Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
General health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

Tamoxigang New Year, New Thread, *46*

990 replies

BetsyBoop · 16/01/2014 06:42

Hands round a Brew for everyone.

OP posts:
Gigondas · 06/02/2014 08:45

Oh yes peppa popular but also Mickey Mouse and clubhouse. It's most restful I must say as I like a small amount in a brainless way.

Malt- they always need extra time for first one so they can wrestle you into place. Once they have done it once they are quicker. Clinic will just be to see how you are doing ( usually they are most concerned with skin and dole out cream etc if need it).

Original poster
BetsyBoop · 06/02/2014 09:06

Malt on my first go they did some imaging as well as zapping - but using the proper rads machine not the simulator. They put some glass plate thing over the "head" ( probably not the correct medical terms!) They did a few more images on day 2 as well, then after that it was just straight zapping. So the first two appointments took a little bit longer. I think it's just to double check the calculations they did after the planning session. It's all lots of hard maths to ensure correct dose but no more, no overlapping fields etc.

OP posts:
Original poster
BetsyBoop · 06/02/2014 09:09

Oh and my review appointments (I had two) were about 2mjns with the rads onc just to check if any issues questions etc. Just means hanging around for that quick chat after your zapping on that day. (I was amazed how organised they were, only about a 5min wait each time!)

OP posts:
malteserzz · 06/02/2014 09:24

Thanks Betsy and gigs
The other pain is that I have a Tuesday with no appointment which means I have a Monday tagged on the end ! Oh well just want to get started now

harrietv · 06/02/2014 09:52

Hi everyone - thinking of really today, and wren starting chemo. Hoping goodness gets some answers.

I can't believe my 10 day results wait is nearly over. Trying to get together all the questions I will want to ask for tomorrow but with so many potential outcomes of the lumpectomy pathology it's hard to get my head around it all.

One thing I'm returning to again and again is a wonder of whether I should have had a mx. Did anybody else go for one out of personal preference rather than medical neccesity. I know ops are horrid and I don't want an unnecessary one but I just keep thinking I'd feel more secure about the future if I did everything to limit the chance of a return. Dr says there's no difference in eventual life outcome but a slightly higher chance of recurrence with lumpectomy. So the rational side of me says in that case monitoring is fine, and if it does come back I'll take the boob off then. But then I fear it coming back and being worse and it being too late.

All of this is so premature as I may well be told tomorrow I need another op for nodes or margins so I suppose I need to just wait and see. As you can tell...the mind is whirring.

Also found out my aunt died of ovarian cancer primary (I always thought it was bowel cancer) so the genetics side of things opening up again...

that's it, sorry for dump. need to get it out somewhere!

reallyreallyworried · 06/02/2014 10:47

Why is it that when you just want an expert to TELL you what to do, they don't Confused They turn it into your choice! Well maybe I don't want to make the choice Sad

But by 12 o'clock today I really need to of made a decision, because I need to take the steroids, IF I am going to continue with the Chemo! Doc said I could take them anyway and then still decide against Chemo. But I really need to give myself a cut off point, otherwise I think this will drive me nuts!

So I'm sat with my Brew and am writing a list of pros and cons! I swear I couldn't be anymore indecisive if I tried!!

difficultpickle · 06/02/2014 10:57

Good luck to really I hope you get some positive and non-scary answers. Same to goodness and good luck with being back at home with tricky small people. Ds is similar so you have my sympathy there.

Wren I hope the first lot of chemo goes well.

harrietv good luck with your appointment tomorrow.

amberlight · 06/02/2014 11:48

Really, unless I am misremembering your data, chemo is making a 1.7% difference to your survival odds, taking them to 97.6%. 2cm lump, ER+, 4 nodes positive, grade 1?? If so, I'd say it's not worth risking another or further brain bleed. I am not a doctor, though. But if they are giving you a free choice, and it were me, I wouldn't progress with further chemo.

reallyreallyworried · 06/02/2014 11:55

Thanks Amber actually 2.5cm ER+ 7 nodes positive grade 2! Xx

amberlight · 06/02/2014 12:01

89% survival odds if you stop chemo right now. That is a good set of odds. A brain bleed is not a good set of odds. My advice would be to stop. But you must go with your own best thoughts.

