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!

Lily, that's fantastic news! You must feel so relieved. Hope you enjoyed your makeover too.

Wahtawah, I'm afraid I can't help you either as I'm pretty new to this world. Statistics say that most women referred to a breast clinic will come away with good news so hold onto that thought. But if it's not such good news, this is definitely the place to come to. There are some very wise and helpful ladies who between them have experienced pretty much everything there is to go through.

There are 3 of us newbies who were diagnosed within the last month so we're all holding hands together.

Elporto, how did it all go today? Must be a relief to have your drain removed. Hope you were able to get through the mri

Lily that's great news I'm so pleased for you :) I have no side effects from tamoxifen so hopefully you will be the same. Enjoy your holidays !

Waht I don't know I'm afraid as I found my lump myself but we will hold your hand while you wait

Lily - I have heard that Letrozole is worse for aches so hopefully you'll be better on Tamoxifen. I have horrific hot flushes (although maybe they are reducing a bit - I certainly hope so) - but no other SEs.
Well done on having 3 holidays planned - you certainly deserve it as you have been having treatment for a long time now .

Fab news lily and glad your make over was good.

Waht hopefully you will get good news but we are all here. The waiting is hard.

My boys come back tomorrow but have had a lovely sickness bug so am hoping they are over it. I may have to operate a 'no touching or hugging' policy!

That's great news Lily, I'm really chuffed my chemo buddy is doing so well :)

Morning all, haven't been on for a while so just catching up.

amber love the circle of 'circles of care' diagram. Shall share that. I seem to be the one suffering and supporting everyone around me.

Cold cap/hair loss: used cold cap on FEC and kept most of my hair. But as hair did thin old cap it worse.
Went onto Docetaxol 4 months later and couldn't bear it. Retching etc. so didn't use and hair fell out. Still got some but its crew cut. Couldn't get on with wig so use scarves, and sun hats v useful in this warm weather.
Eyebrows thinning, lashes stumpy but eyeliner helps.

This too will pass.

Welcome to newbies.

Had radiotherapy planning this week which was fine. Start in the 18th after my holiday.

Morning all,

Waht and curious, I really really hope that you will not be with us too long on here and you both get good news in the next week or so, but keep posting

Lily your holiday plans sound amazing! Have a wonderful time.

Buns, hope you are doing OK now that SEs have kicked in.

Minty and briteside, hope you are both doing OK and enjoying this little bit of space before chemo starts.

So I had my drain removed yesterday and it was like a huge weight being lifted. I also had a proper look at my new boob and do you know, it's pretty good! I quite like it! I never thought I would feel this way, cancer is full of surprises eh... I also had the MRI which was a bit of a fiasco, they spent ages deciding if I could or couldn't have it with the surgery being so recent but in the end they went ahead. I really hate hate hate being in that machine, had a little cry afterwards. However last night one of my good friends came over for takeaway and a film and we had a glass of wine and a really good laugh and a gossip, and I also did my nails which perked me up.

Lots of chores to do today - much easier to hang out laundry without a drain on one side! then just relaxing this afternoon. DH and the DC are away camping til Monday so I am enjoying the peace and quiet, and the feeling of calm and contentment today, what a lovely LOVELY feeling, no matter how temporary. Ooh and yes we are all set to go off for Australia next Saturday for a whole MONTH so I am hugely focused on that

Hope everyone else is doing well and enjoying the weekend x

Glad you got the drain out and managed to get the MRI done. Australia sounds amazing, I'd love to go there hope you have a great time :)

Foo foo rads will be a breeze compare to all of the chemo you've had

Speedy hope your boys are better today will be hard if they come back and you can't hug them

It's just started raining here take me back to mexico please !

Hello all and welcome to the newbies. Plenty of hand holding here.

Just waved DS2 off to RAF Odiham today for a whole week - had a few tears when he left feeling a little hormonal I think.

Good to hear about impending holidays and glad you had a good one Malt We are off to The Lake's in September....time to dust off my new hiking boots which have been in their box for too long! Just hope I can build up some strength for plenty of fell walking.

Just a quick question. Does anyone know if it is safe to take vitamins while on Herceptin? I've taken them all through my treatment so far but read something yesterday that suggested they should not be taken with Herceptin.

