**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.

I'm glad you are talking implants as I have I decide whether to go down the implant or DIEP route. I'm tempted to ask for double implant when they do the mx as I think im be happier with a matching pair (I am too heavy and there's not enough tummy to do a DIEP to match my current size).

Can anyone who has had implants done tell me what they feel like. I imagine them to be really firm to the touch!

Oh very interesting about expander v implant. I have expanders (only fully inflated this month) ... I asked if they would be changed and the nurse said they don't have to. Surgeon said to leave as is for 6 months then go back and discuss any further work required, I find expander uncomfortable. Looks ok but feel v firm. I may well request change to implant reading experiences here

Foo- that's interesting. Here the expanders are what you have to prepare for the implants, there was no talk of leaving them in. I certainly wouldn't want them left in. I can feel the magnetic port bit on them and they are very hard. My surgeon said the implants are much softer and from what kitkat says that seems to be the case.

saveme - I chose implants as I didn't want any more of my body chopped up and the recovery is much quicker than any of the other methods. The implants are not as natural as body tissue but I'm completely happy with mine and not at all bothered by them.
Speedy - the expanders are 'over expanded' so when they are swapped for the implant, as well as the implant itself being softer, the skin/muscle is less stretched so the implants drop into place a bit.

Thank you for sharing all your experiences about implants .
I was told I couldn't go down the body tissue route as I am a skinny minx and there isn't enough of me anywhere to use.
I have had my expander in since the op beginning of July and have had a 100ml and a 50ml top up as I don't want to go big.
I have always been small and they are going from a natural A-cup to a B-cup on both sides.
I'm really starting to think my surgeon may be over cautious,but will have another chat when I see her (probably just before the op).

I haven't been on here for ages, but I've got 2 v.perky implants; both silicon. I had mx due to cancer in 2010, then opted to have preventative mx on other breast a year later. Had expanders at first, then swapped both (I'm quite skinny and the port stuck out on the expander!).

Operation wise it was an easy recovery both times. Just the pesky drains to navigate, then once those were gone pretty much back to normal, just a teeny bit sore/ needed to stretch to get movement fully back.

Being honest it took me a while to get used to them. I love the fact they're so wonderfully practical; I don't even need to wear a bra, though still do sometimes. They're very pert, firm, so I wouldn't have said they feel natural/ like my real breasts - more teenage than a 40 something's. Definitely aren't as soft as breast tissue, but to touch do feel quite convincing breast tissue. I'm still nippleless, also have some hollowing (around sternum) on one side, so I still look a bit odd. Surgeon's said she can sort it, but am not sure I want another op, so am leaving it for now. All in all though I'm pleased with them.

Happy New Year everyone, whether you're staying in or going out I hope everyone has a lovely evening and wishing only good things for everyone in 2015 x

Evening all!

I'm doing the ironing - rock and roll here Off out for a festive curry later though.

Wishing everyone the very best of new years.

Waving at smee and kitkat. Good to see you guys.

Nelson you've had great input from everyone but just to add my 2pworth - I had my 2nd mx and implant recon in Sept. First one was Oct 2013. No expanders either time. Chose implants for the same reasons kitkat gave upthread.

The main thing that was impressed upon me was no arms above shoulder height for 6 weeks. Apparently doing this can cause the implant to dislodge from under the muscle. Printed info from physio said 2 weeks but surgeon was very clear re 6.

I drove at around 4/5 weeks and probably lifted more than I should too early just doing stuff around the house.

Very pleased with the results overall. Still weighing up my nipple options.

Hugs for all

Happy New Year to all. Just wanted to say a big thanks for all the support in helping me get through the last few months.

Hope 2015 brings good things to all x

Happy New Year from me too.

Sorry I have not contributed so much recently, but this thread has been invaluable to me.

Happy New Year from me. Someone else who found so much support from this thread in a crappy 2014. Am wishing you all a happier and healthier 2015.
I have been reading the reconstruction posts with great interest. I had BMX in April, onc said he would discuss reconstruction with me at follow up appointment in February. Didn't get offered expanders and real tissue implants seems to be the way to go in Plymouth, mind you I certainly have enough surplus for the desired c cup. Am hoping they will take from my tummy but as I have a long splenectomy scar from previous cancer in 1985 not sure that will be possible.
While I'm here - 2 bits of advice please. Firstly I am having quite bad flushes (doesn't describe my symptoms) at night from the tamoxifen which is disturbing my sleep. Anybody found any remedies that help with this? Similarly, I got lymphodema for Christmas - lucky me! My own fault - doing way too much. It is quite bad, I am having my wedding ring cut off tomorrow, and I am very self conscious of my chubby arm/hand - more so than of my skinhead hairstyle and flat chest. I have an appointment with the lymphodema clinic next week - in the meantime, anybody tried anything that reduced the swelling?

Marshy thank you for your input.
My surgeon's advice may well not be too far off the mark then.
You say no arms above the shoulder for 6 weeks as the implant could get dislodged and that is why she has probably given me such a long recovery time. I run a guesthouse so making beds and such would be a big no no then. Also she said about the horse riding that the risk would be too big as there can be lots of sudden/strong movements involved.
She said the implants are capable of moving right up to your collar bone if you're not careful .....

