**Tamoxigang counting down to Easter eggs- thread 48**

[BetsyBoop]

throws some hot cross buns on the trolley

Mild - yes love Kirby Lonsdale too, been many times :)

Buns - also loose button-front tops are ideal - I borrowed some of DHs old shirts and they were perfect - it's hard to get anything on that involves raising your arms. Also for sleeping I had a V pillow which was invaluable, as I had to sleep propped up on my back with a drain each side...

Feline I do think its normal to be up one day and down the next. Just important to remember on your down days that there will be good days to come. The hair loss is horrid there's no getting away from it but it is temporary. The more you wear your wig the more you will get used to it, I was very self conscious in mine at first but you soon realise that no one bats an eyelid, they're too busy with their own insecurities

Really I hope you have a good weekend away from rads and I hope you catch up on some sleep of at least rest

Tadaah good to hear from you, like the new name :)

Bigger buns I can't help much as I had lumpectomy and node clearance in separate ops but for hospital I would take front fastening pjs, something light to read, snacks, lip salve and moisturiser. I came home the same day after the lumpectomy but they made me stay in a night after the node clearance.

Wee glad you had a good meal, it's nice to do normal things sometimes

Mummy wheel, it's hard when you feel you're missing out on trips and holidays but hopefully won't be too long before you can start planning one

I've been shopping with dd today, we go away a week tomorrow so we got some holiday clothes and had a nice girlie day :) tired now though

Malt [wave]

I was feeling very tearful and miserable today, been snapping and snarling at everyone. No real reason for it either.

managed to give myself a talking to and me and DS walked up to local village and ate chips sitting on a wall ..... Haven't done that for a long time. Helped just getting out the house for a while.

TaDaah, yes friends have been very interesting. Got lovely practical help from people I hardly know, and nothing at all from someone I had felt was a good friend .... Don't count her as that now.

Also struck up some unusual friendships like a work colleagues partner (they are gay) who I regularly spend time with (he also has cancer).

BiggerBuns - for me in hosp ear plugs and an eye mask were essential if your want to get some sleep. It never gets totally dark and is never totally silent in hosp, so if you want to totally shut yourself off go plugs and mask!

Feline - I was awfully self-conscious in my wig to start with. And then you realise that no-one can actually tell its a wig, and it keeps your head warm, and it becomes part of your going out routine, and suddenly it's no big deal any more.

Oh and on the friend front, I must have been lucky as all mine have been fab. And then there have been people who I didn't know very well who have also been kind and wonderful. In fact I've learnt a valuable lesson about supporting others as I know how much I've appreciated kind gestures; I now go out of my way to support others when they need it. I think I'm a better person now.

Good to hear from you Tadaah, I was only thinking about you yesterday

Betsy you always seem to go on holiday to my favourite places! We are off to our favourite posh B & B in the Peak Districy next weekend so hope weather will be kind (twice we have had to wait for snow ploughs to arrive before being able to get out of the place)
I'm now taking high strength Vit B6 after my nasty blisters last weekend which were SEs of the oral chemo. Oncologist fairly cheery yesterday as my blood was normal.

On subject of wigs - no one seems to realise I have a wig - only ever had complimentary comments on my new hair style. My hair is now grown back enough to go out without a wig but until it is a bit longer, nicely styled and I have decided whether to admit to its greyness, I shall continue to wear the wig.

Hi all
Foo- glad you feel better after getting out of the house.

Malt- are you still enjoying being back at work?

Thanks to everyone for such good advice on here. I had my sentinel node op yesterday and the v pillow is helping. Was a bit startled by vivid blue nipple. Unfortunately my MRI scan showed another small lump so had a biopsy before going to theatre (the local anaesthetic didn't work for the first core sample either!). Fingers crossed this one is ok but starting chemo on Monday anyway. A bit nervous about what to expect but it seems that it can be different for everyone.

Am very lucky with my friends and had a 'care package' including hats and scarves and foods that might help delivered. Have also had food delivered for my freezer.
Still deciding about a wig but have had appointment through.

Hi everyone. Zombie and malteserzz kindly invited me to join your thread. I'm currently waiting for a biopsy after a mammogram showed calcification in my right breast. I'm in a state of high anxiety, partly because that is my nature anyway, but also because I have two dcs, 3 and 7. I'm a single parent and I'm panicking about what would happen to them if i get really sick, either from treatment or from the disease. But it is amazing reading your thread and hearing your stories. Everyone is so incredibly supportive!

Welcome lucsnowe

Panic is very natural, you immediately think the worse, and to be honest those early days are some of the worst.

Once its clearer what you are dealing with then treatment just sort of swings into action.

You just cope.

