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

[BetsyBoop]

throws some hot cross buns on the trolley

[kitkat1967]

lordy foo what a pain. Obviously different areas have different protocols then. Because I had a 'big' lump we worked backwards -so CT scan first then as that was clear SNB then decision made on type of chemo. What a shame - I do hope you don't have to have more chemo? Did the FEC shhrink the lump much? If so they may conclude that you had the right sort of chemo anyway.

marshy - I'm on Tamoixifen so have done a bit of general research - I know there can be scary issues if you bleed but I also don't think it is that uncommon - they are just cautious and check everything out. You've not been on it long have you so I doubt it would be anything serious.

Wren - good luck with yiur knicker making. I've just spent ages taking the sleeves off my blouse so that i could make the neck and sleeves smaller then putting it back together. Also had to take
inches of each side . Ruffle still looks fab though .

I'm still losing a couple of pounds a week - due to my exercise and healthy eating (not on a diet to try to lose weight) so it's hard to keep up with my changing shape. As I'm not trying to lose weight I don't know when it will stop - I'm guessing at some point I will find a healthy balance and stay there .

[kitkat1967]

Malt have you started your Tamoxifen yet? If so is it going OK? Hope you enjoy your teahcing day - you've a few days yet to get rid of your cough (my DS has also just had a cough so maybe it's common right now).

[malteserzz]

I've been on it for 2 weeks Kitkat and I don't know if any symptoms are from that or the end of rads ! Feel a bit tired but no hot flushes yet though generally I feel quite warm ? The rads burns have really healed this week though which is good

[Handbagsatdawn]

Popping in to mark my place, waving hi to everyone.

Hello to the new ladies; I'm sorry you find yourselves here, but please feel free to ask anything at all. And to rant, wobble, cry, laugh.......

I've had a busy few days of being normal; so nice not to be rushing to the hospital every day. I went to the gym this morning and I now have enough hair (well I think so) to go bare headed. So lovely to exercise without a stoopid bandana on my head making me even hotter. As it's just been Sport Relief I'm relying on people just thinking I've shaved my hair off for charity .

Also had a lovely afternoon collecting money for Marie Curie yesterday on Guildford High St - so many people came up and spoke about their own experiences, it's amazing how common this blasted disease is.

I've been taking Tamoxifen for 2.5 weeks now. Can't say the hot flushes have got any worse since taking it, in fact I think they're slightly fewer, and I haven't experienced any other side effects so far (madly touching wood at this point). I'm taking evening primrose to counteract any grumpy hormonal mood swings and so far, so good. I am still going with the acupuncture, so maybe that's having an effect too.

Off to London tomorrow for a lovely indulgent day mooching around the National Gallery. With frequent stops for coffee, cake and people watching. Bliss.

[foofooyeah]

Yes, FEC shrunk the lump massively but even if T gives me just another 1% I will take it.

[kitkat1967]

foo - I had to decide whether to have the second half of my chemo (3 x FEC did nothing much for my lump) and my onc said the max increase it would give me was 5% and that was enough for me to go for it. It's very hard to decide though as Tax does have more long lasting SEs.

Glad everyone seems to getting on Ok with Tamoxifen. I've done 2 months now without any problems so fingers crossed that's how it will stay for all of us.

[reallyreallyworried]

wren thanks for asking. Results are actually tomorrow! Already dreading it.

foofoo good luck for today. Hope all goes well xx

malt think loads of people have coughs right now. I've had mine for 5wks!! So I'm sure it's nothing to worry about! Just annoying! Good luck with work this week.

Hi to everyone else new and old. Xx

[foofooyeah]

Really .... Good luck to you too for today

I'm just waiting to go down for surgery .... I'm next apparently!

[weebarra]

foo foo and really, good luck for today. I am in bed with DD as also have horrific cough.

[amberlight]

Hi all. Welcome from me, Speedy. That size and 'triple negative'? Your starting odds are 94% success rate with the new options. If that helps.

