**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.

All the best salhal

How are you doing malt ?

Good luck for tomorrow salhal

Good luck, Salhal. Don't over do things and you will heal faster. Let others look after you.

I'm ok thanks marshy glad it's half term ! Still no results from my mammogram though they did say 3 weeks and it's only been 1 and a bit but I'm impatient
How are you ?

Yay for half term malt! Hope your wait isn't too much longer.

I'm back at work in 2 weeks. Dh has booked this week off but has had to go in today so just me and ds here. He's yet to emerge, being 17 and all. Dd went back to uni on Saturday. Was lovely having her home. I'm going for an overnight visit next week.

I'm feeling much better. Counselling and meds have definitely helped. Will be continuing both for a while yet.

I was watching the weight loss discussion with interest. I've put on quite a bit. Two doctors from the breast team put that down to the Tamoxifen but I can't really use that excuse any more as I'm no longer on it! I think being over 50 is definitely a factor as I used to be able to drop weight quite quickly but no longer. Have been going to slimming world since 2nd week of Jan and it's coming off but very sloooowly.

Wishing everyone a good day.

Waves at everyone. Good luck for tomorrow Salhal and for you too minty, hope the mammo goes well.

I have been back at work properly for the last 3 weeks which has severely limited my mumsnetting time, so I am very out of the loop but I hope everyone is doing fine and looking forward to spring, which is surely coming along at some point?! I had my first blast of rads today, I have 15 to do so its good to be getting going. I am also about 2 weeks into taking Tamoxifen and the hot flushes have started... What joy.

Love to all

Hello all. Salhal, good luck, wishing you well.

Malt, are you feeling anxious about the wait? I'll have a mammogram in a couple of months and I've been told results take up to three weeks. It seems really cruel when new patients appearing for the first time get results immediately. That probably didn't come out very well, but I hope you know what I mean, it is obviously possible to do it quickly.

Marshy, I'm 50 and on tamoxifen. I've definitely put a few pounds on since last summer but I really think its inactivity rather than the drug in my case. I've been back at the gym for about three weeks now and my clothes are already looser.

Elporto, I had hot flushes when I first took tamoxifen but they stopped after 4-6 weeks and I don't have them any more so they may stop as you get used to it. In fact I mentioned to the nurse that I have no side effects at all so wondered if it was working.

Hope everyone else is doing well and looking forward to spring.

Hi all

Salhal hope your op went well today.

Malt fingers crossed you get your results quickly.

Marshy glad you had a lovely time with your daughter and that you are feeling much better.

Elporto hope your rads go well and are over and done with quickly.

Mrs so impressed with the gym!

Both my sisters have had their genetic testing results back and both are clear which is great news. No having to decide about prophylactic treatment which is a relief.

Thinking of everyone.

salhal, hope the op was a success and you are recovering well.

marshy glad to hear the meds and counselling are working and you are feeling better.

elporto yeah for your first rads being done! you must have had your second by now too, I hope you don't get any nasty side effects. so sorry to hear you're now getting all the hot flushes, they're dreadful aren't they? I'm suffering really badly with night sweats and insomnia too which is just horrendous right now.

speedy that's great news your sisters results were clear. If it means there's potentially 2 less women having to go through this then that has to be good news.

I had my mammo this morning (6 weeks post surgery!) and it wasn't as painful as I thought it would be. I was hoping to find out there and then if the marker was still there and whether I need more surgery but it was not to be. The surgeon needs to review the images and of course she's in theatre all day. I've now got to wait to hear back but in the meantime have to assume that rads will start next week.

I'm really struggling this week. We had DDs annual assessment in hospital yesterday (she has cystic fibrosis). its always a full on day of tests/results and discussions and tiring at the best of times. they're worried she's showing a downward trend in her lung function and her bone density is perhaps not what it should be (amongst other things) so bring back in full-length mode I'm now worrying about her and what the future holds.

I've also got a full week of hospital apps myself what with the mammo this morning, herceptin tomorrow and heart scan on Friday. ....

my boss told me last week that HR have finally confirmed (only 8 months too late) that there is precedent for paying someone full pay whilst having treatment so I will be on full pay until treatment finishes. so having rationed my sick leave in the hope of eking it out as much as possible, I'm now starting to relax a bit about taking time off. trouble is, i must have been so stressed by it all that now im relaxing a bit, I feel like I'm starting to fall apart :(

hopefully this is all just a blip and ill start feeling more positive again soon

sorry to moan, hopefully everyone else is having a better week!

Minty, I think it's natural to fall apart a bit when the pressure lifts slightly. It certainly happens to me. Add in the joys of insomnia and night sweats and it's a recipe for minor disaster. I've just enjoyed two post op weeks of waking at 3:20 AM, drenched, so you have my sympathies.

Salhal, I hope your op went ok and you are being well looked after.

Had my op at 4.30 pm and was back home for 9 ish! It went as well as it could, back in two fingers for the pathology, fingers crossed. I'm a bit sore and groggy (and slightly blue) but glad it's over with. That's the first thing done.

Hope everyone else is ok today.

Hi there,

I am a it of an old timer. I was on the Tamoxifen threads back in 2010 whilst I went through treatment. There are some names here I recognise from back then but also lots of new ones which is sad to see.

Any away the reason I am back is to ask anyone who has been on Tamoxifen for a while if it has affected their hair? I've been on it for 4.5 years now and I think I have lost about half of my hair. It was really really thick and now it's just rubbish. I'm pre menopausal, my iron levels are fine and the hair loss is not profound enough to point to a thyroid problem. My oncologist seems to think its the tamoxifen but doesn't seem to take on board just how awful it is for me to be losing my hair again. I am on a ten year protocol and I think I will have lost the lot by the time I finish. . I am devastated about it. My body confidence hasn't ben great since the ravages of BC and this is making it worse.

