*TAMOXIGANG* All the fours...44!

[GoodbyeRubyTuesday]

Apologies for the bingo reference, couldn't think of a witty title but the other thread is very nearly full.

In honour of our new thread I have piled extra apple pudding on the trolley so tuck in :)

Thank you ladies for being sensible and realistic and for putting me right! I'm still dead nervous, but you have reassured me that life can mostly go ahead as normal.

We were given the Mummy's Lump book when I was first diagnosed. I couldn't bear to read it to dd2 so copped out and got dd1 to read it to her. I think the pictures are useful, even if you don't read the words, particularly as it shows the mummy in hospital, with no hair, and then finally going on holiday at the end. It helped us explain things to dd1 who wouldn't have understood otherwise.

Well I have had my haircut this morning. It was trauma-free and it looks really funky (ie completely different to my previous hair). It has been washed, cut and styled, so my real hair looks like a wig to me now as I'm not used to seeing myself with such tidy, healthy-looking, cool hair! I'm not sure if the kids are going to like it, but tough, as I do . Now really pissed off its going to fall out! Going wig shopping in a bit, so can hopefully match it.

Also having portacath inserted next week - such fun

Handbag You'll have short funky hair when it grows back. I love mine as it is now - much better than before! Did scare some kids on Halloween night though. They just hadn't seen DD's Mummy with very short hair so they got a surprise.... And I scared a poor little Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz by going Boo! As I opened the door...

Handbag - I am on EC too, I am one round in with next round on Friday. I cold capped and still have my full head of hair, my lady garden, (Mumsnet word, I would never use in real life), on the other hand is shedding like no tomorrow!

topsy thinking of you and keeping everything crossed

trice - ditto all the figs/prunes/dates suggestions - also All Bran - sorry my memory is crap ATM, and I was away last week and I'm not up to speed with the thread, was this your lung fusion op? Hope you feel better soon.

woohoo for malt's last chemo wonders if malt will scurry away from chemo unit as fast as I did once cannula was taken out

weebarra I took a similar line to smee with DS (5) and DD (7), trying to make it sound positive rather than worrying/scary. I found Mummy's Lump a bit patronising and 1950s.

For those starting chemo - just to say I had what was probably a fairly rough ride with SEs, but even so I did all the school runs on weeks 2 & 3 (and some on week 1 when I could - usually towards the end of week 1) - even if it mean using the car sometimes. Also all the usual mum's taxi to clubs, cooking, cleaning, homework etc. Just sometimes a bit slower than I used to be. As the wise ladies (like smee) told me chemo isn't pleasant but it's very doable, just take it one cycle at a time and it'll be over before you know it - they were right (three and a half weeks post chemo and counting )

Quick qu for those who did tax - I've still got swollen feet/ankles (a bit not too bad) and peripheral neuropathy is still there, particularly in toes, but fading a bit every day, and jelly legs generally - how long did it take for your SEs to disappear?

Betsy the swelling did go quite quickly for me (within a couple of weeks I think), but I found it really hard to tell what was tax and what was due to being knackered from Rads. You're having your op before then aren't you? I reckon just tiptoe through the rest of it and once you're through it all, the aches will fade. Does take a while though..

Got all things crossed for Topsy. Hope they don't keep you waiting. xx

DS1 is a bit confused and keeps mixing up chemotherapy and archaeology

that actually made me snort with laughter

topsy everything crossed for you

Betsy For me, the peripheral neuropathy is fading a bit - I think. I haven't had swollen feet or ankles, but am still incredibly tired. I can't wait to get rid of the disgusting taste in my mouth and for wine to taste decent again (yes I'm the poor sod who has not been able to enjoy my usual glass of wine all through chemo).
Radiotherapy is only 66% likely for me and not until the New Year, so having recovered strength I shall (2 -1 on) be knocked out again.

Lily, don't despair as if you do have to have radiotherapy it's really so much easier than chemo. Not nice, but you're most definitely through the worst. Wine taste buds will return. Mine disappeared too, but it didn't take long before they returned.

"Wine taste buds will return. "
Best thing I've heard for a long time - thanks Smee!

I haven't had swollen feet or ankles and haven't noticed any peripheral neuropathy either but the tiredness is awful, just walking to the doctors this morning then walking found the shops and I'm shattered. Hope that improves once I've finished

Lily did you get your nails sorted out ?

