********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.

Dh doesn't really do flowers. will buy my own, nice idea :)

Thanks topsy

Or something for garden jchoc?

Think will risk it til get home but be careful. Your home dr story inspires me kurri.

Betsy stage 3 grade 3 fast growing invasive ductal Cancer, definitely not palpable the month before but thin stick like lump emerged 1.7cms long near surface just below nipple. 1 lymph node involved, about as ER + as it is possible to be. Lumpectomy followed by Mastectomy and six months chemo and five years Tamoxifen. Dx was 12 YEARS AGO

gigs grr about leg, hope you avoid A&E. I prescribe more pink champagne Also Doctor from leering at George Clooney in ER

KK Agree they nick anything metal these days, nicked our local war memorial plaque, and the lead off the roof of our town hall A couple of people materialised from nowhere to sniff around our old steel bath and pipes when they were cleared out, played them off against each other to get a few pounds. Some sod locally keeps knocking the head off my Buddha in front garden , I glue it back and two weeks later it is off again, only a crappy cheap thing but it's now a matter of principal.....

Ikea purchases

Teaspoons
plastic cups
8 cushions for dining chairs outside
solar Chinese lanterns
rugs
candles
pots
coathangers
NO scissors (BIG failure by IKEA merchandisers as didn't see them)

Only avoided finding myself buying horrible pink flamingo blanket and 2 stuffed animals that Coptettes kept putting back in trolley by throwing them across checkout area into staff only area Mum tells me I get too giddy with them, can't think what she means......

Happy Anniversary Jchoc and

Just remembered it must be ours on Sunday!!!! 23 years....

Happy anniversary jchoc

betsy sorry you've had to join us but we will do our best to support you :) I'm 22, on chemo cycle 6 of 8 for stage 3 bowel cancer, diagnosed last October, was in two lymph nodes, all the cancer was removed by surgery but the chemo is a precaution. It was caused by a genetic condition so I'm waiting for test results to find out which one :)

kurri grrrrr at thief! Poor DS and DDIL have had a bit of a rough time lately :( I hope it turns up at a scrapyard so they can get it back.

gigs hope you can patch up the leg until you get home, can sympathise with wanting to avoid the attention!

MAS sorry you had a rubbish appointment but good news about hip :) enjoy the party preparation.

I'm catching up on Springwatch from earlier in the week and finishing up knitted badger assembly :)

happy anniversary jchoc
and for copt too !
Just had a bottle of nice NZ sauvignon with old ones - feeling a bit better- helped by kind girlies here and nice email from bcn.

Cross posted copt wot no tealights?! Flamingo blanket sounds amazing, I shall add that to my list for post-chemo Ikea trip

happy anniversary jchoc and copt

malt - am I right in reading somewhere you're a teacher? I'm working as a TA atm and I was discussing the likely schedule with the breast care nurse, just so I can give school some idea of when/how long I'm likely to be off. SHe did say that even if I'm well enough between chemo cycles they definitely would not recommend going to work at all during chemo, so as to avoid being surrounded by germ-ridden children - don't know if you've been told the same?

I am yes, teach reception and year 1. Ive not discussed chemo much yet just been told to expect to need it but I've read the same. Work have been really good and I've just said I need at least 2 weeks after my op ( expect will need more) and that I'll let them know after that. By then I should have all my results and know what I'm up against, scary thought.
I'd like to work if I can, it really helped in the last few weeks the kids are lovely and just took my mind off things a bit and everyone I work with was so supportive. Feel really guilty being off and leaving them in the lurch too though I know it's not my fault

Happy anniversary jchoc and copt.

gigs hope you get the leg sorted when you get home. Could the aching have anything to do with your roller coaster ride?

betsy sorry that you have to be here but the girls are good company. I was dx March 2012 with a 1.7 cm triple positive invasive ductal ca. I had lumpectomy, 6 months chemo, 25 rads and am still on Herceptin and Tamoxifen. Just went back to work last month after a year off which is why I'm not about a much as I used to be. My surgeon told me teachers/TA are the only profession that they recommend not working through chemo, everyone else can see how they feel.

kurri about anchor. Hope it falls on their toes. How are the shingles?

kk what utter bastards.

gigs sorry about the wound but get it seen to as soon as you get back now you hear.

