I hear chocolate cake being mentioned? I will just have a sniff as on a diet .

Hope everyone fine and your dodgy tum has improved mas.

Good luck tomorrow gigs. I'm sure your results will be fine.

How are your itchy bits ned? Hope the steroids have worked wonders. I think I may be starting to heal .

Must get my act together as lots to do. Hope you are feeling better topsy.

smee step away from the advent calendars.

waves at gracie- homemade doesn't have so many calories- it's virtually health food.

I would work up enthusiasm for the Xmas discussion about who hosts my mil but it bores me to think about it let alone type about it. Plus I don't want to add to what must the 3079 post or thread on such things at this time of year.

Any Lindt father christmases for sharing, Smee?! I think you definitely deserve at least one, with all this work you're doing at the moment!

I have some of DHs amazing home made mince pies if anyone is in the festive spirit. Will sling some on the trolley. . .

Am STILL itching, but it is better, and much less red. Boob much less swollen and sore, and reverted to normal slightly rads-tanned colour. Dr Lovely gave me more steroids this morning, and wants to see me again on Thursday to see if I need more. I am sure there is some warning label in the notes of patients like me. . .

Have received a mammogram appointment in the post this morning. . . Somehow, I don't think I'll need it

MAS how you feeling today? Posted your cheque off this morning. What colour mount/ frame would you think might work for DBs picture? Am veering from sensible and neutral cream, with a pine frame, but might get away with something a bit bolder, do you think?

gig everything crossed for you today, lovely x x

gracie yay for healing! Hope you continue to get better x x

kurri how's Old Lady Dog? Hope she is doing OK. Sending Dorset doggie treats eastwards x x

Waves to everyone - thanks for all your lovely comments of love and support - I really appreciated them

mmm,chocolate cake would go down a treat !
Will be thinking of you tomorrow gig
V glad you are less itchy now ned How about a dark frame and a nice deep blue mount- sort of the colour of the sky- should make it look wintery and festive !
Have bought a thing of peach and raspberry smoothie and have had some melon for rehydration !

Tsk, Ned of course no Father Christmas left.

Great to hear you're healing. You too, Gracie.

Melon's a good idea, MAS. Would pineapple work in the same way? Maybe little satsumas too?

doesn't pineapple interact with some chemo ? I love it- we have some satsumas here and we always have much citrus fruit at weekends -am too lazy to peel oranges myself [shameful face] but to be fair my hands are =hopeless -am struggling with doing up my jeans and opening my shower gel.

mas I thought it was grapefruit? I was told not to take grapefruit, I had FAC. I did eat pineapple though.

Good luck tomorrow gigs

Turning I agree with gigs advice on visitors. My husband is usually hopeless at these times, sat and read Rumpole of the Bailey through one of my labours. However his comforting presence without any extra demands of chat or the emotional reactions of my friends and family was just what I wanted when I was still emotionally as well as physically fragile myself. Later friends bought in DVDs to watch together. Normally I read books voraciously but I couldn't read at all in hospital.

yes,grapefruit too- though onc said 1 a week was ok !

Mas as well as Miso I found flowering teas, with white tea rather than green tea, really useful for my poisoned stomach, although I don't know what the caffeine content is. I don't like the bitterness of ordinary or some green tea, especially when I'm feeling iffy but these are fragrant and very soothing. I don't know what these suppliers are like, but the price doesn't seem too bad. wearetea.com/categories/white-tea

Turning Another suggestion is to try and get one of your friends to marshal the others and to act as a conduit for information. So that you and your husband get the help you need and want rather than an avalanche , and all the responsibility of dealing with everyone is taken away from you. In my slightly war torn group of close friends that is now a well oiled machine. Also let friends know that as a means of helping, as you can see from this thread, a casserole / cake / treat left on the doorstep is always a good thing .

MAS I ate loads of pineapple during chemo as I'd read the enzymes in it help to protect your mouth. Also, as so many things tasted weird/unpleasant, the taste of pineapple was just greaT! (uNLIKE THOSE CARDBOARD BANANAS!).
I didn;t have any bad reaction to the pineapple but am sure this could vary according to the drugs one in on.
x

thanks for tea info copthall

Can I join and have some virtual handholding?

