********The 37th Tamoxifen Thread, Fun and Tears in "Cancerland" *****

[Copthallresident]

Trolley Rolled over and "Its a small small world" playing on the ipod on repeat.

Sparkle, I was fine on Tax. Actually preferred it to FEC, but that was because I was very unlucky on that and sick throughout. I lost a couple of toe nails, and got bone aches but no nerve problems.

Gig, you've lost me.

DS would love that place, MAS. We will seek it out.

that place looks fab, Copt. Will try and remember it if we're heading that way.

Am a bit jealous, Jane. Are you able to see anything?

Am back in hospital for afternoon having a change of dressing etc on leg but need a general to do it as so ouchy.

that's great news sparkle :)

Gig oh no, hope your leg is feeling better soon :(

Copt I second the forbidden corner, we went in 2011 and the kids still talk about it and ask when can we go back DH and I thought it was brill too

earth I hope DGS enjoyed his first day at school.

no updates yet this end not so patiently waiting..

Occasionally leaning out of the window, we have scaffolding across our balcony :)

Good luck gigs and Betsy
Had a nice morning in the sun drinking coffee with my friend then just fell asleep watching that love and marriage series I had recorded, because I was tired not because it was rubbish
Physically feel fine after op now which is good
Have a good afternoon all

that's good malt
gig hope all goes well, betsy too
Am off to the post office and have an awful urge to go past the sweetie shop (with things in jars)

Ooh lovely MAS you must !, pear drops, bonbons, sherbet lemons ?

And when I say physically ok I still have a smurf boob and steri strips, it doesn't look too misshapen though not that I'm really bothered

hello all, I am back in need of advice.
My mil was diagnosed last year with a large, hormone++ tumour about 5-6 cm. She had a biggish lumpectomy and then had problems healing, which ended with after 4 months being told the window for chemo had closed and they recommened 15 rads, which she had no problems.
She has been fine since, check with surgeon in april all fine, routine mamo 2 weeks ago, she gets a recall.
So on weds she sees a very serious looking surgeon who tells her they've spotted an abnormal lymph node and he took a biopsy.

so sorry, got to get kids will be back later.

Catching up on bus home + I just posted without reading earlier 'twas exciting! Bah to gig having another ga, sending (((hugs))) good point about the under 3s - the bees she did yesterday are more like mascots. Will link eventually when she gets organised! Yes it is baking here. Wish had finished packing. It prob better to leave journey til later when cooler and fri traffic calmed. Will watch carmen on tv sun night. Won't be here and its ticket only anyway - all sold out.

Xpost 14k sorry to hear of the worrying node biopsy. Best to get it checked out, hope it is ok.

Oh no, Gig. Blimey it must be really painful. ((((((((gentle hugs))))))) you must be so fed up.

l4k, so sorry about your MIL. Hope it's surprisingly good news.

Oh no gigs sorry to see you are back in. Hope you make a speedy escape again.

emin will pm you about the bathroom adaptation.

I am finding full time work pretty horrible as I can't mn during the day any more.

sorry about that ;
I'll try to get to the point ! He more or less said it was cancer and said it definately needs to come out.
So will he just take out that node or do a node clearance do you think? and is it possible he will want a mastectomy now? the dodgy node is at the bottom/side of the breast , right on the edge.
And is it chemo now?
Am I right in saying if it does come back cancer then it's considered a reoccurance rather than secondary?

These are all questions poor mil has asked me but i'm not sure.
i

In a twisted turn of events i have just returned from my recall from my mammo but thankfully they think my calcifications still look benign.
We have had a sickening week !!

I come and check on you all often, waving to those who remember me and all my worrying.
Nice to see you all again.

I4k sorry to hear about your mil I don't know I'm afraid but does she have a breast care nurse she can ring and ask ? If she does it quick she might catch them before the weekend

waving to 14k - glad to hear that your calcifications are ok but v sorry about MIL - hope bcn can shed some light.
I did go to the sweetie shop - no flying saucers or sweet tobacco but got honeycomb toffee and milk bottles !

L4K am only guessing obviously, but it's recurrence not secondary and I'd guess they might be tempted to go node clearance and maybe mastectomy to minimise it returning yet again. I'd say they'll suggest chemo too in the circs. What a shame she didn't have it first time round. I know it's grim, but at least she'd be past it by now and hopefully not facing it all over again. Suppose all you can do is reassure her that it's not spread and they've got it early, so still treatable. Glad to hear your mammo's not worrying though. Are they going to keep an eye on the calcifications for you?

gigs Oh no! Feeling sore for you

14k Sorry to hear about your MIL. Your MIL's treatment will depend very much on what they find in the biopsy, but it is what is called a local recurrence if it is in any lymph nodes adjacent to the breast even the ones in the collar bone and neck, so it isn't regarded as having spread / as secondary's/ mets, as smee says. My friend had a recurrence in the nodes in her neck ten years after lumpectomy and rads and because it was so strongly estrogen positive they removed it and treated her with hormone therapy. So whilst when I was treated one node involved meant chemo was recommended now they don't necessarily use chemo even then.

Jchoc The Bollywood Carmen with elephants sounds amazing

did that bus go to Kingston copt ?
I used to swig Advocaat with my best friend in Kingston when we went to band practice as students (yes,we were in a band)

thanks you for the replies,
so chemo, node clearance and mastectomy are all possibilities but we won't know till biopsy results are in. Hormone treatment sounds good but she's already on a medication (not tamoxifen, can't remember at mo) for 5 years.

She's really shocked so I'm not pushing info or questions on her as she needs to "get her head round it"as she says. I do think she could give the BC nurse a ring on monday though.
Thanks you all again, I'll be back with updates if that's ok . and if anyone else has experience of the same i would love to hear it.

Oh I say! Champers! Terribly splendid!

Preventing nerve damage: good vitamin and mineral tablets, especially ones with a good range of Vitamin B. Ask team before taking those in case anyone has a serious objection to it. I've got nerve damage but really don't notice it much now, and mine happened on Herceptin not Docetaxel. Have to be v careful round hot or cold things, though.

Yes do let us know how she gets on
14k
What a lovely sunny day hope it lasts for the weekend.
Just wondering if wine is a good idea or not

What a silly question. Of course wine is a good idea. Unless you are driving...

14k -let us know how mil gets on

gigs - how are you doing?

malt I think a couple of glasses of wine is positively medicinal

Well I didn't get my promised phone call so I will have to ring them on Monday...more waiting...argh

Am home watching the voice and resting. Think it might be an early night.