All the Christmas stuff is in the shops I normally love Christmas but not feeling it at all this year, anyone else ?

I am sorry I have not been around, lost the plot a bit and things are busy at home , but I just wanted to cross my fingers legs and all for Topsy coming back with better news than she is expecting and big hugs to gigs for tomorrow.

I have to say that hair loss for me had lots of positives, saved on hairdressers for six months (I hate the hairdressers) and then I could justify going to an exorbitant salon in town with a French hairdresser (didn't really care what he did to my hair as long as it was with a French accent ) who gave my newly thick and curly hair a funky new style....Now it is back to thin and lank

I had bad SEs with chemo (they don't often use it now for that reason) , it decimated my white blood cells and put me in hospital with an infection during the first cycle but even so I managed to get out and about all but the first few days. I had to do the white blood cell boosting injections daily for a week each cycle and that was fine unless I was feeling self pitying and when I began to run out of stomach rolls. I not only managed the school run but I also managed to pitch up for little pigeons intensive intervention sessions at school (she is dyslexic / dyspraxic so we were basically implementing a programme to teach her to read, write and spell from scratch) twice a week, good weeks and bad. I half hated the SEN teacher for it at the time and thought she was being a bit cold hearted but came to appreciate the lack of head tilting, looking back I think she had had friends go through it (a wise old bird) and knew it would be wrong to expect less of me and it did give me another focus.

malt I scrubbed the underside of my nails very gently with some soapy water and they havent been quite so smelly since then. Can't really see what is going on under the many layers of garish metallic red nail varnish but they don't feel any worse!

We are still in discussion about the Christmas meal. I don't feel that I shall want to be doing my usual level of home cooking, but the other (all male) members of the family haven't been forward in volunteering their services. I shall threaten them with an M&S Seasonal Saver though it pains me to fall so low on the catering front!

I'm getting as many Christmas presents as possible online this year - at least I shall be in when the delivery man arrives (probably at about 7 am ... aargh!!)

Damn me, that seasonal saver looks just fine to me! Either that or go out for lunch

I'm back .
Usual mixed bag .
Node grown from 1.8 to 2.1 .
Still only the one , and still not considered big enough for chemo .

They are going to speak to the rads people and see wether it's suitable for rads blasting , but the Onc thinks not .

Booking me in for my usual 3 monthly CT .
But also booking me in for a brain CT and another bone scan .
That is because I've been having rib pain and headaches recently .

Best part was I was booked in with the clinic nurse .
Apparently I don't warrant being seen by an actual doctor these days ...

Topsy like you say mixed news but good that it sounds slow growing and that you don't need any treatment at the moment. Grr to you not being seen by a doctor though.

Foo foo I thought the seasonal saved looked good too it's from m and s so bet it would be yummy,no Christmas pud though ! Last Christmas I was on a Caribbean cruise, sigh !

Good news that there is still only the 1 node Topsy but like Malt says grr to you not even seeing a doctor. Good alos that any treatment is not required yet. Are you having your extra scans now or in 3 months with your ct?

I've done a full days work today - actually went into the office as had to collect and setup my new laptop. Am back home now - copying data - wondering what I will lose in the process!
I'm feeling OK but have very tired legs - can barely get up and down the stairs I have so little energy - I guess it's all cummulative. But never mind - I've only 4 weeks to go . (And it's still better then the FEC nausea!)

I think DM will be doing xmas lunch so all I'll have to do is turn up - I realise I am very spoilt and appreciate the fact that I have no planing or cooking to do.

Hmm, Topsy slow's definitely good, but can see why it's mixed. Can imagine the scans seem terrifying, but then again if it's that slow growing, surely a v.good chance it's not elsewhere. I'd bet the headaches/ rib pain are down to stress. I have on and off rib pain and have been convinced it's bone cancer, but scans always say no. Bet you'll be the same. xx

Topsy, that isn't much in the way of size increase but would have been better if no growth at all.

Malt, I always get my turkey crown from M&S but getting the whole shebang in one go looks simple. My last chemo is de on Christmas Day!! Hopefully will be a&e to o jst after ather than just before.

Kitkat well done on whole at in office, I will probably go in tomorrow as well. Need to go in one day ths week.

