All the fives... Tamoxigang cancer support thread 55

[WhatWouldLeslieKnopeDo]

Welcome newbies and oldies to our 55th thread!

Our previous thread is here.

If you have any sort of cancer please feel free to join us. We are always happy to offer a hand to hold if you're waiting for test results too.

There are no stupid questions here, and there will usually be someone who can answer, or point you in the right direction.

Thank you, lacies! Amber, thank you for calming me down somewhat - intellectually I KNOW most of this stuff but I'm finding it hard to hold on to it at the minute.

How long does the bruise from the biopsy take to go down? I had my biopsy 3 weeks ago now and it still hurts to move, is still a big lump in the breast and the bruise is about 2" across and bloody purple. The lump is as a result of biopsy as biopsy was of thickening rather than lump.

pontefractals I can completely sympathise, it's horrible what the mind can do when we're frightened and anxious. I am hanging on to all the positive words and support on here like a lifeline right now. Hugs and virtual positive thoughts coming your way.

mishmash1979 I too had my biopsy nearly 3 weeks ago (albeit on a lump). It is still quite tender, doesn't look bruised but feels bigger and lumpier around the original area. I actually rang the BC nurse at the clinic and she assured me it was completely normal bruising - the biopsies are quite invasive in a delicate area and can sometimes take several weeks to calm down. Maybe worth mentioning if you have another appointment soon though?

Good morning lacies there i managed to get us all a new cool nickname!
Mishmash, sorry the biopsy site has flared up so much. Seems your skin did not take so very well to the invasive procedure. I echo tha you may want to ask about this and get it sorted.
There is sooooo much news regarding advancement in treating cancer , especially breast cancer it has me in a kind of daze. Sone of it is in early stages, but some, like the medicine in the news i shared with you yesterday, is ready to use albeit costly for the NHS. I pray that as Amber tells us , that soon breast cancer, and indeed most cancers, will only be an annoying disease that requires control like hypertension and diabetes.
I am so far doing well on Tamoxifen. Well, by well I mean no major issues, because I have put on weight as I keep telling you all and I still have achy ankles. The physiotherapy sessions are managing my achy, tense hip joint and I have more mobility and flexibility there now which is a relief. I really hope we can go on that holiday of ours in July. I get a bit anxious when the DS mention it with such excitement. I just worry the follow up I have will bring up something bad and we will have to once again cancel:(

Today marks one year since I found my lump. What a year it has been and what a roller coaster ride. Nothing could have prepared me for this, but I have to say the fact I went through it all amazes me. So to all those who have just embarked on this journey, I would like to assure you it does pass and you will find yourself looking back at the treatment and all the agonies and suffering and feeling stronger all for having done it. Cancer does not own us, but it sure as hell does give us a tough ride.
Wishing you all a good day.

Thank you royalmama for such a positive post and so good to hear how mentally strong you sound 1 year on. I am just counting the days until the 17th when I can get this thing out of me and finally get some answers. Feeling a bit better each day that goes by but every few minutes get a strange sicky/flattery feeling when I think 'what if'...

2 of my DC are poorly (scarlet fever) so lots of running up and down 3 flights of stairs with medicine and drinks to take my mind of things. Seriously hoping I don't catch anything which might scupper my appointment date!

Morning, that was a lovely post to start the day Royal, thank you. How has the joint pain been on Tamoxifen? I start it in a couple of weeks and am worried about that.

It is so exciting when advances in care and treatment are being discovered. Certainly, if I hadn't have been offered the OncotypeDX test (on the NHS I may add) I would be starting chemo.

Luckily this test has determined I don't need chemo by mapping the genome specific to my cancer cells even though after my lumpectomy they realised my lump was a bit more serious than thought: lump twice the size than originally thought, cells upgraded to 3, lymph node affected, age below 40...
I'm not sure if it's offered as standard yet but, at the risk of giving people 'false' hope, I wonder if it's worth those newly diagnosed asking for it?

You never know, and it has certainly helped me dodge the chemo bullet.

Sorry, posted too early.

Jo, sorry to hear the DC's have been sick - an unwelcome something else to help you focus on during this period

We've had chicken pox these last few days, DC is like something from a horror movie. Life just goes on doesn't it? But in a good way

Morning Royal, what a lovely post. Anniversaries always make me rather reflective and this particularly brings back so many memories and emotions. I assume you're waiting for your one year check up, do you have a date?

Hi pontefractals, this is the thing that has us all worried and I'm sorry you're going through this uncertainty again. Hopefully it will be something innocent but I know that doesn't help the anxiety.

FlyChickie sorry to hear your little ones are poorly too - yes, life certainly does carry on as normal! I was really interested to hear about the test you had and it's certainly something I will ask about if I am diagnosed with BC.

