**TAMOXIFEN** 4th thread

[MaryAnnSingleton]

here we go !

here - sorry forgot to put the link (fool)

Ah Kurri, he looks fab. Takes me back, as I did similar. Had a theatre company, toured in the back of an old transit van. Promoting new work mostly, all of us wrote, directed, acted if need be. We also did cabaret/ comedy nights too. Brilliant times, though we were permanently broke! Am still very good friends with all bar one from the company, so whatever becomes of it all it'll stand him in good stead. Good on him I say. Great you're proud of him, my parents hated me doing it all. They kept asking when I'd get a proper job.

he looks wonderful kk - you must be terribly proud !!
smee - am impressed by your thespianism !

I only ever acted reluctantly!!

Smee - Aston Hall Road. I am a brummy originally too, but not from that side of town so my forays there are few and far between. The people we were working with were really great, but there were some youngsters passing who were - erm - boisterous. And didn't take kindly to being called 'lowlife'

MAS - don't stress about the tea! It'll be fab!!

KK - I remain in awe at your kids' artistry. Comedy really scary! Gulp!

Thanks for good wishes ref back - I have tried to call but they are all having training. I'll try later. It's right in the small of my back, and it's not too bad as long as i keep moving about (gently). I suppose I could stand up to type and waft gently too and fro, but I imagine it might get on DH's nerves.

Aston is a bit wrong side of the tracks from memory, Cakes. Very much urban Birmingham at its worst. I'm from Sparkhill originally. Don't push your back. Sounds like it needs a rest. I was always told gentle walking was a good way to ease things, so go for a nice walk maybe?

Thanks all - don't think he will ever be a millionaire but he's happy. I am very proud of him (smile). Glad you enjoyed your time in theatre Smee, DS has always loved it.

MAS - x-posted with you - try not to worry about the strawberry tea - I'm sure it will be a great success - if it involves cake, you can't go wrong Am sure your DS will be fine in his exams - good really that he's not worked up about them, and taking it in his stride. The book sounds very interesting, and my sort of thing - I like V.S Naipaul's novels - many set in Trinidad amongst the Indian community.

Finally managed to get DH to go to Doc. this morning about his elbow and knee which have been hurting. So he's got anti inflamms. for tennis elbow, and injections if they don't work. And referral to a muscle-skeleto (or something) clinic for knee. She wasn't sure about it, thought it might be cruciate lig.
Am cross with him because he could have had something done ages ago if he'd gone to the GP sooner. He's now gone to the dentist where he will no doubt as usual refuse all treatment (sigh)

Well he's a bloke, that's what they do.

Knees are well dodgy though, if there is a problem it needs sorting pronto. Wearing a knee support is a good temporary measure.

I now have a back appt in two weeks time, so thanks for the kick up the bum. good idea about the walk, maybe I'll stroll up to school instead of going by car.

PS smee - i'm from (whisper it) Solihull. Not any more though - have decamped to Coventry.

Tee hee cakes. My mother always aspired to Solihull. They're in Moseley now, which she's incredibly proud of!
Glad you've got your back appointment sorted.

Kurri, my DH is just back from the dentist. Must be something in the water, as we all seem to live there on this thread..!

Hi All,

Just butting in to say 'Hello'. Hope everyone is doing OK and welcome to anyone who has joined since I last posted, which was weeks and weeks ago.

Just had fourth chemo yesterday. So only two to go.

That's it really. Just a quick update.

So good to hear from you, BB, we have wondered about how you are doing. Four chemos down already. Wow, well done you. I bet it seems never ending to you, but you are on the home strait.

How are you feeling? And how's the little 'un coping?

Good to hear from you BB - well done - the finish line is in sight now Hope you haven't been feeling too rough through it all.

hey BB - lovely to see you -and well done - getting to the finish now
@KK's dh..
glad you have an appointment sorted Cakes
Dh lived in birmingham for a bit as he went to university there- have only been briefly, to a wedding.

