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Tamoxigang cancer support thread 54: A new thread for a new year!

982 replies

WhatWouldLeslieKnopeDo · 21/12/2015 21:27

Welcome one and all to the wonderful Tamoxigang thread! May 2016 bring us all health and happiness Star

If you are new here, then an extra big welcome to the club nobody wants to join. The thread is for people with any type of cancer, and also those who are waiting for results. So don't be shy. We are more than happy to hold your hand while you are waiting for a diagnosis, and we will be here to celebrate or commiserate, whatever your news Flowers

No question is too big or too small, someone will usually have an answer, or an idea of where you might find one. You can laugh, cry, shout, swear, and, of course, eat chocolate Chocolate it is a bit of a safe haven from the mad world of cancer, the head-tilting and talk of bravery, and all the nonsense that comes with this diagnosis :)

So feel free to introduce yourself. And oldies, feel free to re-introduce yourself if you'd like.

We only have one rule here and that is no Googling!

OP posts:
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cosamangiare · 15/02/2016 18:03

thanks sleepy will pass that on Flowers

SleepyForest · 16/02/2016 19:54

My bathroom is finished! It looks really smart and I look forward to having lots of lovely long baths. There is a huge mirror with lots of lights and shelves so my dcs can spend hours grooming themselves and making themselves even more beautiful.

It has been worth the upheaval I think.

Lilymaid · 16/02/2016 20:01

Great news Sleepy
Enjoy those lovely baths. Kitchen refit is on our list this year ... but we are also waiting for plumber to fit a new waste for our bath as we need a new plug and the old plug/waste is of a size no longer made. I reckon we have been using a mouldy travel plug as substitute for about a decade!

Speedypenguin · 17/02/2016 08:54

Enjoy those long soaks in the bath Sleepy. Glad it's finished.

Lily- a kitchen refit sounds exciting. Will you be changing everything?
when do they start your new treatment?

Royal- hope the simulation session went well. I didn't have rads so not entirely sure what that is.

Mumto- am sleeping a bit better thanks but may get some kalms.

royalmama · 17/02/2016 10:18

Hello all.
Sleepy, i love changes! You must want to stay in there a lot now:)
Speedy, thanks for asking. CT simulation is preparation for the actual rads. ( Like a rehearsal) They take images, measurements and gave me a few tattoos ( yes I am officiall tattoed now yippee! well they are just tiny pin point marks to help the machine during the treatment) we also practised holding my breath in a way that helps during the rads to minimise effects to heart and lung. It took about 45 minutes in all. Once my treatment plan is set they will contact me about the actual treatment.
Hope everybody else is doing well.

fresta · 17/02/2016 11:50

I love planning renovations, so kitchens and bathrooms sound exciting to me, enjoy the bathing Sleepy.

Royal, that all sounds very hi-tech, I'm not looking forward to my rads.

Feeling much better now, so going to go away to Durham and Beamish for a couple of nights this week and make the most of it. However, bits of me seem to be dropping off rapidly with the EC, my nails are clinging on by a thread and feel very strange, I think I might lose a few in the next couple of weeks, my eyebrows are virtually nonexistent now, my head is almost totally bald. I think I have been quite lucky with my eyelashes until now, but even they have gaps in them now. Trying not to look ill without eyelashes is challenging, my makeup just doesn't look right without a coat of mascara Hmm

royalmama · 17/02/2016 12:59

Fresta..the rads are surely going to be a breeze compared to the chemoGrin
It has been almost six weeks now since i finished my chemo and my hair is about 2 inches long, my eyebrows though not neat are growing back fast, my lashes a bit slower but appearing now. You will soon be looking back as I am fresta trust me! I hated the fact mylashes and brows went more than I did the hair on my head but with a few touches here and there you can get away with it and look "normal".

fresta · 17/02/2016 13:25

You're right Royal, and it's less than 5 weeks until my my last chemo! That's really good news about your hair growth, I hope mine grows as quick, I'm really fed up of being bald now, I don't really like my wig and hats are Ok when outside but I long to just have hair. I bought a little grey trilby yesterday, which I think looks great with a scarf tied under it like this s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/e1/4c/23/e14c23ab8cbd99ba24b8a1b257e7e7f2.jpg I plan to wear it in the spring when it gets too warm for woolly hats.

Lilymaid · 17/02/2016 20:32

For those without eyelashes (as I am at the moment) eyeliner is a help.

I had a blood test today - at all time low so will need 3 bags on Friday for my transfusion/chemo day. Awaiting results of iron test to see if all the recent transfusions have caused "iron overload" which is bad for the heart. In that case I'll need something (injection?) for that SE!

SleepyForest · 17/02/2016 22:50

Lily, I hope you feel better for your new blood.

