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

[BetsyBoop]

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

This was due to be my 3rd cycle, I had got through two and had two more to go. The Chemo Team said that it is usually cycle 2 that you get a reaction, although it can happen at any time. I think I will be having 6 cycles of Paclitaxel, so this will take into account the fact I have already had 2 cycles of Tax.

I am so fed up, I should be sitting here thinking I only have one more cycle to go, but now I have 6. I only started with 8!

Thanks for the info about the SE's KitKat and Wee. It is good to know that I won't be laid up for weeks on end. I think it is fear of the unknown, I didn't like the Tax, but I knew how to deal with the SE's, now it is back to square one.

Wren - Yes, those Oncologists seem to always have something up their sleeves!

Mom - Hope your 3rd chemo cycle is going smoothly and is less eventful than mine was.

Malt - You must be onto the home run now with those rads? Did you end up planning something special to do in the Easter Holiday, as you missed out this half term?

Handbags - Well done on hair growth! I know there has been some colour experimenting going on, so I am sure others will be along to help banish the white.

Tiny that sounds scary. Hope you are ok now.

wee I can sympathise with the diaorreha. I'm writing this lying on my side on my bed because my arse is too sore to sit on a chair (probably tmi).

I've got a weird petechiae rash which I assumed was because of my low platelet count. Doctor came to see and looked quite worried. I'm hoping that is because she's a junior doctor rather than because there's something wrong.

On a positive note it's day 13 and I still have my hair

Ah Tiny that's tough.

pickle your poor arse! Something similar happened to me when I was neutrophilic, nurses thought it was reaction to antibiotic. I hope it clears up soon.

My 3rd Tax went fine. Was really long though. Arrived into unit at 8:50, didn't leave til 4:45!
It was very busy, several new people there today, delays at every step.

But now I can finally say 'Only one left!!!' Yay!

Well done to you, mom! Great to only have one left.

pickle, I agree that junior doctors get more worried than senior. My post operative breast caused a flap over Christmas when there was a dearth of consultants, but as the senior doctors trickled in, they were less and less worried as they got more and more senior...

That's great mom but what a long day hope you've got your feet up now !

Pickle hope the rash is nothing serious

Tiny no haven't booked anything for Easter, still feel I'm tempting fate. Same with sorting out going back to work, scared to think these things could actually happen I think

Hello, can I come in and pull up a chair?

Well. I have just been diagnosed with breast cancer, a grade 2 ductal invasive oestrogen positive doodah. Apparently it is 10cm across. How did I not know it was there? that makes me feel dizzy and weepy, thinking I could/should have spotted it sooner, but it just felt like breast tissue, only a bit firmer.

anyway, things are happening, I have a date for surgery in March, and my BCN is lovely. Chemo, rads, tamoxifen - all delights that lie ahead.

this thread is so great to find.

Yay, for only one more left Mom!

Pickle - I am okay thanks, just feeling a bit 'meh'! I hope the junior doctor was just being overly cautious and your rash clears soon.

Malt - I know what you mean about tempting fate, only a couple of weeks ago we booked up tickets to see The Commitments on stage in the West End. OH and I were going to be taking our parents as a thank you for all their support in getting through this. Now it looks like my last chemo session will be the day before. Bloody cancer.

Hello Traviata
You won't want to be here but our cakes and chat are the best! Feel free to vent, ask questions and tell us how you are getting on.
Have a glass of wine and some cake and settle down for the ride!

Traviata sorry to hear your news but you are very welcome :) don't dwell on the past, you found it and it's being treated that's the important thing. Ask us anything, between us we've been through most things sadly

Tiny what a shame about the show. That's exactly it you daren't get excited about anything any more :(

thanks

I have a question about surgery, especially for bigger-breasted ladies. I am really bothered by the prospect of being very, very lopsided - my usual bra size is a 32HH and I hate, hate, hate the prosthetics.

I will not be having immediate reconstruction, so I gather it would be at least a year before that could be done (let the effects of radiotherapy wear off I guess). And then I understand there can be a long waiting list.

Does anyone have any views on asking for a reduction on the other side, at this early stage of initial surgery? I feel I could bear this all so much better if I had a smaller single breast instead of one big floppy wobbly one.

Welcome Traviata. Sorry I have no advice about reduction / reconstruction, but I'm sure one of the lovely ladies here will be able to advise soon.

