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

[Lilymaid]

New thread!

Hi bigger. How are you feeling after today?

I've had my 4th rads session and no problems apart from my nipple is feeling a bit sore and areola is looking a bit pinker than usual. Does this sound familiar to anyone?

First post here, so I need to start with a huge thank-you to everyone on this thread. You are all bloody fantastic.

I've been lurking for months. You've been so unknowingly helpful. I think I've gotten more useful information here than anywhere else.

I'm currently in the US so getting treatment here. A few of their protocols differ a bit but most of it seems to follow a similar path.

I have an embarrassingly superficial question. Finally got a wig yesterday. It's monofilament, and turns out to be unbearably itchy. Is it just me, or does anyone else find them itchy? Any tips?

Sorry to be so superficial.

Hi Ijny, it's funny to think someone has been following our stories from America. It's a bit quiet here tonight so far and I can't help re wigs but I'm sure someone will be along soon. I don't think your issue is superficial at all, it's something I've wondered myself. If you're needing to ask this you've obviously been though some difficult times already.

Hi ljny. You've been on my thread I believe.

I confess that I never wore my wigs. Trying them on at home I found them very uncomfortable and yes, they were itchy. I decided to just go au naturale and if it bothered anyone else that was their problem. I hope someone else will be along soon with better advice.

Wigs? I wore wig caps underneath, and that sorted it out nicely for me.

Ljny welcome :) glad we have been of help to you. I didn't find my wig itchy at all so not sure what to suggest, I didn't use a wig cap either as I found them too hot, I didn't lose my hair completely though

Elporto how are you doing today ?

Last day at work for me today, finished for the summer and off to mexico on Tuesday. This time last year was very different I had my first oncology appointment and was getting ready to start chemo. It's hard to believe sometimes but the time does pass quickly

Hi all, hi malteserzz.

Thanks for asking, today has been hugely up and down. I had to wait an hour to see my nurse which was really hard, I ended up phoning a friend and exploding a bit as I was just so sad and frantic. My nurse talked me down, talked me through surgery, post-op recovery, and lots of info about chemo which actually really helped.

I am still waiting to have a lot of tests done next week and feel very apprehensive. I know they have to check everything but the idea of having a bone scan in particular really freaks me out. The tests are because of lymph node involvement and means I'll be waiting til 23rd to really know for sure what we are dealing with. It feels like forever and I am almost considering giving up a lifetime of atheism just to have someone / something to pray to!

I am far far too scared to even look at the possible prognosis if it has spread to liver or bone

Reading you all talking about wigs makes me think there will hopefully be a future, even if it's a hairless one for a bit! This thread is offering me a great deal of comfort, thank you so much for welcoming me in. Tough days.

Hi there, 2nd chemo ticked off. An hour waiting but other than that went without a hitch. Drove myself to and from the hospital and have been out to a committee meeting this evening. Feeling a bit flushed now so off to bed. Thanks for asking mrs.
Hi ljny no such thing as a superficial question here. I don't find the wigs itchy but, then I have been known to ignore all sorts of discomfort for vanity - spanx anyone? Anyway, my hairdresser did recommend a stocking cap for comfort and anti-slippage. I still have a lot of stubble so slippage hasn't been a problem yet.
Hey malt where abouts in Mexico are you going, that is my end of treatment fantasy holiday.
elporto there is so much to take in at the beginning. Sounds like you are still in what I like to call my 'constant planning my funeral' phase. It does pass, I promise. I was desperately worried about my bone scan, I had started imagining all sorts of pains (also all peri-menopausal symptoms) my scan was clear. As it happens my CT scan wasn't but it us inconclusive so I am in a waiting game. What I have learnt is that it won't change your immediate treatment plan so I am concentrating on getting through that, and have managed to compartmentalise anything else to think about later on. Take notice of amber's posts, the odds are really good and getting better almost by the month. That said, we're here to be a sounding board for all your worries so keep posting them - certainly helps me.
zombie I quite like going bare - would like to have your confidence to go out in public but very early days. I like having the options - I have 3 wigs, a multitude of scarves and a lovely bald head and I like being able to be a different me, as and when the mood takes.

