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

[Lilymaid]

New thread!

Morning how is everyone today ? I slept much better last night, after a new parents meeting that had been worrying me, still get nervous talking to a group of adults, children are fine !

Zombie hope you're feeling ok today

Gemma it's normal to be down but it will get better promise. Talk to us about your worries, we've all been there. In my experience you won't get the results from your op till about 10 days after then you will get an appointment to see the onc before chemo. I had my op at the beginning of June and started chemo at the end of July

Bigger buns that is a lot of appointments you must be knackered !

Love to all

Morning all. I've got my first oncologist appt this afternoon to discuss rads, I'm now 4 weeks post WLE and 3node removal and need 3 weeks treatment.

I can't really think of anything to ask, being on here has been so informative. So can anyone shed any light on what might happen today, will I be examined again? Is there anything I should ask apart from a plea to get it going quickly before hols? How quickly does the planning appt tend to come after today and then the rads?

I noticed someone recently asked if its sensible to start using the moogoo before rads starts, I don't recall seeing an answer to that, any advice anyone? I know Wee as been having a rough time which as been a bit of a surprise, nearly over now though I think Wee.

I've almost managed to put this to the back of my mind at times in the last week or so and get back to normal. Today I will have to face it all again at a real cancer centre rather than just as a day patient in the general hospital. Feeling a bit daunted and I think a bit scared that the oncologist might tell me something I don't want to know. My surgeon was absolutely lovely and very gentle with what he said. It's like facing up to it all over again.

Hope today goes well mrs rhod. I think my rad dates came within about a week of seeing the onc to discuss. Had planning appt then rads started two weeks later. Only four left for me! I just started the moogoo when I started rads. I slap it on at bedtime, smells lovely.

Thanks wee, I'm hoping it will be a bit quicker than that or we will miss our holiday. Surgeon and bcn have consistently said its do-able so I'll be upset if it goes pear shaped now. How is your skin?

Hope the appointment goes well mrs. I had to wait 3 weeks after the planning appointment to start but my hospital have been slow all of the way through. I should think you will be examined today, have a ct scan and will be given your little tattoos so they can line you up, they're just little black dots I don't notice mine now

One thing that upset me about rads was that a lot of people were quite elderly and poorly looking. I felt like I didn't belong if you see what I mean

People who have been here for a while might remember knitting novice. She's posted on the life limiting board if anyone wants to send her love and support.

Biggerbuns- thanks for thoughts. I just seem to be one of those who feels horrid. Am glad you got through all your appointments.

Wren- that was the last fec. Now have docetaxol and apparently Herceptin but they assured me I shouldn't feel sick! To anybody about to start chemo I know lots of people who have been generally ok and respond well to all the different drugs. I am just awkward .

Mrs hope today goes well.

Malt. I know exactly what you mean about talking to parents; give me children any day. Have missed doing the meeting this year. Hope your reports are going well.

Gemma I did have chemo four days after sentinel node op but they did want to start me quick. I imagine yours will be longer if you haven't seen the onc yet.

Am now returning to sofa. This will end!

I agree malt - lots of people looking unwell. Chemo was fine surprisingly, a few people around my age.
Skin in ok mrs rhod, bit red but not broken. I will be gutted if we miss our holiday now - it's a week tomorrow...

Morning all.

I'm still feeling fit as a fiddle.

The ZombieCats have been to the vet this morning. Other than the catcophony in the car all went well. They got their breakfast as soon as we got home and are thinking about forgiving me.

mrs, hope you find your oncologist every bit as kind as your surgeon. The oncologist will almost certainly do a physical exam to check how well you are healing. That will affect how quickly you can start rads. Would another option be to ask for rads to be delayed until after your holiday?

ZombieHugs™.

Thank you all, it's six weeks and two days until we go. Today is not the planning appt, maybe that will be next week. It's very tight but not impossible if the hospital have available appts. We do have BUPA cover, which we haven't used, but it might be worth enquiring if the dates look tight. I know it's the same machine in the same hospital but there might be more choice re times. I hope that doesn't come across badly.

If it were just me I wouldn't mind about the holiday, but I would feel very guilty about the rest of the family.

I don't know about delaying, I thought I read somewhere that it should start 4-6 weeks post surgery, I could very well be wrong though. Glad you're feeling well zombie, we are owned by two cats who also hate anything that involves a trip in the car.

wee you fill me with hope to be having rads so close to your holiday, fingers crossed you get away.

Mrs rhod - I'm having my treatment privately too,again,same hospital and machines. No idea if they fitted me in sooner than NHS patients, I suspect not.

Speedy, just nipping in to say I was like you, so v.sick on FEC. It is unusual so for anyone about to start, don't panic! Just wanted to tell you that Tax was a lot better for me. I felt just a teeny bit sick, but it was such a relief after FEC. I've heard lots of women say Herceptin's okay, so I reckon you're through the worst.

Thanks smee, that is really good to hear. Much appreciated as it just feels such a hill to get over each time. Off to take more drugs now and maybe have a snooze.