Hi traviata - I think a few of our ladies have had or are having reductions but I've a feeling they were done a bit later - as sure they will come along and advise you.
Have you not been offered a Tissue Expander whilst you wait for the rads effect to wear off - that would at least give you a bit of shape (if you wanted it).
And I agree - don't dwell on what you could have done earlier - my lump was thought to be 6cms (in a small breast) and everyone kept asking how long I had known I had it but like you I just thought it was as thicker part of the breast.

A wise friend told me that it didn't matter what I could have done - what mattered was that I did get it checked in time - which you have done now.

Traviata - I had a reduction of the other non-cancerous breast at the same time as the Mx. I had an expander inserted on the cancerous side and the surgeon will do a reconstruction later in the year for me. Having a large bust was a good thing as there was plenty to work with, and the expander was filled enough that I didn't look lop-sided after the surgery.
Rads has caused quite a bit of shrinkage and some other issues though so I do look a bit lop-sided at the moment. This will be rectified in due course and liveable with for a few months.
HTH

Traviata welcome and sorry you find yourself here. This thread is full of the most wonderfully supportive ladies (at least I'm assuming its mostly ladies, it could of course be populated by a bunch of hairy truckers called Dave!).

I have blood cancer and use this thread to ask questions that I've got no one to ask in RL and recently to have a bit of a rant about my on-going hospital stay. It's lovely to have this support as there is no one in RL who really understands what it's like to go through this process.

One thing I would say is I was very very scared before treatment started but now it has and I'm mostly coping I feel that I can tackle this and come out the other side.

I'm currently suffering a very mundane side effect to chemo - a very upset tummy last week has left me with a very sore arse this week. I'm hoping they will prescribe some strong painkillers today as paracetamol doesn't come close. The pain is similar to how I felt the day after childbirth and I need similar strength drugs to make a difference. Thankfully my absolute favourite nurse was on duty overnight which really helped.

Welcome traviate

I had a big lump too that I didn't notice (noticed changes to the skin) but the mammogram don't pick it all up either ... Needed an MRI for that.

I had slightly increased chance of getting in the other breast so my surgeon agreed to bilateral, so I have had both breass removed and expanders in both.

Morning :)
Off for rads on my own for 1st time today, I don't mind going on my own at all but so far people have offered lifts so I've accepted.
Pickle hope your tummy and arse get better soon and can confirm that I'm not a hairy trucker called Dave !

I'm also not a trucker called Dave but am scarily hairy right now - got rather worried about the amount of facial hair that I have but a quick google suggests it is due to re-growth after chemo and if i leave it alone it will fall out - I do hope so as I don't want to be tackling that all the time. (Not long straggly dark hairs - lots of soft downy light hair).
Or it may be due to Tamoxifen......

No daves here either! The weekly paclitaxel seems to be making me hairy too. Leg hair! Noooo!

how are your expanders foo - are they filled now?

Traviata, another not-a-Dave here, though I can drive a small truck. Welcome! Sorry you're joining us, but glad you found everyone.
If it helps, your starting odds are 80% for a long and healthy life, with the info you've told us so far. So that's a very good starting position. Modern treatments and methods make it even better. Have a

No kitkat, if all is well will have first filling up next Wed.

Had runaround from district nurses yesterday so still got 2 drains in. Had to call them twice today to get them to come out. they were great last week, not sure what as happened this week. Just spoke to bcn and she said both can come out now and to get district nurse to call them if any problems.

Am also concerned about pickles arse

oh great well done foofoo I hope they both come out. I got my Ok for bmx yesterday - although genetics won't go ahead with my brca test until written evidence is found of DAunts ovarian cancer (she was in early 40s when diagnosed) my surgeon was satisfied with the increased risk by believing what my cousin and uncle say. I was, as my DH put it, gently assertive. That's as assertive as I get!

So is this 10 days? How is your pain level? I'm trying to figure out when I'll be able to look after my 2 boys once home from school - making tea/bedtime stuff, without needing help from my mum. Any advice v welcome. Will also be having expanders in.

D'artagnan ad desdemona have left the building! I am drain free!

harriet this s 15 days after surgery. I only take painkillers first thing in the morning and at nighttime now. I am still taking it easy and cannot lift any heavy weighs and no ironing or hoovering. Am pretty self sufficient generally though, and can cook etc.

I would say you will prob need help from your Mum for at least a week.

well done foofoo!! adios drains!