I've had a sore left breast for at least 6 weeks now. I have had pain and discomfort for about 6 months but because I have been breastfeeding I put it down to that. Ive been to the doctors twice now and have a further appointment on Friday. 1st Dr said it was probably cyclical, 2nd Dr performed an examination and said its most likely mastitis, I've been away and taken a course of ABs and stopped feeding DS, but it's still there. It's tender to touch and DH is adamant it feels different. I've been feeding DS for over 2 years and my boobs have always been quite lumpy so I'm not sure if it's this or something else.

Gah, it feels like I'm rambling. Sorry to waffle but I'm really worried about what else it could be. :(

Hello NotKnown, poor you. Very tough not to have a clear answer. Of course we'll hold your hand. I'd say if neither doctor referred you on to a Breast Clinic that's a very good sign, as they don't tend to hesitate if they're concerned. Also, most breast cancer isn't at all painful. I know mine wasn't, so that's a great sign too.

MAS, curious on pineapple, as I've heard lots of people swear by it on chemo. I could never quite manage it, but was certainly never told not to. Did your Onc say different?

Thanks Smee I'll hold onto those positive thoughts.

Noknownallergies The vast majority of breast lumps are nothing nasty and especially when you are feeding. Have you tried massaging it hard. I had a quite a few bouts of mastitis and whilst they usually did go with anti biotics I also did a couple of times get a hard lump I had to really knead away at to clear. I always then worried my poor baby was going to be landed with the breastfeeding equivalent of mouldy Parmesan Smee is quite right, my nasty lump didn't hurt either which the mastitis most definitely did , and doctors these days do tend to refer if at all concerned. Having said that I do know some doctors are not aware that in young women a significant proportion of lumps are found whilst breastfeeding, BUT it is a TINY TINY NUMBER in the context of all the lumpiness of breastfeeding breasts. If you can't shift it and the doctor can't give you a convincing other explanation do insist on a referral to allay your worries.

Thanks, the thing is I'm not sure it's a lump. To me the area feels hot and sore. Its more like a warmth radiating up into my armpit. I'm going to push for a referral if I don't feel satisfied with the Doctors explanation.

I've stopped feeding DS now. He is 2 years 4 months so he hasn't missed out.

I'm sure it's nothing, it's just really hard to stay away from Dr Google right now. It helps to have some rational reasonable support whilst I wait for another medical opinion.

Hello All
DP's have arrived to look after the DD's while we are at the hospital - it is complete chaos here but I can offer box of heroes chocolates for the trolley! Am thinking I should name change to turningroundincircles Am not even going to try to work out what everyone has going on at the moment so will just say good wishes to all and good luck to Gigondas because you have scan/scan results tomorrow ?

Thank you for all the suggestions I have been writing them all down! We are feeling in a bit of a flap because of the change in surgery which we hadn't been planning for. I don't think he will be allowed anything to eat for the first 24hrs at least and they will be waking him up and prodding and testing things every hour for the first 2 to 3 days so he will be very tired and grumpy. Advice on visiting noted. The hospital is an hour and a half away from where we live so that will stop all but the determined from going. Even after the last 1.5hr surgery he was very sleepy afterwards and just wanted me to sit quietly next to him. I can't imagine what he will feel like after being under GA for 6-8 hrs. The change in surgery plan has really thrown us, not only the length of time but the fact that I will be staying at the hospital for at least a couple of nights. Poor DD1 has had a bit of a wobble tonight But school are being great.

The radio sounds like a great idea we will try to get one before we go. He likes to listen to the radio and I don't think he will be able to sit up much at the begining. So do things for cooling his face - they will be keeping him in a very warm room they said to help the circulation. Because they have to connect veins and arteries they said this is why they have to check all the time in case the circulation fails and no food in case he has to go back to theatre. He will be in a room on his own so they can keep it the right temperature which is a good job otherwise I think we would need to give out the ear plugs to everyone else - he is a chronic snorer So many suggestions and advice, thank you all, I have taken note, now I just have to try and get us ready...sorry if this is a bit of a ramble

We head over to the hospital tomorrow afternoon and the surgery is on wednesday. Thank you all for listening/helping

Turning the post operative care after you have had certain types of reconstruction also involves being kept warm to help dilate blood vessels etc. It can make you very sweaty and smelly so you might think about flannels to wash under armpits and whatever smellys they allow? I hope it all goes well