TAMOXIFEN THREAD HERE ***

[MaryAnnSingleton]

Am sick of my messages never getting through - I have had 7 attempts to reply to Cakes' last post- am starting a new thread ....
this is what I wrote anyway.....

righto, this i my 7th attempt to reply on this thread - everything keeps disappearing !
My assessment is on 25th,and am told to allow two hours for it,crikey !!
Saw a lady in town yesterday who was having rads and finished at about the same time as me and she's just seen the onc. for her follow up - they are running very behind I know- so I emailed to ask about mine - I tie myself in knots in trying to be assertive yet not too needy or a nuisance - I suppose I just like to feel that everything is done in order. Am not worrying about my health -am sure breast is fine and dandy, it's more my emotional state which troubles me.
Anyway, they have made me an appointment but it's at the same time as my assessment so have emailed back and left a phone message...arghh !
Special thoughts for RWU today and of course KurriKurri - hope all ok..and of course you Cakes and Morph.

thanks RWU, you are probably right. Anyway have had shower to make myself vaguely presentable, and appointment is 4.30, but is the duty doc. so if I get there a bit early may get seen quicker (or not!!)

hope all's well Kurri!

hope it was ok at the docs Kurri
Went and booked my swine flu jab today -did go yesterday but chickened out so missed the clinic this evening

Hi, not been back long, and needed a cup of tea. Had to wait over an hour, by which time I was pretty anxious. Upshot is he's sending me for an ultrasound, as he can feel a lumpy bit on my chest wall.

Not my best day ever, but I guess if here's something there it's not going to go away on its own. Just have to wait for my appointment to come through.

oh KurriKurri - bugger..sorry can't think of what else to say,apart from sending you a big hug xxxxx

Thanks MAS, I'm OK, planing on keeping myself busy until appointment comes through - you may find me wittering on on here rather a lot for a while! I hate all this bloody business sometimes

do you think you'll need to wait long ? keep busy and do keep posting,we're always here xxx
Am probably in trouble as I've just posted on the bcc forum on a thread about the upcoming bc storyline in Coronation Street. I think Corrie is pretty well written on the whole and am sure they are going to do a good job with what is obviously a sensitive issue - however folk on the forum are a bit aerated about it (is that the right word ?) saying it'll upset them/cause distress to families etc. I think it -if handled well- will highlight what having a dx of bc is like,and seeing an established character go through the works will inform viewers of the often misunderstood reality (well as much reality as tv can do) of cancer. I pointed this out and the fact that if anything potentially distressing to others was avoided in dramas then there'd be nothing to watch.Plus you can choose to switch off - I daresay they'll flame me.

Hope I won't have to wait too long, Doctor said he'll get it asap - so whatever that means I guess.

I don't have any problem with programmes dealing with BC, as you say, people can always choose not to watch. I think the problem is that especially in the early days, everything upsets you, and everybody differs in how much they do or don't want to discuss. But raising awareness is always a good thing as far as I'm concerned.

well fingers are crossed here for you xxx

Oh KurriKurri - bugger, how disconcerting for you. Stay positive: with all the surgical and drug related stuff that has gone on there are bound to be aches and pains and random bumpy bits. I imagine most GPs just default to the ultra-safe option in a situation like this - and good thing too.

Post away - i imagine we will all be finding ourselves in these situations from time to time.

Hope your Dad enjoys his birthday and the fuss you all make of him!

xx

yup, agree with Cakes - random bumpy bits probably the norm after all the treatment but they will want to check you out to reassure you. Happy b day too to your dad !

Thanks all, I'm trying not to worry until I find out what's what. Am hoping as you say that its just caution on doctors part.

Unfortunately won't be with dad on his b'day, as we live too far away to get down all that often, but will chat to him on the phone. Eldest sister lives near and she is a good cake maker, so will no doubt come up with something for him.

Hope you are all feeling OK today ladies: I have just got a prescription for posh dressings as it looks like I am developing burns from the radio - with any luck I will be able to use them before it gets too bad so i can avert the worst!

BC nurse has just compliemted me on my skin (face not boob obv) - so the Eucerin is doing something right. Hooray!

xx

Hi cakes sorry about the burns, they are a pain aren't they. Are you about half way through now ? -think thats when mine started IIRC. What sort of dressings are they? (nosy).

Glad your face is a feeling better, the eucarin sounds good. I may invest in some, (old lady smell is in this winter.)

Hope all is well with everyone.

Hiya KK

Yes, am today having number 9 out of 15. It doesn't actually feel too bad to me, but it looks a bit hot and so the nurse said to get the dressings before they are actually needed. Not sure what they are, the hospital Trust is too tight to dispense them, so she has sent a letter to my GP asking them to do it I will have to visit GP tomorrow to see if they are ready yet.

Can really recommend the Eucerin - old person pong notwithstanding, it sorts the men from the boys when it comes to dry skin. (Top tip - make sure you get the right one lots of variants, only one is OK for the face).

