***Tamoxifen 32***

[MaryAnnSingleton]

step this way dear ones...the trolley will be here in a sec...

thanks hnd

Nope, not busy (well, no more than usual) - just 'out of fuel' emotionally - just life -nothing anyone else needs to fix - I need to get my head straight.

all round it is.

I am so

Was due to start 2nd cycle of chemo today but can't as there are no beds availabe!

"Hopefully" there will be one tomorrow.

WTF!!! When I need a 21 day cycle that's exactly what it should be 21 days not 22 or 23 or anything other number they may have dreamt up.

Offered to be a day patient - not possible (although it was offered to me as an option last time)

Offered to go to a different hopsital - not possible.

They even have my chemo meds on the ward ready - just totally unable to physically pump them into me.

Just have to sit by the phone wating for the hospital to sort out their 'bed blockers' - as that's what has caused the shortage of beds.

I AM SO

Press? MP? (PALS is just an ansa phone message saying they'll get back to me in 48 hours - whoopee-whoo!)

AtoZ. Phone GP and ask if they can call on your behalf?? Mental anguish/ distress is a huge trigger I was told. Or could you call your consultant - they must have a secretary. That might be worth a go.

That is unbelievable - what about Macmillan? They may have some advice on what to say.

Back later- trying to do some work.

Macmillans say it doesn't matter assome people have their treatment delayed due to low bloods - but my bloods are fine!!

Macmillans say it could be done as a day apteint - hospital says No

Have rung specialist nurse - ansaphone

Have rung PALS - ansaphone

Feeling like pressing the nuclear option and going to the Press.

Well in treatment terms a days delay doesn't matter (mas had to wait and I think someone else ended up delayed due to weather). That's not the point tho - point is delay is due to admin or system failure.

Going to press might make you feel better but not sure will get you that bed. Annoying about day patient thing tho.

Rang specialist nurse and said I wasn't happy.

Was told I might be "lucky" tomorrow.

Am contacting my MP who is very hot on this sort of thing.

I'ts fucking outrageous!

grrr- but don't fret too much about delay treatment wise as I have missed treatments due to side effects/weather...

poor T sent home from school as poorly- should have not been harsh mother and sent him in this morning

Hope T feels better soon mas although note you have stocked up on Waitrose supplies to perk him up . So jealous as we don't have a Waitrose here.

atoz grr about delay, frustrating especially as it is not your fault. Hopefully a bed will become available soon.

Hope you are ok amber you sound a bit fed up.

Off to school run and dancing run. Absolutely soaked after walking the dog who is now stretched out on the bed snoring.

Well my 'orrible 'ormones / melatonin black hole scored a blinder last night, laid awake all night until 6.25 when DH came up from snorarium, and had to get up at 7am to breakfast DD. Managed to get to sleep for a couple of hours before phone and everything else made more sleep impossible. So am now officially a zombie, gives everyone zombie wave...

AtoZ last of my treatments delayed two weeks by blood counts so it doesn't actually matter BUT agree totally unacceptable when you are all psyched up and ready to go. From the sound of it it may be something they have started to take for granted that they can get away with, so I would make a stink if only for your own satisfaction and the possibility it will help others and in the future.

Anyone recommend a suitable zombie film / support group............

AtoZ, I had delays, but down to bloods and then once down to screw up at the hospital. All you can do is to hold on to is that it won't affect how effective your treatment is. Still bloody annoying though.

Amber, sounds like you need to be with us on the sofa more often.

oh poor copt
Hope your T feels better soon smee - mine is in his room and seems ok but is coughing and sneezing.
So far no side effects- hands tingly but I think they've been like that since the start of this treatment !

Glad you're not too laid low by it all then, MAS. Have you heard yet when your scan might be. Should think that's on your mind more than a bit. By the sounds of things, your T is more ill than mine, who I can hear raiding the fridge, cheeky monkey.

Lovely plumber's just come and put a new ignition in, so Smee has heat. Feel quite cat like next to the radiator. Am almost purring..

Might be fed up. Can't tell yet.
Ooo look.
Good.
Hugely relieved today as a good friend has just had her tests back and she's not got cancer. Phew.
Copthall, argh re insomnia situation. I'm such a rubbish sleeper - can empathise a bit. There must be an answer but I don't know what.

Evening All

AtoZ that sucks big time .
No suggestions I'm afraid , other than letting them know that you won't keep quiet when bbumped !

