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Original poster

Tamoxifen 34 *the power of Sauron*

989 replies

MaryAnnSingleton · 29/03/2013 18:35

new thread !!!

OP posts:
graciesmall09 · 30/03/2013 16:09

topsy it would do no harm to ask about Herceptin. I might be wrong but I think Herceptin can be given at any time and even on an ongoing basis. They may be saving it for if you come out of remission (which you won't I'm sure). It is mighty expensive. It is about £1,800 an infusion.

Nice to see you back hnd. Wound problems sounds annoying. Hopefully your vacuum thing will sort it quickly.

ash well done on getting so far with your chemo. That is one out of the way.

Sounds like you are having a nice relaxing day gigs. Hope your new regime sorts out your pain. The hospital bed probably didn't help the pain as they are always so blooming hard.

Hope everyone is having a nice day. topsy can I ask when you had your reduction was it your breast surgeon who did it or a plastic surgeon? When I was there on Tuesday my surgeon said if I lost a bit lots of weight I would a perfect candidate for a reduction but I didn't think to ask whether he did it. I worry if I have a lump too deep I won't feel it until too late.

AshokanFarewell · 30/03/2013 16:43

Hello everyone,

KK is that the white choc rocky road from Sainsburys magazine? I think I have the same magazine, looks super yummy.

It's been snowing a tiny bit again this afternoon, it feels like winter will ever end and just adds to the weirdness of the past few months. I'm snuggled up under a blankie in front of the wood burner.

Been excitedly dancing around as now on day 11...yay! [bugrin]

Ex, god that feels weird, is away this weekend but next week we are going to have to start sorting out our things from our flat and getting things moved out :( trying not to think about it all too much for now, will just wait and see how things go with us being just friends.

HND that all sounds like a lot to deal with, I hope the pump helps and that you feel much better soon :)

I'm feeling quite brave as for some crazy reason I decided to pull my head out of the sand a bit and google FAP, which is the condition I probably have. I ventured onto Google Scholar, heaven knows why, and read some abstracts. It's all such cheerful stuff... [bugrin]

gig glad you enjoyed your dim sum and that the little gigs are having a fun day. Is big gig excited about Easter? Glad nanny is around so you can relax a bit more [busmile] I hope your pain is sorted out soon.

KurriKurri · 30/03/2013 17:05

yes that's the one Asho - I've got it cooling in the fridge as we speak Grin
Actually mini eggs seem to be like gold dust atm and I couldn't get any, so I substituted maltesers, and guess what? - they are just as calorific and work very well Grin

Good luck with sorting out your stuff - that's a sad job that has to be done Sad can anyone go with you to give you a hand - your mum or someone?

AshokanFarewell · 30/03/2013 17:17

Sounds amazing! I made a rocky road type thing with white and brown maltesers once, I must look out the recipe actually as it was very yummy [bugrin]

My parents will help with the actual moving but we need to decide who gets what of the shared stuff and things like that. I think it will be good to do it together really, in a sad way :)

My mum has made scones so I'll pop some of those on the trolley :)

topsyturner · 30/03/2013 17:26

My breast surgeon is listed as a general surgeon Gracie but she did my mx and my reduction .
I have also been poked in the tummy and told if I get rid of that they will consider my reconstruction ...

thenightisyoung · 30/03/2013 18:12

Hi everyone, I've been lurking on and off for a while and never seem to find the right time to post again. I'm now more than a year from my last op (for bowel cancer) and had a clear CT scan in January which is all good stuff. I have been back at work full-time for quite a while now and some days I almost feel normal gigs I am really sorry to read about all the shitty stuff you've been getting chucked at you recently. I know that there isn't any fair or unfair about this horrible disease but even still, it is so unfair.

I have a few Paul Hollywood recipe hot cross buns left to chuck on the fbs trolley if anyone can face any more!

thenightisyoung · 30/03/2013 18:13

Sorry, rubbish punctuation in there!

