TAMOXIFEN**33**

[MaryAnnSingleton]

new thread - bring the trolley over here....

Ooh, good thinking Copthallresident! I usually just wear arm warmers but arm warmers plus a heat pad could really work. Do you reckon I can find some in poundshops? be's a cheapskate

Also, the day I am dignified is the day that fluffy Persian kittens come crawling out of my bum. I was the bane of the chemo suite while I was there because I entertained myself by blowing up nitrile gloves and generally causing mischief.

@ User and her Persian kittens..!

No news from those out at appts then? Hmmm.. hope it's because they're all celebrating.

Does anyone know anything about Letrozole? Apparently my bone density scan showed a good base level, so my surgeon thinks I should switch from Tamoxifen. Need to google around, but is anyone else on it? can't remember.

user The day I go running in a pink feather boa is the day that fluffy Persian kittens come crawling out of my bum

Not good thinking on my part but on the part of my wonderful nurse buddy, who has always made sure hand warmers are available in her department, why all other nurses / phlebotomists can't have the same thought I don't know.........

smee not allowed letrazole but your bone density is good

my car is back and fine but with a £400 bill for service etc - yike.
Dang - should've gone for a whirl in the fancy car really.

Poor gig - I have many grapes here and could rustle up some cheese and pineapple ?

Don't know about letrozole smee though I believe the bone secondaries ladies in my group are on it...

£400?! yikes indeed, MAS.

Gig hope you're feeling a bit better now. Have mini-Gigs shown any signs of it?

copt, so is the reason because of lower bone density? Are they keeping an eye on that for you?

Just swinging by for news of today's appointments - Not yet? I must dash again but will check in properly in a bit

Have received temporary membership card ..... The lump is Grade 1 18mm, so manageable, but because of what's happening in the rest of the breast, they're recommending mx, then . Tamoxifen and poss chemo (depends on what the op throws up). Much less scared now - talking to you guys and scouting round friends and family I realise BC is very common and manageable. Tho not my first choice for getting attention.
Any advice on reconstruction? Am wary of implants - shoulder muscle is the other option on offer - any ideas thoughts?

Overall MUCH MUCH calmer, no have measure of control.

Well I am back.

Out of the 15 nodes they took out only 1 was 'involved'. The treatment is the same anyway but it is good apparently that so few were involved.

From what I can grasp I have the initial radioactive iodine and they scan me during that. At this point they would expect some thyroid cells to be to knocking about and they can't tell the difference between those and cancer cells.

After 2 months I have blood tests to see if any remaining cells and an iodine scan after 4 months to see if I have any left at all. So I won't know if there is any stubborn spread until then.

He did say he does not expect there to be any spread due to the histology.

The onc was really lovely, smiley, not patronising or head tilty at all.

I feel ok but there will probably be no mobile phone reception / Internet when I go in for my isolation. How will I cope ? I will have TV and a landline.

Coorong, well that sounds not so bad. Definitely sounds like they got it early and before it went bonkers. Just going to have to get through the treatment now. I've had two mastectomies, so ask anything you want. I've got implants. Could bore on about those too if you like. Go have a huge glass of wine. x

Cross posted with coorong

I felt almost relieved after my diagnosis as I had imagined the worst and my news sounds like yours in that it was bad but the best of bad news and it could be dealt with.

Do you know when your surgery is ?

Once you know what you are facing it becomes easier doesn't it coorong. Yep, sadly bc is common these days - but I'll take common over unusual anyday!
Right, reconstruction.
First question is whether you can have immediate as opposed to delayed - because that can be influenced/affected by what type you choose. Each have their own merits, and not everyone is suitable for all types. Implants are relatively simple with short recovery time, but require ongoing maintenance ie replacing every ten years. Autologous recons (using your own tissue) are bigger ops with longer recovery times, but once completed, that's it for life.

I had an immediate bllateral DIEP, and am thrilled with the outcome, so ask away...

And your news looks positive too pen. Just the one node involved is good!

smee, I think letrosole is given to post menopausal women as its more effective for them than tamoxifen

I'm just off out, but dashing in to say I totally agree with snails, - it does become easier when you know what you are up against, which is not to say you won't feel pretty churned up about it, of course you will, but you are on the treatment and getting better road now, stick with us if you want to eat far too much cake

I've had mastectomy and am waiting for my reconstruction (I had my op four years ago) so anything you want to know about MX ask away

Pen - your news sounds good too, yay for nice oncy.

