TAMOXIFEN -the third thread ***

[MaryAnnSingleton]

here we are- will put a link on the old thread.

btw - I don't think the fact that the thread has Tamoxifen in the title will exclude others -it seems to be quite a well known thread and people do lurk and then join or get directed. Do you agree ?

i agree mas, we do have a lot of lurkers and people know we are here but it is a subtle title- ie it doesn't scream "CANCER"!!!! a little annonimity is nice

Thanks MAS. Just bookmarking whilst I wait for physio. Got my seroma drained today and got first onc meeting later so it's quite a full on day here! I drove today as well and managed to sleep on my front last night again so life is getting back to normal bit by bit.

SR - that sounds like a lovely evening. We have the most beautiful bird in our garden. It's very small with grey/ brown feathers on head, back & wings but it's breast is the most vibrant coral plumage. Keep meaning to look it up.

RWU - how was the choc fest?!

BB - how are you doing? Hope your drainage problems are reducing and that you're recovering well.

Hi Pennies - you got to sleep on your front! I still can't imagine doing that. And I'm not sure what I'd do with my arm on the side where I keep getting fluid. Going to get it drained off again today. Fourth time. Apart from that, all seems to be going OK. Have you been given any idea when you may be able to drive again? My consultant said two weeks but I really can't see that being a possibility at the moment. To be fair, she said at least two weeks, but I'm an optimistic sort and I was hoping to stop needing Mum and Dad's Taxis sooner rather than later.

Hope eberyone else is doing OK today.

Everyone, even. Not Eberyone.

Hi Burning Bright no advice from me ref driving I'm afraid but glad to see you here. All of a sudden you will start to feel better.

The bird -hmm - I'm thinking chaffinch. Anyone else?

As regards the thread title- I like it, people will know which one it is, let's keep it.

I have just been to a meeting at which I expected to get sacked (I haven't done anything iffy, there's just a lot of changes internally within the company -these are the ones who sacked my poor client a couple of weeks ago). But I didn't. Yay! I might still do in a few months time - but haven;t yet. Phew! But now I have a bit of a headache, I am thinking it is the stress..

cakes but eek for the next few months! best wishes for your job!

on the driving, whenever you feel ready, i live in the middle of blardy nowhere on top of a big hill so if i don't drive, i don't get out iyswim so i tend to be back driving fairly quickly, check with your insurance company and see what their guidelines are (for example some won't cover you driving after a mx for 6 weeks unless you have been certified as fit to drive by your gp)

phew cakes !!
Is it a bullfinch ?

Just caught up - and completed the tricky thread change maneouvre too - thank you MAS..

The Chris Packham evening sounds great SR, enjoyed reading your account.

Pennies, how lovely of your DH's boss - that's a really thoughtful present. (And in extreme contrast to my DH's work, who have treated him abysmally since my DX) It is great to feel cared about - and how it should be.

Hope recovery continues to go well, and you too BB.

Good luck with the job Cakes, and well done with the housework RWU (housework???? what's that?)

I'm going to a yoga day tomorrow, and have to take something for a shared lunch - so am going to attempt some home made hummus this evening - bit uncertain about how much garlic to put in - all the recipes seem to say different amounts.

Hope everyone else is fine.

I'm guessing Bullfinch too - is there a prize?

Hi, this change seems to have happeneded by magic to thread 3 - thank-you. Fine re title and I agree I prefer not to shout cancer.

Is it a long tailed tit? They are very pretty but the pink is quite subtle so if its v bright then yes possibly a bull finch. We had these this winter during the snow - lovely birds. Long tailed tits come into our garden regularly and look nice - I need to put more bird food out.

Had my review and met onc consultant for first time. I liked him a lot - no nonsense - good and v welcome sense of urgency after this having to drift along with waiting for my armpit to heal for weeks. CHemo starts TUesday! In a different hopsital from normal to avoid further delay - I am pleased. Will revert to normal hospital for 2nd session. Start with epirubicin. AND my scans were fine - huge relief. So at long last we have a plan . Its 2 chemo sessions then op to clear lymph nodes then back to 3rd chemo. There's a ghastly fortnight in there somwehere but won't think about that today!!

Blimey, Pennies, sleeping on yr front! I have a friend who's still on her back 3 years post-op! And so am I. I hope you get on well with onc.

Cakes - glad you still have work and are not sacked.

I drove after 2 weeks and I did inform ym insurance co. although they said they didn't need to know. But some do.

BTW CHris Packham was lamenting that DCs spend so much less tiem outdoors mucking around in nature and urged everyone to get their DC (esp under 8s) out into the countryside, as the average age of folk in birding is so ancient! So I am pssing this on. The RSPB and its YOC for youngsters used to do fab short holidays which my DD loved when we took her aged about 8 and 9. We went to two at Dale Fort in Pembrokeshire and one in Brittany which we all went on. They were not just birds but wild-life in general - lots of fun. Just mentioning this in case anyone interested. If so I could dig out more detail on the net probably. I loved these hols too as the wildlife leader did all the thinking and work so v relaxing for parents!

Great news about the scans SR, and that your chemo is starting. I had epirubicin to start with too. Good that you are back to your local hospital after the first one.

Yay SR, good to get things going! And brilliant news about the scans!

By the way - the sacking thing is not as terrifying as it sounds, I have several clients, this client accounts for three days a month so I would not be totally destitute if they went. But as they are the most reliable at paying on time it would be a bit of a challenge if (when) it happens.

