**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!

speedy get you and your ball . Glad to hear some good reports about the new boobs from you and marshy. I will be having an autogenous recon, with tissue from elsewhere, ideally my abdomen or buttocks which could both donate enough for a generous cup size but have a feeling that the preference is to use muscle from the back. Due to other commitments, I won't be having the surgery until October but am already fantasising about being a bit more daring with my Christmas party outfits. Just finished watching Poldark. It was filmed just down the road from me with several people I know as extras, which can be a distraction in the crowd scenes.

Thanks BiggerBuns. Yes colorectal is the same as bowel I think. Sleeping tablets are a good idea. I was thinking I could do with a few diazepam as well. Not sure if my GP will agree with this plan. I don't know how long it will take to get the results. More uncertainty. It feels awful.

Majestic have they said that they expect it to be cancer ? Surely lots of things can cause pain ? If it is then you will have a treatment plan and it's horrid and scary but you will get through it. I say that as the most wimpy person around ! We will hold your hand while you wait. Don't google and take one day at a time

Hope everyone's ok, Easter holidays here so feeling reasonably chilled

Aaah Poldark! Be still my beating heart.

Hi MajesticWhine, sorry you've had to join us, but hopefully this will be a flying visit with you getting good results from your colonoscopy.

(Yes, colorectal cancer is bowel cancer - cancer of the colon or rectum, cancer of small bowel is a different type so that's why they're more specific)

I had colorectal cancer about two and a half years ago now. I was diagnosed after a colonoscopy. They were able to tell me on the day that they had found a tumour and hundreds of polyps (I have FAP which caused the cancer). They took lots of biopsies and I got my diagnosis six days after the colonoscopy. During this time I had blood tests (for cancer markers) and a CT scan to check for spread.

So you will most likely get at least some indication of what's going on on the day of your colonoscopy. Will someone be able to come with you? I was allowed to bring my now ex boyfriend into the consultation. It might be helpful to have a second pair of ears if you are still feeling woozy (are you having sedation?). Also might be handy to take a notebook.

Have your doctors said that cancer is looking likely? As malt says, there are so many possible explanations. I'm so sorry for your loss and it's completely understandable that your family history is worrying you. Do you have any other symptoms? And have you had any other tests? Even if it is cancer, the treatments are improving all the time and so there's every chance of a good outcome.

I'm sure your GP will be willing to prescribe diazepam and/or sleeping tablets. Lots of posters here have had experience of anxiety, so will hopefully be able to advise.

Have you had a colonoscopy before? I found the bowel prep the worst part. I'd recommend the sedation if you have the option, as some people find colonoscopies uncomfortable. I didn't have any discomfort.

They warn you that there will be some blood if they've done any biopsies, but I was shocked by how much there was (don't know if that's normal or because they did so many biopsies). So be prepared. Unless you're actually gushing bright red blood, or it carries on bleeding for a long time, there's nothing to worry about. You'll also feel a bit gassy thanks to the air they pump in during the procedure. It's all rather undignified really! :)

I don't know if any if that will be helpful. Feel free to ask if you have any questions :)

How old are your children? I don't have any myself, but on the thread there are people with children of every age.

All the best

Thanks so much for your message Martha. Really helpful to hear about your experience. Yes I will definitely have sedation. I am having an endoscopy as well. DH is coming with me tomorrow, but he has gone to work today. I wish he hadn't because I'm in a poor state. Don't feel like I can cope. My DDs are 14, 12 and 5 (birthday today)
I don't know how likely cancer is to be honest - the consultant didn't say. I have had an ultrasound 2 months ago which was all clear, so I felt quite relaxed about it. But now the pain is a lot worse.

Majestic- sorry you are feeling so worried and anxious. The waiting for tests and results is not nice. Definitely do not Google. Glad that Martha was able to post for you. Hopefully you will be able to focus on the birthday today for some of the time. Good luck tomorrow; as Malt said we are all here for virtual hand holding.

Glad you are feeling chilled Malt. I have to start thinking about getting organised for our few nights away next week after having to postpone in last year due to the chemo.

