**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!

Mrs I am so pleased to hear that your results were clear. Hope you have a great time celebrating tonight.

Marshy sorry to hear that you have to go through another Hysteroscopy, I totally get why you are feeling so deflated. It all just seems neverending. Hope you manage to have a nice weekend. xxx

DH has real flu (not just Man Flu ). You would have thought that with a wife on chemo he might have bothered to get a flu vaccination this winter! Doctor has even given him a prescription for antibiotics if he gets worse - mainly for my benefit.
Boobz I wouldn't worry too much about the infection risk at a diplomatic party. I've been having chemo over the last two years whilst commuting through London on public transport and have survived! If you do feel ill, don't ignore but get it checked immediately.

Lovely ladies (and men), I need your advice. I had a period after two years without ( due to be treatment). Went to gp who sent me for a scan. the results says I've a thickening of the womb lining. discuss!

I'm being referred to hospital for further tests/talk to consultant, but I'm wondering whether any of you have had a similar experience. Thanks.

Hi river
I'm in a similar situation myself at the moment. I was discharged from the gynaecologist in January with everything looking normal after unexplained bleeding whilst on tamoxifen.

I'm not on tamoxifen now and probably am post menopause but have just had a 'period' and ultrasound has shown up something they want to take a closer look at - slightly thickened endometrium in one area. So I'm back to the gynaecologist and having a hysteroscopy next week.

Fed up with it tbh though I know it's good that they are keeping a close eye etc etc as always better that anything worrying is caught early.

Hope all goes well for you.

Hi all,

I've got another breast clinic question if that's ok. I've read biopsies can be quite painful, if I do need to have one will I be ok to drive afterwards? DH doesn't drive so I'm wondering if I should get a taxi instead.

Hi L
re driving, you're not going to be in agony or anything like that, but you might be quite tender. But more than that, I felt a bit shook up and not able to concentrate properly. I could have driven but was glad not to have to.
Not much help there I'm afraid!

Marshy - thanks for your reply. I'm 'eagerly' waiting for a letter to plop through the door, with the consultant and/or scan date. I'm grateful that I'm being investigated ( the NHS can be brill, despite what people say), but I'd rather not be going down this route at all. But as you said, if sinister, better caught early. Hope all goes well for you.

L - I think my biopsy was uncomfortable but not painful. Give yourself plenty of time afterwards to 'recover' if you feel you need to. Is the hospital near your home. Can you get a taxi?

Hi all, hope everyone had a good weekend.

Question for all that had a lumpectomy. Do you get pain in your breast? I'm talking pain to the point that it hurts when your clothes rub against it? I have lymphoedema so it's quite possible that the pain is connected to that. But for the last week I have had unbelievably bad pain in my treated breast. It's affecting my sleep and in turn affecting my mood! Saw GP this morning who prescribed a strong painkiller. He was going to refer me for a mammogram but as I have an appointment in June, he said that would be fine. Which I was pleased about, as the thought of having that breast squashed right now fills me with dread.

Just be reassuring to know that I'm not alone in still having issues! Although I obviously don't wish this on anyone else. Xx

Thank you both, I think I'll get a taxi to be on the safe side.

Over the weekend I've gone from being optimistic but slightly worried to genuinely concerned and preparing for the worst. A tender, nobbly lump has come up in my armpit, the original lump is no longer feeling smooth, when I lay down there's quite a large indentation near my nipple and my nipple is now being pulled to one side. Of course it could still be nothing to be concerned about, but things aren't looking quite as positive as they were. So I guess it's time to hope for the best but prepare for the worst.

Hi nanny, sorry to hear you're having trouble. I had a lumpectomy and SNB almost exactly a year ago then rads last July. I do get pain still, but it isn't as bad as yours sounds. When I get up every morning I feel like that whole area has seized up in the night and stretch a bit to loosen it up. I get odd stabbing pains too and also if I press the area around the scars, which are close together on me, it is quite painful. I can get pain at any time but yours sounds much worse, it doesn't affect my sleep. In fact it's twinging now but that's probably because I'm just back from the gym and its been shaken up.

Shortly after surgery I definitely got the pain from clothing rubbing against my skin, I assumed it was from the nerves that had been damaged. I don't get that anymore. Did you have rads, sorry I know you've probably said before but I don't have a spreadsheet like boobz!!??! I think that changed the texture of my breast tissue a lot and blame that for a lot of the discomfort I get, apparently it takes a couple of years for things to settle down.

I had my first mammogram last week, I was dreading it because I'm still quite tender and whilst it was a bit more uncomfortable than previously it was certainly bearable. That's all probably not much help, but you're not alone in still having pain, just at a different level.

