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***Tamoxigang - thread number 40!***

992 replies

GoodbyeRubyTuesday · 26/07/2013 22:08

Hello all! New thread as we have almost filled the last one. Help yourself to chocolate chip muffins from the trolley! :)

OP posts:
notJenkins · 19/08/2013 09:03

Good morning from me from my field in north Wales. Great 3G signal much to my surprise.
It is lovely to get away from it all and not be at work but it is odd knowing I will be feeling proper poorly again soon.
My mind is on the scan and the results. I hate the waiting and not knowing.
We are off to another site right on the beach tomorrow so fingers crosses for the weather. Expect more fb pictures . I am a terrible camping bore.

MaryAnnSingleton · 19/08/2013 09:31

I love the camping pictures nj !! esp. today's...
Am sure you're right malt -am just being self obsessed !

Pesky interruptions to your rest gig

kitkat1967 · 19/08/2013 10:54

Malt - spend a bit and the rest is to pay of the mortgage. (never forgetting my end of chemo handbag!!).

kitkat1967 · 19/08/2013 10:56

I loved the camping pics too plus of course another lovely pic of the little gigs!!

malteserzz · 19/08/2013 11:20

Good plan Kitkat Smile
I love looking at your camping pics nj too keep them coming
Also love the gigs girls pics though was a bit worried they were drunk at the pub the other day Grin

BetsyBoop · 19/08/2013 11:39

definitely don't forget the handbag kitkat :)

Hope you manage to get some rest gigs

nj love the camping pics :) and just a little jealous too

foofoo I'm doing chemo first due to the size of my lumps (7.5, 2.5 & 2 cm Shock) as they are hoping to shrink them + want to know if it's working. I'm doing FEC-T (3 of each) 3 FEC done so far - and the tumour has shrunk a bit, in fact my whole breast is visibly smaller now, which my onc is pleased with. Then it's mx & rads + tamoxifen as I'm ER+ (most lobular cancer is ER+ & HER-) It seems to be standard to do a mx if the tumour is multifocal, which makes sense as they want to know they have got it all. I've actually asked for a bilateral mx, partly because I'm well endowed in the boob department and hate the thought of being lop-sided and partly because lobular bc has a nasty habit of occuring on the other side as well (somewhere between 10 & 20% chance depending on which stats you believe). Not sure yet how much rads as I think it depends on whether they get a clean margin at the chest wall during mx. Any other qu just ask ;) I have become a bit of a cancer geek

I'm doing a happy dance this morning as we've just booked to go away for a couple of nights from tomorrow - back Thursday. Only about an hour away to the Forest of Bowland, but it will be so good to get away for all of us. :)

jchocchip · 19/08/2013 11:58

Camping pics are super. My dd1 says she may blow some of her inheritance on a campervan Shock but she should learn to drive first Grin Good plan kitkat. Feels so good to pay off a mortgage :) And handbag is an essential reward for end.of chemo :)

Lilymaid · 19/08/2013 12:21

foofoo I've also got lobular BC, but having started on FEC-T for 6 chemos with T first, I'm now on T only for 8 chemos with slightly lower dose. (This may be because they then discovered I had bone cancer as well, and that the BC may be secondary to that).
Breast is now (after 3 chemo sessions) much softer and pretty much back to normal shape/size. I've recently had an MRI scan (ouch!) to check on the other breast, but won't get results of that until I see breast surgeon again in September.
MX of one breast has been planned, but obviously this could change as treatment and scan results come in, then radiotherapy and tamoxifen. (I'm also getting a 4 weekly injection for the bones which hopefully will make that a chronic condition rather than acute).
But I am far more ignorant than Betsy about details, having wimped out of becoming a cancer geek, for now.

kitkat1967 · 19/08/2013 12:52

foofoo - I'm the same as Betsy and Lily too. Don't know if it is lobular (but it is 'invisible' on mammogram and ultrasound so probably is) - big lump - at least 6cm. Had sentinal node biopsy which was clear and done 3 rounds of FEC. Had MRI on Thursday and will use those results to decide whether to do 3 more FEC or change to T. My lump is a little bit odd in that it is very un-aggressive so onc did not think it would shrink (and must have been festering for many years) but we'll find out for sure tomorrow. Also very ER+. Then onto Op - either lumpectomy (if shrinkage enough) or mx. Then a month of rads and then tamoxifen - which I think is pretty much the same pattern as the other ladies. Betsy and I are the 'sicky/vomit' ones compared to Malt and Lily.

Lily - I found my repeat MRI OK actually - good job as I suspect I will be back again after next 3 cycles then annually. The radiographers already remember me Blush.

sparklesunshine · 19/08/2013 13:16

I'm kicking myself for not taking up critical illness cover when I had the chance, but who knew this was on the cards? Lucky you Kitkat!

Betsy enjoy the holiday. Nice to get away.

Gigs hope the bruises are healing. I hated line bruises, got them every time until my port.

I'm kid free for a couple of days since my mom took the girls to a cabin with her friend. It's been nice to be able wallow a bit in the final chemo aftermath. Strange how it affects me differently each time, and I will be so happy to see the other side of it.

Shootingatpigeons · 19/08/2013 13:18

kitkat I blew mine on the mortgage too, and I blew my compensation payment for constructive dismissal on a kitchen and loft extension, otherwise not even a handbag! Last of the big blingy spenders, me.