Hi Majestic. I am new to this board as well - I have just had a diagnosis for breast cancer but still don't know much more than that, and won't for another week or so as I await biopsy results.

The waiting is awful. I have 3 DC as well. I am very scared. I know how you feel and wanted to know you're not alone. I hope you get the all clear.

Majestic is the endoscopy on the same day? They are obviously being thorough :)

I've had an endoscopy as well, and I'm having another next week. They are a bit unpleasant for a moment when you have to swallow the camera, but otherwise it is fine.

I'm sorry you're so anxious about this. I'm not great at this sort of thing, but you will cope. Whatever happens, you will cope. Many posters arrived here thinking they couldn't handle a cancer diagnosis and what that would mean, and they have all got through whatever has been been thrown at them. So even if it is cancer, you will cope. You can scream and cry and rant and swear here, you won't be the first

But it's quite possibly not cancer. There are so many other possibilities. The fact that your ultrasound came up clear and that you don't have any other symptoms is good.

I hope that your little daughter has a lovely birthday :) try and focus on that for today. Are you doing anything special to celebrate?

Thanks everyone for the support. It means a lot. I'm sorry you're all here but so glad you're here at the same time, if you get what I mean.

Yes endoscopy, colonoscopy and CT scan all on the same day. I have started doing the bowel prep, so staying near the toilet right now (Tmi?). DD had her party on Friday so today is fairly slow. We went to Starbucks for frappuccino and now she is making jelly and cupcakes with her big sister.

Hi MajesticWhine. How are you coping with the bowel prep? I have colorectal (ie bowel or colon) cancer. They were able to tell me on the actual day though they had to confirm it a week or two later. Lots of things other than cancer can cause abdo pain; and even if it is cancer if caught early it is very curable; and if caught after it's spread it is still highly treatable and curable if surgery can cut it all out. Bowel cancer treatment has really advanced over the last few years. I understand how worried you are, with your Dad's experience

Buns you are going though so much with your parents. to you too.

BsshBosh - yeah it's ok thanks Not quite as bad as I thought. I've done the first batch and have been shitting out liquid (putting it politely) for the last hour. I'm going to start the next one in about an hour.

Hi majestic thinking of you today. Come back and let us know how you got on when you are up to it.

Hi buns, lovely to hear from you again, I was just thinkin of you recently. However, sorry to hear about your parents, goodness you've had a lot to cope with as well as being so poorly yourself last year. I hope things get calmer very soon.

Bosh and majestic, as others have said having tests and waiting for results is extremely stressful, I have sometimes felt as if I was going completely out of my mind with worry. A plan of action from the hospital that accompanies a positive result is a comforting thing though, in a strange way. My bil had bowel cancer in the early 90s and just needed surgery and things have improved a lot since then. But there are many other things it could be.

Hi to everyone else, hope all you teachers are enjoying a rest. I've just taken dd2 out for a long drive, she as her test next week and I have left it to the instructor to do all the work so far. Based on today's performance I think a lot more driving before next week may be required, if my nerves can handle it.

Update - so far so good. I had all the procedures. The colonoscopy looked clear. What a relief. Doc is going to look at my CT scan and let me know what it shows tomorrow. I think I might have been a bit of a drama queen.

Hello hello!

So I have now read the entire previous Tamoxigang Thread (51), as I felt like I needed to read up on everyone's journey so far (or at least cover the last 6 months or so) and get up to speed on the lingo on so on. It took me most of yesterday evening (with DH interrupting me every half an hour as he thinks it's not worth reading everyone else's experience until we have a diagnosis for me, as I end up projecting your diagnoses and treatment plans onto my own situation!) - it made me smile, cry, laugh and my heart ache. What lovely ladies you are, and so supportive.

Because I am a geek and have slight OCD (self-diagnosed - can you see a pattern here?) I even made a spreadsheet with all your names, dates of diagnosis, cancer type, grade and stage (and any other comments to help me remember each of you). A bit freaky, I know, but it helps me know who you all are and not keep asking you for the reason you're part of the gang!

Heart-breaking to read about Beccajoh. I hope her family is coping.

But so lovely to read all the great recovery stories too.

