**Tamoxigang Thread 52** With virtual tea, cakes and chat for all with cancer concerns

[Lilymaid]

We were almost at our 1000 post limit for Thread 51 - hope the title is OK but wanted people to know that we aren't just about people on Tamoxifen but for all with cancer concerns!

Hello all, I had my mammogram this morning, one year ago from diagnosis. It wasn't comfortable but not as bad as expected. There is a very particular sort of fear that washes over me when I go to the hospital now. The optimism I try to hang on to disappears as we hit the car park. Now the anxious wait for results yet again, I hate the way it affects my mood. She got good images so at least I shouldn't get a recall. I just wish they would phone quickly with results, or email,rather than having to wait for a letter. It's like slow torture.

Trice, sorry to hear about the dreaded hot flushes, the weather isn't helping mine at the moment, far too muggy.

Bosh, sorry to hear you're feeling dodgy, hope that improves quickly.

Hello to everyone else.

Bssh, sorry you've been knocked hard this time but thank goodness for a lovely MIL who can help out. I am lucky to have an amazing MIL who helped get us all through the last few months. Hope you start to feel better soon

Martha, you made me laugh about being the crazy knitting lady!! With my EC chemo, the drugs went through so quick that I wouldn't have had time to get more than a couple of rows done and with the paclitaxol I was so zonked out with the antihistamines that I slept my way through several hours in the chair!

Good news about having a clear scan but how do you know if you're anaemic? I've heard anaemia can be a problem during/after treatment but how do you know? Sorry if it's a silly question!

Wino, I was told at my very first appointment when I got the biopsy results that I was having surgery, chemo and radiotherapy. I hadn't had a lymph node biopsy or ct scan at this stage but they were confident from the ultrasound that it hadn't spread. I think that as I had a very aggressive grade 3 HER2+ tumour and I was under 50 (46 at the time of diagnosis) they had to throw everything at it. As it was I had chemo first to shrink the tumour (very successfully as aggressive cancers love drinking up the chemo drugs - to borrow a phrase from our lovely Amber!) followed by a WLE and I'm now just 4 booster sessions away from finishing my rads.

As to meeting up, I think last time we got as far as agreeing it would either be the Midlands or London. I would prefer London as I have to travel into it to get a train out to Birmingham but am more than happy to head to Birmingham if that is easier for everyone. Perhaps all those travelling from London could jump on the same train up? Weekends would be best for me as I'm supposed to be working full time when I do get back to the office :(

Mrs, x posted with you. Well done on surviving your first annual mammo, I know what you mean about keeping check of your feelings. I was also told I would have to wait up to 3 weeks to get the results of mine when I have it in July. You would think with us ladies they would fast track us through the system and put us out our misery.

Birmingham was just a suggestion; London is equally as good, although I'm thinking that Rome might be a good destination to visit Boobz . (Don't worry Boobz we won't all turn up waving our fake nipple tassels).

Martha- glad the iron infusion had a good effect.

Bssh- hope you can eat more today.

Wino- I had no node involvement but had chemo due to my age and type to shrink tumour, which it did.

I really ought to go and do some housework!

Hi minty, the radiographer said that my images would be looked at today then passed to the consultant who would write to me. Seems unnecessarily slow when they get results to you within hours if its your first visit.

I was interested to hear that treatment can leave you with low iron. I have noticed my hair thinning which can be a SE of tamoxifen I think. But I did have the same problem about five years ago and then it was very low iron stores and over a year of iron tablets to correct it. I think I might get in touch with my gp about having a blood test, don't like the sound of them going into overdrive though if I am anaemic.

Mrs- missed your post, sorry. Hope you don't have to wait too long for your results.

I'm anaemic - I have 3 weekly blood tests so this is one of the many components monitored. I have had a few transfusions, but have managed to keep myself at the just below minimum level for the past couple of months possibly through swallowing a Spatone with Vit C sachet every day.

minty anaemia would show up in blood tests, as part of a FBC. I had anaemia throughout chemo, but that was the chemo killing the cells off rather than iron deficiency. It makes no difference to symptoms, but treatment is a blood transfusion which is nicer than iron tablets or the iron infusion :)

mrs I think anaemia is mainly a risk with chemotherapy, but I don't know. If you have the symptoms then it might be worth asking for a blood test. They only panicked because I'd had bowel cancer and anaemia can be a symptom of GI tumours.

I've watched the C Word now. I agree about recommending the book to a secondary cancer patient it seems rather insensitive! I'm hoping that was just an embellishment. I love Sheridan Smith and it's a sad story, but I couldn't really relate much to the character myself.

Thanks Martha, I did wonder if it was a chemo side effect. Never the less we seem to have a family tendency to low iron, both dds (18&21) are currently taking iron tablets, my mum had low iron in her younger days and I have a history of it too. I haven't had any blood tests since my pre med last May so I'm going to get it checked.

