Tamoxigang - 41 and counting

[KurriKurri]

Morning all, new thread, croissants on trolley, and I'll put a brew on.

thanks Malt - i'm hoping that the BCN will be at appt on Tuesday as i have no info on Op and no idea what i need to do re bras etc. I'm assuming she'll be the one to help with that. I'm expecting to have to go back in to see her on Weds for pre-op stuff as that's what happened last time. I won't want to spend a fortune on underwear as the plan is to have the reconstruction in 6 months - or that was the plan - goodness knows what the plans are now . I'm assuming I'm still getting the rads so can't have the recontruction immediately.

I'll have my own TV in my room and my Grey's Anatomy to work through, and I have a stack of books waiting so think that side is covered. On the other hand food and snacks does need to be considered ........

DS back to school on 3rd and DD on 4th. As Op is on 30th I'm assuming I'll be home but think I'll need DH off work for the first few days to them organised in the morning for me.

bcn will help with bras and whatnot kitkat - nice pyjamas will be cheering !
oh I feel quite sick with nerves..T will be off soon.

Kitkat - you'll be provided with a softie (pad to put in your bra) after surgery, and a few weeks later a proper weighted prosthesis. You can get mastectomy bras from M and S which cost the same as their regular bras. Nicola Jane is a good online company for mastectomy bras/swimwear - but they are a bit more expensive (although not outlandishly so, and I've found their stuff wears and washes well)

Just a piece of info which may or may not be relevant to you, and I hope you don't think I'm being a bit personal mentioning it! - I am waiting for a planned reconstruction, but if it is planned rather than done on the spot, they won't do it if you are overweight (which I am) because its a long op. and they wont take unecessary risks. - Not implying for a minute that you are over weight - obviously I have no idea! - but just thought I'd let you know so you can take that info on board if necessary. You don't have to be skinny thin, just not a fatty like me. When I say they won't do it, they will ask you to go away and lose weight before they do it.

Just thought I'd say, because its added a lot of waiting time to me getting reconstruction, and if I'd known beforehand it would have been helpful

Thank you, lovely ones.

Out with a friend for lunch, then out with family for a meal this evening

Three chemo cycles only? Usually the result of updated research coming in on particular types of bc, some of which show that chemo doesn't make a bit of difference for those particular types and circumstances....because the surgery etc is as effective. Chemo is a rough and nasty tool, so where teams don't have to use it, they won't. I'd ask for their scientific reasoning. They might be using the NHS Predict tool to calculate it all. It's online, if you wanted to be bold enough to bung in what you know. Google it with those words.

Yes definitely to new pyjamas . Some straws and drinks good as you will feel thirsty after ga and also quite weak so straws help if dont want to lift head.

Wipes for face, face spray and lip balm are nice after.

Kurri - saw this thread and thought of you as I know you like a good wedding lunacy thread [[
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/1832446-Terrible-wedding-behaviour
Here]].

Gigs - I can't get the link to work - what's the title of the thread?

Enjoy your lunch and evening out amber, sounds lovely

Happy birthday amber !

KK - thanks for the info but I'm OK on the weight front as scored in the 'normal' BMI range when they did the checks for my previous op.
So I don't need a mx bra before i go - am worried about having only a few days after seeing nurse to having surgery?
Actually I'm interested in the pockets someone (was it Topsy) was sewing into their own bras as I like a bit of sewing .

Amber - I do need to ask more info now (have mainly left them to it so far) - but right at the outset the onc did say for my histology he didn't think chemo would do much. So as I understand it they have done 3 cycles - there has been a small change to 1 part of the tumour but the majority of the lump is unchanged. They now believe it is mostly DCIS. I guess they will say that the advantage of doing the chemo first that they could monitor and watch reaction and therefore not continue if there is no benefit.
If Op reveals something they are concerned about I will get the other 3 cycles afterwards - I do hope not but I also need them to convince me that we are not skimping on some essential treatment (am sure they wouldn't but even so......).
And i guess some people have no chemo.

kitkat - I think you can buy sew in pockets from the Nicola Jane site (or probably and other site if you google mastectomy bras.

Or IIRC -John Lewis will sew a pocket into a bra or swimsuit for you fro about a fiver, and it used to be that your hospital would do you something like two bras and one swimsuit - but that may have changed since I had my op.

I have altered bras and swimsuits myself - and it isn't hard.
Another tip - I find bras with a widish strap are most comfortable - the prosthesis seems to make them dig into your shoulders a bit more than usual, so it spreads the load so to speak - you tend to need a bit more support than before

hope you didn't mind me mentioning the weight thing, - and good to know you are fine on that front, but it was something that I didn't know about beforehand, so thought I'd pass it on

Yes, chemo carries its own risk, because of the risk of infection or long term side effects. So it's never entered into lightly.

KK - no probs that you mentioned weight. I'm also hoping that my small boobs will make the whole prosthesis thing easier to manage. Am also assuming it makes reconstruction easier too as less to have to create . As I only found out yesterday (from onc) that I'm having a mx I know nothing!

It's all go here - just got date and time for my pre-op assessment - also on Tuesday.