Handbagsatdawn · 06/02/2014 12:08

Really tough choices I know. Will you still have radiotherapy, if so surely that's got to factor into your thoughts?

malteserzz · 06/02/2014 12:17

Oh gosh really that is tough. Have you got to have an op for the bleeding in the brain ? Hope they give you help in working it all out

kitkat1967 · 06/02/2014 12:20

Hope you don't mind me putting in my 2 pennies worth Really as I was also given the choice of continuing chemo or not (for other reasons). I had had 3 cycles and spent a long time with my onc discussing how effective that would have been and he said he honestly didn't know but that the effectiveness of the chemo is not necessarily linear so there is a fair chance that a lot of good work has already been done.

What a hard decisoin - I guess you may have made it already.

amberlight · 06/02/2014 12:22

I had to make a tough decision not to continue with Herceptin after I had bleeding difficulties and raging high blood pressure etc. The fact that I took some of it will help. So I agree with kitkat.
What are they doing about the brain bleed?? I'm guessing they are consulting with the brain experts about medication, therapy for any weakness etc??

Putting out Brew for all.

kitkat1967 · 06/02/2014 12:23

Also Really - you must also consider Tamoxifen. I assume you will take this and that will be more significant for a grade 2 ER+ tumour than chemo is (or so my onc keeps telling me - mind you I was 8/8 for ER+).

Wren48 · 06/02/2014 14:04

Thanks all for the kind wishes for my first chemo; very warming. Well, that one is over and I was very kindly looked after -such a great difference when you are treated with humanity. Some bits of my hospital are creaking at the seams a bit, but the chemo suite was light and pleasant and felt just fine. Back home now wondering when I'll start to feel bad. Ooh sudden swimmy head, so perhaps now?

really, I agree that being handed the decision is really complicated. I hope you've been able to make a choice and settle with what you've chosen. Been thinking of you.

And on decisions, harriet, I think the brain has a horrible habit of going into overdrive before results, so it's natural to be re-visiting everything. You haven't made any wrong decisions. If you can't live with the lumpectomy you still have a choice, but you may find at your mind just settles down. Good luck with the results.

I miss children's telly. Or some of it. Thomas the tank engine was more than I could bear. They're 16,14,11 now so the Simpsons is definitely more likely for us. And the Big Bang theory, which I don't much go for.

problemchimp · 06/02/2014 15:26

really sorry if you've already explained, been looking back for a post...has the chemo caused the brain bleed? What options have you been given?

honeybeeridiculous · 06/02/2014 16:42

greeneyedcat thanks for the tips, i know it's gonna be tough for him, fear of the unknown too, thanks for your best wishes, sorry you had to go through all that, but glad you came through it
really hugs for you, stay strong Thanks

greeneyedcat · 06/02/2014 16:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

malteserzz · 06/02/2014 16:53

Harriet I think it's natural to just want the the whole lot removed, I asked about a mx and my surgeon said that with a 2cm lump and big boobs it would be too drastic and he has done a great job you can hardly see the scar and boobs look the same. Hopefully your nodes will be clear but if not I just wanted it say that it's not the end of the world. I was devastated when my sentinel node wasn't clear but after a full clearance the rest were all found to be cancer free :)

Wren glad it went ok. I came home from my first chemo and sat and waited for something to happen and nothing drastic did, I just felt a bit off but no sickness fingers crossed you will be the same

kitkat1967 · 06/02/2014 17:52

have spent the afternoon baking so have come on to chuck millionaire's shortbread and flapjacks on the trolley Smile.

foofooyeah · 06/02/2014 18:23

harriet I had no choice about my mx, what I did choose was to have the other side removed as well. Only a slighter higher risk of it occurring but decided I preferred no risk, plus it woud even me out!

foofooyeah · 06/02/2014 18:24

Millionaires shortbread for me please kitkat

kitkat1967 · 06/02/2014 18:31

heading your way foo before DS eats them all (they are very sweet apparently).

malteserzz · 06/02/2014 18:37

I'll have a flapjack please kitkat :) no calories in virtual ones after all !