Stopped raining here and the sun is shining

hi all,

mumm I am not at all sure about vitamins on Herceptin...what vitamins did you take? Hope you don't miss DS too much.

elport I know what you mean about the MRI, it is a rather scary machine (I also hated the CT scan, more because I could see what was going on). At least it is done now and you won't need another for a while.

lily great news that you are off oral Chemo, such a relief. I hope you stay off it for as long as possible.

I had the results of the MRI scan this afternoon and the DCIS is more widespread than they though so I am definitely going to need a mastectomy after Chemo - January or February at this rate. The surgeon started talking about the different types of reconstruction but I couldn't focus. I just want to get started on Chemo before tackling the next hurdle & making the next decision!

I also visited the Chemo clinic yesterday, which was useful (the staff seem lovely and I got loads of questions answered) but it was a BIG reality check. It made me realise that I was now one of the other patients, that I was 'in the club.' I came home and had a long, long cry.

So I am focusing on practicalities (And an excuse for shopping). What would you recommend I take with me? What helped everyone else get through the 2 / 3 hours they were there every few weeks?

Malt one came back and was all well, the other went out with his dad and is home now. I have hugged but nagged about hand washing etc!
Glad to have them back and planning some nice things. The summer holidays start now. I hope the rain stopped for you.

Elporto glad the drain is out.

Mummy am not sure about vitamins sorry.

Briteside I took some snacks, lots of water, a book, some sweets to suck. I have a friend with me who is teaching me to crochet! Sometimes I just fall asleep. It does feel real when you go in but strange how it feels a part of my life now!

Briteside, hi there - me you and minty were all diagnosed within days of each other I think, so I hope we'll all be hand holding each other through the next year or so.

I have had surgery first and chemo to follow. Do you know how many cycles and when you are starting? I have not at all got my head around that bit yet as it won't start for me til September, but it is definitely a lot to take in and think about in a very short length of time. Such good news you have been to the clinic and met the staff there, they will have seen it all before and have the best advice. Also: I have done my share of weeping hysterically, quite a lot of it on here at 3am, so don't hold back on that front and be very kind and gentle with yourself. I am by nature quite hard on myself, but I am learning to tread carefully, do what I need to do, give myself treats and allow myself to have those dark hours when they are required. My nurse is always talking about 'eating the elephant one bite at a time' and that does help, even though I feel like I'm eating and eating and am still on the trunk . We are making progress and moving forward, and each step is another hurdle overcome. Sending you lots of love and luck

Just had a don't know whether to laugh or cry moment - mentioned to DH that I need a new swimsuit when DS2, age 7, pipes up that now I don't have any boobs I don't need a lady's swimsuit, I can just borrow a pair of daddy's swim shorts

Part of me is pleased he's obviously not freaked out by it all but then again..... May need a couple of glasses of to recover.

Hope everyone has a good evening.

Briteside I took plenty of water and mints when I had my chemo. didn't bother with any reading material as with my FEC the nurse administered each dose so was happy to chat and ask lots of questions.

I managed everything in stages surgery, chemo, radiotherapy and didn't look beyond each one until it had ended.

wine children do the say the funniest things sometimes. When I had my wig trimmed DS1 said "you do know it won't grow mum"

elporto I am going to have 6 sessions - 3 x FEC 100 and 3 x tax 100, each 3 weeks apart. Then a month or so to recover and onto surgery, which (if there are no delays) takes us into January. After that is 25 x rads, over 5 weeks. It seems an impossibly long journey at the moment. So glad we are at the same stage and can support each other.

wine I know - the kids seem to take it all in their stride. We have explained to the kids what is happening (in 5 and 3 year old appropriate language ). My daughter asked me if I would 'still be normal' while I took my 'Special Medicine' and then suggested she keep some of her new glitter tattoos to use on my head. I was also not sure whether to laugh or cry!!

speedy Everyone was so lovely that I can see how easily it will become a part of my life & of my support system. crochet? Now there is an idea. I do not do 'sitting still' very well!!!