I have been invited to a breast cancer care day about applying make up. I have never worn make up as it makes my eyes and skin sore. Perhaps I should go and learn.

mumto2andnomore · 18/02/2016 09:10

Fresta it's a horrid time when you have no hair and feel like crap but everything will soon start to grow. Take some selfies as it is good to look back and see how far you've come Flowers

Lily I hope the blood does the trick

Sleepy is it look good feel better or something different ? Sounds nice anyway I hope you enjoy it

Still waiting for yearly mammo results here, 2 weeks today and they sai 3-4. It's horrid am on edge all of the time waiting for the post

royalmama · 18/02/2016 10:56

Mumto2 waiting for results is always so hard. I hope you get reassured.

Speedypenguin · 18/02/2016 13:11

Fresta- waiting for hair to grow back is horrid but loving the hat & scarf combo.

Sleepy- I went to the make up workshop the hospital put on and it was really good.

Mumto- that's a long time to wait. That on-edge feeling is just horrid. Fingers crossed they come soon.

thisyearwillbefab · 19/02/2016 10:46

Please tell me it will get better. My daughter was diagnosed on new years eve with breast cancer and is due her 3rd chemo next week. She has just turned 29 and has a 4 year old. She's due surgery once finished chemo ( has 3 left) and is terrified. I can find loads of support for partners or parents of younger children. But she's still my baby and I feel helpless. So far I've been with her to every appointment. She has a very supportive boyfriend but due to logistics he can't always get to come with her. He is however fantastic with helping her in every other way. It's all so scary. I really just wanted to write this down. Must add my husband and my other children have been brilliant. It's just shit though and I'm so angry as it's not fair. Why her? Why any of you lovely people?

thisyearwillbefab · 19/02/2016 11:19

Meant to say also hate my username but can't work out how to change it. This year is not fab Sad

mumto2andnomore · 19/02/2016 11:42

This year welcome though sorry you are here. It must be really hard watching your daughter go through this and trying to be positive for her. It's isn't fair, none of it is. You sound like you are being really supportive which I'm sure she appreciates. The treatment is long but it does come to an end eventually and then she will be able to get her life back a little x

Speedypenguin · 19/02/2016 12:59

Thisyear- no, it's not fair and difficult to watch her having to go through treatment. She will appreciate all the support you are giving her. I sometimes felt it was easier to be going through the treatment myself than be the ones like my dad and my sister who were helping me get through it. Some of the helplines like breastcancer care and macmillan may be able to offer you some support too. It is a scary time but as mumto says the treatment does come to an end and you can begin to move on from it.
there are lots here to support you.

Speedypenguin · 19/02/2016 13:00

Lily- hope transfusion/chemo day is going smoothly. Were the iron levels ok?

Lilymaid · 19/02/2016 13:35

On bag 2 of 3 with the blood transfusion and have had my chemo. I haven't heard about the iron levels yet though have asked!
CMF SEs include cystitis, neutropenia, mouth ulcers, diarrhoea and vomiting/nausea. Asked about Emend but was told I have to wait and see how bad the nausea is!

mrsrhodgilbert · 19/02/2016 16:07

Thisyear, it will get better and you sound like a lovely mum, doing all the right things. After the initial shock of diagnosis and treatment people tend to stop asking how you are, as if it's all over and everything's better. It's obviously really tough physically, but the mental scars remain for a long time, maybe forever. Keep on asking how she is and caring long into the future. It's over two years since my diagnosis and my parents haven't visited me once. They call if I've had an appt or a test result but there's no emotional caring. After all this time I'm really struggling with their behaviour. Luckily DH and daughters are brilliant.

Lily, I hope you feel energised after your transfusions and the new treatment does its stuff.

Mum2, any sign of your results yet?

Wishing everyone a good weekend.

mrsrhodgilbert · 19/02/2016 16:08

It's nearly two years, not over two years, feels like 100.

Speedypenguin · 19/02/2016 17:07

Lily- hopefully the SE will be minimal for you. I hate the waiting and seeing for Emend, although apparently my hospital now gives it routinely for FEC but not sure what else.

Waving to Marshy- how are you?

Thinking of everyone else.

mumto2andnomore · 19/02/2016 19:05

Hope you get minimal side effects Lily

No nothing yet Mrs Rhod thanks for asking

Love to everyone, have a good weekend x

Lilymaid · 19/02/2016 20:15

Feeling rather tired after chemo and transfusion, so for first time, I've not done the weekly supermarket shop after chemo. Sat in car whilst DH went round! Have managed to eat small portion of pizza and salad. DSs both home this weekend so will ensure they understand that it is DIY this time.

Probably said this before but so sad when family members are so cold when you are getting through cancer. Fortunately, in some ways, both my DPs had died shortly before DS2 and I had our diagnoses as they would have been shattered but supportive, despite their age.

Hope everyone has a good weekend though it sounds as though those in the south will get mild weather, those in the north get cold weather and there's a lot of rain in the middle (please, please no more floods)

Speedypenguin · 20/02/2016 14:11

Sorry you're feeling tired Lily. hopefully both your ds will run around after you this weekend.

Fingers crossed you get results this week Mumto.

Bit rainy here but took boys to cinema to avoid it. Football cancelled again though so eldest ds is very grumpy and me getting him to tidy his room went down very well!!