**Tamoxigang heading towards hearts and valentines - thread 47**

[BetsyBoop]

roses are red
violets are blue
sugar is sweet
but cakes are better

Very impressed at the amount of cleaning my room is having today. Apparently I being neutropenic I get extra cleaning. Everything seems to be being scrubbed, which is good although now it means I'll be a bit reluctant to move rooms knowing that this is now so spotless (which it wasn't when I arrived yesterday). Apparently they have to make more effort if you are neutropenic because of the risk of infection.

just popping on to see if any news from really? hope you are okay, thinking of you.

glad to hear things are okayish so far pickle - I can recommend an eye mask if they leave annoying lights on in hospital.

pickle, I'm impressed that you can keep talking to us all; sounds like the sickness is roughly under control, which is fantastic. But a challenging regime to be undertaking. I'm very impressed by the fridge! Hope the things that make you comfortable are gradually being sorted out.

hello to you all.this is my very first post i have not been brave enough before but have been reading all your posts most days.three weeks ago found out had a grade 2 invasive 3cm osterogen positive and her 2 cancer.this has come as a huge shock.initially told not in lymph nodes last week this changed to not sure so having ct scan today.starting to really worry and will have to wait another week for results.but feel so much better for being able to log on to this thread .

Hi all. Sat in hospital waiting for DH to return to ward from eye op.

Mildmay, welcome! Sorry you're here but glad you found everyone. Hope you get good results from CT scan. Ask anything. Have a cuppa. I am.

thanks Amberlight will do just time before i go .

Welcome mildmay but sorry you are here. Shout up with any questions. We are also good at virtual tea, cake and handholding

Amber hope your DHs eye op has gone smoothly and they have finally got it sorted.

Pickle glad you are still feeling ok, bet as you get more used to things and get things brought in that you need etc it will get a little easier.

Amber hope dhs op has gone well

Mild may welcome though sorry you are here of course. Have they given you a plan yet, I think we all felt a little better once we knew what was going to happen. I've had lumpectomy, chemo, node clearance and am now on my 1st week of radiotherapy. All hard but definitely bearable and made easier by the support and help on here, so do please ask anything it's nice to give a little back.

4th rads today, all ok but I've got another new list of times. That makes 3 so far I don't know why they have to keep changing them ! She moved my earring out of the way today, didn't realise they were blasting quite so far up my neck

malt, do you know if the rads ever affect your voice? I do a lot of singing and would be devastated to lose that.

mildmay the waiting is the absolute pits. We'll give you any support we can.

Still thinking of you, really

Waiting for a cab then i'm outta here Xx

Oh that is fantastic! Well done really. Did you dodge them all to hurl yourself out the door?

Wren I don't think it affects your voice, no one has mentioned that

Really that's great. Make sure you rest up x

woohoo for really

wren rads near your voicebox can affect your singing voice (I'm in a choir so I've researched this) but they shouldn't get anywhere near there for BC rads.
Rads can also affect your lungs. Temporarily it can reduce the amount of surfactant in the lungs and can make you a bit breathless. I've been suffering from this post-rads although it is slowly getting better (it takes a few weeks I'm told) I definitely notice when singing I can't take quite the same deep breath as usual. In rare cases it can also cause longer term lung problems.
Are you destined to take tamoxifen? That can also affect your singing voice apparently, sometimes lowering your range a bit. I sing soprano and I've not noticed my range decrease yet (started tamoxifen in Dec), I can still hit a top C on a good day

Thanks, betsy and malt, I'm reassured, and it's helpful to know about the breathing. And yes, I will be taking tamoxifen (or equivalent). Well, we'll see. Top C is definitely a very good day for me, as I'm more of a second soprano, but it would be a shame to lose even the occasional one...

Wren I haven't had rads but I understand that they are so precise nowadays that They wouldn't affect an area not being treated. I'm also a singer and found my voice was not great during chemo as my nose was always running! I was on hormone treatment for 3 months but can't say I noticed my chest voice improving (I am an Alto but a mezzo rather than a contralto).
I also saw what you wrote about bland food - that is definitely me too! Bland comfort food I can manage but anything with taste is not palatable!

Thanks, Lily. I remember a musical conversation from some months back. It sounds as though we could definitely rustle up a decent choir between us

So glad you've escaped really! Can't sing at all and the boys leave the room when I dance. I can make good cakes through!
Chemo ok today - weekly tax is a hassle but definitely fewer SEs. High to all.xx

I can only sing with under 5s so I'll just play the triangle and provide the wine

Good to hear you escaped Really.

Welcome to the thread Mildmay. Horrid that you are going through all this though.

I have laid my Valentine's out in the kitchen for Dh and the kids. I put up some decorations as a bit of a surprise for them at breakfast time. It looks really pretty.

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY

Hope everyone has a lovely day. Xxxxxxx

Happy Valentine's Day, all.

Table decorated, cards for children, chocolates all round (not me: chemo has done for my chocolate eating). I think we overdo it, but dd (11) just loves the whole thing. We had a crisis a couple of years back when she spent ages dong cards for her brothers and they did nothing for her; she really minded. The only person who hasn't got a card is DH . I may be getting my priorities wrong.

Morning all!
I'm waiting for my care plan. Been convincing myself it'll be minimal. Hoping in right.

Happy valentines day to all !
Think it's lovely those of you who include the kids, I've never done that.
5th rads today, be nice to have the weekend off !

Thank goodness I'd bought DH's vale card before I went into hospital. Talk about planning ahead. I surprise and surpass myself. Lol
Wishing you all a love-fest of a day.
Good luck with all treatments.