I haven't watched the C Word. We've got more than enough cancer in the family at the moment without watching it on tv. I really struggle with cancer being used on tv as a storyline. I know this was different and i hope it encourages women to get checked out but it's not entertainment in my eyes and its on everything.

Just calling in to say that I go to Birmingham everyday so I'm happy to have a change of scene in London if that suits everyone best. Weekend prob best though I could get a day off in the week with a bit of notice.

Raining cats and dogs here!

I can't watch The C Word, much too close to home .

I couldn't watch the C Word either - having secondary cancer I just want to hear the good news, not the bad!

Lovely to catch up on everyone's news. Hope your wait for results isn't too tortuous mrs.

Bssh - sorry you felt/feel crap - hope it passes soon.

You're all MORE than welcome in Rome! It's apparently lovely weather at the moment - DH is very much looking forward to having me home and to get to the pool and enjoy the sunshine. If we do the meet up in London though, can we do it when I am over for a chemo session? Either 18 - 20 May, 8 - 10 June or 28 - 30 June (or a day or two either side and I will just come early or leave late....) How's about that for a post about me me me! (I have massive FOMO so will be very upset if you all meet without me).

I watched the C word. Bits of it struck home, but obviously I am only at the beginning so it'll be interesting to see if it works out similarly as it goes along (although certainly not the ending I hope!)

Onc saw me today and signed me off to go home tomorrow. She is happy for me to make weekly flights when I switch to Taxol in 3 months' time (can't remember if I said but my work now can't transfer my care to Italy, so will have to do all the chemo in London and just keep flying in and out for it, even when it switches to 12 weeks of weekly Taxol).

They did my white blood cell count and it had dropped to 0.6 which she was not happy about, so have got 4 more daily injections to take to boost it.

Went wig shopping today - again it was pants. I am obviously going to the wrong places, or wig shopping is just not as much fun as I thought it was going to be.

Early hop for Easyjet home tomorrow - and then back in 2 weeks!

Hi all,

Just dipping in and out and lurking as ever. But I have a (silly) question. I wondered whether those of you who have had a mastectomy for DCIS, what follow ups do you have?

I had a BMX, and I know I'm uber paranoid, but I thought some sort of follow up / check up would occur. But nothing. I'm not sure what they could do. Can you mammogram a reconstructed breast?!! Obviously some tissue gets left behind, and that's the bit I'm worried about.

Just checking that I'm not missing out on something. Don't want to ask consultant, as don't want him to think I'm crazy ??

(I'm paranoid because I'm in my mid 30s, and I had extensive high grade all over my breast.)

Bssh I hope that the sickness has all gone now and you are eating ok?

Mrs, fingers crossed for clear results back soon. X

I had my Picc put in yesterday, all went fine except for feeling faint for a few minutes afterwards (I started thinking about where it was: yuk.)
I start chemo today! Feeling nervous but positive. Hopefully won't be too sick.

The weather seems much better today, so far. Hope you all have a good one.

Have a safe flight today Boobz. The airport staff will all know you by name soon. :)

Morning all

Thanks Martha/Minty and others on the heads up on chemo. I'm kind of getting my head round that now and accepting it won't be the end of the world if that's what I need. Having spent some time reading through a lot of these posts now, I can see some of you have been through far worse than I have - and reading those makes me feel very humbled.

Hope you're feeling better today Bssh?

The best thing so far for me is the week and a half I've had off work - I've been for lovely steady walks, seen my lovely friends and at the minute, got some biscuits in the oven for friends and kids popping round later. I also have a house full of flowers - it's like I'm getting married! But can't do any housework yet - such a shame he he.

Times like this make you realise how you lucky you are to have good friends/family, supportive work and of course, this thread now

Thanks all. Feeling much better but weak and won't really relax until I poop (tmi!!) as constipation is my big fear. But MIL reassures me I haven't been eating enough since diarrohea episode to poop yet! Can't believe I'm posting about my bowel movements

Hi all.

I've always had lumpy boobs and never been too worried. For the last week or so I started noticing rib pain so had a poke around at the weekend and found a large lump in my breast that's nothing like my usual tender lumps. Large (4-5cm wide and 5-6cm long), smooth, pain free and fairly mobile (all good) but there is a tugging sensation when I lift my arm. Also feels like it's pressing on a nerve or something.

Went to the gp this morning who said she'd normally wait a month and see what happens, but because of the size, rib pain and the point in my cycle I found it she wants to get it checked out sooner. So now I'm waiting for an appointment for the breast clinic.

I've told DH and my DM (who has had lumps checked out in the past), but they're both worriers so I have to be the strong one. I don't normally worry until I know there's something to worry about, but I've got to admit this one has me a little on the scared side.

I've been lurking on the thread over the weekend and you all seem so nice and positive. I hope you don't mind if I hang around for a while?

