**Tamoxigang thread 51**... no more sangria, but maybe some mulled wine!

[MarthaCostello]

Hello all,

The old thread has nearly run out so I hope no one minds me making a new one. And am I allowed to mention the Big C... Christmas?! our last thread was started in July so I reckon this one might take us into December.

In honour of that, I will lay out some mulled wine, mince pies and I have wrapped myself in tinsel.

A warm welcome to jomidmum, but sorry you've had to join us. No one wants to be in this club, but this thread is a rather nice place to be. Wishing you a speedy recovery from your op, and hoping the pain eases soon.

Massive hugs to beccajoh

A big yippee for Marshy, what utterly fantastic news.

Sitting on the paranoia box for ConsiderablyBiggerBuns, I hope your MRI results are good - when will you hear?

Waving and sending love to everyone else.

I wonder if seeing as we are on a new thread, it might be worth just giving a bit of history for new posters? I will put mine anyway, and then others can if they want to. I am coming up to two years since my bowel cancer diagnosis (grade 2, stage 3c, T2N2M0R0). I had major bowel surgery and six months of chemo.

Good to hear you are doing ok cleanas. Can you take it easy now for a while? And don't worry about posting as much as you need to on this thread. We have all had our share of needing to post a lot depending on what's going on.

Gilly hope you are feeling ok.

Waving to everyone else. Malt are you off on holiday for Christmas or did I imagine that?

I've been trying out my new nipples. They are surprisingly realistic to look at. Bit of a faff having to put them on and off though. Still considering tattoos.

Marshy, I'll be needing some. What do you stuck them on with? I'm clueless!

Hi all, Its reallyreallyworried here,

just wanted to pop on to wish you all a Very Merry Christmas

I haven't been on here for a while but hoping everyone is doing okay, whether moving on with their lives or just starting out on this life changing journey.

I have developed Lymphoedema in my Breast and arm, which isn't much fun. BUT I'm learning to live with it. Still seeing Oncologist every 3 months. But other than that and taking Tamoxifen. My life seems to be back on track.

I am determined to have a great Christmas this year, to make up for the lousy one I had last year. So I have gone completely overboard with the Christmas presents but I've enjoyed every minute.

So I hope everyone has a good Christmas, and those of you who are going through treatment this year, I hope you are still able to enjoy yourselves. Try and remember it's not forever, and you will hopefully get back to your new normal soon.

Lots of Love to you all. Xxxxxxxx

Hi really ! So nice to hear from you! It's good to hear that you are going along ok. I don't know if you have been keeping up with the thread but I'm back having had a second mx in Sept after my first one last Oct, so that was a bit of a shocker, but luckily no further treatment so I'm just recovering and getting my head back together before returning to work in January.

Have a wonderful Christmas my lovely x

saveme I was referred by my surgeon to the head and neck prosthetics dept who are the ones who make the nipples. They will make something to match a remaining nipple or discuss with you what you want if you need two new ones - sorry, I can't remember if you've had a single or double mastectomy . They provide medical grade glue to stick them on with. It has been the most entertaining part of the whole process and the nipples are pretty good. I think I might go for tattoos in the end and then have the stick ons for when I'd like a bit of contour. You can also have surgery to create a new nipple shape but I'm not up for more surgery in the foreseeable unless it's unavoidable. There was a member of this thread who had the surgical sort and the results were excellent. Lots of choices out there!

Anyone else watching the Apprentice final later? My money's on Bianca.

Clean I read your other thread. Glad it seems to have gone so well and hope you continue to recover speedily.

For me it's been 2 days of feeling dreadful, but I am starting to feel a bit better. Managed to eat something today too, but starting to feel a little nautious again.

Unfortunately my youngest nephew has come down with chicken pox. As I spend some time in his company on Monday I am a bit worried... Been checking my temperature regularly and so far seems ok. Means ds won't be able to go over there for a break any time soon though :(

Starting to wonder if I'll be able to get the house in some kind of order for Xmas. Was hoping my sister may help when she brings my shopping, but that's all had to change now.

And my ds is a bit sad that Christmas won't be the same this year. Luckily it's usually just the two of us and quiet. Just not sure I'll be up to doing much/any cooking. And wondering how I am going to sneak pressies under the tree and do his stocking... Hopefully I'll feel a bit stronger by then.

The good news for me is that they've said that it hasn't spread anywhere else. There is something that has shown up on my scan on my left shoulder, but they're not sure what it is yet. When I had my bone scan they asked if I'd ever broken my left arm and took some extra xrays. Am a bit bemused as have been using my left arm with no problems for as long as I can remember and don't believe I have ever broken it!

If I don't get time to post again before Christmas I just wanted to wish you all my best wishes for Christmas and hope that the new year brings us all better things to look forward too. It's been very overwhelming for me in such a short period of time and having a place to come for support and advice has been amazing. Thank you all.

Christmas bah humbug!
I'm at home putting up the tree and doing food prep. Now running out of time as have got a blood transfusion tomorrow as haemoglobin is low. DH is at work until Wed pm, DS2 is revising in university library and DS1 has just called for a lift from the station. House is a mess, water authority has been round to sort out sewage problem outside our house and I am grumpy.
But, hey, it's the same every year, so why should I expect different?

Waves at everyone! I've been off the thread for a bit as both my DDs went down with raging fevers last week, and also I've been trying to make the most of feeling well before my second docetaxel which is today. I went out dancing with friends on Fri night til 2am - can you believe it I got chatted up twice! clearly the men of North London are not bothered by a wedding ring AND chemo baldness, such a sexy combination

Minty - I'm sorry your work Xmas lunch was such a damp squib, you did the right thing to go home, sometimes people make such silly decisions under the guise of being concerned. I'm glad you can have a nice Xmas at home with no SEs and no surgery recovery, and brilliant you have a date for your op so early in Jan.