So the UK called to confirm it was cancer today. BCN told me and she was lovely - she knew I already knew from the Italian team. The rest of the diagnosis should follow on Thursday night - receptor status, grade and cancer type. And then a plan for a sentinel node biopsy next week.

Glad to head things are looking up majestic

Hi majestic sounds like great news. This is the place to be a Drama Queen, there are a lot of people in RL who should be very grateful for the amount of angst vented on here. You just need to get to the bottom of that nasty pain now, although I would bet that it diminishes a bit now you have the all clear from cancer. The brain is an amazing thing, I was almost crippled with leg pain when I had convinced myself the cancer had spread to my bones, the instant I got the all clear I was miraculously cured!
Waves to mrs. Mum is out of hospital today so at least both of the aged Ps are in one place and not so far away which will cut down on some of the toing and froing.
boobs, you sound really chipper,I'm guess that you have had such a messy time that it is good to get some certainty. Where are you planning on having your treatment?

Good news majestic :)

Boobz glad we could be of some help, do ask anything you want to. I get mixed up with some people and where they are in treatment etc as sadly there are so many of us but I don't think anyone minds. Someone said to me when I was diagnosed that it would be a horrible year but that I would get through it and that was true. Very sad about Becca and others we have lost but there are many many more who have gone through treatment and are now back at work, looking after children and doing all of the other normal things

Buns glad to hear your mum is out of hospital and things will be a little easier for you

I think I am in denial Considerably...

I'm on a spreadsheet?!
Is this celebrity status?
I'm useless with Excel and try to avoid using it at work wherever possible.

Very excited to be on a spreadsheet! I like grids.

Majestic- glad that the news is looking positive.

Mrs- hope your dd's driving goes well. My dad only ever took me out once; he could never face it again!

Buns- good news that your mum is out of hospital.

Boobz- once you have a plan of action it definitely helps. I had a sentinel node biopsy and it was a quick recovery. Once you know grade etc try and avoid googling- tis not a good thing to do and lots of out of date info on the web.

Night all

hi I've been lurking here for a couple of months but not posted yet. Just thought I'd say hello and how great this thread is - you are all so supportive and understanding. I have stage 2 invasive lobular bc with lymph node involvement and I'm half way through my 2nd cycle of chemo. My hospital do T-FEC rather than FEC - T so I've had 2 lots of taxotere so far. I'm in awe of those of you who have managed to keep working while having chemo. I was told I couldn't work as I do a healthcare job in a high patient contact area so would be too much at risk of infection. But I am so tired I'm not sure I could work anyway! How have others found the chemo stage? Thanks for the advice and support on here!

Woah, a spreadsheet! I'm impressed and a little jealous. Even after nearly a year I still get people a little confused and certainly can't remember everyone's different type of breast cancer - are you coming to see there are many types? I should correct a detail which I got wrong about myself, I'm stage 2 and grade 1. Small and no spread, very lucky.

I'm sorry you got positive news today but this is a great place for help and information which seems to be a bit of an issue for you in Italy. I did have a sentinel node biopsy if you need to ask anything.

Majestic, fantastic news for you. Happy if we helped a little.

Hello fifi, I wonder how many others are reading but not writing yet, welcome. I can't help with chemo but someone will soon.

magestic good news and thinking of you ref. your scan results.
boobz denial is normal but you sound like you have a great mental attitude.
fifi welcome. My chemo regimen is different to yours as I have colon cancer but I've been on chemo on and off since last year. Last year's chemo was tough as my body wasn't prepared for it (had always been healthy, no medications ever except paracetemol) but this year's chemo is treating me better - a lot more energy than last year although I still crash and burn by evening and benefit from a daily afternoon nap :)

Hope everyone's Easter school holidays are going well. My DH has had this week off so it's been fabulous doing things together as a family: museum and gallery trips, cinema, lots of lunches out. Today, though, DD is at a friend's house and DH is going into town to do whatever he wants and I've decided to stay home and potter: knitting, napping, eating whatever I want, reading, no chores whatsoever, long bath. I have chemo tomorrow then family start arriving over Easter weekend so I am going to savour today's solitude.