Hi L and sorry you've had to pop in here. I'm still brand spanking new here too but I'm sure someone far wiser will pop along soon.

I'm surprised the GP said to wait a month - my GP referred me straight away, but good you've got that sorted now rather than waiting. You should get the appointment within a fortnight, but try not to worry (soooo much easier said than done). One thing the wise ladies say on this thread, as you've probably seen, is step away from Google! It will only worry you more.

From my experience, the large, smooth 4-5cm lump I had that pulled and hurt was a cyst - this was drained at the breast appointment quickly and completely painlessly. The other small hard painless lump, not such good news. Even if your news isn't good, the NHS are superb and you'll be so well looked after.

Good luck

Hi LtheWife, it's good that you've posted. Worrying alone is rotten so pour out all your concerns here if you want to protect your family. It's far more likely to be something simple, remember that. You should get an examination, mammogram and ultrasound when you go to the clinic. If you're lucky you will know by the end of the day that its fine or something easily dealt with like a cyst. If they're unsure they may take a biopsy, in which case you'll have a wait of about a week. There's no getting away from it, waiting is very scary.

It's impossible to tell you if your lump sounds harmless or worrying, we all presented with different things. We're all very different women, from the super fit to the more sedate and I suspect all shapes and sizes and ages. I don't think we have a common 'issue', breast cancer doesn't discriminate. But we are a very friendly bunch and we'll answer any questions or concerns you have. Hopefully you won't be around for too long and this will be a mere blip for you.

Thank you both, it's something of a relief to be able to come here and admit I'm scared. I do feel a bit of a fraud though as I've nothing to actually be scared about yet. I'm normally a complete optimist so it's a bit of a surprise to feel worried. I'm still keeping mostly positive but there's that little niggle that says what if it's not nothing to worry about. It's the dull, achy rib pain that's started the what if's. Namely, what if I haven't picked up on a past lump as being abnormal and it's spread? I know though that that way madness lies.

Focusing on the more immediate future, can anyone tell me what determines the need for a biopsy (FNA or core)? I had previously thought that if the imaging shows any kind of "lump" (cyst, mass or anything that's not normal breast tissue) they took a sample just to be sure of what they are dealing with but it sounds like it's not always necessary.

Another question, I know some cancers can cause a higher than normal white blood cell count, is that also true of breast cancer?

Sorry, that was a very me, me, me post wasn't it?

Hi Lovely ladies
I'm not sure you can help me but I'm hoping I will de-stress if I right it down!
Got referred to breast clinic after finding a small lump and having concerns as my sister was diagnosed with TNBC at 42.
Was told it was a 'one stop shop' clinic but it hasn't quite worked out like that!
Consultant examined me and wasn't too concerned, sent me for an ultrasound (too young for mammo at 35?) and the radiologist said it looked like a fibroadenoma but they would biopsy to check but as the clinic was really busy I'd have to come back in a few days. Went back to consultant who said it IS a fibroadenoma (I didn't think he could be sure til biopsy) so he would request a non urgent biopsy and my appointment isn't til 3 June! Another 4 weeks....
I know I should be massively reassured by the scan but I was so expecting to know 100% either way today that I feel deflated and weird tonight....
It does seem from what I've read that if it looks like a fibroadenoma on the scan it more than likely is but then there must be times it isn't otherwise the guidelines wouldn't say you need to biopsy...
Sorry for hijacking when you lot have bigger issues but I just needed to rant somewhere!

Hi all, just dropping by to say hello, especially to the new folks.
Am on hols at the moment, finally getting time to catch up on this thread.

Buns I will be 50 in Oct, your birthday bash sounds so much fun. No idea what I'm going to do yet. My sister is telling me to take a long weekend away with DH and she'll mind my girls. That's tempting...

A meet up sounds great. I can only do up to beginning of Jun. Will have BMX on 10 Jun. And I'd prefer London, as I'd stay overnight and see a show... But Birmingham ok too.

Hi L and Harumff - sorry to see you here. I hope you don't stay long.

I too popped on this thread when it was still "not sure" and "probably a cyst" - unfortunately for me I am still here but I have seen others come and then say and thankful "bye!" so I really do hope you can do the same soon! In the meantime keep posting - I am still quite new to all of this (only one chemo session down) but am happy to help where I can!

I had an mammogram, MRI, ultrasound and core biopsy all done on the same day - it took the pathologist 2 weeks to confirm it was cancer from the core biopsy so it's not always as straight forward as you hope it will be. It took a further 2 weeks and lumpectomy to get to a diagnosis of breast cancer (instead of leukemia). But in answer to your question I think they do have to do a biopsy to confirm cancer, or at least to know what kind it is, but only if they think it is cancer in the first place. If it looks like a benign lump then they won't always do a biopsy to check (but I maybe wrong!)

Hotchoc how did your first chemo go?