**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

Where are you having your op Vic?

Sorry to hear all that Jo - I really hope it's nothing. Well done for everything you've gone through already - sorry the worrying isn't over yet.

Sleepy - will let you know how I get on with my clinic - I've booked!

Finally feeling normal again after all that chemo - enjoying exercising again.

That sounds like another nasty shock Jo. Let's hope it is only a false alarm! At least you know the procedure.

Feel free to post as much as you like - sometimes you just need to let off steam.

Jo, fingers crossed for you that it is a false alarm, nothing more. Non mumsnetty type hug sent your way!

Boobz, I will be having my op done at St Guys in London. Good to hear you are able to enjoy exercising more after finishing chemo. I must say I am not looking forward to being unable to do much (or any!) excercise post mastectomy for a while. I am on week 4 of the couch to 5k, and I practise yoga most days, either as a class or on my own. Hoping the op will not ultimately impede my flexibility in the long term, would miss being able to do back bends etc! Must ask more at my pre operative assessment.

Gosh Jo, really hope it turns out to be nothing! I am having node biopsy today, cat scan is normal, thank god! Start chemo on Friday.

Good news Fresta. Hope your nodes are clear too and that the biopsy is not too sore. Good luck for Friday.

Good luck Fresta.
Jo hope all is well in the end..we tend to get iur far share of drama!!
I started my 12 weeks of weekly tax and so far so good..seems so far to be less bothersome than the AC. Just tired.
Vic, wishing you a speedy recovery!

Wow! Bright blue urine! Wasn't prepared for that one ! Also surprised how blue my boob is, a huge bright blue patch and I'm sure my face has a slight blue tinge to it as well, although I could just be looking pale after the anesthetic? Does anyone have experience of how long the boob will be blue for?

Hello everyone, I haven't posted for a while but I just wanted to answer the 'blue boob' question. I had my op in May last year, the blue had just about gone by Christmas, so about six to seven months. I was so pleased when it had finally all gone. You probably do have a blue face, I looked absolutely shocking for about 24 hours afterwards.

Royal, I hope you continue to feel a bit better on your new chemo.

Blimey Mrs- wasn't expecting it to last that long! I feel like getting it out and showing everyone as it's quite impressive and bizarre. DH is very impressed with it but he's probably of the only ones who will see it, can't imagine what dd will make of it- we are not big on modesty in our house so it will be hard for her not to notice!

Hello mrs hope all is well your way? Youve been rathe quiet :)
Yes, luckily this new chemo seems so far less troublesome. However, the most bizarre thing is the discomfort and mild pain I have been getting in the soles of my feet! Anybody else experienced this? It is like they are raw and sore.
Fresta, i had my operation in july and my breadt is still black and blue too! It surely does not look normal yet but it is looking way better than say the first few weeks post surgery.
Hang in there!

Hi royal, I'm fine thanks. I haven't had chemo but I'm sure I have read on here that people do get very sore soles of the feet, I think it's a known thing.

With regard to the blue boob, I think fresta was referring to the blue dye that she and I were injected with. It serves as a guide during surgery, it makes your wee bright blue immediately afterwards and gives your a smurf like blue tinge all over for a day or so. But the blue stain remains in your breast tissue for months. It does fade and shrink down but it takes ages. It's more turquoise really. I was really shocked at how long it took.

How are you feeling today fresta?

Royal - is it Hand/Foot syndrome?

Hi Royal I know exactly what you are talking about. I had REALLY sore feet when I was on the Tax part of Fec T! I also lost feeling in them, which does have a name but I can't think of it right now. I found I needed to wear two pairs of socks and put comfort insoles in all my shoes. If I didn't after walking just a short way, it felt like my feet were burning...horrid! It took a while for the pain to go, but it did eventually. Worth mentioning at your next appointment?!

I seem to be back on the joyous roller coaster, although not sure I ever got off! I have been having pain in my back and in one hip. Not constant, but particularly bad at night. Also very achy legs at night. I assumed it was another side effect of Tamoxifen, so casually mentioned it to my BCN. Who then said, I should see my Oncologist so he can do a bone scan?! I'm sure they are just being super cautious, but it's amazing how quickly all those fears flood back!

fresta I remember the Blue Boob, or as my Aunt referred to it my BlueTit Oh and the joyous blue pee!! The Blue mark on my breast stayed for the best part of 6months, gradually faded with time. Xx

Sending best wishes to old and new xx

Oh I get the blue colour reference now! I did not have that which is why I assumed we were all talking about the post op bruises :)
Thanks lily for the link. It is just my soles for now, but who knows if my hands will catch up! and lovebeingananny you pretty much sum it up, although it is sort of early fays yet for me I suppose. I find walking rather hard yes. I have been given vitamin B this last time, so I hope that eases things. I will mention this next week for sure. I seriously thought it was just me!
Nanny, i hope it is just one of those extra precautionary measures for you and nothing more. We start to get used to the drama as we go along!
Mrs, how is your DD? Is she being a good girl and keeping in touch :)?