Hi everyone and special waves to new people joining the thread.
Jo I hope your younger dc recover well from their scarlet fever. Keep a close eye on your temperature and get to the doctors or call your BCN (if you have one) if goes over 38 because SF may delay your biopsies.

I had my second to last chemo yesterday. My chemo brain hit when I pitched up for it on Monday only to be told that it was Tuesday - although to be fair every single one of my 10 treatments up to that point had been on a Monday. I'm still running my temperatures but my team are not too concerned because they are rarely exceeding 38 and are dropping back so its a virus. Annoying that it's been going on for 3 weeks though.

I had a nice few days at half term with dd2 and my mum. We went to visit some of my mum's friends by the seaside. I was quite tired from the cumulative effects of chemo and the virus so I did very little. My mum's friend was a bit worried about my temperatures because she is a retired GP but I was fine. Last chemo next week and I will be so happy to finish that stage of treatment .

No need to worry about SF jeopardising biopsies - just had a call from hospital, they are moving excisional biopsy appointment back to 24th June. Arrrggghhhhhh I wonder how much it would cost to have it done privatley or whether this is completely unnecessary?

*privately!

Hi Jo
I know the wait is so difficult but it has only been put back a week so I think you will be ok.

Rust I hope you are ok and if you are lurking, I hope your baby is settling in to your home and that your dd is adapting well to being a big sister. Not the easiest time for anyone. Have you got a date to start chemo yet?

Jo wishing your DC a speedy recovery. Scarlet fever us so annoying.
Mrs. It is my first follow uo since treatment finished. Would that be my yearly one? I think my doctor said he would be folloqing up e efy three nonths for the first two years. I have an appointmnet for scans and tests on July 10th. We are supposed to be travelling on the 20th while my doctor is away. I hope I can go with some reasuring news from somebody who sees the tests.
Mysillydog, you are amost there! Soon it will be over.

Waving yo everybody else.

Me again the lovely lady that called to reschedule my appointment earlier just called back to say that she had emailed the surgeon/consultant after our conversation to say how anxious I was and he has agreed to keep it on 17th.

Now don't know whether to be relieved, or more worried that he knows something I don't and thinks it does need to be taken out sooner.

What a rollercoaster!

Rollercoaster indeed Jo you poor thing!

Try not to read too much into it, they are well aware at how stressful people find this interim period and I'm sure they're just trying to lessen the stress for you after they realised their cock-up

That's good Jo. Try not to overthink things if possible (I do that myself though)

Havent been here for a while and its been busy so i am sending good thoughts and hugs to those that need them and welcome to new members of this very friendly but s!$$y club sorry you have found your way her
rust hoping you are ok and babe settling in.
Time goes fast and i started taxotere yesterday so 4 down 2 to go yey xxxx

Hi helky..that is great news! Not too long now.
Jo, I tend to be like that too:) doesn't help in our situation does it:) i think fkychickie has a point actually.

Take care all.

Oops helly i meant:)

Jo if it's any consolation I had a scan scheduled for a Bank Holiday where staff came in specially - I was bricking it (such a ladylike term) as I thought that was it, clearly things were so bad they were making special arrangements. Turned out they'd lost the scan request and then had to squeeze it in so as not to delay results and knock on appointments...

I just rang my BCN to clear up my confusion over the tamoxifen and to ask why my rads are so long after chemo (7 weeks) and she confirmed I was booked in incorrectly and will get a swifter rads date, she's also arranged for me to pick up the tamoxifen prescription at my bloods next week. So glad I rang as I worry about "bothering" people too much.

Hi everyone, well I had my diagnosis confirmed yesterday (bcn rang and said could I come in straightaway so bit of hint) less than a week after needle biopsy...so I have one grade 3 ductal tumour, scan shows no lumps and nodes clear. They have booked me in for a lumpectomy and snb biopsy on this thursday. I met the surgeon and he went through it all with me and DP(who was like a rock as my head was spinning). I have to go for a pre op check of heart etc on a day before it. He said they will send my lump for ONC type scoring after removal , but if nodes are clear they will just send me back for rads.
I was relieved to get the news and the ball rolling..strangely calm and just planning for next few weeks.
Was wondering how sore I will be after node biopsy and lumpectomy? My tumour is 3cm but because it's above the breast he thinks a lumpectomy will be fine. Any tips on what to expect ? It's day surgery and DS is in middle of exams so that suits me. Hope everyone is doing good x

*Scan shows just one lump that should say!

Hi Celendine
Glad that the waiting is over for you but about the diagnosis. Good that the nodes are looking clear though - can they tell that by ultrasound? Hope everything goes as well as it can on Thursday and that you have a speedy recovery . There's less than 48 hours now to my test results so I'm trying to prepare for bad news.