**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.

Thanks marshy!

That must be nice knowing you don't have to think about work to the new year. Are you getting paid though not to work? So wish I didn't have my boss and had someone who would be prepared to break the rules and give me some decent sick leave. I do enjoy seeing people at work on the days I've been going in, just wish I didn't have to go in as often as I do.

Will be on half pay for a few weeks before I go back but we can manage that. I'm very lucky to have generous sick pay

Hope everyone's had a good weekend

Evening all, or actually a rather early good morning.
Not been on for a while as been having a most fabulous holiday in the Dominican Republic. I did all the things your not supposed to: sunbathed, jacuzzis, sauna, ate all the things I had been trying to limit like dairy and sugar. Drank a whole heap of cocktails, and increased my BMI ..... Up yours cancer!

On a more serious note sending love and healing vibes to becca

wee what a bummer about your op ... Let us know when you get a reschedule.

minty just read your thread about sick leave. I was lucky and got paid for 4 extra months than I was supposed to. But I also discovered that I could also claim some sickness from DWP as well. They backdated it and I got over a thousand pounds ( which meant I could go on holiday) it was only £72 a week but it added up. If you want more details speak to DWP or feel free to PM me.

That sounds like a wonderful holiday Foo. Glad you had a good time.

Just off for next Herceptin.
Has anyone else had a lump appear after their mastectomy? The surgeon said I have lots of fluid around expanders which they will hopefully do something about tomorrow but I have just found a lump that is a bit sore and moves. Will that be fluid as well?

foofoo, that sounds fab! Lucky you.

Foofoo, what an awesome holiday!

Speedy, could the lump be scar tissue? Certainly my new breast is a bit awkward in places, around the stitches particularly, but it's just scar tissue I've been told.

Minty, I can't tell you how delighted I was to read your post! So glad that the new chemo drug is agreeing with you more than the EC and you are up and about and functioning. As you say: every good day is a huge bonus

So I went in to have bloods taken ahead of FEC3 tomorrow. Being on the chemo ward again was not much fun and I had a bit of a cry later on thinking about how utterly shit I will feel by the weekend. It's my birthday next week and I should hopefully have emerged the other side in time to celebrate relatively quietly with DH so I am staying focused on that.

Love to all, hope everyone is having a good week. And special hugs to you beccajoh, I think of you every day and hope you are doing better.

I've been feeling good recently back on Capecitibine and topped up with red blood cells. We've had a lovely long weekend away, but it is back to hospital today for a CT scan. Already drank 1 litre of contrast through yesterday with more before the scan. Back for results on Friday ...
That's Cancer for you, you bob along happily for a while and then the appointments come round.

Will be thinking of you today elporto , speedy and lily with your various appointments and treatments.

Sounds like a great holiday foo, I'm all for indulging in the little pleasures, too much so probably. I'm sure I should be abstaining more.

Still thinking of beccajoh and really hoping things are improving.

Waves to everyone else. Just plodding along here, no major news or issues although strangely I have noticed my scars are feeling a bit tight so I'm having to do the arm exercises again which has been a surprise.

Hello All,
Just caught up with the thread, I am currently in limbo between chemo and rads and so upped my hours of work, which leaves very little time for mumsnet if you are trying to keep up with the Christmas bargains thread!
Hope all of you going through treatment, minty , ssaver, snow and elporto aren't suffering too badly this week.
wee have you had your rescheduled op? speedy how is the new boob doing?
Loving your attitude foofoo, I am just getting to that mental state.
Good luck with the results lily. marshy that is great to have the time to recover. Although I have worked through most of my treatment it has been from home and at very reduced duties with absolutely no pressure from my managers which has been a real relief to know I can get better at my own speed.
Hope things are better becca
I had a really frustrating hospital visit last week. Finished chemo end of September, had rad planning visit including tattoos and the heard nothing. Chased up with onc who called me in. Transpires he had been sitting in my case as had a bit if Hobson's choice and couldn't make his mind up! Apparently, and would be inserting to know if amber agrees with his stats, if I don't have rads there us a 15% chance of reoccurrence in the primary site (even though I have had BMX), if I do have rads this reduces to 3%. Unfortunately due to already having rads 29 years ago and there being a very small area of duplication, I I do have rads I will have weakened rib bones with a 25% chance of fractures. He was leaning towards not giving me rads but I have requested them. Seemed a no-brainier to me that 12% better odds if no cancer was preferable to 1 in 4 chance of fractured bones. Anyway, hopefully the rads will now start in a couple of weeks. A bi frustrating as the delay means that I will now still have treatment in December when I had hoped to be done and dusted by the end of November, however, I am very aware that done of you will still be undergoing chemo over Christmas and so I do count myself lucky.
I also chased up my MRI results for the nodule on my liver. He had forgotten I had had the scan and so hadn't checked the results. Apparently the nodule is 7mm, It hasn't changed during chemo which is a good sign but as they have already ruled out cysts it is still inconclusive. Hopefully it really is nothing but would like to tick it off, to be honest, I think he was unprepared because he had not looked at the results before my appt, and has promised to speak to an expert before I see him again. On a more positive note my hair us on its way back, arrived on legs first and now have a downy covering on my head. Did take nearly 6 weeks and is fluffy and grey but is definitely hair!
Hope everyone is having a good week.