I have been sort of expecting it and working to line up a replacement, but these things take time. (Hence my joy at getting the other big job, it is a bit of a cushion)

Good weekend all!

excellent news about scans and am glad things are getting going- lots of luck with first chemo.
We always feel a bit amateur,with our ordinary binoculars and bird books - but ds does know a lot about birds and young folk should be encouraged. I really hope he carries on being excited by nature.

Yeah we are RSPB members and we do like to look at birds. But we are always a bit noisy crashing through the undergrowth, we usually see NOTHING.

Bur we do have a sparrowhawk who sits on our back fence and puts our little birds off coming for the food. Git.

@ git, Cakes !!

You might also have had this experience then which happened twice right in front of my DC when they were little...

Quietly watching blue tits etc feeding at bird table in garden, or on the other occasion in a local wood where there are bird feeders.....

Suddenly whoosh - big sparrowhawk descends and plucks a blue tit off the table, sits on a table looking v fierce, right in front of us, with blue tit in its beak for what seemed like ages, to ensure little bird is dead, then whoosh - off it flied flew (sorry, getting carried away with this recollection) to eat it.

I was sure DCs would be traumatised, but in fact they seemed to take it in their stride as a part of nature!!

Just a quick post - I am feeling very. My mum just phoned to say my poor dad is still in hospital, because he has now got scabies FGS.

He's been in hospital for the last 5 weeks so he can only have picked it up there. Mum suspects it may have been when they lost all his clothes and put him in hospital garb.

He went in with a urine infection, and while he's been there has picked up pneumonia and now this.

Sorry rant over. Just feel that the longer they keep him in the more things he is exposed to.

oh kk, so sorry to hear this- it never rains but it pours. Hopefully though he will recover and be home again soon. All our love to your and the whole family (although trying to explain to 'older' relatives that the ladies that live in the 'pooter are sending their love might just confuse matters ) Hope you get some good news soon xx

Thanks RWU - I'm sure its no-one's 'fault' he's picked up these things, just feel he'd be better off at home. Will pass on your love

poor poor dad KK - love to him and you
I like the idea of ladies who live in the computer (I feel as though I live on it at any rate) My mum doesn't really get how it all works and thinks that everything is contained within my computer

KK - that's awful. You should mention this to the clinical director. it's not good enough.

Sandripples - Yay for good scans.

BB - I drove for the first time last Tuesday (but only about half a mile back from the pub) and took myself to the hospital (about 4 miles away) yesterday. however I drive an automatic so that helps. Later I'll pick our other car, which is a manual about half a mile, just to see how that goes. I didn't tell the insurance company - it never occurred to me to!

Met with oncologist as well yesterday. Start chemo on Friday, which I thought was fast but SR's Tuesday start is super fast! I will be having AC (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin) & Taxol, four rounds of each with each dose every 2 weeks. I was expecting the FEC-T stuff that everyone seems to have but from what I can gather as this is a BUPA job they prefer this stuff because it's a shorter process (14 weeks rather than18). So it's going to be intense. Has anyone else had this regime?

As i've got small veins and only one arm that we can use for injections etc after lymph node removal so they're inserting a thing called a port under the skin on Wednesday so it makes it easier to get the stuff into me. Anyone else had one fitted?

Onc. was a very interesting woman. Clearly switched on and dynamic, and uber glamourous! DH was most taken by her! She seemed to like me though because at the end of the consultation we shook hands and then she kissed me (both cheeks) goodbye! I have never experienced this from a dr. V strange. She didn't kiss DH though which he is gutted about.

perhaps you get kissed because it's BUPA ?! Lots of good wishes for the first chemo though -will be thinking of you both.

KK - rally sorry and annoyed on your behalf about the scabies. That's terrible and I hope you are going to ensure the Clinical Director is informed.

Pennies - I have heard about ports and was hoping to get one if I had any trouble at all with my veins- as you know I am paranoid about a repetition of the pain I had with the antibiotics.
I am glad I have kept mentioing this to the medics as the nic onc yesterday prescribed a drip for me and I am pretty sure the epirubicin wd normally have been a bous into my hand. The 5FC will be a blus but that's not for 3 months so I'll worry about it later.

When I had my first vein problem my brother who is a Dr immediately suggested a 'line ' which I think is the same as a port so its obviously a well known process. (Brother is a Psychiatrist so doesn't have to deal with chemo. ) Sorry I don't about your regime. If no-one here does, you could try BCC site? Good luck anyway. I am now feeling v apprehensive about starting, after a day of relief yesterday. But getting on a plan at last is good, as its nearly 3 months since my diagnosis (8 Dec) - when was yr Dx? I read the NICE guidelines and treatment is supposed to start 31 days after surgery at latest. I suspect this is behind the sudden rush by my team as I'm well beyond this.

Have you got your stock of pineapple, ginger and liqourice products in? I've got these and also some ice lollies and lucozade ordered, after tips from various people. Key thing seems to be to drink loads of water on day of treatment.

I'm also feeling v. apprehensive and worried. One of the risks of the treatment is that it can cause leukaemia in the future and I'm wondering if I'm jumping out of the fireplace and into the fire.

My DX was 23rd Dec, so we were delayed a bit by Xmas and also we took a week out and went on hol in Jan.

I need to get lollies etc. Hadn't really considered all that yet.

MAS - lol @ BUPA funded kiss! We're covered through DH's work, so I'm guessing they've got us on a premier cover if kissing's part of the deal!

arf ! years ago when dh worked for another firm we were covered by Bupa - but having said that I've absolutely no complaints about my treatment. The leukaemia thing is a bit of a worry though,perhaps you can find advice as sandripples suggests on the BCC website ?