KurriKurri · 30/03/2013 18:19

Hello TheNight - lovely to see you again Smile - excellent CT result, - that is brilliant. And great that you are back at work and getting back to normal again.

PenPerson · 30/03/2013 18:50

Quick hello from me.

Not much to say apart from I have a sore throat and a cold and had a terrible night up with ds who has the same virus. Feeling a bit sorry for myself today and my skin is flaking off my face which looks very alarming.

I had fish and chips and ice cream and now feel a bit better.

Hope we all are well furnished with chocolate.

sparklesunshine · 30/03/2013 19:13

Thanks for setting this up MAS.

Thought I'd drop in. My kids have both been sick and now my mother (who is living with me for now) has laryngitis and congectivitis, just as I'm heading into the scary period. It's quite intimidating not to have an immune system! I don't know how seriously to take it, beyond lots of handwashing and hand gel. I know you've all been reassuring before, it's just quite scary as I need to be well enough to move...

Hope Gigs is healing up and Pen is restablising and welcome to ginger...

graciesmall09 · 30/03/2013 19:31

Thanks topsy that is good to know. I really like my surgeon so would be delighted if he could do it. Just need to shift about 3 stone now Grin

sparkle It is typical that everyone comes down with something when our immunity is so low. Unfortunately even with handwashing, etc it is very hard to miss it. I am usually quite hardy but second chemo in my son had tonsillitis and within 2 days I had the same. The main thing to remember is to watch your temperature, if it goes up or down by 1 degree I think you need to phone your chemo unit. I was given mega antibiotics which did the job. Fingers crossed though you manage to avoid it.

Great CT results thenight. Glad you are doing well.

pen hope you and the littlepens feel better soon. Fish and chips sounds the perfect medicine.

AshokanFarewell · 30/03/2013 19:55

Hello TheNight I'm having chemo for bowel cancer at the mo so a bit behind you in the process. Brilliant CT result [busmile] and I'm glad you're feeling more normal at least some of the time.

sparkle no advice I'm afraid apart from keep up the hand washing and I hope everyone gets well soon, without infecting you!

Pen I'm sorry you're feeling rough. Have you tried calendula cream for your skin? Pre-chemo I had rosacea and it got very dry and rough, the calendula sorted it out in a few days. I mixed in tea tree oil at first, for the rosacea, but since that cleared up I've just been using the cream on its own. I hope you and DS feel better soon, and that you have a better night tonight and get plenty of sleep.

I've got mouth ulcers and my wisdom teeth have all decided to rear their heads so I'm going to snuggle up in front of the telly with some ice cream! [bugrin]

gingeroots · 30/03/2013 20:02

I'm wondering how coorong is as she doesn't seem to have been around for a while ?

I think she was due an op on the 25th just gone ?

Wishing all the poor sleepers a better night tonight ,at least it will seem an hour shorter !

I'm taking Night Time Kalms which do help a bit .

coorong · 30/03/2013 20:26

Greetings all - and sorry to hear the trials that Gigs et al are facing. I survived my op (mx and LD reconstruction), but i don't do GAs well and the morphine made me sick too ... but at least the op went well and I'm home now. DH approves of the new breast Wink even tho' it's various shades of yellow / / blue / purple ... Will wait for results in 2 weeks.
Great care from teh staff but I have to say my fellow patients were extraordinary. I like to chit chat - but the five other women who came and went would on my ward would not shut up from dawn til dusk. I can give youa detailed description of every medical procedure they all went through. I had ot shut my curtain because they kep quizzing me. It was like Alan Bennett talking heads in real life .... the only peace and quiet was when thy went to theatre but back from recovery .. ... it all started again.

gingeroots · 30/03/2013 20:40

Oh so glad to get your update coorong.
So sorry about the sickness ...why didn't they give you anti sickness stuff ?

That description of your ward really made me smile .

