Tamoxigang thread 50 with summer sun, sangria and maybe even some sand

[foofooyeah]

Welcome to thread 50 .... Yes FIFTY.
Lots of us are rising 50 so rather apt!

MorniIng everyone.

I only used the cold cap once and it made me feel so yucky, I gave up. I also was dreading losing my hair - I think I focused all my fear/anger etc on that, particularly as its such a visual reminder of the crap i was going through. But, honestly, when it did go, it honestly didn't bother me that much - I also cut mine, gave me a very small sense of control.

And it's amazing how quickly it grows back, I finished chemo in April and already mine is about 6 cm long and eyelashes and brows were back very quickly.

Hope you're doing ok becca

Very impressed wee, I'm trying very hard to eat sensibly and avoid the boys holiday treats. Ive booked an appointment to get my new boobs in a couple of weeks, wearing the softies still. I much prefer going without but defiantly need something to distract from my stomach!

wren, I so know what you mean, it's lovely that people are concerned about me but I do sometimes feel like yelling there's more to me than cancer!

Hope your mum is doing ok buns

Morning everyone
I'm back from Mexico, boo ! Had a fab time though
Will try and catch up on everyone's news, at least I have a few weeks off work now as I'm a teacher, poor dh has gone back today
I cold capped and though I did lose most of my hair it didn't go completely and it's grown back quicker than people who didn't use it. It was cold but not unbearable and I'm glad I did it. Losing your hair is awful there's no denying it though I had a wig which everyone thought was my real hair. Everyone is different but I wore mine al of the time, I couldn't have gone out in scarves and had everyone knowing I was ill I wanted to be anonymous

My neighbour cold capped and kept most of my hair. I lost my head hair by cycle three but kept my eyebrows and eyelashes till near the end.
I had a wig but mostly wore Handybands.
Feeling the effects of my shred last night but only on my arms and underarms. No weights though, physio says not until I'm twelve weeks post op.

This is very interesting hearing about how you have all dealt with hairloss. I have really short hair anyway and I think would look a bit odd in a wig, so am planning on headscarves. Weebarra - can you tell me more about handybands? I am much more worried about eyelashes, like you, minty, I have always loved my eyelashes, so I guess I need to get some false ones

Elporto are you booked on a look good feel better session ? They are great and will show you how to draw in eyebrows and use eyeliner to disguise the lack of lashes. I wore loads of makeup on chemo, don't bother much normally

Are these the handybands www.seasaltcornwall.co.uk/women/accessories/handybands/womens-hairbands-in-soft-organic-patterned-cotton_multi_dot_steel.htm

Yes Becca, that's them! They were also very useful for pulling down to cover my collarbones after rads so they didn't get burned when I was on holiday!

They look much easier to manage than some of the complicated headscarf arrangements I see. It's not expected that I'll lose my hair on my treatment but if it does happen I'll get some of those I think.

Becca I have a couple of Handybands - they are very soft and are breathable as they are all cotton but I found them quite large (for my large head). I also had some Buffs which I found a bit neater - but they are not made of cotton.
I never did work out how to tie/arrange a head scarf. If you have a Maggie's Centre at your hospital they often run classes in this art!

Briteside, so glad to hear your CT was clear. You sound almost my cancer twin. I was more hormone positive than you, but I had a small v.aggressive tumour, then lots of DCIS too. I had mastectomy, chemo (3 FEC/3 Tax), then 25 rads too. I am 4 years on, no sign of recurrence. I just thought you might like to hear that!

Minty, I used the cold cap. It kind of worked for me. I have v.thick hair which helped, but ended up with a massive bald patch, kept a fringe and some hair at the back. So I did the whole scarf over the top thing/ bands and that worked well. I used it for all 6, but I'm not sure if I'd do it again as I had a pavlovian type weird reaction, so threw up each time. Don't let that put you off, as it's worth trying. The Onc Nurses told me I was the only person they'd ever met who reacted that way.

Elporto going to Australia sounds great to me.

Am mighty impressed by the shred, Weebarra.

Waving to Malt - nice to see you back.

Sorry not to post to all. In a bit of a rush, but wishing you all an ok day.

Morning all.

Biggerbuns- the tax truck is slowly wending its way past thanks. Hoping I will feel better by the weekend. Thinking of you and your mum too.

Malt glad you had a great holiday. Am suffering from Facebook envy as it seems everyone is going away and posting wonderful pictures. I should just stop looking . Enjoy the next few weeks off and I hope you don't have too much school work to do.

I didn't go for the cold cap and had my hair cut very short once it started to go. Now I am on docetaxol my hair is now growing again, although my eyebrows and lashes are now going. I spend most of my time in scarves or a handyband but indoors I don't bother. At my last chemo it was so hot I didn't bother with anything. It just depends on how comfortable you feel. I have played around with the scarves and tied them up, plaited them, had one in a long ponytail type thing, bow etc.

Wee so impressed with your shred.