Hope everyone is enjoying the sun if they can

Hi gemma as someone else has suggested, your notes probably won't even be passed onto the oncology department until the post op review and then you will have an initial oncology appointment to discuss options, my chemo was scheduled ( to dates suiting me ) at that meeting. My op was 8th April, my chemo starts 19th June, although he would have liked to start a week earlier. I was fine on day 18, driving and functioning pretty much as normal although was a bit sore and the full node clearance was uncomfortable. Everyone is different but I wouldn't give up on DSD's graduation just yet.

Mrs I had my rads planning exactly one week after my final FEC. I had a CT scan and tattoos. Due to start on 30th June for 4 weeks. The Cancer Center I attend at Freeman Hospital in Newcastle is relatively new. It had a calming and comfortable atmosphere, although did feel a little emotional as being there reminded me that I am a cancer patient. Sorry if that sounds bizarre but when I feel fit and go about my normal routine I do tend to forget.

Glad you are feeling well zombi

Best of luck for Thursday biggerbuns

Hope Tax is less taxing than FEC for you speedy

I know I've already said it on FB but your hair looks lovely malt

Well hair dying taken place, it's not Golden Blonde as it says on the packet, although im guessing if they'd called it "f**k me it's orange" sales would be down. Oh dear!!! Won't be ditching the wig for a while.

Think Annie Lennox in the "Sweet Dreams" video but without the cheekbones, 2 stone heavier and 30 years older . It's meant to last 5 weeks but hopefully if I wash it 10 times a day........

Waiting for my rads appointment, at this rate won't be done before kids break up.

Hugs to all.

Back from the hospital. Oncologist said planning meeting would be in 1-2 weeks with rads starting 1-2 weeks later. We told him that we have 6 weeks before we go away so he got me to sign the consent form and has put the request through for a quick appt. He even asked what time of day we are flying, I believe he would actually have agreed to rads the day we go. So now we have to wait.

I understand exactly what you mean mummy about feeling a little emotional being in a cancer centre. However nobody really looked ill today. I was the youngest by far and I'm 50. I know when I go to St James in Leeds it will be different again.

May I ask of other's experiences of having to wear a sports bra after reconstruction? My long awaited op is on the 25th June. I have bought one (£28) it's quite a battledress and I am a modest 38 B. I've been advised to wear a Sports bra day and night for two weeks. Sounds like hell.
Sainsburys do a smoothing bra which has thick straps and good support under the breast, down the ribcage and is so much more comfortable and seems to do the job of holding me altogether. I would welcome your comments. Thank you.

Oh wine, that made me laugh! I am also easily the youngest when I go to rads, and I'm 36. I get lots of sympathetic looks which I hate.

Oh Wine, that did make me laugh. I'm impressed you have enough hair to dye - I'm all wispy wispy.

Chatelaine, I think the only thing to avoid is underwired bras. If the Sainsburys one is comfy, go for that. Day and night is important though. There will be swelling. I used a bra extender early on as it was a bit comfier. And the make of bra I used was Amoena, who specialise in post surgery bras. Mine looks like it's called Frances 2128 if that's of any interest (that's what's on the label, anyway).

Thanks mummy wheel

Wine I found that all the home dyes turned my hair orange or red too, had mine highlighted for the 1st time yesterday so am gradually going back to blonde where I'm happier !

My hair seems to be coming in much darker! I've never really dyed it but one of DS1's friends mum is a hairdresser so I will ask her advice.

Mine came back grey though I'm a bit older than you at 42, my hairdresser said it's not as bad at the back but i don't get to see that much !

Hello chatelaine I wore a specific mastectomy bra as well, although as I had a BMX didn't actually need anything for support. I couldn't really bear to wear it for a couple weeks but the straps were super soft and it has pockets for the pads so the shape is better. I bought a couple of other non wired bras but never wore them. wine I thought this would be the one time in life to go crazy on hair colour - I was thinking shocking pink. I am not looking forward to the grey having died by hair to it's former natural dark brown for more years than I care to mention. Interesting that when I chose my wigs I went for something with lighter highlights.

Its my least favourite bit of chemo outpatients. Because im in the haematology bit im the youngest person ive seen there so far by about 30 years and also the most agressive diagnosis. Combine that with the fact I have a young baby (they alwats ask) and I get lots of pitying looks and comments which make me cry. Hard when you are attached to a drip stand and cant run away. I tend to put ipod speakers in now even if im not listening to anything.

Another vote for the PICC line. Less distressing to have put in than a cannula for me and ive only had a needle twice in 9 weeks :-)

Wine- I hope the hair calms down soon but your description made me laugh. Am nowhere near that stage. My hairdresser said when it starts to grow then I need to get it all cut off as it will grow back better. I still have a fine covering of spiky stuff that will need to go.

Biscuits. That must be hard, don't blame you for plugging yourself in.

Today I had another letter from consultant where it actually says in black and white the breast cancer is responding well to treatment. A little thing, but it made me feel a little better today.