I had no chemo first time round - am not sure whether if I had that it would have prevented secondaries in my case- as onc says,everyone's cancer is different and so much depends on your individual immunities and genetics.
We are a bit confused by T's exam results- really hoping they will be ok enough for A levels - Bs and Cs in the relevant and important subjects- but v bad in drama-which is weird as he is good at the performing bits- he said he knew the written bit was not good He is a bit disappointed I think but seems cheery enough.

Hi MAS - do you need to go into the school to get them to explain things? the Bs and Cs sound good though. Was he planning to take drama A level?

MAS - B's and C's sound good - and as long as he can go on to do what he wants at A level, that's all that matters. I remember my DS didn't do well in drama exam, and was very disappointed - did brilliantly on the practical bit, but fell down on the written part. - He went on to do two drama subjects at A level and did very well in them - so I think the drama GCSE is definitely a tricky one - there's a high weighting on the written stuff.

Neither of mine did phenomenally well at GCSE, but both went on to do very well in their A levels - whereas some of their friends who got all A stars at GCSE didn't do so well on the A levels, so I don't think you can read to much into GCSE results - they are still so young when they do them!

aw thanks kitkat and kk - have been fretting- no,drama wasn't his intended A level,which is a relief. Dh has been looking at the college website and seems to think that it should be ok- T is going to register at college on Tuesday so they'll discuss it then-meanwhile we'll talk him through it all and sound out any contingency plans

Defiantly new pjs !

We have gone from camping hell to heaven. The sun is shining and the children have spent hours in the lake. All my washing done and dried so I am most content. Vodka later to finish off.

Enjoy the shopping gigs I have the whole school shoes hell to look forward to next week.

NJ - the new camping photos look fab - I like the change from shivering in onesies to swimming cossies!!

MAS - I see you are changing to a college - I guess that makes it a bit more complicated then staying in the same school. Shame you have to wait until Tuesday to find out but it sounds like he will be OK. Is he happy enough to go out and celebrate?

Mas well done to T seems so much pressure on them at at early age,fingers crossed for college

Wore my wig all day today and do feel bit more myself in it because lately my hair has looked so rubbish. Ds friend asked me if I'd had my hair done friends 4 year old just looked at me for a second but said nothing about it. Its just a bit more bouffanty than my own hair which takes a bit of getting used to. Have taken it off now to cook the tea !

am glad that wig is cheering malt !
Will be taking T out to celebrate with us tomorrow as it's our wedding anniversary - a multi purpose celebration ! He seems quite ok...

good news on the wig wearing Malt and also very wise to take it off to cook - I gather they can easily melt/singe. Are you going to try any scarves/hats to wear round the house if your hair goes completely.

Am a bit grrr at the mo as still waiting for my washing machine - got a delivery slot of 2 to 6pm so not late but really.... - all that drying time lost this afternoon!!

Also BCN rang as she saw my name on list for next Friday and was shocked. She said i was down for mx with tissue expanders and she is going to send me a leaflet about tissue expaander surgery as i obviously have no info. We also chatted about the abandonded chemo and she said in the past there has been a lot of over treatment and these days the trend is to tailor the treatment as specifically as possible. She also confirmed that they would not take any risks.
Think she felt a bit sorry for me having been booked in with no consultation although it will all happen next week.

Yes they told me not to open the oven with it on ! Have ordered a turban thing from amazon because if the doorbell went now I would want something to fling on before opening the door ! It will all go there is hardly anything left I still can't bring myself to shave it though
Hope the washing machine turns up Kitkat and your bcn seems very on the ball
Fresh pineapple been lovely today and metal mouth feels much better
Thinking we haven't heard from ruby for a while hope she is just busy and getting on with life

Can I come on and boast?

My DS has just been told by the National head of his company (he works for a company which provides education services to prisons) that he has won an award. 40 people were nominated all round the country, and four people won awards, he has to go down to London to receive it and attend a big dinner thing.
The letter from the head of company said it was for his dedication and caring to those with learning difficulties, and his innovative and enthusiastic approach to teaching and excellent results.

So I am very proud of him, - this is the boy who was told by his school he was lazy and would never get anywhere (he's actually got dyslexia, and had virtually no support from his school)

Happy anniversary for tomorrow MAS

I was also wondering about Ruby - hope you are OK lovely, and just on holiday or busy atm.

that's great about your DS KK - feel free to boast.

Finally got my washing machine and am on the second load

Malt - my BCN was very apologetic as she said she had only just realised i was on the list - I just laughed and said not to worry as I only just found out myself!!

Kurri that is brilliant you're right to be proud
Kitkat glad youre getting the washing done! Wish I had that kind of support, I never see the same bcn and whilst they are all nice they don't really do a lot. Have no contact with them at all now as chemo is at a different hospital.
Looking forward to new series of location location tonight then celebrity big brother

Just realised I made a mistake in my previous post - it was 400 nominations he was chosen from, not 40

Glad your washing machine has come kitkat - I hate being without mine (unfortunately I have one of the 'keeps breaking down variety' so it goes out of action fairly regularly!)

I'm also going to watch CBB - although I don't usually know who any of the 'celebrities' are