Considerably: I would like to KISS you for posting here this late in the evening and calming me down before I try to sleep. I fucking love mn

Buns, I also had an inconclusive CT scan at the start of my treatment. As chemo came to an end, I couldn't compartmentalise any more and convinced myself that it was 100% sure to be bad news. I gave myself some very bad times. To my relief it was fine - but having it looming for a long time was very stressful I found. I like your comment about funeral planning - I still do a bit of that but without the total conviction I used to have.

Wren and Buns: I did a TON of mental funeral planning yesterday. Thanks for making me feel like this is 'normal' - I was even wondering what I would wear in the coffin (so perhaps just a bit vain, actually!)

Off to the zoo today with the kids and my mum and Aunty which I hope will take my mind off things for at least a few hours, and will hopefully tire me out properly and ensure I sleep tonight. The waiting is the worst and I am waking up each day and having that awful realisation where it hits you again

Right: cup of tea and out of the house

elporto nothing wrong with a bit if vanity, but also for me the main things is about control. At this point in your diagnosis you have absolutely no control of your body, so it is natural to concentrate in what you do gave a bit if control over, even if, for the vast majority if us, won't be needed until we meet a much more timely end in our 90's. I wander if your coffin outfit will still fit! As you move into treatment, I found I did feel I was contributing to my recovery, felt more in control and less focused on the negative. As wren mentions! I do still give it the passing thought! hey, you might find something that would look better in that coffin! It really is normal and we are all different so don't beat yourself up for any of your emotions however over the top you might think they are.
Zoo distraction technique sounds good. How old are your kids, I am assuming they are little ones if not at school today.
I am high on steroids, so although tired, can't rest. Expecting SEs to kick in tonight. Day 2 night was worst for me last time - lots of pain and steroid sleeplessness was not a great combination. But no sickness again - yay!

Elporto glad you are getting out and about today. I know what you mean about forgetting for a bit. This morning I had a whole 30 seconds before I started to ache and remember. This may sound a bit silly but after I was diagnosed I started to make a 'happy' book. I have written down/ put photos in of times/things that made me happy so it has things like photos of days out, things people have done for me etc. it helps for me to see that I have had lots of positive experiences as well as the bad while I am going through this thing. Appreciate this is not for everyone though.

Ljny. My friend gave me something that looked like a pair of tights for your head. I don't wear my wig often but after a while it does get irritating.

Malt I hope you enjoy the last day of work and then get packing for your holiday .

Biggerbuns I hope this lot of chemo is treating you reasonably well.

My dad is really keen to take me out to lunch so am going to take lots of drugs and hope my stomach behaves itself! Will be nice to get out.

Elporto, I've never bothered looking at the prognosis for my type of cancer. At best the info is usually out-of-date as it just tells you what has been happening, rather than what's actually happening at the moment. It also doesn't give you any more clue as to what's going to happen to you either I don't think. I didn't even want to know what stage I was at for this reason. I accidentally found out a couple of weeks ago and it caused a huge amount of unnecessary worry for me...

Everyone is different, though, and I know some people find it easier to cope when they have all the facts to hand.

Whoever mentioned about funerals. I have thought about this, although not in a serious way. I tend to think about who is likely to attend