Seems to be boiler busting season !
Mine went too , and 2 of my brother in laws .

Was at HNDs earlier , then came home , watched a bit of tv , slept for a couple of hours ...
Although did jump up and Hoover and wash floors , put the laundry on , and make dinner this afternoon .

I have one of those new mint kit kats in the fridge ...

Hello, I went to the GPs today about some anxiety issues and I mentioned that I thought I felt a small lump in right breast, but wasn't sure because they generally felt lumpy. So I'm now sitting here with an appointment at breast clinic on Friday. Just wondering if anyone could tell mewhat are they likely to do at the clinic?

Hi Dizzy, odds ate it is nothing sinister but you are doing the right thing getting it checked. When I went, it was an exam then mammogram then ultrasound then biopsy and a weeks wait for the biopsy result. It may be that they see a cyst though in which case I think it is fine needle aspiration which clears the cyst.

Dh's nan died this morning. She was 99 and had not been well with late stage dementia :(

Got script from gp and staunched the flow, thank goodness. Ate lots of chocolate this eve...medicinal purposes!

Hello Dizzy. Sorry you've been referred. Breast Clinics tend to follow same pattern, so you'll fill in a questionnaire, have a consult and a physical examination, then go to mammogram and/ or ultrasound dependent on your age. If they find anything which they think they need to know more about, they'll most likely do a fine needle biopsy, which is basically putting a needle into the problem area to take some sample cells. Then you'll go back to the Doctor with a report and they'll tell you what if anything they think might be wrong. Take heart though, as 9 out of 10 referrals end up as nothing to worry about. Stick around and ask anything you want. Doesn't matter how daft it sounds.

Amber are you still sitting?? Great news about friend's results. That must have put a smile on your face.

mini-Kit Kat's still in fridge doesn't compute, Topsy. How did it even get as far as the fridge?!

Been out on a search for Halloumi. Have had it in my head all day, but our usual Turkish store was out. Had to troll round three more shops before I found some.

x-posted. Sorry about your DH's nan. Hope chocolate helps..

sorry too about dh's nan jane - am glad you have chocolate and prescription though
smee ds is having an early (for him ) bath and going to bed- think he'll be ok for school tomorrow. Message from his singing teacher hoping he's better soon (because he missed his lesson) Apparently he is doing his ensemble piece with a girl in his year next week (Panis Angelicus ) I would love to hear it- I wonder if they record it ?
Glad junior smee has an appetite !
Dizzy can't add anything to what the others have said but sorry you're having to go through this. In my experience the breast unit staff are lovely and [it is most likely to be something innocent -but do stick around for hand holding.

Hello Dizzy - welcome to the thread, - Smee has described exactly what will happen at the clinic - there's nothing I can add to that, except that in some hospitals you may have to wait for another appointment to get your results, - some are same day results - it's just luck of the draw.

There can often be quite a lot of waiting around at the breast clinic, so arm yourself with a good book or your ipod, and change for the coffee machine.
If possible I would recommend taking someone with you for moral support - I always found that helped.

As jchoc says - there's a very good chance it is nothing sinister, - they always tend to err on the side of caution with breast lumps, but it is much more likely not to be cancer. Good luck with your appointment - and stick around if you want a bit of hand holding while you wait

jchoc - really sorry about your Dh's nan, - how sad Bless her - 99 is a great age, I bet she had some interesting stories to tell before she became ill.

amber - yay for your friend, great news, sorry you are having a rather hectic time atm though, sit down at once, and have a

AtoZ - as the others have said a few days won't make any difference in your treatment, but obviously that's not the point and I can totally understand why you are so angry and upset. It is shit when they mess you about - as if cancer treatment wasn't stressful enough, especially when you have to be an inpatient and have got yourself all psyched up and ready. I really hope they sort it out asap.

Smee - I have had trouble getting halloumi, - can't remember where I last bought it, I think it was sainsbo's, - I know Lidl don't ever have it. I have got a nice recipe somewhere for grilled marinated Halloumi, which I can let you have if you want it.

Just to completely lower the culinary tone, - it is 'end of the month desperately search in the freezer' time chez Kurri, - so we had Toad in the Hole made with Linda MacCartney cocktail sausages (which I don't actually like very much, but DH had a phase of buying sausages every time he went to the supermarket, - we also have about six hundred Quorn frankfurters which are akin to toxic waste IMO)

Hope T is feeling better tomorrow MAS - Panis Angelicus will be lovely - I hope they can record it for you.