Hope everyone has a good day. Off to the hospital for line care and blood test to check the heart tablets aren't doing anything horrid. Not sure how I will manage the huge walk from car park though.

just a note on eyelashes & brows: the nurses advised me to get lipocils, which I did, but I didn't like the brush so I have been using Rapidlash instead.

I think they work like a kind of glue really, so they slow down the natural loss of lashes. Whether they actually promote new growth is questionable. Anyway, after 4 FECs my brows and lashes are more sparse but still there.

The hair loss discussion is fascinating. I already have fairly short hair and don't think I mind losing it...(Remind me of this when I am sobbing on here about having no hair!) but everyone keeps suggesting I try a cold cap. My instinct says to focus on the Chemo, I don't have the energy to try the cold cap. But I AM going to google handybands

smee - well done on getting 4 years on! What was the Rads like? I can't get my head around that stage yet.

I totally get what you mean about the difference between Empathy / Sympathy. I often think that my diagnosis has taught me a WHOLE new level of emotional intelligence...particularly how others are reacting!

speedy - hope your appointment went well and that the walk was not too bad. I have already eyed out my hospital car park & wondered how I will cope with the hill!

Other people's reactions - I get a lot of "I'm so sorry", and I get their point, but it's also the sort of thing you say to someone whose friend/relative has just died. I shouldn't let it bother me but it does. Also the pitying Sad Face.

yes becca!!

And how about those who YOU end up comforting...those who do the whole: 'I can't believe it, how awful, I can't believe this is happening to you...' with tears and everything. I end up passing them a tissue while reassuring them that it is OK, I will be fine (While I think to myself how ridiculous it is for ME to do the comforting!!!)

I know that everyone is different and that often they are projecting their own fears of it being THEM who is ill, but it drives me mad...

They need to learn how Not To Dump Negative Emotions on the person with the health situation. The Circles of Care model is a good one. Positive stuff in, negative stuff only to people further outside that circle of care.

I'll be back later to write a proper post but finally I have a date!!! I've got to go in on the 12th and meet the Dr and have a blood test and then in on the 13th for treatment to start.

I've been waiting for this news for ages but now it's all starting to feel real!

Briteside, you'll be able to let me know what it's all like with your extra 2 days of experience over me ;-)

Minty, I am delighted you have a date for treatment to start, and less than 2 weeks away, that is brilliant. So glad things are moving along xx

Ooh yes, beware of the head tilters. I had a load of flowers/ cards when I was diagnosed and a lot had lillies and funeral type flowers on. They went straight in the bin. I felt like having cards printed with 'I'm not dead yet you know' on.

Brite, rads is nothing much to worry about. Chemo's a haul to get through, but rads is really just tedious as you have to go each week day for five weeks. My top tip is to find a treat cafe near the hospital. Carluccios coffee and almond croissants were part of the treatment for me.

YAY Minty!!! I really understand how exciting that is now. When I told friends and family the 'good news' that I had a Chemo date and how exciting that was they looked at me as if I had two heads (Smee - which was a nice change from the 'my-thoughts-are-with-you brigade).

I will certainly impart my chemo-wisdom, if I can tear myself away from lying on a beach (It is going to be a holiday, isn't it?)

Smee - Great tip about the cafe, especially as the hospital where I will probably have to have Chemo is a fair drive away. Could you drive during that 5 week period?

Brite, yes I could have driven during Rads, but I'm in London so no point. I used to get the bus there, then jump on a Boris bike back - bit insane as I was v.tired at that point, but it was incredibly life affirming to cycle.

Speedy I was the same last year, was really envious looking at everyone's holiday pics. I've got quite a lot of work to do as I'm changing year groups but time to chill too

Minty glad you have a date now

Agree with Smee that after chemo rads are easy and the worst bit is getting to the hospital each day and depends where you are but parking was a real pain at mine. Even chemo whilst not nice is certainly doable, there's a lot of us who have said that it wasn't as bad as we were expecting

I'm disappearing for a weeks holiday. The moogoo is packed and white cloths to cover my still sore rads burns. I'll be very careful in the sun but I'm looking forward to some blue sky and sea air. I've still got quite a lot of breast pain from the rads, I'm hoping that will have gone when I get back.

Best of luck to all those waiting for results and good health to everyone healing from ops or having unpleasant treatments.

Hi everyone...

I started a thread in General Health and I was kindly asked to come over here and join you all...

I've been referred to the Marsden with a lump in my right breast that's 4-5 centimetres and pretty painful. Now I'm terrified and googling like mad... I was told I would get a phone all today about which day next week I have to go but nothing yet and the surgery closes in an hour I think.

I will go back and read the thread... Just wanted to introduce myself :)

Hi Curious, So sorry you are going through this. The majority of lumps are innocent, and on the slight chance that it is more serious - the treatments are amazing these days.

I found the waiting MUCH worse than the reality (And in my case, it wasn't a great answer - so that really is saying something )