*Tamoxigang Christmas Party* - 45

[Tiny100]

Morning All!

We're nearly in December, so let's get the festivities started.

[adds mince pies to the trolley]

I'm really annoying aren't I?!!! Sorry.

My mum would love you she's always on at me to get fit !
I'm not sure about swimming during radiotherapy I wouldn't have thought the chlorine would be good on delicate skin. Swimming is one exercise I do enjoy though so would bad interesting to find out

No dye at ct scan but may Sellotape wire to scars. I would ask about swimming as was told that not even soap allowed on affected bits but it varies how units react (pbetsey seems to have a more forward thinking one). Am at your fitness levels as I have done almost nothing for a year due to ops, first Pilates next week.

Green eyed -there are lots you can take. Selenium and zinc fir starters . Also Manuka honey (20 plus) is good fir immunity and ESP sore throats. Try propolis too as that is good fir boost in cold season. Vitamin b for energy. Gentle iron to help boost blood. It can take ages to get back to normal.

Thanks Gig, big phew to no dye.

No soap on affected bits? Wow! Hope they allow swimming, was really looking forward to that. I've started using Bionsen deoderant as that's aluminium free - we are allowed deoderant aren't we (can't cope with being bald and smelly

I used gentle soap and bionsen all the time. And aloe Vera gel after showering. Worked fine.

kitkat - yes I still do get the occasional feeling sick day - but not very often now than goodness. (I've still got some anti-e's left so if it's very bad I take one!)

handbags/malt - I was told no swimming during or immediately after rads as the chlorine can irritate the skin even more. Makes sense and it's only a for a few weeks.

I'm not quite as good as handbags on the exercise front, but I do try and walk every day, even on chemo I only missed the very worst days. I definitely feel much better for it. We managed some quite long beach walks during the Christmas hols, it was so good to feel my fitness finally returning. :)

handbags - I didn't have any contrast dye at my rads planning appointment.

green - I used to work with someone who was also a qualified homeopath and he used to swear by Echinacea to boost your immune system and ward off colds - no idea if it works though! :)

trying to post while cooking tea, so loads of x-posts :)

Oh yes, I had little patches with wire in stuck to me too - except one of my patches didn't have a wire in - caused a bit of confusion until they realised why it wan't working - apparently first time this had happened!

gigs - mine are strict on some things, no deodorant at all, no shaving armpits, no soap apart from Simple soap (or you can wash with aqueous cream). Thank goodness they are okay with doublebase and aloe vera!

Betsy - thanks very much for that info, bugger about the swimming though.......roll on life getting back to normal huh? If it ever becomes normal again .

Am also looking forward to getting the portacath out at some point. Will be nice not to have a freaky looking protuberance and annoying tubey thing pressing on a nerve.

Green - have you had a flu jab? I assume you will have had.

Does Tax kick off the menopause? My period was due end Dec and hasn't come, and night sweats have started so I guess that's the beginning of that. Does that mean I'll grow a beard along with my hair when chemo finishes?

kitkat since changing the timing of the tamoxifen I have found that I do get a bit hot during the day but it passes quite quickly. Still get the odd flush at night also, but this has improved. I'm hoping the side effects will lessen over time. Even though I am 54 now, my gp recommended that I keep the mirena coil. I didn't talk it through with her in detail as it was a bit of a rushed phone consultation, but I seem to recall she thought it was a good idea with the tamoxifen.

Re tiredness and returning to work, I am going in on alternate days initially, which I think is a sensible idea, and I have certainly appreciated the rest day today. I'm also working shorter hours to start with to avoid the busy commuting times. I have an hour drive at each end of the day, sometimes more, and I drive around during the day also. I did feel quite achy around my shoulder, armpit and boob by the time I got home yesterday, and just very tired. The plan is to build up to fulltime hours over 4-6 weeks.

Previously I would pretty much have ignored fatigue and just have got on with what needed doing, at home or work, but I do feel that I need to pay attention to my body at the moment and not just push on through like I would have done. I was fairly fit in Sept, when all this started for me, and i think i have made good progress, but definitely not fully regained that yet

Green - re the flu jab, might be worth a try, although you do have to be well when you have it. I have had them for the last couple of years (including one a few days before starting chemo) and, touch wood, I've stayed free of flu and bad colds (and I'd usually get several bad colds each winter). I had my last flu jab in Boots - think it cost around £15.

I had to have my mirena removed as soon as I was diagnosed, they said the hormones would be a bad idea. It's strange how different doctors give different advice. I was gutted, I loved it !
I haven't had a flu jab yet either, I was going to but it was too close to surgery, will check if I can have one now
It's raining again so fed up of rain !

Green I had a flu jab during whilst I was having chemo (Day 9). I had it at the GP surgery. Usually have one at work but this time round preferred to get GP to do it rather than random nurse.
Marshy and KitKat I am also now working alternate days. Work is fine - it is the mega commute (2 hours each way) that stops me going in more. Definitely a good idea to alternate with rest days and shorten hours to avoid rush hour.
Handbags my portacath is still in three months after last chemo - but I also have bone cancer, so presume Oncologist wants it to stay there in case I need more chemo soon. Not looking forward to going through airport security with it in place ( have bizarre idea that some goon might ask me to remove it, like shoes and belts).
I have a CT scan on 29 Jan pre consultant appointment about rads ( or no rads). I think that I shall have to drink the litre of contrast pre-scan so may take my own superior squash this time to improve taste!