CBB I had FEC-T, 4 lots of each, after they found a lump that was either 2.3cm or 4cm (big argument between teams - don't ask me...) and they worked out it was HER2+ Grade 3. So sometimes they offer more chemo over longer if they think there's any greater need to whack it with something. Still went to work all the way through that lot, so it's totally variable how people respond to even the heavyweight chemo. Just body chemistry response. Didn't go for cold cap, but I did make sure I drank iced water during chemo itself to minimise its effects on my mouth...and for the T part of chemo, used frozen mitts for hands and frozen veg on my feet (no, really ) to minimise nail damage and nerve damage. And it worked, too. Obviously not so frozen that you get frostbite, though. Lots of chemo wards have frozen mitts if you ask. Or bring your own veg in layers of bags. And I made sure I took ginger supplements for three days before chemo, as those are proven to reduce nausea in many people. Plus I used seabands wrist straps, which also helped (no idea how). I did lose all my hair but found fab wigs which worked really well for me and looked pretty natural. Others prefer other approaches, which is all totally ok. Whatever works for each person.

Thanks!

[traviata]

hello everyone. I have been popping in occasionally, but reading avidly, and I can't say how much these threads help. Thank you to everyone for sharing experiences and wisdom.

I'm just back home after single mx and node sampling, and feeling very well indeed luckily. Back in two weeks to see what chemo regime I need, and whether they found anything in the nodes.

I have two small tips for anyone awaiting surgery - I took a small canvas shopping bag into hospital with me to stuff my drain in, and it now hangs off my shoulder all the time, including at night. Much easier than shuffling about with tubes over your arm. Also, don't do as I did and wear a one-piece dress with long sleeves - there is nowhere for the drain to come out, and in the end I came home wearing my pyjamas (not that I cared).

I've decided to let my hair dye grow out, and face the grey ( it will be 100% grey I think). In many ways that feels like a bigger change than losing a boob.I also realise it's time to lose weight, as I can't bear to be bigger round the waist than round the chest. So many changes.

[smee]

Wandering in to wish foofoo well with her node clearance. What a sod to have to go back for that.

Malt, you just have a cough. Honestly I more than get the paranoia, but from now on this is what you'll do. Takes a while to start to see any and all illnesses as sinister, but it really is just a cough.

Another here who had FEC, then T (3 of each). Four years on now, so it seems to be working (crosses everything in sight)

[kitkat1967]

yes, good luck to foo for today and for really for her results tomorrow.

I also had FEC-T - I only needed the 6x FEC but had such a nightmare with 3xFEC we swapped to T anyway - which I had weekly for 9 weeks (so I was probably over-treated but better safe than sorry). I've just been signed off by my onc so hopefully it's done it's job and I will never have to return .

[HippoPottyMouth]

Well I rang the clinic this morning, they had a cancellation and I'm sitting in the waiting room now! V pleased to not have to wait but trying not to have a breakdown as everyone else has got people with them.

God luck for your surgery foo foo

[kitkat1967]

well done Hippo, that's good news you are being seen so promptly. I always went on my own - you will be fine - there's just a lot of waiting. Hope you get good news at the end of it.

[Wren48]

That's great, Hippo. Well done for sorting that. Good luck.

And good luck with the op, Foo foo.

[ConsiderablyBiggerBuns]

Lots of people needing lots of luck this week, fingers crossed for all of you. Xx

[HippoPottyMouth]

Thanks again everyone, I had an ultrasound and all is fine. No mammogram as apparently too young.
I will bow out from here with lots of good wishes for everyone.

If anyone has any idea for things I can do for my cousin then please suggest away, she has a mastectomy tomorrow and chemo to follow, generally good prognosis apparently, but anything you found useful or nice to receive. I don't live nearby, so needs to be postable.

Also it seems my Mil has lung cancer so I'm not exactly skipping today but certainly pleased to have one less thing to worry about.

Good luck and thank you again x

[reallyreallyworried]

Just had a call from my Oncologist. My results are back and he can fit me in at the end of his clinic, IF I would rather go today I asked if he could tell me over the phone, but he's not allowed to! So looks like I will have my results in a few hours Now I seriously feel sick!

So if there are any hands around to hold, I could do with them around 5 ish!!!!

[traviata]

sorry to hear about your cousin and MIL Hippo but good news for you.

perhaps you could send your cousin some DVDs, a box set of something she'd like?

[chocohontas]

Hope the appointment goes ok really. I've had a bit of waiting to do over the last few weeks with tests etc and it is difficult.

Glad your ultrasound was all fine Hippo

[chocohontas]

Sorry really please ignore my message. I was being totally ditsy and confusing with someone waiting for initial test results

(Obvioulsy same thing applies - hope you get reassuring news at 5pm) x

[Wren48]

Ok, really, handholding all set for later. Thinking of you.

[Mummywheel]

Another hand to hold really hope all goes well.

Great news Hippo :)

[difficultpickle]

Good luck really. I hope the news is reassuring.