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Original poster

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

995 replies

MarthaCostello · 18/10/2014 11:51

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?! Grin 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 Flowers

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.

OP posts:
Marshy · 12/03/2015 20:13

I would imagine it will be a one stop shop as far as it can be in that they will do as much as they can re tests and giving you information but I've never heard of biopsy results being available on the day. You will have to go back for those if they do them.

mrsrhodgilbert · 12/03/2015 20:13

Quite uncanny there marshy. Guess what? My period came back this morning, think it must have been listening to us yesterday. Bit of a bugger!

SconeRhymesWithPhone · 12/03/2015 20:16

Ok, thanks. My appointment is next Thursday (19th), then we go on holiday about 10 days later for a week, so I really hope I get results before I go away. Or maybe that would be a bad thing. Hmm Thanks for your help, I feel more prepared now. And will stop googling!

mrsrhodgilbert · 12/03/2015 20:18

I would take your DH if he can make it. I was very glad I did. They will do as much as they can on the day and what we've described is the one stop shop approach. Just keep asking questions as you think of them.

mrsrhodgilbert · 12/03/2015 20:20

Tell them about your holiday, I have found that they will work around your plans as much as they can.

Marshy · 12/03/2015 20:25

mrs a bugger indeed.

scone chances are you will get results before your holiday. Mine took a week, mrs was a bit longer.There's never a good time to be dealing with this kind of thing. It just has to be done and you will do it. Hug for you.

SconeRhymesWithPhone · 12/03/2015 20:25

DH has put it in his diary so we are all set now. Hoping the holiday doesn't slow things down. It's just for a week, but then it's Easter weekend, so there's around 10 days when nothing can happen. But hopefully I'll get some news at the appointment next week, or between then and when we go away. Sorry for all my ramblings, I'm just finding it hard to get it all straight in my head. This time yesterday I didn't even know I had a lump, and now I have a hospital referral.

Marshy · 12/03/2015 20:26

*There's never..

SconeRhymesWithPhone · 12/03/2015 20:27

Thanks for the hug, and I know there's never a good time. Just from skimming this thread I can see how many brave people are here dealing with properly challenging situations, and I'm wittering on about a first appointment!

mrsrhodgilbert · 12/03/2015 20:31

Don't worry, we all wittered and shouted. I don't consider myself to be brave though. You just get on with it, for a while life becomes taken over with appointments and treatments but everything else goes on as normal and you get through it. I know it's scary and it's what every woman dreads but please please believe that it's not the end of the world. But hopefully by this time next week you will be celebrating good news.

Marshy · 12/03/2015 20:32

It's all a bit mind boggling and a lot to take on board.I felt like I suddenly had to become an expert in something I didn't really want to know about and at a time when I was feeling really worried and not able to take things in. Having support around you helps with that.
10 days won't be an issue in the bigger picture in terms of outcomes but can be frustrating when you just want to get things sorted. They tend not to hang around though so things will happen in a timely way.

SconeRhymesWithPhone · 12/03/2015 20:36

Thanks again to both of you for taking the time to talk about it with me. It's been such a huge help and I feel so much better for being more informed and for hearing from people who have been through it. Mumsnet is brilliant for this sort of thing. I really want to ring my mum but know she would worry, so am just telling DH for now. It's so helpful to have people to discuss it with. Thanks To you both Thanks

Marshy · 12/03/2015 20:36

I'm definitely not brave..I'm a great big wimp! You will get through and as mrs says fingers crossed that it's nothing.

Marshy · 12/03/2015 20:38

Thanks Smile and yay for dh

mintyneb · 12/03/2015 20:56

Hi scone, hope you are just going to be a temporary member of this club!

Just wanted to say that when I went for my first appointment I started off waiting in a main waiting area - full of people in with different types of cancers. That took me by surprise as I assumed that I was at a breast clinic so only thought I would see mainly women! Once I'd seen the consultant for a general chat and physical exam I then had to go back to the waiting area to be called again.

Then i went into a second waiting area which as far as I could see was just women only. Whether that was because the women had assumed they had to go through on their own or whether male partners were asked to keep out I don't know. I had a mammogram of both breasts and after a wait was called back for a few more images of the suspect one. Another wait and then I had to have an ultrasound. Finally I was released back to the main waiting area.

So be prepared to have some time waiting around away from your DH although that may not be the case.

You may not have to have an ultrasound. If the physical exam and mammogram show nothing sinister or give the team no reason for concern, you may just have a quick chat with the consultant and then be on your way. That's what happened to a friend of mine who was told she just had hormonal changes.

Oh and mrs - what timing. Do I need to go to bed prepared too?!