Buns .... Cannot answer on Rads but unless you are going in for wrestling I would think having them is the better option.

Wrt Liver nodule .... I would request referral to liver specialist. And also PET scan if you aren't already had one. My PET scan should my liver lesions not showing up as cancerous, and liver experts also did MRI.

Hmm, I agree with your Onc that it's a tricky decision. Would he work with the bone-strengthening experts in the hospital to see if they have a cunning plan?

Afternoon all.

The lump turns out to be the edge of the expander, I have one in the other boob too but hadn't noticed as that one is not as sore. She went to drain the fluid but it turns out there isn't any (at least not a large pocket). Had 50 ml of saline put in each expander so feeling a little tight. Was so hoping to come home more comfortable but hopefully it will improve.

Elporto hope chemo goes ok tomorrow, keep ticking them off!
Lily. Hope your scan went well. Fingers crossed for Friday.
Mrs you just reminded me to do my exercises.
Buns -new boobs are doing well thanks, sore and tight but they look good!

Good luck Lily.
Ouch Speedy - uncomfortable but reassuring.
Hope it goes well Elporto.
Thinking of you Becca

I am doing my Christmas shopping. Dh tells me he wants something to open on Christmas day and it should be a surprise and something he will like. We don't normally do presents for each other (the curse of the joint bank account) so it will be tricky to even set a budget. I am waiting for inspiration to strike. Otherwise it's David Gandy pants from m&s!

I David Gandy .... Bought some for DP but the effect wasn't quite the same.

Been to hospital this morning to finally have some expansion done! Had been delayed by further chemo and rads. 60 ml added so up to 310ml now. More in 2 weeks time.

Seeing Onc this afternoon and think I will be starting on Tamoxifen.

Thanks foofoo and amber for the advice. My onc mentioned a PET scan and dismissed it, not sure why but he was unprepared for the conversation so will ask next appt. I will certainly look into anything they can do to minimise risk to bones.
I started tamoxifen last week foo, I was quite nervous after hearing quite a few people had bad symptoms. Gone first couple of nights were very disturbed with sort of uncomfortable heat surges but has settled down now and no different from before (still suffering from a bit of chemo flush).
Went to theatre last night to see Matthew Bourne's Edward Scussorhands which was fabulous, really sunk in that the last time I had been to the theatre was 2 days after my diagnosis when it was the only think I could think about. Now, 6 weeks post chemo - feeling so much more positive and able to enjoy the show.

Glad you had a great evening out Buns.

Onc said everything ok, got my tamoxifen script, like you I still have a few chemo flushes so hoping this will be ok. Don't have to see Onc again for six months!!

Glad you enjoyed the theatre Buns. Glad you are not having too many side effects for the tamoxifen.

Foo- good news you don't have to see onc for six months. Hope tamoxifen is ok for you.

Had a lift into town today and made a dent in my Xmas shopping. Very nice to have someone carry most of it for me! Will be nice when I can drive again.

Hi all, just popping on to say I hope everyone has had a good week and some nice weekend plans.

I had FEC 3 on Tuesday so am resting up at home and trying to be kind to myself. Last cycle I did a lot of crying so I am hoping to avoid that this time around!

Good luck with the tamoxifen buns and foo. My temperature regulated itself after a couple of weeks and I've had no other issues.

Elporto, I hope you're not feeling too rough and manage something nice this weekend.

Speedy, good news about the lumpy bits, are you feeling more comfortable now?

Went to see John Bishop last night. Very funny and very rude. I've nearly finished my Christmas shopping. Just felt a need to get on with it and look forward to better times.

Nice weekend everyone.

Mrs and speedy I am so JEALOUS of you having done your Xmas shopping! I've been shockingly disorganised and bet I will end up buying everyone random boxes of chocs with the online supermarket shop... Can I use cancer as an excuse for that do you think?!

Minty, I hope your side effects are continuing to be utterly minimal this week.

Boxes of chocolates for everyone is fine. I missed a load of birthdays in the summer when I was being treated and made many apologies. Nobody minded. Having cancer has to have some perks! Not that I can think of any more...

Elporto- cancer is definitely an excuse for not getting shopping done. People will understand completely and who doesn't like getting chocolates!

Mrs- am a bit more comfy thanks. Am supposed to have an echocardiogram on mon which I guess won't be the most comfortable procedure when they are prodding the ultrasound around. However, have just had a letter saying my oncologist appointment has now been moved so I could move the echo appointment to a later date maybe. Just wish the other letter had arrived yesterday as I could have phoned. Oh well, not really a big problem in the grand scheme of things.

Thinking of everyone who has just had their chemo or an op and might be feeling rubbish.
Especially thinking of Becca.