Hi malt work is going really well, thanks. Came back last Thursday so started with a nice 2 day week. Then this week I am on what will now be my normal 4day week. So one day to go this week and so far so good

I am managing to do everything I need to do, we have had playdates and I have coped with the extra cooking etc. Tomorrow children go back to school, so I get back to my 6mile walk (throughout the day) but feeling confident that I will be okay.

Next week will be a bit full on. All the school runs, plus hospital appt Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday! So a busy week! Plus I get a year older on Tuesday

Still surprised at how 'normal' I feel. Sadly the next Chemo is Tax so I am slightly worried that changing the drug, might just burst my bubble. But only time will tell. I can only do my best! I'm gradually learning not to feel guilty IF I need to ask for help.

Hope everyone else is having a good week xx

I was also advised to have Mirena removed at start if treatment had one period during chemo, and nothing since. Do get a bit hot flashy but assume ts menopause.

I walked a lot at the start of treatment, but then lost my walking partner to a bad knee. Just realised how much i miss it. Been back at the gym recently but not since Sun as feeling rough.

really same here. I did very well on AC, other than the 8 days I spent in hospital with low blood count on cycle 3. I'm nervous that I won't do so well on Tax. I guess we'll find out next week!
My first Tax is Monday. What day for you??

Tiny are you starting Tax next week also?

Marshy - like malt and Foo my onc said I had to had my mirena removed - he let me keep it during chemo (as I begged) - on the basis that chemo over-rides everything anyway but now that has finished he has insisted that it has to go . If I get periods whilst on Tamoxifen (I don't know how likely that is) then I can have monthly Zolodex injections.

I make sure I walk everyday but not long walks and I'm not doing anything else - mind you I live in a 4 storey house, with steep stairs, and I find that my legs are achey by the end of the day.

Hi all, chemo today, last FEC, so Tax starts on 29th. I think it's the getting used to one and really not knowing what to expect with the next that is hard.
Also, someone mentioned dentist - have an appt for me and DSs next week. Should I not be seen?

Weebarra - I was told (and think everyone else was too) not to go to the dentist during chemo unless an emergency. I finished my chemo at end of Nov and was told I had to wait until Jan to book a check up. It is because of the risk of infection I think.
Well done on getting half way .

I've never worked out how you all seem to remember what who has said so that you can respond to people. I took notes this time! Lol
Thank gd I didn't have to have the dye when I had the CT scan a couple of days ago. Sounds yuk. Hate needles n pain.

Flu jab - you can ask your gp and have it for free if you're in a vulnerable group (pensioner, asthmatic, child, teacher/ work with many people who may pass it to you, at risk of infection, etc.)

Malt, going back to bed isn't all bad. Enjoy! You probably need it and benefit from it. Maybe give yourself a rest time after drop off and then plan sine thing lovely to do for yourself / with a friend. Even if it's going round the shops, watching a film or card making. I'm a complete workaholic but am suddenly thinking of finding time to do stiff I enjoy and find relaxing/ therapeutic. Probably after the op - time permitting. Always so much to do, isn't there!

Betsy - yes. Watch out for lil' ole me! Lol
Glad to hear radiotherapy is going okay. Did the gym give you extra energy. I used to feel energised by it but over the last few years that energy boost lasts only a couple of hours and then I'm completely wiped out.

Marshy- are you back to work for the day tomorrow, too? If so, hope it isn't too tiring and that you're ready for it. Must be nice to be a part of things again.

Gigs, you must. E exhausted. How you feeling? Did you get a chance to rest? Hope you sleep well tonight.

There's only nor surgeon who has both the expertise in nerve paths, the spine & reconstruction and experience at removing tumours like mine from that particular location (spinal cord). I've spoken to someone else whi had a tumour like mine in the same location. It's v v rare, so it was a miracle to have been put in touch with her. I was in such a blur that I can't remember who out us in touch but it was on MN and I'm eternally grateful. This lady literally travelled up n down the country to don done who didn't tell her she'd end up paralysed - or at the very least, with bags for poo & wee. He operated on her successfully. She's doing well. I'll stick with him.

Evening All!

My Oncologist is of the 'Keep Calm Dear, it's only Brest Cancer' school of thought and has told me to carry on life as normal. This includes letting me go swimming and the dentist!

He prescribed Emend for my Tax regime - yay. Thankfully no arm twisting was required.

First Tax is on Friday Mom I am a little nervous.

Do the cold mittens really work?

Goodness - How did the school run go today?

School run was ok. I did my best to avoid all faces I'm not keen on (unfriendly/ cliquey ones) and not to cry in front of those who knew that I'd had 'some bad news'. Went to see principal's wife/ Head to explain what's going on and to express my concerns about my 6yr old as he's shown concern and acute awareness of it all despite my not telling much (mentioned a lumpy bit that was cleverly going to be taken away).