Hi nanny, I'm sorry to hear you are in the hospital loop again, as if we ever really escape it. Will you be seen quickly do you think, waiting does terrible things to your mind? Whenever I gave the odd ache and pain dh always asks if it's muscular or bone pain. I know exactly what he's thinking.

Royal, dd is in touch almost daily and we've seen her a couple of times as she's only 30 minutes away. She's got freshers flu at the moment and feeling sorry for herself. She's coming home for the weekend for a bit of mothering, can't wait.

Thanks royal and Mrs, in answer to your question, my scheduled appointment with the Oncologist was January next year....but as soon as I mentioned pain to BCN it was moved to next week! I was happy to leave till Jan, as I really don't think it's anything to worry about....old age, creeping in Of course now the BCN has made such a big thing of it, those little worries are creeping in, so I have to reign them in and think positively! I had a clear bone scan 2 years ago, and Chemo! So the chances of it being anything too sinister must be remote! Of course if when I see the Oncologist he seems concerned, then I'll worry!

Like you said we don't have 'normal' aches and pains now....or at least that's how others see it! Xx

Yes, the blue is from the dye.

I am feeling quite well today, a bit bruises and sore under the arm. The only thing worrying is the underside of my upper arm is numb. Googling tells me it could be nerve damage and has a chance of being permanent, although hoping it will get better when the wound and swelling go down.

I took my first doses of dexamethasone in prep for chemo tomorrow- I am scheduled to have 4 rounds of docetaxel and then four rounds of EC chematherapy if the cancer is responding. No weird side effects yet.

Hope it's just normal aches lovesbeingananny

Fresta, you may find that some feeling comes back but be prepared for some permanent numbness. You will probably have all so of weird sensations over the coming months as you heal. My scar is largely numb and I don't expect that to improve now and the area around my underarm feels a bit strange still. Not numb but not normal.

Nanny, I hope your oncologist is desperately uninterested in your aches and pains. Keep us informed. I sometimes think the nurses are a lot more jumpy than the consultants.

Thanks Mrs I hadn't thought of it like that....but I suppose the BCN is our first point of contact if we have any issues, so I suppose all they can do is make an appointment with the Oncologist. Makes sense really! Feel much more relaxed now!

fresta glad you are doing okay. My arm stayed numb, for quite a long time. Even now I have very little feeling in my arm pit on the affected side. But then I did have a full node clearance, and I have lymphoedema, so that might account for it. But I recall things feeling very odd after my surgery, although for me the weirdest time was a couple weeks later, when I think all the nerves and things come back to life. That's when I had more pain, but still manageable, and weird sensations! Good Luck with your first Chemo! Xx

Well nanny, I hope I'm right. I have three I can call on and the older one is definitely more likely to take things in her stride, whereas the younger two are always a bit more cautious. They don't want to mess up so a referral is the natural thing to do. Hopefully it's just age catching up with us all.

DW had noticed a lump recently and her gp has referred her for testing which is happening next week. She's already started talking about what about DS if she died and being jokey about a losing boob party. I'm trying to be positive and lets 'wait and see till the tests come back etc' and though shes sometimes being light hearted I think its getting to her.

Any advice from people in a similar position would help.

Breakingdad, i am sorry she has to go through this, but it is great that you want to support her furing this time, firstly, it could very well not be anything malignant. Untill you know for sure, it is a good idea to just be there for her when she needs to think out loud or voice her fears and not everything she will say will be nice or make sense! but she is scared and will react in many ways...trust me we all were scared at that stage...still are !
You feel suddenly overwhelmed and can not stop racing to the worst. Try to be with her on her visit(s) and maybe take her out for something nice.
She will worry. That is inevitable, but at least she will not be alone.my advice,listen..really listen and do not lecture!
Wishing her and you all the best.

Hi BreakingDad, sorry your wife is going through this. I can't offer much advice, but it really is unlikely that your wife will die any time soon. Only one in ten breast lumps is cancerous, and breast cancer is generally very treatable. Even advanced breast cancer, which your wife is unlikely to have, can be kept at bay for years with the right treatments. More drugs are constantly being developed. I'd encourage her, and you, to try and take things one step at a time. Chances are it is a harmless cyst or similar, though obviously that won't stop you worrying about cancer.

I hope that you get good news next week

Thanks mama and leslie, an yes are going with her to appointment.