Hi All,it's been just over a week since my mastectomy and I'm recovering well.I'm trying to take it easy but it doesn't come natural to me. I have very good movement in my arm so apart from driving,ironing and hoovering (push and pull movements) I'm pretty much good to go. Apparently I'm looking better now than I did before the op as I was a ball of tension and losing weight because of that.
Very much recognise where you are Elporto ,the not knowing what's next is all consuming at times.
CBB has wise words and I think it HAS a lot to do with the feeling of being out of control and some handle this better than others. You want to feel prepared whereas you haven't got enough info to be able to prepare yourself.
Distraction is the name of the game,I plunged myself into work,riding my horse and extreme house cleaning to stop my mind from whirling.
Never got as far as thinking of funerals thank God!
I've just been inspecting my scar and have all of a sudden noticed I have no scar under my armpit?I have a whopping great one right across my breast but nothing under my armpit.
They were supposed to do a sentinel node removal,I was under the impression that would leave a scar under the armpit.
Does that mean they haven't done it??
Seeing my surgeon on Monday for follow up app.so could ask her?
Don't want to ask stupid questions though so thought I'd ask you all here first.
Also,what kind of questions are important to ask? Don't want to walk out of there and then think of something important afterwards.
Reading about all your treatments makes my op seem like a children's playground tbh.Wishing you all strength and speedy healing

Glad you are recovering well nelson. I have a scar from my sentinel node but haven't had the BMX yet so can't really advise. Am sure someone else can though.

Looks like we crossed posts biggerbuns- glad you have no nausea and hope you don't have a rough night tonight.

Hi nelson, nice to hear you're doing ok. Curious about the lack of underarm scar. I had a WLE plus removal of three nodes and I have two scars. A vertical curved one on my breast and a straight horizontal line in my armpit. Is your scar anywhere near your armpit? Did you have the blue dye injection to mark the nodes?

bigger pleased to hear you have no nausea, are you on meds for that or do you have an iron constitution, I rather suspect the latter.

Nelson glad you're doing ok, I had a lumpectomy and SNB and had 2 scars, 1 on my breast and 1 under my arm. Wonder if they were able to get to your node from your boob ?

Bigger buns were going to riviera maya, I'll let you know what it's like

I've spent a lot of time thinking about my funeral, I'd say that was fairly normal though hopefully by the time it comes the songs I'm thinking of will be out of date !

Thanks ladies I have a big scar right across my breast and that's it. Just checked again and there is a big blue area above the scar and a thin blue line underneath. Maybe they did manage to fish it out without having to make another cut?
Scar isn't near armpit,I'd say about at least a centimeter away from the edge of the breast.
Area above the scar is still quite tender and there seems to be a 'dent' about 3cm long just above the scar. Maybe they hoicked it out there?
Puzzled now......

I had a bilateral mx with node clearance on both sides. No underarm scars, surgeon explained he could do it from the inside.

Sounds like you've got away with just one scar. The underarm scars tend to be a bit more painful so that's a plus for you. The blue dye lasts ages. I'm two months on from surgery and its still there, I've been told it can take up to a year to go, I'm hoping its less. It's yet another reminder.

Guys, have just seen that knotty and pistey are planning a Woolly Hug for knitting novice. I'm going to attempt a square, it would be lovely if some of us Tamoxigangers had a go. Knitting ended up as part of the small percentage but left a legacy behind her.

Afternoon all, I had bmx, then node learn e separately so have a separate scar .... Sounds like if its all done at the same time you don't get the extra scar. My breast scars are a bit different as they look the same as someone who has had a breast reduction as my surgeon wanted to make them look a bit more natural.

Wigs: couldn't get on with mine, gave me a headache and looked too wiggy for me.

I cannot knit at all and would have loved to have made a square

Hi all , happy Friday to everyone.

I also dont have an underarm scar nelson, my surgeon said he could get to the nodes via the boob incision. Didnt have any blue dye either, just shows how it can differ.

Welcome elporto, we have all been where you are and as many wise people have said, once you have your treatment plan it becomes less scary.

How has the first week of rads been mrs? Having done 10 now, my skin is starting to go red and been a bit itchy. Loads of moogoo seems to help. Also, BC nurse suggested getting a piece of silk and putting it between my skin and the softies/bra to stop it rubbing, I bought some from our local market!

That's a lovely idea wee, will contribute in spirit as I haven't the faintest idea how to knit

Hope everyone has a lovely weekend.