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Original poster

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!

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Marshy · 04/01/2016 07:34

Hi sleepy
Good to see you Smile That all sounds challenging to deal with. I hope you get a good plan soon
Earthy is it your appointment today? Fingers crossed for you.
I'm off to work soon and not looking forward to the 'back to work' commute. Full on week this week but on hols next week and can't wait.
Wishing everyone a good day

Mysillydog · 04/01/2016 08:25

Hi everyone

Earthy all the best and lots of handholding for today. You have got through Christmas and new year which has been tough and I know you must be feeling very wobbly this morning.

Sleepy good luck for tomorrow. It's horrible waiting for test results and even worse over Christmas. I'm going to a UK Centre Parcs, going to France sounds exciting. Fingers crossed we both get to go but I'm not going on the big slides.

DottyBee · 04/01/2016 08:36

Hi all, sending everybody best wishes.

I have my first appointment tonight with the colorectal department. Not sure what to expect, as my gp gave me the impression that I would just receive an appointment for a colonoscopy.

I feel a fraud and a time waster (both here and on nhs) as I am certain it is just haemorroids.

Sending good thoughts to you all.

Mysillydog · 04/01/2016 08:53

Dotty no one is ever a time waster here. I could name a lot of reasons why people time waste on the NHS but recognising concerning symptoms, going to your GP and being subsequently referred for more tests is not one of them. Good luck for today.

DottyBee · 04/01/2016 08:55

Thanks my sillydog.

Original poster
WhatWouldLeslieKnopeDo · 04/01/2016 09:44

Good luck earthy Flowers

SleepyForest lovely to see you, but sorry to hear about the neck tumours. I really hope they don't interfere with your holiday plans. I hope your oncologist has an excellent plan when you finally get to see him!

Dotty I'm sure they are always pleased to test people and find nothing wrong. Over the past few years I have seen plenty of people who are wasting NHS time and resources, you are not one of them :) the appointment today might be to decide whether they think you need a colonoscopy or not.

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DottyBee · 04/01/2016 11:13

Thanks Leslie. I was hoping that the next time anyone went rummaging around in there again, I would be sedated.

It was very painful when gp did a rectal exam, I am not looking forward to potentially going through that again.

lozwil · 04/01/2016 12:09

I hope I am in the right place but feel a bit of a fraud, I had a mmc that was discovered at my 12 week scan I had a bit of a c**p time and ended up having surgery and being severely anemic, since then I have been tired have a constant sore throat swollen gland in my neck a cough ear ache pain in my left shoulder and legs and palpatations this was all put down to anemia until a blood test came back fine so that was ruled out, a gland in my groin has now swollen up and I had a rash for no reason over Xmas a trip to gp's later (the 10th since aug) and loads of bloods done and they are starting to look into it the Dr mentioned glandular fever but also in passing it's unlikely to be cancer but may need to do further investigations so now I am freaking out blood tests are due back on Wed and trying to carry on as normal for ds which is hard as Dr signed me off work for 2 weeks just in case I need further tests so I am avaliable sorry for rambling just can't stop fearing the worst x x

Original poster
WhatWouldLeslieKnopeDo · 04/01/2016 12:34

Dotty if they do an examination, please do stop them if it is too painful. I had to do that the other day. They might want to feel your abdomen as well, and talk through your symptoms. Have you made notes? I always end up flustered and forgetting things so now I have a big notebook and write down all the things I want to mention. I hope the appointment isn't too unpleasant! Flowers

Welcome lozwil, I'm really sorry about your miscarriage, that must have been very hard Flowers and sorry you've been feeling so grim and now have had to join us here. You are not a fraud and you are very welcome :) though I hope you won't need to stay long. Did the doctor mention what type of cancer it might be? Hold on to the fact that she/he said it was unlikely :) I hope you get some answers soon, it must be very stressful. How old is your son? I don't have any children, but there are people here with children of all different ages.

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earthyambitions · 04/01/2016 12:48

Thanks all, holding it together, just! Appointment at 2.40. Feel v. Sick. And sore from poking and prodding.

lozwil · 04/01/2016 12:50

Thanks for your reply ds is 5 and back at school today he is happy I am not at work so I can get him from school, she mentioned lymphoma cos of my glands, I never thought I'd be wishing I have something like glandular fever but there u go x

royalmama · 04/01/2016 13:36

Earthy, thinking of you.

mumto2andnomore · 04/01/2016 13:45

I've been on holiday, back to the washing today ! Waving at everyone lovely to see some of the oldies popping on, this thread was such a lifeline to me going through treatment in 2013 gosh that seems ages ago ! No one understands like you lot do and I wish you all good things in 2016 Smile

Earthy thinking of you this afternoon

xmaskitkat1967 · 04/01/2016 13:57

Hello Sleepy- good to hear from you. Hopefully your results will be in soon and will show nothing else behaving badly, and that the lymph nodes can be zapped.