Also enjoying the campervans pics, especially of the the grumpy onesied ones Grin

mas enjoy the swim, there are always all sorts in the pool, don't worry. I always settle into a rhythm and switch off (when not being wound up by splashy men), I suppose it is a meditation in a way. I also do the body thing, focus in turn on what each part of my body is doing in the stroke and concentrate on getting it perfect and in balance and then move on to the next, a bit like yoga.

gigs sorry they are giving you no peace, and for the ouchy bruises. I know what you mean about drug addicts. When I was in hospital with the infection they ran out of veins in my arms and used my ankles instead, which I gather a lot of druggies end up doing, I cannot imagine any addiction making me be up for that again.

DH demanding to be waited on hand and foot milking his wounded hand, apparently can't do anything, we still can't quite work out how he managed to get his hand in the way of the handle in such a way that it stabbed him so he needed two stitches but I might just end up stabbing him in the other hand deliberately if he does't stop the melodrama.

foofoo enjoy your hair appointment, you may not actually lose your hair, depending on chemo regime and whether they are accomplished with the cold cap.

malteserzz · 19/08/2013 13:34

Shooting ( still not used to your name ! ) you sound like you are being very patient with dh ! Hope he recovers soon
Quite depressed about my hair it seemed to give me a day off yesterday but coming out loads again today, I've tucked it behind my ears and put my sunglasses on my head to try and disguise its thinness. Off shopping with dd later though hope I don't get any states Hmm

Gigondas · 19/08/2013 13:52

Am Grin at your dh pigeons . I can see how it would annoy you.

But my news is I may be able to act as alibi , " no officer she was with me all night" distract you cos am going home later!!

Am ok about this as I was secretly a bit worried when woke up as so sore. Just don't want to wait too long for rest of ops.

i would wallow away sparkle.

amberlight · 19/08/2013 14:31

Still Grr that we have critical illness cover and it really doesn't pay out for either the BC or for hubby having had a brain haemorrhage a few years back. So we had to work through both things and keep going. Useless.

Gigondas · 19/08/2013 15:54

That is crap amber as if they aren't critical what is? How is mr amber after the scare a few weeks back? And also how is your ds after all that business with university. Has he got a study plan?

kitkat1967 · 19/08/2013 17:01

crickey Amber - how critial do you need to get???

well I got more good news today - work have said I can take the rest of my hols over to next year (this is a big deal). That means that instead of the usual 5.5 weeks I will get 9 weeks - yippeee.

Mind you I think I will need them as the rest of the family seem to have big plans holiday wise (guess I'm doing the paying and they're doing the choosing Hmm) plus I think it will be exhausting being back full time so I'll need them.

malteserzz · 19/08/2013 17:06

Gigs yay to going home to own bed !
Smile
Amber that does seem unfair I guess they try and get out of paying whenever they can grr

Kitkat you are having a good day !

Been shopping,didn't get much as seems a bit between seasons but got dds bras sorted and had a nice costa stop. Nobody stared at my hair !

amberlight · 19/08/2013 17:20

Mr Amber is alright thanks. FineLad is conversing with the Uni today and getting various stuff to and from, so he can start work tomorrow.

Malt, hurrah for the lack of hair-staring!

Gigs, oooo, escape?

kitkat1967 · 19/08/2013 17:21

Malt - I think I have the most awful hair ever and always wear a hair band or bandana but have lost count of the number of people who have said 'I like you hair back off your face' (they don't know about chemo) or the 'oh, you haven't lost any hair why is that?'.
So I do think a lot of it is our heads and the thinning is not so noticeable Smile.

malteserzz · 19/08/2013 18:24

Mine is awful honestly Kitkat its only been the last few days but I have lost loads. Keep looking at people and envying their hair ! I suppose it's just another phase to get through
Pleased I've been out though think it was another week till I did in my last cycle !

kitkat1967 · 19/08/2013 18:39

malt I have developed hair envy too. Keep touching dd's long shiney mane Blush as well as seeing great hair everywhere. Mind you it's v quick to get ready in the morning!!

sparklesunshine · 19/08/2013 18:46

Amber that's horrible! What on earth else would you need it for?

amberlight · 19/08/2013 20:23

I have no idea at all. Mysterious, isn't it.

MaryAnnSingleton · 19/08/2013 21:39

I don't understand this critical illness thingy- should I ?
Swimming was fab - pool not terribly busy,was lane swimming -went in the middle lane and did 28 lengths which was pleasing,being as haven't been swimming for years..it felt good and I was aware of all my various limbs doing what they were doing. Avoided swimming behind T as he is very splashy,though had my nice new goggles on. Really hard to wriggle out of wet cossie afterwards (cross over back) Am planning to go on Wednesday.
Hooray that gig might be snuggling in her own bed !

foofooyeah · 19/08/2013 22:15

Thanks for sharing your treatment Betsy, Lily and Kitkat. My main lump is small 1.3 and the others also small so will see what is suggested. I am also big boobed so am seriously considering a double mx - have said they will do a reduction on other side but think just start again!

Lovely evening drinking red wine with a lovely pair of male friends (gay couple) - one has had bowel cancer (with liver and lung secondaries) so lots of good advice and more importantly lots of laughs.

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