Thanks mrs yes I had Rads and my breast has changed constantly over the last year. Like you I have had the stabbing pains, that hit when you least expect it. But this pain is constant and really getting me down. The smallest amount of pressure on that side brings tears to my eyes! I'm just hoping that it's something that will sort itself out, because the thought of dealing with this long term, doesn't really appeal to me!

Really appreciate you replying xx

Marshy and River, is it not normal to have a period on chemo then? I have started a period today, 5 days post FEC. I thought they would dry up. Is it something to worry about?

Lthewife, yes I would try to stay positive, but of course your mind will run through what-ifs. Hope you are ok.

Hotchoc I didn't have chemo just 2 mastectomies (just - ha!) so im sure others will give you their experience of that. It's 'unexplained' bleeding that raises concerns, especially if you're on tamoxifen, which I was but now am not. At 55 any bleeding is unexplained for me as im supposed to be through the menopause. I would imagine that normal period type bleeding is nothing to worry about.

Feeling quite anxious about the hysteroscopy tomorrow. I have to be there at 8.45 so at least it will be over early. I'm off out singing later which should take my mind off it for a while tonight.

Hi Nanny - I had my lumpectomy 2 weeks ago, with sentinel node biopsy too and don't have the pain you seem to be experiencing so might be worth speaking to your BCN? First few nights I had codeine, dropped that down to co-codamol then paracetamol but not taking anything now (and I'm a right wimp). My SNB arm is the worst bit, with an overly sensitive nipple (sorry if TMI!!) but otherwise, boob feels fine.

L - still got everything crossed for you. I had a slight lump under my armpit, which was a lymph node with a thickened wall rather than anything to worry about. But, I do think I was lucky in that the majority of my lumps and bumps were benign - fingers crossed it's the same for you, if not better. Even if it's not the news you want, you'll get lots of support and will get through it - I'm only 3 and a half weeks in and it just feels like a weird dream that I'm coming out of the other side. The not knowing is by far the hardest part, which is where you are now. (Although I may change that stance after I've had the radiotherapy!).

Hope that it all goes well tomorrow Marshy.

Yes marshy, I hope it goes well and that they offer you something to make it easier than last time.

Good Luck for today Marshy let's hope it's the last time they put you through this xx

Good luck marshy hope it goes well

Nanny I had treatment at a similar time to you and don't have any pain in the breast I'm sorry that you do :(

Lying in bed listening to the wind and rain ugh

Hi all,
Thanks for your good wishes. I'm back from the hospital with a hot water bottle and my feet up on the sofa.
The procedure was pretty squirmy but the staff were brilliant and one of the nurses held my hand the whole way through. I also had more local anaesthetic this time which I think helped. I was a great big wimp and cried a bit before they started so they were feeling sorry for me They were all utterly lovely.
The Dr removed a polyp which he said looked benign so I'm feeling somewhat reassured by that. Just happy it's done. Very tired now but I've got nothing else to do today so gonna make the most of some down time.
Hope everyone else is alright. We do go through the mill, don't we.

Well Done Marshy sounds like you deserve a nice lazy afternoon with your feet up enjoy xx

Thanks for the reply malt I am pleased that you aren't getting pain. Now just to sort out what's causing mine and more to the point how to deal with it!! It's just never ending xx

Thanks nanny

Sorry to hear you've got pain. It really can be very wearing. It sounds like it might be nerve pain, y'know when the nerve endings have been disrupted and get all irritable? Have you spoken to anyone about it? BCN or gp maybe? Don't just suffer. There will be something that can help.

Thanks Marshy I saw GP yesterday. Think breaking down in floods of tears in front of him, showed that the pain was getting to me a bit So he gave me a prescription for some painkillers, and said he would refer me for a mammogram BuT as I have an appointment at the beginning of June he said that would be fine. I am hoping it is just nerve endings coming back to life, but I fear it may be Lymphoedema and they really don't seem to know what if anything they can do about Lyphoedema in the breast.

I'd just like to be able to hug my charges without feeling like crying oh and move and sleep without pain! Is that too much to ask?!

Marshy I'm glad it's over but I'm sorry it was horrid. I would have cried too so don't worry about that. Caring staff definitely makes a huge difference. Afternoon on the sofa with a cuppa sounds like a good idea

Hope you can get something sorted nanny, I didn't even realise you could get lymphodeoma in the breast, I thought it was just our arm we had to worry about. You shouldn't have to put up with pain especially if it's affecting your work and sleep :(

Hi marshy, well done for getting through it. As malt says, the staff can make all the difference in a situation like that, I'm glad you had kind ones.

Nanny, have you spoken to a bn about your pain, or maybe breast cancer care? I have a new gp and I feel more reassured speaking to my nurse, I reckon she knows more than my gp plus she can get me in front of the right person quickly if there's a problem.

Thanks mrs.

Hope your weekend was ok.