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

[Lilymaid]

New thread!

[Mummywheel]

Best to be on the safe side I guess wren I've just been out, now feel much better and keeping an eye on my temp. Hopefully by tomorrow you will feel much better and hope you have a lovely time at The Chelsea Flower Show.

[foofooyeah]

wren hope you get there tomorrow. I have been watching it on TV ..... A sign I have reached middle age I think.

[weebarra]

wren - I hope you get there too, you did the sensible thing. Radio planning went fine, didn't have to take my dressings off and managed to get my arms above my head. Then DH and I sneaked off to Jamie's Italian for lunch.

[malteserzz]

When do you start wee ? Glad it went well

[Speedypenguin]

Wren have a lovely time tomorrow.

Good luck wine, hope all goes to plan.

Get well soon mummy.

Had my PICC line in today and apparently I shouldn't weightlift!

[mildmay]

hi speedy hope your line helps .was told by my nurse that i should really just get on with it.had third and last fec on friday.feeling rarther bad at the moment eyes not good and very wobbly.hope t will be abit easier.still seems such a long way to go.
hope everyone starting new treatment this week has a speedy recovery and all goes well.

[Speedypenguin]

Sorry to hear you feel wobbly mild. I cried at the end of the process from relief I think as it wasn't as bad as I thought and getting the bloods done before was much worse. Felt very silly but they were lovely. Sending you a big hug and hand hold.
I have my last FEC on thurs so we can do this one together. The nurses here all seem very keen that we should have PICC lines so am hoping it is much easier now.

[MyNewNormal]

Hello, it's me BishB. Had to change my login as was having trouble with old one. Just marking place really.

Have been really struggling with chemo side effects (for colon cancer). I saw my oncologist today. They're very worried about the effects just two chemo cycles have had on me (mouth sores, weight loss, too low neutrophils, extreme fatigue) so they're planning on reducing my chemo dose. Basically they started me at the maximum but as the nurse pointed out it's the same amount of chemo they'd give to a 16 stone man (and I'm a female 50 kg short-arse!). At first I thought, "Oh no, I want the maximum dosage to kill/shrink all the tumours most quickly) and called my husband in tears but obviously max dosage means I'm more likely to miss cycles because of extreme side effects... So I'm more rational about it now.

I've lost 3 kg in 10 days and am now officially underweight so am now on Ensure shakes until my mouth gets better and I can eat more fatty solids (ie real food!). I was obese a few years ago until I dieted and exercised down to a normal weight in the two years preceding diagnosis. I sure wish I'd held onto 50 excess Lbs . I am devouring food magazines like no tomorrow. They've given me Difflan, Bonjela and oral morphine for my mouth.

[foofooyeah]

Awww Bish/Normal!

Sorry the side effects have hit you so hard. Not surprising as you are so tiny. I am rather ashamed to admit but I weigh nearly twice what you do ... I have struggled a bit with Docetaxel so can imagine how much harder is for you.

[malteserzz]

Wine good luck today

Normal sorry you've been suffering hope you get on better with the reduced dose. I thought they weighed everyone for chemo though and then worked out how much to give you ?

[MyNewNormal]

Thanks foo and malt. Apparently many people even low weight cope fine with the chemo cocktail and I guess I could have been one of them.

wine thinking of you today.

[Wren48]

Hi Normal, I know quite a few people whose chemo dose has been reduced because of intense side effects. It's obviously something the oncologists are really comfortable with. It does sound like you have been having an extremely rough time, so let's hope ths works better.

[reallyreallyworried]

Good Luck today wine hope all goes well and you are home recuperating soon xx

Sorry to hear your having a rough time normal hope things improve on the lower dose.

foofoo how you getting on with the not so joyous Tax?

malt how's work going? Not long now and it'll be the summer holidays!!!