I am eating so much! Don't seem to be able to stop. Must get out the house and away from food more. Did g round the life (4 miles) but had a sandwich alf way round

foo - I can't stop eating either - I assume it's the steroids - I feel like I'm looking for food all the time. I think my little daliance with diabetes is the only thing that has stopped me putting on weight.

I assume your chemo will the first working day after Xmas then? Which would Ok I guess as at least you can be sure that Xmas day and Boxing day will be good days - and then everyone can look after you for a few days afterwards .

Foo/kitkat- it will be the steroids making you hungry. I am looking forward to having them again as can make me hungry.

Topsy- yay for slow growth and seeing nurse but boo about the extra scans. They have to be cautious (wish they had scanned my neck earlier As might not be in such pain now ) but smee is right that it is likely stress especially given how slow it's moving.

Wee/handbags/really - nice to have chemo buddies . I went and had blood test, long chat with nurse and saw nice chemo suite. felt dreAdful after and so sick so just lay in bed after I got in. Shock and anxiety about it has really got to me and hasn't helped with how rough I feel (sore, tired and no appetite). But seeing pain dr on Friday and onc tomorrow so hope to get some better suggestions.

Malt yay for last cycle.

Have started ordering some Xmas presents but think its hard to get too into it when half term just done.

Just rolling in to say good luck to Gigs for tomorrow. Seems trite to say you'll feel better once you've started, but maybe you will. Can imagine the weight of expectation is quite mighty. xx

'evening all.
Sending and hugs for those with treatments coming up and extra scans etc.
Thinking of you all.

Hi All

Just wanted to say good luck to handbags and gigs for tomorrow. Also good luck with your last Chemo malt you must be soooooo pleased it's nearly over

I'm still waiting for a call from Doc to let me know when my Chemo might be starting! I do wish they would call when they say they will. So frustrating! More waiting!!

As for Christmas, am I allowed to say I have finished present shopping and I have written my cards I have even wrapped a few presents. I decided I should get it done, just in case, my Chemo isn't plain sailing!

Hope everyone has a good evening and a good day tomorrow.

Xxxxx

Am in awe of your Christmas organisation Really. Hope you get your call soon.

Gigs and Weebarra good luck for chemo tomorrow and Weds. Argh, can't wait for this to be over.......

gigs good luck for tomorrow! Sounds like you're having a rotten time at the moment, I hope the doctors can help with that and that the steroids improve your appetite :)

topsy mixed bag indeed, fingers crossed for the other scans - will they be with your next CT or sooner? Also hope the doctor is wrong and your node can be blasted!

trice sorry you had such an awful experience! Do vent here if you think that would help. Oily foods might help start getting things moving, or something very spicy. Also a stomach massage following direction of your bowels so start bottom right and go up, across and back down other side. Also a hot bath if you're allowed to, and Epsom salts (internally rather than in the bath, although could try that too).

Good luck to everyone starting chemo in the next few weeks!

I didn't fare very well and barely left the house in later cycles but think a lot of that was because I'd had such a big surgery beforehand so new plumbing was also adjusting and the side effects were exacerbated. Most people seem to manage to have a fairly normal life for at least one week a cycle. You'll soon get to know your own pattern so you'll know what side effects to expect when and which days are likely to be best for going out etc.

Watch out for anaemia, if you can catch it early it's fairly easy to treat but otherwise it can really wipe you out - also something to be aware of after chemo when you're not having regular blood tests. Mine continued to get worse after last cycle but onc had said not to test for three months so by then I was very weak.

I found the whole experience rather boring but not distressing. Possibly because I seem to lack normal human emotions about the whole cancer thing

Uni is going alright and I am starting to have a bit more of a normal life. Life is still mostly ruled by my surgery side effects but might as well get used to that for the next year or so. I am on my third week of Couch to 5K though :) feeling much fitter and stronger than I have done for ages.

To whoever mentioned not going to the gym during chemo, unless your doctors have said not to, keep up as much exercise as you can manage. It's been shown to reduce the severity of chemo side effects plus it'll help with your energy levels and also it is much harder to get your fitness back than to maintain it! :) I was pretty much incapacitated for 10 months due to surgery and chemo and it has been rather a struggle to get even a basic level of fitness back.