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

992 replies

foofooyeah · 17/07/2014 18:38

Grin

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

OP posts:
Speedypenguin · 20/07/2014 22:36

Foo and Mildmay- fantastic that you have finished chemo.

Really glad that your op is over and you feel calmer now.

Malt hope you are having a wonderful time. You too lady, enjoy that wine.

Lily I hope that scan goes well. How do you feel with the oral chemo; I hope it doesn't make you feel too bad?

Elporto hope you have had a nice evening. Crying is definitely allowed though.

Hi to everyone else. Hope the sun shone today.

mildmay · 21/07/2014 09:26

thanks speedy not many more for you i hope .

reallyreallyworried · 21/07/2014 09:35

Hope you are doing okay today elporto did you have a nice evening with your friend? Xx

mrsrhodgilbert · 21/07/2014 09:45

Back from rads. Apparently breast pain during treatment is a known but not common side effect. I've a treatment review tomorrow so it will be discussed again but other than pain relief I don't think there's anything else to be done. It's put my mind at rest a bit, could do with some sleep though so maybe they'll prescribe something. Looking forward to the last one on Friday.

Elporto, how are you doing? Is tomorrow your results day with surgery on Wednesday?

Speedypenguin · 21/07/2014 11:08

Mild- I have two more to go, although they have mooted the possibility of another if the shrinkage goes well. To be honest I really don't want to keep going but I know I have to.

elportodelgato · 21/07/2014 14:24

Hello all, I am very Envy of those of you nearing the end of treatment and even more Envy of people sitting on sunny balconies in lovely parts of the world, drinking wine and relaxing! Well earned.

Watched a crap romcom with my mate last night and had a good cry, have been at the park most of today with another good friend and DD2, which has been very good distraction.

My meeting to get final diagnosis and treatment plan is on Wednesday afternoon, and surgery is booked in for Thursday afternoon, so barring any complete disasters it should all be moving very quickly before the weekend. Very glad about this of course, even though my entire life has turned upside down in the last 2 weeks, I know this is the best possible outcome.

reallyreallyworried · 22/07/2014 07:28

elporto feeling jealous of those around you, is perfectly normal (we've all been there)

I would like to offer you a hand to hold on Wednesday! I too have an appointment that day. BUT I'm hopefully going to be told that I need no further treatment (fingers firmly crossed).

Let's hope you feel more relaxed once you know what the treatment plan is. You will get through this. You'll find strength that you never knew you had Smile xx

Hope everyone is enjoying the sunshine. Xx

weebarra · 22/07/2014 08:09

Good luck with hospital appointments everyone. I'm seeing the oncologist for a review of the rads.
Anyone else who has had a mx have tightness is their scar? My left side is fine, but the right is very tight and sore when I turn over in bed for example.

elportodelgato · 22/07/2014 08:50

Hi Really, thanks for your advice, I know you have been exactly where I am now. Big day for both of us tomorrow then, I'll be thinking of you too and hooping we both get the best possible news.

Have been keeping busy for the last 3 days but feel like I've hit the wall today. It's DD1's last day at school, DH is off work and we have a whole day ahead with DD2 to do something fun together but I really don't feel like it :-(

mintyneb · 22/07/2014 13:20

Back home after a draining weekend away. The wedding was lovely but too long and then Sunday was spent telling loads of family the news. I am exhausted, not helped by getting back to the airport to a car with a flat battery :-(. Fortunately we don't live too far from the airport but we still didn't get in until 1.30 this morning.

So, why do I feel like I'm talking about someone else when I tell them the news? Why do I keep thinking 'are you sure you're telling the truth - you're going to feel really stupid when they find out you've got it wrong'

I haven't cried at all over the last fortnight apart from a little weep at the hospital when they first told me it was cancer. I'm quite emotional and will burst into floods of tears at anything to do with my DD and yet I can't cry for me.

Did anyone else react like this? I'm a bit unsettled that I still have NO emotion about the whole thing. Am I suddenly going to be hit really hard by it all?

But enough about me, it's so lovely to hear about those of you who have finished treatment. It definitely gives me something to look forward to

mrsrhodgilbert · 22/07/2014 13:38

Hi minty, sounds like you've had quite a weekend, very bitter sweet too with a wedding and then having to tell your news. A bit of me feels this isn't real, despite the scars and the burnt skin because things like this don't happen to me! But it has happened, it's very odd but I think normal.

I haven't particularly cried either. I had tears in my eyes at my diagnosis appt and I had a meltdown last Tuesday mid rads, but apart from that, no. I am very emotional usually, but I think I've gone into head down survival mode, lets get through this and move on. It's going to be strange with my last treatment on Friday. Maybe it will hit me afterwards.

I'm feeling a little surprised at a couple of friends who are texting me quick one liners to see how I'm doing. I'd much rather they picked up the phone and I'm actually a little hurt. Anyone else find friends/ family a little distant?

reallyreallyworried · 22/07/2014 14:05

Hi minty and mrs both of you sound exactly how I did back when I was first diagnosed. I didn't cry once about my diagnosis. I knew I was going to put up a fight and for me it was about just making it through each bit of treatment. One step at a time.