I know I am going to sound REALLY stupid now! As I should be happy that the Chemo and Rads are over, and I have my life back!! BUT I'm really struggling I HATE having very very short hair! Feel so self conscious. But it's too hot to wear my scarves now! I just want to feel like the old me, but I don't think that's going to happen

Think I need a swift kick up the backside! Or for someone to tell me this is Normal?! And things will improve?!

[mrsrhodgilbert]

Sorry for everyone who is feeling very rough a the moment. I'm feeling a bit wobbly myself although with no real reason. I've got to go for an injection in the nuclear dept of the local hospital today, prior to my lumpectomy and sentinel node removal tomorrow. This is day one of my treatment, it's all feeling very real now.

I've also got to tell dd2 tonight that I have cancer, she will finish her AS exams this afternoon. I'm really not looking forward to that, she is so looking forward to the end of exams. It will help dd1 though, who has been a real trooper and not mentioned a word to her younger sister, but has had to put up with all sorts of exam related teenage angst.

[yotty]

Mrs, I found the build up to telling my boys really hard. It was such a relief to have told them. I explained to them that it should all be very curable and just an annoying process for everyone in the family to put up with. Bit like going to dentist for filling, not something you would choose to do but something that has to be done to avoid further bigger problems in the future.
Hope your daughter will understand. If you tell her what your treatment plan is I'm sure that will help.

[MyNewNormal]

Oh mrs I know the thought of telling your DD is daunting, but once it's out there you'll be so relieved. As yotty says, focusing on the practicalities (treatment plan, duration) might help her digest the news better. Thinking of you today.

[MyNewNormal]

reallyreally it is so normal! When I had cancer first time round I was at a complete loss for months after remission but slowly life returned to normal. I basically plunged back into activities (finished the PhD, went on holidays, new job). I'd put on alot of weight during treatment which was utterly depressing to me in remission (and a reminder of my cancer) but that weight soon dropped.

[reallyreallyworried]

Thanks Normal I really needed to hear that! Xx

[IamtheZombie]

Morning!

ZombieHugs™ to all but extra special ones for those having a hard time right now.

Zombie has her CT scan at 2.00 this afternoon. She's about to have a late breakfast then shower, dress and leave for town just after 12.00.

[mrsrhodgilbert]

Thank you Yotty and Normal, that is my intended plan. It's just so hard, the further I get from the date of first diagnosis the more I remember the warning words rather than the positive if that makes sense. I really don't believe I'll get away with the op tomorrow and three weeks of rads.

[RahRahRasputin]

Normal my chemo dose was reduced massively. It was an infusion and tablets but for cycles 2, 3 and possibly 4, I can't remember I just had the tablets, at a reduced dose. Then they reintroduced the infusion I think at half the original dose but he said we could go lower if needs be. He was quite concerned that he would kill me and the effect this would have on his career

I think my dose was calculated on weight, which they use with height to estimate your surface area. But I'm extraordinarily dense so my weight gives a much higher surface area than I actually have. That's a medical opinion, not just me making excuses

I hope your mouth feels better soon and that you're able to regain some weight!

mrs good luck telling DD2, I'm sure she will understand why you've waited and hopefully DD1 can support her.

[smee]

Just nipping in to say to Normal that my chemo dose was reduced by a third for all the reasons yours has been. My Onc said to try and think about it as a good sign, i.e. that the chemo's working, as it's taking such a toll. So in a way the fact they needed to reduce your dose is a good sign as the treatment's working almost too well. :)

[MyNewNormal]

RahRah and smee that's so reassuring to read. Thank you so much; I feel so much more positive now

[weebarra]

Gentle hugs to all those feeling a bit pants. I had some mouth issues normal and found Difflam pretty good.
Quick question for those who've undergone mx - how long before you were driving again?

[zippyswife]

Just wanted to say a massive thank you to all of you who took me in, held my hand and gave me kind words when you have enough on your own plates. My scans showed nothing more than dense tissue and I have breathed a sigh of relief. If there's ever anything I can do to help anyone ever please just pm me. Thank you