**Tamoxigang 53** Roll up, roll up... Anyone with any cancer (or test-waiting) welcome!

[MarthaCostello]

Good evening all,

The old thread had nearly run out when I posted so I have taken the liberty of starting a new one before it fills up completely.

I hope the title is OK - there isn't actually that much room, I was trying to fit in that people should come along even if they haven't been diagnosed yet.

If you're new here welcome to the Tamoxigang thread. This is a great place for anyone with any type of cancer (it originally started out as those taking Tamoxifen for breast cancer, hence the name, but has expanded). Please introduce yourself and make yourself comfortable! You're more than welcome here if you haven't been diagnosed yet too, sometimes people find it helpful to talk through their fears whilst waiting for results. And we will hold your hand until you find out, and hopefully wave you on your way with an all-clear :)

There is almost always someone around to chat, or to answer any questions. Nothing is off-limits here. This is somewhere to offload any fears and frustrations, in a safe place where someone will have been there before.

I hope everyone has been enjoying the gorgeous summery weather

Thank you. I have had 3 previous trips to the breast clinic for lumps over the past 15 years or so but can't really remember what happened previously. And I think being pregnant And with young dcs I'm just so much more anxious thus time round. Thank you for your support and advice. X

Hello,
Utterly terrified and ashamed of my cowardice. Have appointment at hospital on Thursday.Breast lump. Have been here before in that had to have biopsy a few years ago and all clear. V thankful. Forgotten, however, the almost vomiting with fear feeling. Have not told anyone so this thread has been a lifeline. I think you are all amazing. Any hints for dealing with the terror? Just kick me up the bottom.
Hope you are all having a good a day as possible.x

Hi Zippy and Marmite, my situation was slightly different than yours. I'd had my annual mammogram and MRI scan (which I dreaded each year but just about got through) a week later I received a letter saying something was found on both scans. I went on my own, going through the sick feelings and utter desolation at the thought something was wrong, but couldn't face it with anyone else. All the staff were fab very kind but not too kind coz that would have sent me over the edge. Nothing was actually said until I went back for results. I took my dh then thankfully as news wasn't good for me, but am grateful for the way I was treated and can't fault the staff in the breast unit.

Have been recalled in the past for an ultrasound, nothing there that time, but was thankful they were so thorough.

You may be told all's fine or that you'll need a biopsy so be prepared for anything. Take books, magazines. Fizzy water helped with the sick feeling. Also try and eat something as having the shakes whilst trying to keep still isn't good. Good luck to you both X

Thanks gold.

Marmite I'm feeling the same. My appointment is tomorrow. Like yourself I've been here before but am overwhelmed with anxiety. If I pick up any coping tips tmr I'll let you know. Try to allow yourself to sleep. Everything's worse when you're tired. And remember statistics are on your side 8/10 lumps are benign.

Thank you so much Zippy and Gold. Will have fingers crossed for you tomorrow Zippy. About to go to work. Clinging by my fingers to normality... take care.

Just sending sympathy to Marmite and Zippy - and all others having tests and waiting for results .It really is the worst time .

Zippy don't feel bad about being scared ,of course you're scared . Be nice to yourself ,please don't feel ashamed .

and to all .

I've got my annual mammo in about 6 weeks, (BC, 1 side mx, recon, more BC surgery & treatment 3 years ago).
I'm worrying about it. Every year I now go through this tortuous countdown.
Does anyone else go through this?

Good Luck Marmite & Zippy

Just home after my appointment.

Wanted to thank you all for welcoming me letting me hang out here and for your support.

The lump was glandular and they could not find anything of concern so massive relief for me. They did tell me that due to my family history of cancer I'm at a moderate/high risk and do from age 40 I will be refered for yearly mammograms which I am really pleased about.

Marmite everyone at the clinic was lovely. I burst into tears when the consultant asked me about my family history but they were lovely and didn't maje me feel like a wally!! It was all pretty quick too. Fingers crossed yours will be a similar experience.

Thanks again for all the support and wishing everyone good health and positive progress with treatment.

So very pleased for you Zippy. What a huge relief . I've had annual checkups since I was 25 as classed as high risk due to family history. Am 42 now and was told I would never have felt my lumps as they were so small (less than 6mm) so am all for screening. Good luck and hope we never see you here again (said in the nicest possible way!) X

Thank you gold. Yes I am really pleased to be in the system. The consultant also said I can return after the baby is born for a mammogram which I think I will do.

