*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 :)

Marshy my first thought was "thank fuck I don't have an ensuite"

yep topsy - never going to have one now either

Trice and malt - I am very lucky to have the lovely bcn, particularly as surgeon has bedside manner of a plank. I am a hcp myself, completely different specialty, but she has taught me a lot about how to be with people in dire circumstances. Just hope I can be back at work soon to use it.

Oh poo I have an ensuite!
Topsy you're a star stepping in for the school trip today. How's your skin has it got any better with the oil cleansing ?

Been up most of the night with chemo anxiety. Should be sed to it by now. Have the excitement today of chemo in a different hospital a bi nerer to home. Hopefully shall get to snooze through it.

Also pleased that no pope in the shower this morning.

morning foo. I've got my chemo at 10 this morning (on my sofa though so no hospital excitement).

No ensuite here either - but whole house clear of religious leaders which I am relieved about.

Morning foo and kitkat

Bit of a restless night here too but you have given me a to wake up to.

Wishing you both a straightforward chemo

Morning all. Good luck with chemo appts.

I had a good night sleep. And I have my energy back. Yeah!

I didn't have great day yesterday. After two poor nights sleep, I was very tired and had a slight headache that stayed with me all day. I went back to bed and then sat infront of tv of the rest of the day/evening.

I had horrible heartburn yesterday, but thats gone today too. But inside of my mouth has been sore past few days, especially around my back teeth. It feels like the skin around the back teeth has lifted and is inflamed, rather than mouth sores. This used happen prior to chemo when I was feeling run down. I guess I have that to look forward to every 3 weeks now...

I'm looking forward to my 'good' week next week. My girls have midterm next week so timing is perfect.

Morning all
Kitkat and foo foo good luck for your chemos I still can't get over how quickly Kitkats seems to come round each week !
Mom of 2 have you got mouthwash to help your mouth ? I've got difflam and an antiseptic one from the hospital this time and they seem to be helping mine though oral thrush and ulcers was my problem
No plans for today dh is playing golf I might go and sit round my mum and dad's house when the cleaners come later, they're on holiday but I feel like lady muck sitting here while someone else cleans my house

Mom get yourself some mouthwash
Difflam or even corsodyl (although corsodyl is harsher)

Good luck to the chemo ladies today
Hope it all goes smoothly for you x

I'm procrastinating on here .
I've got to be at the school in 20 mins for my second school trip .
And I still need to cobble together a packed lunch , and brush my teeth and hair !

Here's hoping pig/dogs butt hasn't exploded , like it did yesterday , on my return ...

See ya later x

Using mouthwash the hospital gave me, twice daily. I'll give them a ring to see if I can use a stronger one.

It is lovely morning here in South of Ireland. Gorgeous blue sky without a cloud in sight. Long may it last!

Glad to have prevented the spread of en suites

There are some instances when the Sentinel Node Biopsy thing misses cancer that's in the other lymph nodes but not in the big one....or error where the test sample misses a bit. There's a 3% chance of that with the older tests. The newer ones test lymph nodes three different ways so they don't miss a trick. They're getting better at this stuff.

Amber as usual you have all the right info at your fingertips.

It's good timing for me as over the last week I had developed a case of leg cancer (not as obscure as Topsy's forehead cancer but along the same lines) - since I established the Pope is not in any of my bathrooms it seems to have abated - how I thought it got to my shin I don't know .

Malt - my cleaners come on Wednesday but I think they are used to me sat in front of afternoon TV now. Chemo is also a Wednesday but so far we've only had one brief cross over!!
and Malt step away from daytime TV (have seen your post on facebook)!

I can also report that both DCs fitted into their Halloween costumes so no rushing back to the shops for me - DS has requested face paint and coloured hair though so will have to see what I can do about that.

Beautiful day here too - was pouring first thing but glorious out now.

Just a quick message for marshy I had a 10cm long line of DCIS ... They did the sentinel node biopsy at the same time as mx/recon and I got clear results and needed no further treatment (apart from 10 months of leaky boob dressing etc). I know everyone is different but hope you find this comforting :)

Amber - love you for your Pope in the en suite comment - completely brilliant (no en suite here either, phew).

Good luck for chemo today ladies.....another one ticked off.

Interesting to read your comments about involvement of lymph nodes vs need for chemo. I met a lovely lady who had none in her lymph nodes, had a lumpectomy, but was still blasted with chemo, rads and Tamoxifen. I've been told that, although there were a few cells in 1/3 sentinel nodes (hence last week's node clearance), they are not really expecting to find any other node involvement (fingers crossed for that huh), but consultant is still recommending I go with chemo, rads and Tamoxifen. She described it as reducing my risk of re-occurrence to the lowest possible %age, particularly due to my age. I will therefore accept whatever is thrown at me as I damn well want to stay here!

Kitkat - I also feel a bit anxious about Tamoxifen, mainly due to hot flushes, possible weight gain, achey bones. But as many have said on here, the weight gain can be controlled (will just have to have some hypnosis to stop my excessive chocolate consumption). I think I can handle that - I like to excercise so will up that a bit, and earlier this year I did the 5/2 diet for several months which helped me loose some poundage from my hips and tummy. If necessary I will revert back to this - it really is very doable.

In terms of the hot flushes, consultant said 1. buy a fan for the bedroom, 2. Acupuncture has been shown to help - our BCN can advise about that.