Blimey, I turned off the pc for a brief period and hasn't it been busy! Can't contribute to the Birmingham and surrounding area discussion as have only been there once on short course.

KK - your DS's company sounds great and Smee, how impressed I am by your background too in theatre! Only ever did amateur stuff myself - that's how I met DH!

Gardeners have chopped quite a lot down and garden looks better though still a fair amount to do. We're a long way off anything looking designed, IYSWIM.

BB - nice to read you. I am of you being close to the end of your chemo. Mine will drag on till mid-September which still feels a long haul.

KK - I recall you said you felt quite ill on CMF - do you remember if you had a good week at the end of each cycle?? (Asking hopefully but fearing the answer!) I am not sure which of the drugs does what really - so the taking tablets over 14 days might really drag things out on the low energy/ickiness fronts.

MAS Birmingham's a great city. Much maligned I think, though I am biased, and admittedly left as soon as I could . I'd bet your DH had a great time there, as the University's in a lovely part of it.

Hi BB. Four's fantastic. Must feel like you can get to the end now, though still a haul am sure. How are you doing? Hope those pesky side effects are leaving you well alone.

I seemed to get most of my bad reactions on CMF, SR but may well have been because I was rather run down by then. I had mine as 2 IV's 7 days apart, then 3 weeks clear - and I did have a good week at the end of each cycle, except when I got quite ill at the end.
So not all bad. I don't know what it is like on the tablets, is it a kind of drawn out lower dose so it builds up?, - perhaps that will be better. I think my bad stuff was probably more to do with being worn out by chemo, rather than the CMF itself.

Hi Cakes - littl 'un has coped remarkably well. She knows Mummy only has to have 'two more medicines' and she's taken it all in her little stride in a way that makes me very proud of her!

KK and MAS - yep, the end is in sight. Radiotherapy at the end, but I'm informed that that's a bit of a wlak in the park in comparison with chemo.

Sandripples - Sorry yours will be dragging out into September.

Smee - it hasn't been too bad. Side effects of FEC - sore mouth and tiredness. Only had really bad nausea and sickness with the first treatment. Then they gave me lorazepam which helped a lot. Onto the T part of FEC-T now, so guess I won't know what the full extent of side effects are for a few more days. Just really tired so far.

Hope the Tax isn't too taxing then (sorry bad joke!). Sore mouth is beginning to wear me down a bit too and I'm way behind you. Keep going. I've heard Rads is easier too. Sort of something to look forward to (not).

Hi all, you have been busy! Glad nausea settling,
Smee, it's no fun. SR, ds doesn't do history. Had Eng Lang and French listening today but he was as laidback as ever. Finished next Thurs yay. Think I am exactly 1 cycle ahead of you, I have my last chemo on GCSE result day, Aug 24. And then the rads..

Anyone been on a sunny holiday with a wig? We are for Italy at beginning of June and ds x 3 will be unhappy if i go wigless. But must be so hot and itchy. Going to a campsite as last year with several other families (which is why they will want me to wear wig).

I had decided to launch myself back into writing dissertation for MA which got so rudely interrupted on March 31, but v tired this wk, much more so than second wk last cycle. Suspect am bit anaemic. Have to go and get seroma definitively drained and cleaned out under GA on Monday so that won't help the dissertation either! Oh well, great excuse for deferring, it is only to keep the cogs turning really.

Pennies, love the idea of dinner out the night before chemo. Think I will adopt it too.

Nearly Friday!

cupcaked - what's your dissertation about ? Will be a relief to get seroma seen to - will think of you on Monday
I found rads perfectly ok,but obviously hadn't been through chemo- afterwards I was a bit wiped out, but suspect that was the whole emotional toll and the fact that you feel pretty much on your own without the intensive bit of treatment. I had nasty burns but they healed pretty quickly by keeping clean and dry and some good dressings !