Lilymaid · 04/01/2016 14:07

Hi Sleepy
I have another CT scan next week so hoping I have had no further spread beyond the bones. Have you yet been given details of your course of treatment? I only see one Onc (as I have my treatment privately) and I think he is off skiing too at the end of Jan - but he will have got my next treatment arranged before then.
I've booked a foreign holiday over Easter but he will ensure that my treatment fits round this. You will go on your summer holiday

earthyambitions · 04/01/2016 16:18

I am fine, it is simply lumpy but totally normal breast tissue, an area of nodularity is what the Dr called it. I have never felt so relieved in my whole life!!! A huge, huge thank you for the massive support I have received on here. I truly am grateful, you have made the most horrific two weeks of my life a bit more bearable. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

lovebeingananny · 04/01/2016 16:41

That's great news earthy I am so pleased for you 💐 😃

mumto2andnomore · 04/01/2016 17:04

That's great Earthy Smile

Original poster
WhatWouldLeslieKnopeDo · 04/01/2016 17:22

Phew earthy that's great news! Grin

Lily fingers crossed for your scan too, and good your oncologist will plan around your holiday :)

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DottyBee · 04/01/2016 17:54

Fab news earthy.

Off to my appointment now. Took a photo of my undercarriage earlier (bored and curious) and I am pretty sure it is a bad case of piles.

Original poster
WhatWouldLeslieKnopeDo · 04/01/2016 18:50

Dotty good luck at your appointment, I hope it's piles or similar. And careful you don't accidentally upload that photo to Facebook or something! Grin

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StayGold · 04/01/2016 18:59

Hi all don't post much but read everyday so lovely to hear good news, well done earthy, time to celebrate! Smile. Good luck to all waiting for results and tests Flowers.

I have a quick question for all peeps that have cold cap experience, am having my last fec 100 chemo tomorrow (hurrah!) and have cold capped throughout. I have thinning hair all over but most noticeable on top. I wondered how I'm supposed to treat it now I've finished treatment, I haven't washed it properly since the beginning and can't wait to give it a good scrub, but am unsure how long to wait and also how long should I wait to get it cut? Am desperate to wash thoroughly as feel like I have awful build up (I have a very dry scalp) I'm prolly going to go to Toni and Guy as the have the post chemo hair specialists have heard they're good. Just wondered if anyone had any advice?

My background... Was diagnosed in May with idc in left breast after annual MRI and mammogram (family history clinic as 3 maternal relatives including mum died of bc) had 2 suspect areas was a grade 3 near the centre and a grade 1 lesion near the outer edge so opted for mx not lumpectomy. After node clearance was found one node had the grade 3 cancer and also lucky me they discovered Paget's disease too... Have always been greedy lol.

After reading all that if anyone has any advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks,

SG X

Mummywheel68 · 04/01/2016 19:16

Sorry I've not replied sooner Mrs Tattoo removal is really straightforward, a blast of cold air followed by a quick zap, rather like being fired at by an elastic band - not too painful. Once you've had radiotherapy it's not normally repeated in that area so no need to keep tattoos. I've got fairly pale skin and wanted to have one less reminder.

Will read through the thread in more detail to catch up with everyone in the next couple of days when I'm not working. Best wishes to all Smile

mumto2andnomore · 04/01/2016 19:18

SG well done for getting to your last fec Smile Not sure I can give much advice as though I did cold cap I still lost most of mine, I know you are not meant to dye it for a while which is a pain if it comes back grey ! I had some colour mousse just to tide me over. I used fast shampoo and conditioner to encourage growth too, don't know if it worked but I felt like at least I was trying everything !

StayGold · 04/01/2016 20:14

Thanks Mum, am looking at shampoos now, mine stayed quite well but have a thin patch in the shape of a "T" going from parting to crown with some scalp showing, was told that the weeks after chemo the hair does grow so isn't as bad as after the second fec. What shampoo products did you use? Heard of something called Nioxin (sp) or similar that's supposed to be good? Can't wait to not have to wear hats again lol x