When I had a hysterectomy a few years ago the girl in the bed next to me was holding a day long party with her entire extended family .The little ones were endlessly fiddling with the TV ,causing endless high pitched pinging ,and they all sat around eating MacDonalds .

Hope you're recovering with much TLC at home .

AshokanFarewell · 30/03/2013 20:54

Hi coorong glad the op went well, and I hope you recover soon. I had the same problem with morphine, it's rotten :( fingers crossed for the results, will be thinking of you. Shame you didn't get much peace in hospital, hopefully things are calmer at home.

ginger sorry to hear you're having sleep problems, I hope that improves.

Sorry amber I forgot to say earlier, thank you for the light info [busmile] I have to use the bathroom several times in the night so I have to turn bedroom light on (in case monsters are lurking...) and then the bathroom light too. Would only having (white) light for say 5 minutes at a time make much difference? In between bathroom visits it's very dark. If that's a problem I'd better start thinking of a solution as I expect this is how it's going to be for a while yet! I've had one full night of sleep since my first surgery in November [buhmm]

gingeroots · 30/03/2013 20:58

Ash - what a lot you're having to cope with .
I can't imagine .I've just googled FAP ....sounds no fun at all !

Best wishes to all ,apologies to those I've ignored in my posts .
I'm thinking of you all .

KurriKurri · 30/03/2013 21:21

Rocky road is ready I may have eaten a piece or two already don't eat too much or you will feel sick (or so I've heard)

Sparkle - just echoing gracie - if your temp goes up at all ring your unit or the cancer ward if unit is closed. There is fair chance they will want you to go in if you get a temp, - so be prepared for that. But meanwhile, keep on with the hand washing etc. - You may very well be fine and avoid the bug Smile

Coorong - glad the op is done and you are home, I know what you mean about the chatters though! - some people really like to 'share' Grin

asho - that must be very tough having to get up for the bathroom several times every night - you must be shattered Sad Sorry about the mouth ulcers too - they are a pain - rotten things.

waving to Ginger Smile

remember the clocks go forward tonight everyone (don't know if that will be a good or bad thing for the sleep deprived Confused)

amberlight · 30/03/2013 21:24

Ginger, not a clue re the short bursts of light. No way you could have an orange glow bulb for night use?

AshokanFarewell · 30/03/2013 21:50

ginger there's a slim (less than 1%) chance that it's not FAP but tbh I just try not to think about it! [bugrin]

KK I have to have a long lie in in the mornings to make up for it, this silly pouch thing just seems to be more active at night, yippee. But I sleep really deeply in between visits, especially from about 4am onwards. Oddly I've not had one sleepless night from worrying about any medical stuff, so that makes up for it really. Glad the rocky road was yummy, I've heard you can feel sick after too much neopolitan ice cream and chocolate sauce too [bugrin]

Thanks amber, I shall look into orange light bulbs!

Original poster
MaryAnnSingleton · 30/03/2013 22:11

waves to thenight hooray for clear scan ! and v nice to see you too coorong Have been out for a walk this pm,and shopping in the morning- bed soon.

OP posts:
smee · 31/03/2013 06:32

A v excited smee checking in from Heathrow, as I have finally found a use for BC as had a tax refund from treatment days so did a mad thing and booked a last minute extraordinary trip. There will be a prize for whoever can guess where we're going, but have told Dh that if I don't get to watch a toucan from a hammock am going to sulk.

I will drink a huge toast to you all from lovely women. Won't be back for 12 days. Hugs from me xxx

coorong · 31/03/2013 07:19

smee you're off to Mexico - in my former ornithological life that's where I saw my first (and only) Toucan - great birds - have a lovely time am v.jealous. I thought you weren't allowed to fly if you're having chemo....

PenPerson · 31/03/2013 08:15

Happy Easter everyone !

smee have a fab time Grin

amberlight · 31/03/2013 08:35

Smee, fab!!! Give the toucan a wave from me...
Happy Easter all of you [busmile]