Has anyone else experienced this and if so have they had any support or remedy at all that they can share?

Thanks.

Salhal glad it went we'll, hope you've got your feet up

Pennies welcome back :) you were before my time but nice to hear that you are still ok. I'm sorry about the hair I haven't had that experience I'm afraid so can't help. Hopefully someone else will be able to

Hope everyone's ok, half term yippee !

Salhal, sounds like it all went ok, hope you're feeling better as each day passes.

Pennies, I'm afraid I can't help you as I'm still in the middle of treatment and won't be taking tamoxifen. My SIL had BC in 2013/2014 and even though chemo finished in June she hasn't had all her hair grow back as thick as it was before. She is devastated over how if looks now so I understand how upset you must be. Hopefully someone else will have some advice.

So I got a call from my BCN yesterday and unfortunately the marker is still there. Rads are cancelled and I'm seeing the surgeon on Monday to find out more and get a date for surgery. I know it's a trivial op compared to what some of you have been through but it's going to push everything back by a few more weeks. I had begun to think the end was insight. Oh well

What an inspirational lot you are. I was diagnosed with grade 3 breast cancer 2 weeks ago and had Mx and slb last week. I've had 3 rounds of scans and biopsies since end of December - first one inconclusive, second given the all clear, and then recalled a week later as there was a very small grey area in lump and Bingo they found it. Although it's been an emotional roller coaster at least they persisted and found the cancer. I am slowly coming to terms with my new body shape and the tears are flowing less frequently. The wound area doesn't feel like it belongs to me and I haven't tried wearing the softie yet, but I guess it's early days.

Salhal...you have inspired me to write as we seem to have started on our journeys at similar times. However I am 53 and don't have little ones to look after, they are looking after me, and my DD told me about this thread.

Pathology results next week to find out what sort of chemo to expect. I feel I am much better prepared now having read everyone's advice. Thank you!

Ah minty that's a shame. The end is still in sight though, just a little further away. Hope time passes quickly.

Zedpo I'm sorry you have to join us but I'm glad you have found us. Sounds like you've had a real roller coaster recently. Please ask us anything and we'll do our best to help, we are also experts in hand holding and handing out virtual tea or wine x

Zedpo, so sorry you've had to join but the ladies on here are a wealth of knowledge, information and support. It feels like anything you are going through someone has been through before. Sorry it's been such a roller coaster for you already. I have an appointment a week on Tuesday to find out what next, more surgery or chemo. Keep us informed as we may be starting chemo at a similar time. Sending nesters festive way.

I have no idea what that last sentence means!! Damn phone, I was intending to send best wishes your way!

Salhal - thanks for last post I also wondered what nesters festive way meant too! But made me laugh which is good as I've had a weepy day. Bit emotional trying bra on for first time.

I think we all know what you mean about weepy days, we've all had different things done but one thing's for sure, we don't look and feel the way we used to.

I had reconstruction and can handle it fine when I am dressed. Undressed is a different matter indeed; especially if I am hormonal or very tired. I feel like I am all scars and I have to psyche myself up to even touch my own skin.

The surgeon told me I'd get used to it so I am going to take his word for it and hope for the best.

Morning all :)

The changes in your body are hard, I'm 'lucky' and physically haven't changed too much but still affects me, confidence is very low. We all need to get used to this new normal I guess.

Hope everyone is ok

Welcome Zedpo, sorry you find yourself here but it is a wonderful source of support. I felt like that trying on the bra too; it's a difficult thing.

Minty- I hope you get some answers from your surgeon today so you know when your op will be. It's a pain when things take longer than you thought they would.

Agree with saveme and malt- this flipping disease does put a nice dent in your self confidence. Am hating my hair at the moment athough I keep getting told its looks great. I feel really bad that I just want to shout back that I hate it, it sticks up and I hate being grey and I just want my old hair back. I know it will keep growing but....

Anyway, whinge over. Back to work this week and doing my three days so hoping I won't get too tired. Looking forward to it though and it's a nice short half term.

Hope everyone has a good day.

Speedy I've been recommended Philip Kingsley elasticiser for my sticky uppy hair (I could be the model for Munch's The Scream). I've got all sorts of stuff for my hair now that I had never bothered with in the past (shampoo and conditioner had always been sufficient) from Argan Oil, to the Aussie spray on conditioner. I have had my hair coloured several times now as am 16 months post intravenous (is that right?) chemo though still taking oral chemo. I think I've posted earlier on the fact that I now use "dark blonde" to get a light/medium brown colour as my hair seems to want to go very very dark when coloured!

Thanks Lily. I'll look into that. I have never bothered with stuff for my hair before so it's a whole new world.
My scalp tingled quite a bit when the hairdresser put oil on to help my dry scalp so don't think its quite ready to have any colour on it yet. Everyone says I should keep the grey/silver as it looks fine but it just doesn't seem fine to me. What isn't silver has gone a lot darker than I was before.

Have you had your appointment yet?

I'm seeing my Oncologist on Saturday morning - this is on BUPA so he fits us in when he hasn't got better things to do (like running a major breast unit). Having been initially fazed by his throw away line about reviewing meds, I think he only meant that he will routinely review my current oral chemo with a view to reducing the dosage slightly to reduce side effects (plantar palmar).
But then I was reading a thread on the Breast Cancer Care Forum where the discussion was about mastectomies for those with secondary breast cancer as they might stop spread. I haven't had any surgery so far so that has got me more worried!