Tamoxigang thread 49 when Sumer is y cumen in and we get out the Pimms

[Lilymaid]

New thread!

I received an email from my BCN yesterday asking me to attend Clinic at 10.00 this morning. Mr. Dube and Mandy, the Clinic Sister, drained 120ml from Serena. That's an improvement on the last 2 weeks where they removed 150ml each time. They expect to see me at least one or two more times before she settles completely. Mr. Dube had a look at my CT scan and he mentioned nodules on my thyroid in addition to what my BCN told me on Tuesday. He didn't seem at all concerned about those so I won't be either! I also had him check the lymph nodes in my neck and he confirms that they are slightly swollen. I'm to raise this at my pre-chemo assessment on Monday morning.

I arrived home to find my MRI appointment letter. It was for Monday morning at 09.45am which conflicts with my pre-chemo assessment at 09.15am. The MRI is now rescheduled for Tuesday morning at 09.15am.

So, next week is shaping up to be a very busy week. I also need to make an appointment with my GP. Not yet sure what the following week will bring other than an appointment to see the phlebotomist at my GP surgery for my pre-chemo bloods to be drawn.

Sounds like a full week, Zombie. I hope it runs smoothly and doesn't throw up any tricksy surprises.

Wee, that's complicated to have to change cities for rads. I definitely won't complain then about the slightly further commute I will have (but still haven't worked out how best to get there; perhaps a new route every day).

This is a bad tax for me. Full on, lying on the sofa, feeling low fatigue. Oral thrush giving me flannel mouth and still can't taste anything (except custard, I discovered). I've just shouted - really shouted- at DH. About something not very big. The dog was very upset and came and sat on me (that helped soothe me, apart from the fact that she is a bit smelly right now). DS1, impressively, seems to have heard nothing at the computer with his headphones on.

Wee will be hard to be away from them I'm sure but good to get started

Wren have you got something for the oral thrush? I sympathise, it's horrid. I had something you had to squirt on your tongue and swish around your mouth which did work quite quickly. Hope you feel better soon

Foo hope you got on ok

Wren I hope you are drinking vast amounts of water. It was the one thing that made the difference when I was on Tax. I tried to get through 3 litres each day apart from other drinks. When I didn't drink enough water I felt much worse. The oral thrush is a b.....r. I had it only on one cycle, fortunately.

Thanks everyone for the hugs and 'get better' thoughts; they have done the trick and today the cloud has lifted a bit. So glad as not sure I could have coped much longer but all the support here helps so much.

Wee glad you had less to drain so hope that sorts itself out soon.
foo hope today was ok
That is a very busy week zombie, will be thinking of you.

thegreylady gave me a couple of tips yesterday about coping with Tax side effects.

1. Take a large flask of ice water to each treatment and sip it continuously while receiving the infusion. She believes that doing that kept her from getting mouth ulcers and sores when she had Tax.

1. Keep fingernails and toenails painted in a very dark colour from before beginning the first cycle through until a few weeks after the last cycle. Stopping any light from getting to the nails apparently protects them from the effects of Tax.

1. Adding lime juice or lemon juice to your water helps cut through the metallic taste. Also eating a couple of slices of fresh pineapple before each meal helps diminish the metallic taste.

I plan to try all of the above. It can't hurt!

Malt, Im taking nystatin drops for the thrush; I know that it will banish it in a day or so - it seems to hit at the same time each cycle.

Glad you're feeling better, speedy. I hope it continues in the same direction.

lilymaid, it's always useful to be reminded about water. Having another glass now...

Good tips from Zombie and thegreylady: thanks

Oh Wren, poor you. Sounds like me on my second cycle. I now swear by a good mouthwash several times a day (Difflan is amazing and was prescribed by my oncologist); I also used Daktarin for tongue trush directly on my tongue between meals and before bed - that got rid of the trush very quickly. Docs also gave me soluble aspirin to swig and Oramorph as a last resort but the Difflan & Daktarin were so effective I never had to use the latter. Try and get these asap. I left it too late and really suffered (if you remember).

I have a very silly question regarding chemo and water. I (naively I'm sure) think I shouldn't be drinking copious amounts of water during the first few days of chemo as I don't want to wash the chemo out if my body, that I want to keep it inside me killing the cancer for as long as possible. I sense I'm wrong but can someone give me peace of mind that chemo drugs will still be opitimum despite drinking loads of water....?

Whoops Wren cross-posted. See you're sorted :)

Normal it is a good question to ask about drinking lots of water. I've been told that the chemo only does its real work for a short time and then needs to be removed from the body. No idea if this is true/rubbish. If you don't drink much you feel bad for longer and your urine is dark and unpleasant and I felt that I was getting cystitis (just what you need on top of oral thrush at t'other end). Everyone at the hospital told me to drink plenty, so I tried to do as I was told!
I bought myself a Bobble jug so I could tell how much I was drinking and didn't have the excuse that I didn't feel like going to the kitchen to refill a glass. A jug with something to keep the water cool would be ideal. I am currently on oral chemo and leading a "normal" life again but I now try to carry a bottle of water with me at all times.