Just in and had to log on to see if zippy was ok. Wonderful news. Just finished work. Thinking of everyone on this thread. Thank you for being there and the lovely words people have written.x

Thanks marmite. I'll be thinking if you. Also to let you know that when I arrived at the hospital I relaxed quite a bit. Knowing I was in the right place really relaxed me. Good luck.

Good luck today Marmite, will be thinking of you. X

Welcome to all newbies, but sorry you need to be here

zippy excellent that you've had the all clear :)

marmite good luck for Thursday's appointment

Frances thinking of you for your annual check up. I know others have been through similar anxiety, so perhaps will be along with advice soon I see my team quite frequently as they're still dealing with post-surgical issues, so my annual check just merges with all of that really. Plus I find scans rather exciting

Whether have you had your holiday yet? I hope you had a lovely time.

blummineck how are doing? Is it your appointment today? I'm thinking of you and hoping for the best possible news

hiccup I'm glad your surgery was successful that's good news. Doctors tend to err on the side of caution so I'm sure you can trust them :) but of course it is natural to worry, especially without the reassurance of chemo.

royalmama presumably the causes of a liver cyst are completely different to those of a kidney cyst. Quite a few people I know have had harmless liver cysts discovered during breast cancer investigations, they seem to be quite common. I'm sure if they were something to worry about you'd have had extra scans or tests :)

Waving to everyone else, I hope you've all enjoyed the Bank Holiday weekend :)

Sorry to hear that you're still going through it WWLKD. I hope that your post-surgical problems are soon sorted out.
I had a mx with LD flap reconstruction, when I had my fipple done later, they took a painful flap off my back. The x@#! thing was infected & split right open, I had to have it packed & dressed for 3 months!
I don't know, you think that you're nearly there & then something else crops up.
Anyway, sorry to be a misery, thanks for your good wishes & I hope that all goes well for you.

Frances ouch, you poor thing, that sounds really nasty! sorry, I didn't mean to make it sound like I am particularly having issues, I had bowel cancer so it is just fairly standard surgery side effects. But I end up seeing my team every couple of months, sometimes more, so my official annual check ups don't really stand out as anything different :)

marmite I hope you manage some sleep tonight before tomorrow's appointment. You're not a coward or anything. Lots of people have come onto the thread panicked and afraid, and hopefully you will be one of the ones who gets an all clear :)

A massive thank you to all those who wished me well at my appointment today. Thank you also to whoever set up this thread originally. It gave me somewhere safe to express my fears. I was very lucky. Not cancer. A benign breast disease (my mind stopped working at this point) which is common in women of my age (51). Superb staff. I could not have asked for more. Had a wee wobble but they were so kind. I wish you all well. xxxx

I'm so pleased for you marmite :)

MaryAnnSingleton started the thread quite a few years ago, but she doesn't post often now, I'm sure she would be pleased to know that if has helped you though :)

Thank you LeslieKnope (don't want to call you "whatwould"!) for the message. I hope MaryAnn is doing okay.What a great thing she started. x

Hi ladies I'm panicking I'm already terminally ill with huntingtons disease
And a month ago I went to the dr with bloating and fatigue he took some bloods which came back with ca125 of 42

They referred me for a trans vaginal scan and ultrasound and they found lots of large cysts went back for the results and Dr referred me as an urgent case straight away for a gynaecologist apt and said there's a chance it could be cancer

Any advice xx

Some where measuring 5 cm if that makes any difference xx

The best news marmite So pleased for you.

sixpence all kinds of non cancerous things can cause a raised ca125, including benign cysts. I had a raised ca125 ( can't remember the number). A cyst was found on ultrasound (4.2cm I think) but found to be nothing concerning when they did a ct scan of my abdomen. Another ultrasound a few months later showed that the cyst had gone away of its own accord.

I would imagine that the gynae Dr will want a closer look at your cysts but no need to freak out at a raised ca125 necessarily, as far as I know.

Really pleased for you Marmite, bet you're relieved (sorry posted yesterday, can't even blame chemo brain yet!) sorry for your worry sixpence, hopefully you'll get lots of great advice on here x

Thank you both x