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

[BetsyBoop]

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

That's great foo foo bet you'll sleep better tonight !

Good news foofoo!

Great about the drains, foofoo! You will sleep easier tonight....

Harriet, I'm glad you've got the go ahead from your surgeon for the procedure you want. Nice assertiveness! Very frustrating about the need for documentation for the ovarian cancer - there must so often be cases where these things are missing.

I just had my genetics interview today. My family history means I don't rate an NHS test, but I'm only slightly below the cut off, so I'm just going to go ahead and pay for one. Prostrate and pancreatic cancer raised the odds; ovarian cancer would have raised it through the roof. Lots of other cancers were just of no interest, statistically speaking.

thanks for responses to my q. Onwards we go. I have a consultation fixed with the plastic surgeon next week, so I can be sure about the expander/reduction choices and all other potential options.

great to hear drains are out foofoo.

Do you know how much it costs wren thinking I'll do the same if they can't find the docs. Although I've emailed my DAunt's consultant and just had a reply from his PA and she says they're trying to dig out her files so perhaps I'll have more luck doing this than the genetics team!

Just sent you a pm. harriet...

Foo - Happy Birthday for last week and a big 'YAY' for getting rid of the twin drains!

Welcome to Traviata, sorry you find yourself here.

Harriet and Wren - I ended up having BRCA Testing on the NHS, however my understanding is that it costs around £1500 to have this done privately and this does not always include counselling.

Hi, just wondering if I can join? Was diagnosed with breast cancer in my left breast and lymph nodes yesterday. Still in a state of shock. Sad to see so many people here. I'm overseas so won't always be around at the same time as everyone else.

Hi Terrible, sorry you ended up on here. We have all been through the shock too. It is frightening and horrible, but you just have to take a day at a time.

Welcome to the thread. I hope we can help hold you together while you get through this. We do tend to keep odd hours too so you shouldn't find yourself too alone in the wee small hours.

Welcome to traviata and to terrible. It's a horrible shock to deal with, but this is a really supportive (and informed) place to come to.

Hello Terrible (love the username). Hope you're okay ( emotionally).

Harriet when I had my mx I was in hospital for 2 nights but when I got home I was taking a couple of paracetamol and able to do most things. I had help from my husband for 1 day then it was BAU for kids & school etc. ( only had 1 side done though and my kids are a bit older).

Welcome terrible - sorry to hear your diagnosis but come and join us.

Hi Terrible! I am overseas too - about 5 hrs. Behind Greenwich and a bit to the north. You? I received the same diagnosis as you exactly a year ago. Complete sucky waste of a year, but the end of treatment is in sight now and my prognosis has improved. You too can do this, one day at a time.

Welcome terrible mother ( sure you're not ) as people have said you must be in shock be kind to yourself. I'm just coming to the end of treatment too after being diagnosed in May, lumpectomy, chemo, node removal and now radiotherapy. It's a marathon not a sprint as they say !

Hi terrible this is a great group for all types of cancer sufferers (although a lot of us are BC).

We post about treatment but also about all sorts of other things too.

Quiet day.....!

Welcome Terrible, hope you find this thread as supportive as I have. Like Malt I'm getting towards the end of treatment - had lumpectomy, node clearance, chemo and radiotherapy (which I'm part way through now). Just got 5-10 years of tamoxifen to look forward to now. Feel free to vent and ask anything.

I've just returned from my first acupunture session - this has been recommended to help with the hot flushes and sleepless nights. The lovely lady doing the treatment was extremely experienced and knowledgable and has recommended a course of 8 sessions on a weekly basis (I'm lucky enough to get these free at the fantastic Fountain Centre at the Royal Surrey hospital). I shall let you know how I get on and update you on the effectiveness of this - at the moment I feel very sleepy indeed, but in a good way!

handbags is the fountain centre at Guildford? I went to Guildford for LGFB.

I have been asleep nearly all day and feel fabulous for it!

Welcome TM, glad you found us. DD doesn't sleep through yet, so I can be found online at odd times. Had my 5th of 12 Paclitaxel today. Feel asleep instead of doing my knitting!
Having awful hot flushes too - not sure if chemo or early menopause. Have had one period since DD's birth in August.

Foo yes Guildford. I did LGFB there too! Are you based near there?

Weebarra the chemo seems to set off early menopause (no periods, hot flushes). I have no idea of the science behind this, but as I'm due to start tamoxifen next week and haven't had a period since November, I'm hoping to never have a period again. There have to be some pluses from this, right?

Waiting for CT scan of chest
Hate waiting
Had it Friday
They'd have said if there was a problem, wouldn't they

hello all have been checking in most days to see how everyone is doing.Finding all the info most useful and starting to feel a bit more in control of it all.surgery booked for friday so have to keep focused on that.agree with you handbags no periods would be a bonus.

Handbags - my onc said Tamxoifen does not necessarily stop periods. I'm the same as you - started hot flushes on Tax and no periods since but there is no guarantee that will continue. From what I read you can end up with periods and hot flushes - what's that about eh????
I'll be interested in how your acupuncture works. I get flushes at random times but worst in the evening (after taking Tamoxifen I think) but am only waking once a night now so I'm a bit happier about that. Don't know if that is due to my vitamins or me exercising so hard that I have a deeper sleep!!

Quiet day on here today. Anyone heard from Really?

hello mildmay - did I miss you joining us (that's highly lightly!!) - anyway welcolme if I didn't say it before. What surgery are you having on Friday? Glad you're starting to feel in control - sometimes that is half the battle - waiting and uncertainty are def the worst times.

Seems ages since we hears from really I hope she's just busy working. Goodness think you were in touch with her could you let us know if she's ok ?

Yes I hope Really is OK.

Kitkat It's great to hear that you're sleeping better. Remind me what your vitamin cocktail consists of (I'll add them to my own cocktail).....

And have my fingers in my ears and am going lalalala about simultaneous hot flushes and periods.