Everso, when are you due your second round of tax? I think it must be soon will report back from the other side of cycle 5 later this week if I am still operational...

Cleanas, hopefully you're getting brighter every day and will be up and about for Xmas day. You have someone else doing the cooking right?!

Weebarra, delighted you've had your oophrectomy, how are you feeling? Better or worse than recovery from mastectomy? Bet your kids are going Christmas crazy, I think mine are going to explode.

Marshy I am intrigued by your nipples! I got a silicone one from my nurse but it just kind of adheres by itself and I take it off at night. Keep leaving it around the house much to the amusement of my kids (and also probably the utter horror of my cleaner!). So do you have glue for yours and it stays on for a while? And it's waterproof? I am 99% certain I will go for a nipple reconstruction next year - I met a lady in the summer who had had it done and it looked AMAZING.

Gilly - well done getting through that first chemo, was it FEC? I know that feeling of lots to do before Xmas but no energy to do it and I'm so sorry your sister now can't help out. Bloody chicken pox. Is there anyone else can come and do a supermarket shop for you / quick clean of the house etc? You and your lovely DS will still have a great day even if it's more low key than you would normally do. I have actually given up cooking 'meals' this week in favour of leaving bowls of snacks around the house ans having a large running cheeseboard - it's only for a week.

reallyreally / lovebeingananny - yay, welcome back! You sound like you're doing really well and delighted to see you again.

Lilymaid - sewage?!? This seems like extraordinary punishment just before Xmas. Hope you can beg / threaten someone to come and sort it ASAP.

Love to all, especially those of us looking at a Christmas dealing with SEs or recent surgery. I'm sure I'm not alone in wanting to wave goodbye to 2014!

Hello Lovely Posters,
james I hope the funeral went okay and you are coping with what must be a heartbreakingly difficult time for you.
really/lovebeing great to have an update from you.
I had my last radiotherapy session yesterday, what a Christmas present! So, 10 months from diagnosis to end of treatment, not surprisingly this year has been a complete blur and only seems 5 minutes ago that I was putting the Christmas tree away. I am a bit of a festive freak and so very grateful that my treatment is over in time for Christmas and my thoughts are with all of you recuperating and suffering from SEs at this time of year. Hopefully you will all get the support you need to find some enjoyment and can look forward to 2015 on the road to recovery.
On the very interesting subject of nipples, when I had my BMX my surgeon left part of my aureole which he has sort of scrunched up into a nipple shape. I am hoping for my reconstruction this Spring, not sure what it will look like - anyone else come across this ? My cousin is a BCN who specialises in nipple tattoos (I bet that looks intriguing on her passport!) I know how much care goes in and satisfaction she gets from her job so would recommend that as a way forward for anyone thinking about it.
Wishing everyone of you a peaceful Christmas and above all a healthy 2015. Xxx

really hi!! Great to get an update from you. We were chemo buddies.

This time last year, I had chemo day before Xmas Eve. Wow, exactly a year ago. We still managed a lovely Xmas. But this year will be miles better...

Wishing all Tamoxigangers a happy Christmas. If you are in the middle of treatment - next year will be better. If your treatment has now finished ... enjoy your new normal and if you have secondary cancer (like me) keep b***ing on as there are always new treatments emerging.

ConsiderablyBiggerBuns congratulations on last radiotherapy!

Just popping in to wish everyone a happy Christmas. I hope those having treatment are free from side effects and that everyone is able to forget cancer and enjoy their celebrations. May 2015 bring health and happiness to all x

Great message Lily. Hope your sewage issue was sorted out.

Well done on last rads Buns.

Hi Really (love being).

Hope you are recovering well Wee.

Hope SE are minimal for all those going through to treatment.

Wishing everyone a very peaceful and happy Christmas.

Hello everyone. I just want to say thank you to all who have offered support over the last eight months. You have all been such a lifeline through some frightening times and I am so grateful for this thread. I'm not sure I would have got through this so well without you all.

I hope you all manage to enjoy yourselves, whatever you may be doing tomorrow and I wish all of you the very best for 2015. Merry Christmas x

Hi everyone, just wanted to wish you all the best for tomorrow and to thank you all for your support over the past 18 months.
I'm a bit sore after my op, but at least there are no drains to contend with this time!

popping in quickly to wish everyone a happy Christmas and hope the side effects and post op soreness aren't too bad for those going through treatment.

will catch up properly another time

Happy Christmas Everyone.
Thinking of you all x

Merry Christmas

Hope SEs and post-op'ness still allow everyone to enjoy themselves.

What a difference a year makes, this time last year I was only half way through chemo and the thought of getting through 2014 seemed impossible. I'm now back at work and totally settled into the new normal and tbh, the lasy year seems a bit surreal.

Thank you for all your support. Huge Christmassy hugs to all.

Happy Christmas everyone! I hope you all have your feet up by now with or

Just dropping in to wish you all a very Happy Christmas

Happy Christmas everyone and all good wishes for next year x

Happy Christmas everyone!

Have dodgy wifi so not sure if this will post but just wanted to say Merry Christmas to everyone. You are all very special people and deserve a wonderful Christmas Day. I'll be spending mine sunbathing in tenerife x

Have dodgy wifi so not sure if this will post but just wanted to say Merry Christmas to everyone. You are all very special people and deserve a wonderful Christmas Day. I'll be spending mine sunbathing in tenerife x

Happy Christmas Malt! Hope you are having a lovely time in Tenerife.

I am in a fizzy Christmas haze and this has been one if the nicest Christmases ever.

Festive hugs to all xx

Bubbles here too as the family watch films and I idly wonder what size reconstruction to have. This time next year I could be Jordan.