***Tamoxifen 32***

[MaryAnnSingleton]

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

, but waving to all. Been away for weekend to lovely friends in Derbyshire. DS wants to move in with them, as they have a gorgeously daft dog, who he adores. v.sweet to see them together.

Mini-gig's walking, that bodes well for your shoulder, Gig. Cute too.

Topsy, you can definitely get lymphoedema way after surgery. I get it a fair amount, but only in a minor way, so never bother to do anything about it. hope yours isn't too bad.

MAS, BCN sounds like a good way to talk it through. Do you think imminent scan's heightening it all. Not that it ever leaves you am sure, but still, scan can't be helping. xx

Glad to hear wounds are less soggy, HND. Cut and odour?!

Sorry not to post to all, but hope everyone's warm and happy. Esp. Pen and AtoZ. Hope neither of you are feeling too ropey. Better go and try and clean two ton of mud from DS's boots. Think he's brought half of Derbyshire back with us.

how lovely your weekend sounds smee
Just back from mum's birthday supper- she was very perky and loved her presents and the food,pudding and cake.
Think you're right smee -the scan has made me think about everything .

I know it's easier said than done, MAS, but would your mindfulness help if you can get yourself to that space? I think obsessing and questioning ever so sane in lots of ways. Very tough not to, that's for sure. Happy Birthday to your mum. Glad she liked her cake. How is she atm? Hope well. x

Am trying to do mindful exercising each morning - am sure it'd help. Mum was very perky and jolly today - seems pretty well .

I am feeling much physically better apart from a cold. Seeing the team at hospital Thursday to find out my treatment plan so now worrying about that. My thyroxine will be stopped for 6 weeks before the radioactive iodine treatment and I am hoping I don't feel too bad without it.

I havpve stopped googling and am burying my head in the sand,

pen When they have done studies on whether your attitude to your illness / treatment makes a difference to the outcome, burying your head in the sand was one of the coping strategies they included and it was just as effective as denial, getting angry, sad or worrying, even being "positive" is not going to make the outcome actually worse Go for it! Anything that gets you through it.

MAS Glad your mum had a lovely birthday supper, I am sure the BCN will help with worries and pre-scan anxiety, it's totally understandable.

Very upset at missing my opportunity of 5 mins of fame as local paper features big article on glamour model who got caught in the same high tide as goon dog and I last week. www.richmondandtwickenhamtimes.co.uk/news/10198941.VIDEO__Playboy_model_survives_being_stranded_in_flood_water_up_to_her_chest_while_jogging_along_Richmond_towpath/ OMG why didn't I think of videoing it, going off to A&E after and then going to the papers!! My story would have been sooooooo much more dramatic. I can see the headlines " Beautiful blonde Julie Christie lookalike Cancer survivor (39) and her brave dog are nearly swept away by Thames"

I do hope that we encounter her out jogging, I may just have to forget to say "leave it" when goon dog makes his move to jump up at her crotch, and trip her up ......................

I hardly ever google pen as 1. I don't need a study to tell me it makes me loads worse 2. Stuff you find isn't helpful and usually old. But hope you can ask if anything else that can give you to manage side effects when you are off thyroxine.

At that story copthall- the local paper is always a gem for stories like that . If I am mean (), we have a bit of a body from bay watch face from crimewatch. I also love how she splits her time between la, Norwich and Richmond- nothing wrong with any of those places just odd mix .

Smee- mini gig walking will help but still a bit fitful. Am home alone while dh is skiing for a few days (he has taken fancy dress with him- a darth vader outfit. Part of which includes a lurex onesie - quite why I don't know ).

ah, Mrgig's ski trip - I know about that !
pen I agree with gig about not goog;ing,though I am as guilty as hell -I know I shouldn't but do.
Dh poorly with a cold so I think he'll be at home today.

Hi all

Me with a rant ... again

Is your oncology dept as useless as mine? Rang in severe discomfort and distress this morning - got told to go and see my GP. His next appointment is 21st Feb! so had to explain everything to a locum. Why? - when surely the oncology dept are the experts?

Next - following on from last week when they didn't have an available bed for chemo - I am still waiting for an appointment for my chemo tomoorow. I have been ringing them for the last week asking for the appoitment and 'someone will get back to you' - but noone ever does. Can't they understand that when you're unwell you don't have the energy to chase up incompetent fuckwits and that you might - just might - need to make some arrangments at virtually nil notice to get someone to take you to hospital for the appointment? Or are they going to tell me again that they cannot fit me in (for a 10 min appoitment). In whcih case I promise I will just fucking explode!

I am just so utterly, utterfly fed up with it all

AtoZ, that's dreadful. I honestly have never heard of such a lousy service for a cancer patient. Mine would always see me same day/ call me back, etc. Can't believe you're still waiting.

at MrGig. Have you treats lined up while he's away? Hope you have.