Happy anniversary jchoc
I am enjoying my trip to the big smoke. Always makes me feel country bumpkin ish. Had my first taste of churros and snow goose vodka. Yummy.

Churros and vodka sounds lovely!
Night everyone hope you all sleep well x

Snow goose ? Grey goose ? Snow leopard ? And Clare balding has joined me in London I can't escape her.

I just read snow goose and thought oh yes the posh vodka, and I'm sober !

Shingles intermittantly (sp??) tingly gracie - but better than they were thank you

Night night all - hope everyone has a good weekend, - I am planning lots of gardening - although DH and I have to pop into Norwich tomorrow morning to do a few odds and sods - so I might treat us to a scone and a latte.

Copt (and MrCopt) happy anniversary for Sunday in case I forget on the day.

Ruby - you are a quick knitter - you are always on a new project - I am impressed

Thanks for all the happy anniversary wishes. Hope you are all asleep. Nighty night!

That was a quiet night. Hope everyone was sleeping deeply.

I have had halloumi for breakfast, surprisingly nice.

It is my lovely nieces first birthday today. She lives 200 yards down the road so we see a lot of each other although I have been too poorly to babysit as much as I would like. She is a delightful little girl, full of cuddles and giggles. She makes me smile even on a really bad day. My dcs are busy drawing cards for their favourite little cousin, they call her tiny robot. Dsil has been doing the school run this year so they play with her every day, they always wanted a little brother or sister and tiny robot is even better as they can avoid the noisy or annoying parts. I am so lucky to have such a close and loving family. I am looking forward to having my hair pulled and a potentially bite-y kiss later. I Love, love, love her.

Morning trice your post brought tear to my eyes, I'm a soppy sod these days but she sounds lovely. Have a great day, lots of cake and cuddles

Have a fab day trice

I'm hoping everyone slept well ? I did helped by a couple of glasses of wine :)

The choir I'm a member of are singing at the opening of a new community centre today, so I'm looking forward to that (but depressed at the thought that choir is something else that will shortly have to go "on hold" for a while)

As it seems almost definite I'll be having chemo at some point over the summer holidays what are your top tips for days out with the kids but avoiding the crowds on days when I'm well enough? - Our new geocaching hobby could come in handy here! (We all love afternoons curled up on the sofa watching a film, so that will be handy on the not-so-good days!)

Morning Betsy
That's a good question I'll also add can you go on holiday during chemo, I'm guessing not abroad but few days away might be nice
From my experience though Betsy things don't happen quickly so might be after the summer holidays by the time things get started. I was surprised by that as I thought it would be all systems go but there's a lot of waiting around
Must go shopping we have bare cupboards ! Then this afternoon dd are making cake pops, she had a voucher for her birthday so looking forward to a nice afternoon
Maybe BBQ weather later ? I could do a pimms!

Gigs, how's the wound?
Slept OK thanks, Betsy.
Holidays:

We went on holiday four times during chemo (short breaks plus one longer one). All in this country. Insurance abroad is huge whilst having treatment, though there are a few specialist insurers. BCN's have details of them.

Week one after chemo = no. Week 2 is a bit dodgy. Week 3 is fine, I found.
Days out - I'd avoid doing thing in enclosed spaces with tons of kids during the second week after chemo (when white blood cells are lowest). Apart from that, enjoy life as normally-as-possible without exhausting yourself. I used the disabled transport buggies at events if I was too tired

I live in Northern Ireland , and we went (6 hours drive) to the very West of Ireland for a week whilst I was on chemo .
My onc gave me a white blood cell boosting injection before I left , just incase .
And she told me to make sure I knew where my local hospital was incase I got any infections .

The main prob with holidaying on chemo is that you can't get insurance . (Well prob could , but not easily)
I was ok as we have reciprocal health care between North and South Ireland .

As for days out Betsy , see how you feel . A lot of this treatment is "suck it and see" .
Each person reacts so differently , it's hard to say what you will feel up to doing .

Off out horse riding with DD now .
Very happy to see no overnight posting , hopefully you all slept well !

Have a lovely day ladies x

X post Amber