Hope you are feeling OK today. It's hard to keep going sometimes. I actually feel worse now than when I was on the chemo - following on from the dry skin thing (still going strong on my body) I now also have loads of joint aches and pains. I am a bit prone to these at the best of times, but they are especially crap just now. They are in the same places as usual, but a bit harder to ignore. I feel about 95 (so the old person pong is perhaps not so wide of the mark....)

old person pong makes me laugh !!
I was sadly looking at my perfumes today thinking that I'm down to my last dregs which is depressing- was really sorely tempted to order some Jo Malone but really can't afford/can't justify spending £40 odd on scent- delicious though it is (black cafe vetyvr is my choice)
Are the dressings Allevyn ?- that was what I had. My skin was fine until the very last few sessions when it began to break and weep and these were fabulous - non adhesive spongy pad things.
Am feeling v tired not helped by a late night out at book group and 3 big glasses of red wine - also yesterday felt achy under my arm - am sure it is nothing,just weariness.

Hiya

Will report back on the dressings, haven't been to the pharmacy yet to see if they are there. BC nurse's advice is to use them before things get to the broken and weepy stage, so I am lucky that she has thought ahead and (hopefully) pre-empted the problem. But I am very high risk for problems with skin because apparently the radio hates folds in the skin and that is where they are directing the majority of the rays in my case.

Am sure you are right about the aches - it is tiredness. I am having big problems with my back and my leg - both are old injury-related things that don't usually cause me much trouble, andus they are generally kept at bay by exercise (which I have done none of for several months so they are reasserting themselves) - plus i think the sheer depth of the tiredness brings old weaknesses to the fore.

I also had several glasses of wine last night - we went out to eat just to get us out of the daily grind for a few hours. Certainly helped me to sleep as the pain in my back evaporated! but tired now. Still, I think it was worth doing while it lasted!

Am STILL washing soft toys, hope today will be the last batch. Oh the glamour.

Put the Jo Malone on the Xmas list. Santa will most likely provide! Hope so, anyway!xx

Yes,that is sensible advice to use the dressings before-it'll stop any rubbing..the bit under the breast/ribs is where it was worst.
I think that dh has already got my present (I know he has actually because I pointed it out in the White Stuff catalogue and a nice package came yesterday !!) and my mum has bought me something,so the Jo Malone may have to wait !
Ds has been asked to sing one of his exam pieces in a recital in a few weeks time - I wasn't sure whether he'd want to but he says yes -so now I shall be ridiculously nervous on his behalf !
Have good weekends everyone x

Hi again

Dressings are called Mepilex - there seem to be two different types but I have no instructions for either so I am just slapping them on. Both seem good - one sort is adhesive all over, the other has adhesive around the edges like a massive posh plaster.

They only had half the prescription in stock, but I seem to have dozens so hopefully this will suffice.

As regards the Jo Malone - maybe some Xmas money will be forthcoming? You never know! I went out and bought myself a new handbag yesterday and have persuaded DH to fork out for it for Christmas, not very romantic but at least you know what you are getting and they are off the hook with trying to work out what you want - rahter like your White Company experience!

Fab news about the recital, I hope it is an oopportunity to take lots of pictures and cry buckets with pride.

I think we may have just passed the Very Bad Parents test - yesterday someone gave DD £3 to buy herself something. We let her gamble it on horse racing. I realise it sounds bad, but we went to race night fundraiser for a special care baby unit, and she wanted to buy her own tickets. So it has all been lost with nothing to show for it - perhaps i can kid myself it will teach her a valuable lesson about the futility of gambling

at dd gambling - that's v funny ! dh designs software programmes for a software company that designs stuff for casinos and betting shops !
Handbag sounds a very good and useful present !

It is beautful too - a practical size (ie huge) but made from quite stiff, sheeny bottle green leather, with chocolate brown handles. It is yummy.

I have been ogling it through the shop window from my car every time I drive past to my mother's. But of course I could not quite forget public safety so could not turn my attention off the road long enough to see the price tag. Anyway i went in and it turned out to be just about at the top end of what I would consider for a very nice handbag (£85) so grabbed it quick. Can't wait for Xmas now!

mmm, sounds fab - something nice to look forward to !

Hi MAS - Is it this week you go for your CBT stuff? Hope it goes well, will be thinking of you.

Hope KK and of course RWU are doing OK as well.

Hi all

Have just been to the GP's - have had a niggling pain in the armpit on the OTHER side for quite a while now. I have mentioned it at the hospital and oncs have had a cursory look, but could feel nothing. So I got fed up and went to the GP's - got in straight away (stunned emoticon).

He can't feel anything either - so am now being referred to hosp as they think it may be related to the trapped ulna nerve I have in that arm. I think I shall have to apply for a resident's pass in the car park. Still I am glad he could not feel anything!

oh Cakes,that's whirl for you - good that nothing untoward could be felt but not nice.
Yes, it is my CBT assessment thing on Wednesday, followed by post-rads follow up appointment the next day, am bit nervous about both,the CBT one because it's not exactly a laugh and ridiculously shy about undressing and exposing myself-which is daft as I was doing it every day a few months ago -but am sure you understand !
Hope everyone else is doing ok,RWU,KurriKurri and Morph.