I did however have meltdown moments, when I cried over the silliest of things. I became over emotional at the drop of a hat. Losing my hair was probably the only time I really cried because of the Cancer and what it was doing to me.

I think when you are in the throws of diagnosis and treatment, with lots of hospital appointments, you don't have the time or the energy to cry about something that you can't change! You will however cry over things that make you think about the future. The one thing I have discovered during this is that I think about the small pleasures in life, and live each day to the full. Something as simple as seeing my youngest charge trying on his school uniform, brought a tear to my eyes! Not something that has happened before! And I have seen many charges start school.

I think being diagnosed with Cancer is a huge emotional journey that goes on for a long time. But I think it teaches us a lot about appreciating life.

As for friends and family. I found that although they all kept saying they were there if I needed them. Only a few people actually stood by me. Others dissappeared into the back ground. People are scared of the unknown, and don't know what to say. So they opt for saying nothing. But try not to let it bother you. Make the most of those who are able to help you through this. They are the ones whose friendship you will cherish!

Things do get better. Xxxxx

mintyneb · 22/07/2014 14:22

Thanks mrs and really, it's good to hear I'm not alone. I think you're right that I'm just putting my head down and dealing with each thing as it comes. I think for me is also the fact that my DD has cystic fibrosis. She had 2 lots of surgery by the age of 6 weeks and had nearly 2 months in hospital before we could bring her home. She's on daily physio and medication and regular hospital visits. So I guess in some ways I feel that the worst that could happen to me has already happened, ie the day she was diagnosed with CF. Okay I can say this in blissful ignorance of the effects of the treatment to come, but for now I see things as DD has condition for life, I just have something to deal with for a year (and please don't anyone shatter my bubble that it could be worse than that!)

I'm obviously still at the stage of telling people and them offering to help out. Let's just see if they come good

elportodelgato · 22/07/2014 18:52

Hello all, just posting quickly as I have already done a little dance about this on my other thread, but I found out today that liver and bone have both got the all-clear Smile so I am quite immoderately delighted to 'only' have breast cancer. A long road ahead but one which seems a lot more navigable than it did this morning. And a massive thanks to you all, wise women of the tamoxigang, for talking me down from various ledges over the last fortnight with your distraction techniques, sympathy, virtual hugs and vast experience.

reallyreallyworried · 22/07/2014 19:40

That's great elporto I am so pleased for you. I hope I will be joining your happy dance, after my appointment tomorrow!! Xx

Mummywheel · 22/07/2014 19:43

That's great news elporto I'm delighted for you Smile

mrs and minty we all go through similar feelings at each stage. I remember having a complete melt down shortly after surgery, I sat in the bathtub and sobbed. I found that my diagnosis was easier to cope with because it was me who had the rotten disease rather than my DH or DC. It is strange how some friends react and have had true support from some I didn't expect would and for that I will always be grateful Smile

I had my last radiotherapy yesterday and feel a bit strange and lost when really I should be celebrating Confused

Mummywheel · 22/07/2014 19:44

...and fingers crossed for you tomorrow really lets hope the positive news continues Smile

reallyreallyworried · 22/07/2014 20:10

Thanks mummy and congratulations on finishing Rads! Just remember to keep putting on the cream. You're still cooking for another 2 weeks! As for feeling lost... That's how I think we all feel. We go from hospitals being like a second home for so many months to... Nothing!! It's weird, but I'm sure you will get used to it. Xxxx

mrsrhodgilbert · 22/07/2014 20:24

Yes best of luck for tomorrow really. Hope the good news continues for you.

Ladytubbles · 22/07/2014 20:34

Fantastic news elporto - so pleased for you. And hoping for more positive news tomorrow for really.

Nelsonwasonce · 22/07/2014 20:45

really fingers crossed for you tomorrow Smile elporto your BCN is amazing.So very happy for you Smile

Wren48 · 22/07/2014 21:13

Mummywheel, congratulations on finishing your treatment. It took a few days for it to sink in with me, but I was soon very happy not to be traipsing to the hospital every day. It's going to be much longer before I feel anything like normal, but I'm looking forward to it. Still cooking away from the rads; I keep accidentally letting the irradiated skin catch a bit of sun. Not a good move.

Elporto, that is great news. Enjoy the good feeling.

Good luck, Really.

Minty, I wonder if you're still in a bit of shock. Don't be surprised if you have a bit of a meltdown at some point or other. Mind you, it sounds as though you've a lot of experience in coping with extremely tough health situations.

helzapoppin2 · 22/07/2014 22:01

Yay, elporto. Good news!

reallyreallyworried · 23/07/2014 03:15

Thanks for all the good wishes! I didn't think I was overly worried about today's appointment. But the fact I'm awake at stupid o'clock, says otherwise Sad

I hope to be back on here around lunch time today, to share some good news!! Fingers crossed xx

mrsrhodgilbert · 23/07/2014 06:42

Morning really and elporto I will be thinking about you both today. Really, I hope for you this is the end of treatment and you can begin to get back to normal life again and elporto, I hope the plan they come up with is a lot better than you were expecting a few days ago.

nelson nice to hear you, how are you feeling? Are you about two weeks post surgery now, it's hard to keep up with everyone?