Hello all, weather is very dull and drizzly down here in Cornwall, was hoping for a bit of warm spring sunshine for a few days while I am up and about. Thank you all for the hospital tips. V pillow sourced, ear plugs packed and new button up pjs purchased from M&S. Good idea about borrowing DH's tops. I'm not a button up top kind of girl, have desperately been looking for something I wouldn't mind wearing but that suggestion made me realise that it would be silly wasting money on something I would only wear for, hopefully, a short time.
Hospital stay still a mystery, I was original told one night for the BMX but when the node biopsy was positive was told it would be longer, but not sure if 2,3 or 4 nights. To be honest, I don't mind staying in for a couple of nights, my DH isn't quite as supportive as some and it will lessen the burden that will fall on DD1.
Welcome luc with any luck you won't need to hang around here for very long but whatever the outcome, believe me, this forum has restored my sleep and peace of mind. The waiting is awful, I was very lucky (?) that they made the decision to tell me they were 99% sure I had BC when I had my tests. I knew I had a lump but had not really expected anything other than a reassuring mammogram and so it was a bit of a shock and I was all by myself, however, I still think that was preferable to having to wait a week or longer for results stuck in some sort of limbo. Use the time to get some reassurance from the fabulous women on this forum that if it is unpleasant news, it is still manageable. There seems to several single parents on here who I am sure can be a particular source of wisdom and comfort.
sleepy lumps are pants! Hope your new one turns out to be nothing. I don't start my chemo until 10 weeks after my op, the differences in treatment plans are interesting.
tadaaah feel free to call me bigger buns (the name was chosen because I was in a production of calendar girls last year, thank god I got them out when I could!) might need to change to considerablysmallerbuns after Tuesday. Enjoy your Sunday everyone. I am off to buy some material to make my daughter a costume for her part as the White Witch in Narnia. Sounds lovely only I don't sew - have got carried away by the great British sewing bee. I will blame Claudia winkleman when I am sobbing at midnight the night before dress rehearsal!

Morning all

Speedy I'm loving being back at work thank you,have a great class, job share partner and nursery nurse to work with who've been really supportive. My head is starting to pile the pressure on already though. Hope your new lump turns out to be nothing and of course good luck with the chemo

Luck glad you've come across, hope your stay will be short and sweet for the right reasons

Bigger buns I did buy button up tops and won't wear them again so that was a bit silly. Good luck with the costume as a fellow non sewer I think you're very brave !

Talking of being brave dd is having a flying lesson this afternoon, we bought it for her for Christmas. I'm not brave enough to go up in a 4 seater plane so dh and friend are going with her. I'm staying on the ground taking photos !

Hope everyone has a good day

I've still got some button up jammies from bfing DD so that saves me buying any. Currently still in bed with DS2 who has a tummy bug, just in time for easter holidays. Poor wee scone (really hope I don't get it!).

biggerbuns, at the risk of repeating my earlier post, I also packed a cloth shoulder bag to tuck my drain into, and wore it in bed as well; and remember to take 'going home' clothes that will allow a drain to exit somewhere; my long sleeved dress was hopeless and I wore my PJs home.

I also had a shower on the ward the morning after surgery, so do take shampoo etc and a oldish towel.

Hi greeneyedcat DF has 8 more sessions left which seems amazing when you look at the list of dates at the 1st session and it seems endless,
I think he's much happier now he can see light at the end of the tunnel, we had a big family get together yesterday for his birthday which was lovely, although he couldn't eat any of the birthday goodies
The constipation is better,the oncologist prescribed a couple of things(can't remember what) but they seem to help thank goodness,
That must have been awful for you to suffer with that
Incidentally, what happens after the last rad session? Do they leave you a few weeks to recover before scans to check what's going on? Nobody has talked about afterwards.

Thank you to all of you for your good wishes and welcomes. Malteserzz, have you finished all of your treatment? Do you find it tiring being back at work? I am a teacher too, and can't imagine teaching while having therapy, as many of you on here seem to. Do you have the option not to go back, ie to be off on sick leave? I admire your energy and devotion. Bigger buns, very good luck with your ops. You sound very organised! Foofooyeah, I can imagine you are right that not knowing is one of the worst states. Green eyed cat, I like the message of the book you mention. I will try to bear it in mind. I hope everyone has a nice evening!

Lucs- I am on my own with the children but have been so lucky with all offers of support and so many friends rallying around. The waiting for results is horrible, I feel more in control now I know what I am dealing with. The support on here is wonderful with many wise and knowing people :-).

I am a teacher and not allowed to work during treatment due to increase of risk with all the germs flying around with children. Am already missing my class but had a lovely card from them which cheered me up.

Fingers crossed for you.

Lucs yes I've finished my treatment , just on tamoxifen now. I went back to work between being dx and my lumpectomy but then was off for 10 months while I had chemo, node clearance and rads. Full pay for 6 months then half. Like penguin was advised not to work because of the germs and then it would have been impossible during rads with having to travel to hospital every day. I only work part time so it's tiring being back but not too bad. I did miss work and the children especially so much.

Morning all

I had a lovely weekend! Other than feeling a bit tired, I actually felt 'normal' and had some fun . Last night I only woke up twice best nights sleep, I have had in months!!

Back to Rads today thankfully I have a week of early appts. So fingers crossed they will run smoothly!

Hope everyone had a good weekend.

Speedy, the wait IS terrible, isn't it!
Glad you've lots of support.

Really, a good sleep... FANTASTIC! Hope Rads go smoothly this week!

So, last day with my own boobs. Have to say I am still quite upbeat about the whole thing, hope that doesn't mean it will hit me like a ton of bricks when I wake up after the op. After a month of knowing that I was hosting a ticking time bomb, just pleased to be starting the fight back. Have a lovely family day of distraction planned, although the first part has failed already, was going to take the dog for a yomp on Bodmin moor but if is completely foggy and pouring with rain - not ideal conditions! Also planning lunch out, hopefully at the pub newly taken over by one of the winners of last year's professional Masterchef, trip to hobby craft to buy some wool to keep me occupied for the next couple of weeks, muppet movie (yay!), fish and chips and then introduce the DDs to the Vicar of Dibley on DVD. That should keep me busy, must remember to find time to pack my hospital bag as have to leave tomorrow at 6.30. Hope you all enjoyed the weekend and best wishes for your treatment, days at work and everything else you are going through this week.
By the way, anybody else get bombarded by cancer diet books when they were diagnosed? Not sure what people are trying to say! Anybody on here firmly believe that anything they did or didn't eat helped?