Hello again, I keep popping in to look at posts to see how everyone is doing but have not written much myself really. I have been lying low waiting for results of my surgery last week, I know I don't need to explain the anguish of waiting.

I got results yesterday, a week earlier than expected. The surgery was successful. The lump was 11mm not 17mm as expected with clear margins. My sentinel plus two more lymph nodes were clear. I did cry over the consultant because I had convinced myself that the news would be bad. The three weeks of rads will take place towards the end of June/earlier July. I have a prescription for tamoxifen which I will begin ASAP.

I have been overwhelmed by some of your stories and have taken comfort from the way you all write about your experiences whilst being terrified of having to embark upon it myself. For now I have got off lightly, I'm all too aware this may not always be the case.

I think I'll be around for a while longer yet but somehow feel not quite worthy. I hope you all feel well enough to enjoy the weekend.

Mrs I'm pleased for your results what a relief We're all different with different cancers grades stages etc but we're all the same with the worries and anxieties so you re just as worthy as anyone else I hope you stick around

mrs that's great news!! Congratulations. Don't worry about being worthy or not, stick around for as long as you like.

Great news mrs Anyone touch by this dreadful disease is more than worthy whatever the outcome. Hope you stick around too!

Really good news mrs.

Fab news mrs looks like we will be rads and tamoxifen buddies.

Moogoo arrived yesterday mom and already my head seems less itchy (maybe psychosomatic but who cares!)

Hope your feeling better wren and that the chemo wasn't too awful normal

Had my dressings taken off yesterday and took the strips off this morning, looks pretty bruised and yucky of course, but also feels quite vulnerable - I know being uncovered will help the healing process. Ive also got a seroma on my side under my arm which is a pain, keeps rubbing on my 'bad' arm. Isn't too big but will keep an eye on it. Saw the consultant but he didn't have the results of the op as there was a lot of tissue (I did have big boobs!) and a bank holiday! He didn't seem worried and I'm due to see him again on Wednesday.

Sorry, turned into a bit of a novel! Hope everyone's weekend is going ok.

Wine I'm sure it was a shock to see it uncovered but will heal now,shame you couldn't get your results yet. Hope the seroma sorts itself out

Have had a lovely day out today, nice to drag the kids away from x boxes and iPads and go out all together :) have booked a holiday for the summer so have started the dreaded diet again !!

Wine - I had my mx a week before you and my wounds are looking fine now, they'll just be wee thin scars in no time! Ordered a swimming costume and swim prostheses today - ooh the excitement!

Oh, exciting malt where are you going?
I'm looking forward to swimming again wee, i haven't been able to go since last September!

I'm going to Mexico bit of a rash decision felt like doing something different ! I apologise to everyone who can't go on holiday this year, that was me last year and I do know how crap it is

wine I'm glad Moogoo is giving you relief.

It is the most soothing product I've experienced to deal with my scalp psorisis (Which disappeared along with my hair during chemo, but is back with my hair growth).

malt, woo Mexico sounds fab!!! Where in Mexico? Never got there, despite researching twice... So just curious. We are off to Languedoc early July, and will go to London for a week later in July. Can't wait !!!

Oh malt, Mexico! That is a great idea; you'll have to share all the details so we can get vicarious enjoyment.

wine, I hope you heal quickly and get back to normal soon.

Were going to an all inclusive resort at riviera maya. I'm a bit worried about the heat and the long flight with my node less arm but will be careful and very excited too !

Sun seems to be out here today hope it is where everyone else is too

Mexico sounds fab malt.

Wine hope you heal quickly.

Was sick last night although not sure why. Off out to cricket in a bit do hoping the upset tummy or vomiting will stay away for the afternoon while I watch my son. Hope everyone has a lovely Sunday

Hi all, just finished a 6 and a half hour drive from Norfolk (family funeral) am Knackered a bit fed up to have missed a lovely sunny day.
malt Mexico is one of my dream destinations - sun, snorkelling, interesting food and a little bit of historical interest - perfect! You have inspired me to think about it as a possibility for next year.
mrs you are a very worthy participant of this thread so please stick around. I have a close friend in the final stages of pancreatic cancer, it certainly puts my illness into perspective but doesn't negate that I am have my own worries to deal with. Lots of good advice here about rads and soon you will be able add all your experience to the wealth of good stuff on here.
speedy hope the sickness settled down and you were able to enjoy the cricket.
Hope all of the rest of you in the middle of treatment and draining seromas are doing okay. My first chemo seems to be fast approaching. I have 10 related appointments between then (19th June) and now. First is dentist on Tuesday, have had toothache for months which I have been trying to ignore and now need to get sorted in a hurry. At the moment am dreading that appointment the most.