SconeRhymesWithPhone · 12/03/2015 21:01

Thanks minty, sounds like I'd better take a book as well as DH!

mrsrhodgilbert · 12/03/2015 21:11

Just to add, after I had my first ultrasound scan I was sent away for half an hour while the radiologist finished his clinic. I then went back for the biopsy and DH went into the little scanning room with me. I'm not sure they were quite expecting that but didn't complain and I was glad to have him there, I think at that point we realised it was likely to be bad news.

Actually, one more thing. Breast cancer is not just one disease, it comes in many forms, I have been amazed at the number of different types. Whenever you hear about it it is always made to sound like just one thing, all identical. It isn't and that's another reason not to google, the chances are what you're reading doesn't apply at all.

Lilymaid · 12/03/2015 21:27

My experience of the Breast clinic: at my local hospital there is a separate breast unit separate from the rest of oncology. There was a lot of waiting around in different areas for the mammogram, ultrasound and biopsy. Once the tests were done the results are reviewed by the team, so not just one person and you go back a week later for results. Unfortunately, I don't know what happens if it is completely obvious there is no cause for concern.
Make sure you have something to read, some money to get a coffee and wear clothing on top that is easy to slip off -and put back on again!
I think 9 out of 10 referrals do not result in a cancer diagnosis and I know several people with "lumpy" breasts who have been referred to the clinic frequently, but no Cancer has been found.
Google ye not! Good luck!

savemefromrickets · 12/03/2015 21:40

Hi scone, sorry to see you on here. I'm glad you have your DH for support. Your mind will work overtime until you have your results and your emotions will no doubt be close to the surface. This is all perfectly normal. I felt like I was on an Alton Towers ride without my consent. I wish you the best of luck, chances are it will be nothing serious.

elportodelgato · 12/03/2015 21:56

Hi scone, just to add my good wishes and crossed fingers for your appointment next week.

I saw a surgeon in the breast clinic initially who examined me and sent me for mammo, ultrasound and biopsy. All happened on the same day, took a good half a day to do everything, and I waited 2 weeks for the results. If you tell them about your holiday plans I am sure they will be accommodating, mine moved heaven and earth for me last summer.

If it gives you any comfort, you have done exactly the right thing by getting this checked out as soon as you noticed it. The chances are that you have nothing to worry about, but if it's something more sinister you will be overwhelmed by the incredible things the NHS can do and by the kindness of the people you will meet. Treatment is outstanding nowadays and outcomes are improving all the time.

Oh and btw, others here will testify that I was guilty of an absolute torrent of ranting and raving when I was diagnosed, so howl away, we have all been there.

Salhal · 12/03/2015 22:15

Hi scone, here's hoping you don't have to be on this thread for long. I second what everyone else has said about the breast clinic, be prepared to be there's few hours, take water and a snack and something to read. The one I went to was really efficient and I was really impressed. All the staff were lovely. I was told there and then I had breast cancer (after ultrasound and mammogram, but think that is only because my type of breast cancer is easily recognisable on the scan) but had to wait 2 weeks for confirmation of the biopsy results. Good luck and try not to panic and stay away from Google!

SconeRhymesWithPhone · 12/03/2015 22:16

Thanks everyone! I'll keep you posted.

SconeRhymesWithPhone · 13/03/2015 10:03

Really feeling panicky this morning and didn't sleep much last night. The fact that it's Mothers Day this weekend is making me feel worse I think. Six more days till my clinic appointment and I can't concentrate on anything. Very scared.

mrsrhodgilbert · 13/03/2015 11:01

Hi scones, me again. I don't normally hang around this much but I'm feeling a bit rubbish today ( not cancer related) so am on the iPad.

What you're feeling is absolutely normal and understandable. We've all been there and as elporto said above, she shouted and screamed on here initially. The waiting is horrible, it makes your mind go crazy. i Don't have any magic tricks to stop that I'm afraid. It probably won't get much better until you've been seen next week, but it will get better, whatever the news.

It's most likely that you will be ok, lymph nodes can swell up for many reasons, totally unrelated to cancer. Your doctor is being rightly cautious because it can be linked, but you don't know that yet.

I know the timing is particularly difficult, I think we will all be hugging our dc a bit closer than usual on Sunday. If you feel you want to actually talk to someone the charity Breast Cancer Care are excellent. I've spoken to them a couple of times and had lovely nurses talk me down with very sensible advice. You would be absolutely the sort of person they would chat to, don't be shy.

The sleeping is difficult, it didn't trouble me too much but I know some ladies here have had tablets from the dr. I'll be around much of the day f you need to keep posting.

SconeRhymesWithPhone · 13/03/2015 12:15

Thanks for posting mrs. I really appreciate you "talking" to me, and I might try that charity for an actual conversation. I feel really fraudulent for being so upset before I know anything though.