Am on the vino! They've suggested reconstruct straightaway and I'm thinking autologous because (I have small .....) because it sounds more me .... But anyone had their latissimus Dorsi out for a breast?

Pen - not an expert on nodes, but one sounds better than loads of nodes - agree its important to have a non simpering onc or nurse - the "oh you poor thing" doesn't help anyone.
Thanks everyone.

PenisColada, that's quite good news then.

Coorong, I'm sorry you've had to join our club. Cancer is the one club you never want to be in! I have no experience of mx but my cancer was 15mm and grade 3. I was diagnosed in Aug 2011 and there is feck all left of it now. Yours does sound very, very treatable. Chin up chuck, you'll get through it, I promise.

Popping on quickly as this is my third attempt as I keep losing my posts.

Sounds like appointments went well. 1 node is good news pen and coorong sounds like you have been caught at a very early stage which is excellent. I was dx last March with a grade 3 1.7 cm Er/pr/her2 positive bc.

amber perhaps they have decided to put you on cholesterol tablets along with your bp meds.

gigs hope you are starting to feel better.

Very positive meeting today with my boss. They have agreed to me doing a phased return using last year's holidays but have said not to feel under any pressure to come back and come back when I'm ready. So feel huge relief.

£400 mas

Vino is mandatory on Dx day coorong - my breast surgeon said so! But the stingy devil didn't give me a prescription for any:(
I've heard good things about the LD flap - although if you go rock climbing, or play competitive tennis then other types would suit you best. Happily it does affect your ability to raise a glass:)

Oops, I meant doesn't affect... - but you knew that anyway didn't you!!

x-posted with you Pen. 1 node out of 15 shows it's not got v.far, so yay! Obviously it's a bugger it's in one, but still good. Great you have a plan now.

Gracie, that's great news on work. Hooray for kind boss.

Coorong, wine essential and well known on here for getting rid of cancer.

Snails, you're right Letrozole is for post menopausal women. I have still to get my head round that being me. I had a chemo-pause and periods never returned. Good news I think as tumour was v.hormone positive, but still a bit weird to go through menopause that way. Am 47 and waiting for my first whisker.

for medicinal purposes. Well done everyone.

Smee - That's very naughty - I'm 58 and whiskers are not to be mentioned except on cats....

Anyway, I don't know about letrozole but I'm on Anastrozole which is also for post-menopausal ladies without whhiskers, so could be similar. Side effects can be nasty but I'm lucky and haven't them, and I now firmly believe in not reading about the millions of SEs from these long term drugs unless you happen to start having any of them...actually I did feel stiff joints for the first 2-3 months but that disappeared.

Smee and KK - thanks for asking about DS. He is working incredibly hard on his course, and seems to be managing the possible break up with his girlfriend pretty well - no final decision yet it seems. I'm relieved it doesn't seem to have knocked him too badly so far, and I think he's concentrating on building up his friendship group in London and also just keeping up with the vast work-load!
Otherwise we're all well thanks and just keeping heads above water at work etc. Two little breaks booked - yay- a walking week in Austria with old friends (ie of many years standing, not as in whiskery) and 6 days in Italy later on, with my chums that I do Italian with - you may recall my jaunt to Pisa as soon as I'd finished chemo in 2010 - I have very fond memories of that despite being so tired on day 2 that all I could do was stay on the tourist bus and go round Florence in a big circle for 2 hours! It was a great trip and I felt triumphant to do it after the 7 months of chemo - SO LADIES on CHemo- hang on in there and plan a treat at the end as soon as you can!

Good luck to the newer people on here - some good news I see - relatively speaking that is. And I agree - once you have a better idea what you're dealing with, and a treatment plan, life after diagnosis does improve.
x

just whizzing in to say that coorong and pen's results sound pretty ok and dealable with - hooray for only 1 node pen - wine all round I think.
Waves to everyone as i head for bed.

Wandering in on my way to bed to say I think HND had latissimus dorsi recon (apologies if I am wrong) so she may well have words of wisdom for you coorong I'm having diep flap,because i am keen on swimming and plastic surgeon thought LD might affect that, - will you have a chance to talk over the recon options with a plastic surgeon?

SR - your planned holidays sound lovely, - enjoy yourself, and I'm glad your DS is coping with the girlfriend troubles, building up his friendship groups at uni sounds like a very sensible attitude.

Also I'd like to generously offer some of my whiskers to Smee those who are boasting sad that they don't have any

Oh and I managed to introduce the speaker tonight without spitting, falling over or getting his name wrong - and that's about as good as it gets

well done kk !