Biggerbuns - re hot flushes - yes I have found a solution (for me at least) after suffering day and night for about 9 months. I now take Venlafaxine - ask your consultant about this - it has reduced my flushes by about 90% and ones I still have are much less severe and I can sleep at night - pretty much a life changing moment for me as it starts to work immediately. It is an anti-depressent but taken in a different dosage - I take 37.5mg Extended Release once a day. You can get nausea for the first few days but well worth persevering with.

biggerbuns, I'm not on tamoxifen but thanks to chemo I seem to have crashed into the menopause and am regularly being woken in the night with horrendous hot flushes. I'm getting them on and off all day too :-(.

kitkat, do you think venlafaxine is something anyone could take or is it related to type of breast cancer? I'm er and pr negative but her2 pos. also I'm seem to be in between consultants right now as oncology have finished with me (I assume, with my chemo being cut short I don't know if I'm meant to see them again) and I'm now in the hands of the surgeon.

oh happy new year to everyone!

kitkat thanks for that tip off, the thought of no more than a couple of hours uninterrupted sleep for the next 10 years was quite dispiriting so if there is something that can help I will be delighted. Hope there is a solution for you too, minty.

minty - anyone can take it but it is particularly useful for those who were ER+ as they cannot take any hormone therapy.

nelson it's good having perky boobs but implants up to your collar bones is taking perky a bit far and definitely to be avoided!

I think it's best to be cautious with the kind of activities you describe as that recovery time is an investment in a hopefully trouble free future. Not easy when you have a business to run.

Feeling down the last few days and had a good cry at my counselling session this morning. Sad at the prospect of dd off back to uni tomorrow. All explainable in terms of many recent losses and feeling a bit better now having talked it through. Off out for a walk in the sunshine in a bit.

Wishing everyone a good day.

Guess there's a fine line between perky and chin rest. I shall move my secret chocolate store to a lower hiding place and keep my arms firmly below my shoulders when the time comes.

I'm having a low day. Anyone else finding it hard now that the distraction that was Christmas is over?

Marshy will try to avoid overly perky look! Might even wear my 'Victorian corset' or my body protector the first few times back on the horse!
savemefromrickets I feel the same I have been merrily putting off the thoughts of my op during Christmas but reality hit today when I said goodbye to my loanhorse and had my first shower using my 'special disinfectant soap' ....
I was a sobbing mess leaving the yard today,one of the reasons I was so shocked about the length of the recovery time was that owner of the horse might be willing to wait for me for a couple of months but half a year is really too long.She will need to find a replacement for me and I find that a hard thing to accept.

Hello all, Happy New Year, lets hope it's a good one.
Following on from what saveme was saying, I've turned into a complete mardy mare it seems. I am struggling to maintain a good mood and seem to take the slightest negative thing very badly. Dd1 told me shortly before Christmas that I don't smile anymore. That was incredibly upsetting to hear and a bit harsh. I thought I was doing quite well, but I'm now not so sure.

I'm still waiting for an ultrasound on my enlarged lymph node, which is at the back of my mind. I don't know if the tamoxifen can affect your mood or its pushing me headlong into the menopause which disrupts your mood anyway. I'm not sleeping too well and I'm thoroughly fed up of cancer adverts on tv, stories in the press and radio. There seems to be no escape.

5 months on from treatment finishing and I'm feeling rubbish again. Don't know whether to see my gp or talk to bc nurse or just give myself a talking to.

Sorry, didn't mean to moan and run but got interrupted.

Minty and nelson, good luck with forthcoming surgery. Looks like you're going to have to take it easy for a while but the results will be worth it.

Buns, I'm sorry to hear you've developed lymphodema, what a bugger. I hope you get some relief at the clinic.

Marshy and rickets, seems we are all in the down in the dumps club. I'm dreading dd2 going off to university in September, she's my baby. Hopefully I'll be feeling a lot more optimistic by then. Is your daughter going to be far away?

Elporto, I'm pleased you've had a good Christmas and you're nearly through your treatment. It doesn't seem 5 minutes since you arrived kicking and screaming here in the summer. You will of course have to let us see a photo of the kitten when you get it.

Everyone else, I wish you all only good things for this year and thank you for being such a great support.

mrshodgeg, 5 months on is no time at all. V.tough to put it all in the past and trust the future. It does get easier as the years pass, but I struggled emotionally after treatment was over. Am not trying to depress you, just being honest as knowing it was normal to feel that way helped me to cope with the dark side iyswim.

at implants as chin rests. I hoped mine would be a buoyancy aid for swimming, but was sadly disappointed..

Feeling the pain for DS1 who has been stuck at Heathrow for 24 hours because his plane off to S Asia has problems. It was going to be a holiday before going on further east and back to work. He's just messaged to say he is returning to the baggage hall. Aargh. Looks like a 2nd night in an airport hotel.
Oh well, I can't even leave the UK whilst on oral chemo so that can't happen to me.

Lily poor ds what a pain ! Hope he gets on the plane soon

Buns there are exercises you can do and keeping your arm elevated is meant to help too.

Agree that the weather and time of year is a bit depressing, I advise wine and chocolate and sod the New Years resolutions

Biggerbuns I too have the unwanted gift of Lympoedema. I now wear a compression sleeve everyday, which isn't much fun. But I am slowly getting used to it. As for things you can do to help with the swelling. Keep your arm raised on a cushion when your sat down in an evening, also use your hand to squeeze a ball the action of doing it helps to get the lymphatic fluid moving. Also if you have been moisturising that arm at the end of the day, always use an upward motion and start at the top of your arm, then the lower part and lastly the hand. The idea being you need to clear the pathway for the fluid.

Hope that helps you a little. Good luck xx