I agree, I'm not keen on taking drugs for the next ten years, but it's better than the alternative!!!! And I think we can still have as that's obviously therapeutic.

Waiting for nurse to come round - still have bastard drain. Argh!!!!!

snigger at BMX topsy, you knew I would see it the same way ..... helmets and elbow pads at the ready ladies !

handbags - I already have a ceiling fan in the bedroom so good to go on that front . Also I am looking forward to feeling well enough to exercise - only so much sitting on the sofa that can done (and I've done about 5 months already ).
Looks like there will be a fair few of us starting Tamxoifen around the same time so lots of hand holding to be done.

I had nothing in my nodes but was still given 4 x 4 chemo (like a BMX bike but in offroad car format) and radiotherapy plus boost radio, and Herceptin.

Amber to the off-road theme. Sounds like you were totally blasted.

Kitkat - yes very much up for Tamoxifen hand-holding. The other thing consultant said was do not buy a memory foam mattress (too sweaty). See, I'm full of useful tips that I shall have to remember to apply to myself

betsy glad you got your bmx sorted without having to do too much campaigning! :)

foofoo good luck today :) I think you're at the chemo unit I went to now so hope you like it!

kitkat good luck too :)

handbags hope that the drain can come out today.

Waving to all, can't possibly keep up with all the posts I'm afraid!

I'm really as saw my tutor and her only "help" was to give me the name of a counsellor and to tell me to see my GP for antidepressants. I explained that I am not depressed, I am overwhelmed because my work is taking me four times longer than it would usually take. I need practical help to deal with that. I feel so let down :(

handbags I have never heard of anyone having achey bones on tamoxifen! without a doubt some women are debilitated by Tamoxifen and if you are then you do have to stand up for yourself as Doctors tend to dismiss it as "menopausal" (which apparently makes it alright to be unable to sleep or function) when in fact there are things they can do. There was a woman's hour thing on it recently where the doctor was admitting they let women down. I didn't get the flushes until after I stopped Tamoxifen and frankly at 4am when I have been woken the umpteenth time in a hot sweaty bed and know it will take two hours to get back to sleep (post menopausal women lack melatonin and find it hard to nod off as well) I would happily ram that Consultant's fan down his/her throat. But that is happening to other friends too without the help of BC and it's treatments.

However two thirds of women go through menopause free of any symptoms and most women go through Tamoxifen without any problems (a few of my friends didn't even have a menopause on it) except the tendency to weight gain which can be managed. Honestly it has been the most humane and definitely effective part of my treatment.

I am waiting in my en suite, come on religious leaders, I dare you......

Pigeons - it is fascinating to read how everyone's experiences of menopause either with / without Tamoxifen are so different. None of us will know how we're going to cope until it hits us. I read an article about Kylie who went to her Dr begging to be allowed to stop taking Tamoxifen, so it is reassuring to hear you say it was the most humane part of your treatment. Mind you, it's not as if I have the added pressure of having to perform for my fans in a tight bustier and g-string, so I guess she has more pressure to keep the weight off

Ruby I'm so sorry to hear your tutor is being such an arse. She really doesn't get it does she, and obviously isn't listening to you. Is there anyone else at uni you can discuss this with?

handbags thank you. I've emailed three other people so hopefully someone will be more useful! Is the bone aches from tax rather than tamoxifen? I think betsy had bone aches on tax.

Ruby I hope there is someone who will be able to help you. Have you made any friends from your flat mates yet ? Hope you are a little less homesick this week

Kitkat I try to stay away from the daytime tv but it draws me in ! Jeremy Kyle is dire I can't believe that people would choose to go on there

Ruby I would go and see the Counsellor /GP and get them to explain to idiot tutor, do you have a GP who has supported you through this who could write a letter. Shame you had a wonky Oncy, I know Dr geek would have loved to get to know my tutor and swap geekery Do you have subject tutors you could see as well as a personal tutor, one of those may have a bit of emotional intelligence. Also although your tutor may hide behind data protection and not talk to them, your parents or some other advocate can write to your tutor. You can also approach any member of uni staff who you have ever had a good relationship with to help. We had a famously rogue tutor (strident American who wore sacks for dresses and had a baby by a Chinese sperm downer by AI which really is what you would call passion for your subject ) and lovely tutor was constantly acting as advocate when she unfairly marked essays that didn't agree with her etc.

I would also go and see your learning support unit. It isn't just for those who have learning difficulties but should also support anyone having problems especially with dissertations. I know my uni is very woo and so all learning support comes with yoga, bells and cannabis nutritional support but they also did great sessions on tackling your diss, procrastination entirely unconnected with a campus filled with hippy stoners etc.

Just googled and at your uni they are called study advisers and they run workshops. Also you could look at the online resources at other unis. UCL have some great online stuff and I am sure others have too. Hmm there is some online for mine too but in it's usual chaotic well meaning manner but do take a look. There is lots of help out there really, hopefully some of it will help

Hi Ruby, I'd read somewhere that bone aches were a SE of Tamoxifen and the lady I met said her bones have ached since taking it. I know it's not going to be the same for everyone, think I am just mentally buffering myself for possible SEs. I hope your uni has someone better qualified to comment on your situation and give you the advice you need x

Drain had 55ml so I still have it. Argh. Mañana......