MAS - I went to Bham Uni too! 1980-83, so waves to your dh.

BB - So glad your dd has done well: mine was pretty good too (though a bit unforgiving on treatment days when i was tired). Nearly done, nearly done, keep repeating it. I think rads are easier to deal with - though tiring. But by then you really are clawing your way to the end, so you will be a bit buoyed up,hopefully.

Cupcaked - no experience of a hot holiday with a wig but i imagine it would be a bit hard. Could you wear a scarf instead? So much cooler and easier to rinse through. I know it may be hard if you are not used to it: but I am afraid I went straight to video scarf, because I hate being hot, and I never used my wig. People do tend to look at you a bit in a scarf, but that just made me bloody-minded and I ignored them all. Maybe someone else will have more advice. Lots of good vibes for the sermoa drainage - will think of you. xx

Hi cupcaked. I finish chemo on 16th Sept, so yes you're a teeny bit more than a cycle ahead: I have no.5 on 26th Aug. will be doing somersaults of joy when I get that far. Or maybe slow rolls round the kitchen. Sorry you're more tired. And GA for seroma, grrr.. bit still be good to get rid as it's been a complete pain for you.

I was going to say what Cakes said, so scarves. Am not there yet as still have hair, but someone told me to help children you should wear a scarf round the house a fair bit before you venture out. That way they get used to it, so it's not a big deal. How exorbitant is your travel insurance then??! Am impressed you're trekking to Italy and camping too! The woman deserves a medal.

Crikey, yes a medal! I couldn't contemplate camping in Italy with children and other families this year! Although I hope the other families will look after your's of course so you can rest all the time Cupcaked.

Meanwhile I think I am brave trying to find a few days when I can get to Wales!

Good luck with that seroma-sorting -session - it must be horrible. And I'd also be interested to know what your MA is on.

Smee - I hope sore mouth will improve. Think I've been quite lucky so far as not affected there apart from occasioanl ulcer, but we'll see how I get on with the CMF.

BB - you sound as though you're doing very well too.

KK - yes I think the tablets do draw things out as basically I'm having chemo over a 2 week period which I do find a bit strange. I feel a bit pulled down, rather than the huge drop off a cliff I got with Epi, but it goes on and on! I just hope having rads at same time doesn't tip me over a cliff for 3 solid weeks!

I will try to be more active today as couldn't sleep well last night. I'm half asleep during the day and half awake during the night this week! Thank goodness for Queens tennis to watch. But I think I need a walk.

Well I have to come clean and tell u that I have booked into the hotel on the campsite while dh and dss are slumming it. Camping was step too far. We had booked this ages ago, we have been going to the same place with the same families for a few yrs now and I didn't want them to miss it. I suggested they go without me but they wouldn't have it. I suggested I went for a shorter and came back for next treatment while they stayed on but wouldn't have it either. Combining it also with 4 day trip to Rome as older ds x 2 are choirboys and the annual trip is to the Vatican. So that comes first, then the campsite hotel room. Could not possibly get insured for this so taking a chance, but am trusting all be well, esp once seroma sorted definitively. Will be armed with copious drugs and there are lots of docs on the trip and will have low threshold for getting home asap if any probs, but fingers crossed there won't be.

Scarves and turbans- I just cannot bear the 'look, I've got cancer' beacon that they send out, esp as I firmly believe I do not have cancer any more. The kids are ok with me wearing a beanie at home, tho they prefer wig on if friends are round. I spotted a fake pony tail
to wear under a hat last nite on Internet, may well invest in that.

Meantime I have cocker spaniel pups to sell, my beautiful Pepsi had 6 (planned!) babies 4 weeks ago, 2 black and 4 golden, and 3 still need homes, so had better get on the blower to local paper, as chemo again then Italy round the corner. Time is
moving a bit faster now thankfully. 6 days till end of GCSEs, yay to that, eh, SR?