Pen, what are you expecting on Thursday? Presumably pathology from the op? Would it help to talk on here? If so do. I always found it easier to say things out-loud. Not at all sure why.

at Copt. v.funny!

That's good that your mum's so well, MAS. Is the scan soon? I think it's end of this week, but might have got that wrong? Be good to get through that and maybe learn more, as it must be horrid not knowing everything or feeling that you don't. Are we allowed to see the Japanese work??

HND, how's the oozing today? Hope less yuk.

Nowt to tell here. Birds singing outside though. I think Spring might be on the way

Hello all

Just wanted to take a minute to share the excitement. They're filming a comedy drama right by my house! Celia Imrie's in it! And our postie (who is also the father of a kid in dd's class) got paid £75 to do a bit part as a postie delivering An Important Letter! And our friends got paid to have arc lights beaming out of their bedroom window! As per usual, we have been passed over for greatness. I know I don't get out enough, but this passes for seriously interesting round our way.

As you were.

Apologies for being awol for so long, it's been hectic. I'll be back later in the week, I hope - but the pooter is going to hospital tomorrow and I can't stand MNing on the phone. Much love to all, especially those feeling a bit crap. xx

we have snowdrops, so spring must be nearby...
grrr AtoZ they sound hopeless,so sorry you are going through this.
Scan is on Saturday - and my next onc. appointment is the following Friday.
I might put a Japanese picture up on my profile- they probably won't make much sense as they are illustrating the episodes of the novella (which is about a ruthless radio presenter who betrays her friends and gets her just desserts only to do the same again by the end)

waving frantically at sometimes !! how exciting - I like celia Imrie

Oh me too. And there's someone from Corrie but I haven't a clue who.

Appointments always make you feel a bit more anxious - horrid. Keep remembering to breathe. x

Put 2 of the pics on my profile...

Hi - and thank you everyone. I have lightened up a bit.

I now have an appointment for tomorrow after chasing a very roundabout route. But their admin is really hopeless!

Very conscious that all I seem to do is moan and I hope to be able to contribute more positvely to this thread soon but at the moment I'm really in the depths of 'I'm not even half way through my cycles and I don't know how I'm going to cope'.

But I will I knew it would be hard - just not quite how hard.

OOOh, Sometimes how nearly glam you are. I love Celia Imrie too. Go hug her from us and tell her how fab she is. Been wondering how you are. Come back soon. xx

MAS I like. The hurt hand one's v. clever and the kitten one cute. Scan on Sat's not too long, but a week to wait for results is a bit of a haul. We'll have to distract you with our ramblings. xx

x-posted, AtoZ, you're allowed to moan. One of the reasons we're here is you can moan here and we'll understand because we've all been there. Never not moan. Great you've got your appt though. What time?? Are you staying in again?

Happy Monday everyone

atoz that is terrible service and just rubs salt in the wounds of an already naff situation

mas I hope your week flies in and you are not toomdistressed quaint for these appointments

gig the mind boggles with the lurex suit !

copt a missed opportunity for the papers for you, we will have to think of something more dramatic !

sometimes I am useless at actors and actresses but very exciting having filming going on nearby

My lovely retired boss (lucky to retire at 52) came at lunchtime with a bouquet and took DH and I out for an Indian lunch
..... It was delicious

Poor topsy and DD not well today with a bug so have not risked going round for usual coffee and banter. Get well soon pukey !

No - just day patient tomorrow Smee.

I think it has been the fact that my hair is now falling out in handfuls that's now pushed me so far down . I was told this side effect would be very rare so didn't expect it.

So, any tips for 'chemo headwear' folks? Seeing me like this is scaring poor DS.

Good that you're a day patient, but g'ah for hair, AtoZ. How annoying and upsetting. Depends on what you want, but I found Buff's great - just google if you don't know, but wide variety and adaptable. As it's winter, beany hats are great for covering bald clumps, but letting small bits of fringe/ back peak out. How much have you lost? Do you think it'll all go or is it too soon to say?

Waving to sick Topsy. Is it that Noro thing? Hope not.

HND, Indian lunch sounds delish.

Good idea to use beany hat Smee. I really don't want a wig. I've lost about half the volume. They're telling me it might stop but it's been coming out thickly for days now.

Just when you think it can't get worse....

Anyway - tomorrow is another step in the right direction. I will sit in the sun soon and watch my pets in the garden.

I had two wigs but tbh it was too hot to wear them a lot of the time. I am a
Big scarf fan - would tie them pirate or turban style .

Glad you got appt tomorrow.

Hnd - good things drying up but poor topsy as hasn't her dd only just had a bug.

Sun will be yours soon, AtoZ. Really good luck tomorrow. Hope they make up for their mistakes by speeding you through.

lots of luck tomorrow AtoZ - hope you find some nice headgear - hair loss must be very disheartening- am lucky that my chemo doesn't do that.
Poor topsy and her dd