Briteside I think you're right to think about it as one thing at a time otherwise it just seems too much. I took dh to each chemo session, others have gone on their own but I'm a bit of a wuss I took a drink to the first one but didn't bother after that as they had tea, coffee and squash. Sweets to suck are a good idea as sometimes you get a funny taste in your mouth. I browsed the net and read magazines too.

I'm glad there are a few of you going through this at the same time ( though wish you weren't of course). I know I had great support last year from a lovely group of ladies on here who had treatment at the same time plus from the oldies who helped us see that there was light at the end of the tunnel

Briteside I think you're right to think about it as one thing at a time otherwise it just seems too much. I took dh to each chemo session, others have gone on their own but I'm a bit of a wuss I took a drink to the first one but didn't bother after that as they had tea, coffee and squash. Sweets to suck are a good idea as sometimes you get a funny taste in your mouth. I browsed the net and read magazines too.

I'm glad there are a few of you going through this at the same time ( though wish you weren't of course). I know I had great support last year from a lovely group of ladies on here who had treatment at the same time plus from the oldies who helped us see that there was light at the end of the tunnel

Briteside I think you're right to think about it as one thing at a time otherwise it just seems too much. I took dh to each chemo session, others have gone on their own but I'm a bit of a wuss I took a drink to the first one but didn't bother after that as they had tea, coffee and squash. Sweets to suck are a good idea as sometimes you get a funny taste in your mouth. I browsed the net and read magazines too.

I'm glad there are a few of you going through this at the same time ( though wish you weren't of course). I know I had great support last year from a lovely group of ladies on here who had treatment at the same time plus from the oldies who helped us see that there was light at the end of the tunnel

Whoops sorry

Oh wine, kids do say the most amazing things! I can see why you didn't know quite how to respond.

Briteside, sorry to hear that the mri wasn't the good news you might have been after. But your team have got a plan, they know what they're doing and for now it's best not to think as far ahead as the surgery.

You're definitely gallivanting ahead of me though. I've finally got my bone scan this Tues but still no date for my ct scan :-(. I haven't visited the chemo clinic yet, the first I'll get to see it will be on the 12th when I meet the Dr and have a blood test. Then I'm back again in the morning for treatment to start. Already it's so clear that treatment is very individual. I've got 4 lots of EC, 3 weeks apart followed by 4 lots of taxol every 2 weeks (not looking forward to not having that 3rd week to recover). I know I'll have surgery and radiotherapy but no mention yet of how much.

I'm still generally doing okay but thoughts of what I'm about to put myself through are always on my mind. I don't want to do it, but like everyone here I don't have a choice.

I've booked an appt to get my shoulder length hair cropped short on Thursday and am gearing myself up to break the news about the cancer to my 7yo DD tomorrow. She's going to be devastated to see my hair go :-(

Thanks for all the tips about surviving chemo sessions. I'll be going on my own but at least have some ideas what to pop in my bag :-)

Hi briteside, I go by myself to chemo. Had 3 so far and nurse has been with me most of the time throughout, so although I have actually looked forward to some reading time, didn't actually have the opportunity. I have sipped iced water throughout, was suggested as a way of protecting mouth cells (same premise as cold cap) no idea if it works but have had no mouth ulcers so will keep doing it.
My mum gained a few words of speech today - brilliant news. I have been in chemo hell so wasn't with her but hope DH will drive me to the hospital tomorrow. My proactive use of All Bran and laxico sachets seems to have pre-empted my awful bowel SEs this time round - phew!

Buns good news about your mum.

Malt totally agree that you and the others who have been through this definitely help us see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Just had a message from someone I met at a reunion saying that they are thinking about me and that I looked fantastic. Made me really smile as I don't feel that great when I look in the mirror so I now feel a bit better .

Wine, that made me laugh.

Glad about your mum, Buns. It must be hard not to be in a place where you can offer full support.

Over two months since my last docetaxol and half a fingernail has just come off. Damn. They look pretty awful but I thought they'd hang on. Clearly not. A small indignity in the wider scheme of things but still a bore.

That's a pain wren. You'd think that after all that time your nails would be safe.

Wine love the way children just come out with stuff. My eldest informed me that at least I wouldn't be saggy after my op!

Have a good Sunday everyone.