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**TAMOXIFEN** 4th thread

951 replies

MaryAnnSingleton · 28/04/2010 07:24

here we go !

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haggisdoodle · 13/05/2010 21:41

With apologies to you ladies who are still struggling on treatment but I just want to shout this from the roof top:

I AM FINISHED! [GRIN] [GRIN] [GRIN]
Last rads today and am feeling slightly pissed after lunch out with DH.

Can't write more as absolutely wiped out with the emotion of it but thank you to all of you who supported me through the rough patches.

KurriKurri · 13/05/2010 21:45

Yay for Haggis well done!!

MaryAnnSingleton · 13/05/2010 22:03

and yay too from me haggis

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Cakesandale · 14/05/2010 09:43

Big loud YAY!!!! from me too, haggis!!! Hope you are feeling like today is the start of a new era.

KK - what happened to your choppy crop?!? I modelled my brief to the hairdresser on that (or my imagined version of that)!Had you decided to grow it a bit?

Good idea with the CBT, MAS, as you say, get the grief bit sorted first, you can always go back now they have agreed it would be helpful to you. And take care of yourself, all these swirling emotions must be knackering. - that's the nearest I can get to a swirling emotions face, not quite right, I know, it needs to look a bit giddier.

Smee - the hair. Sorry, I feel it may have been bad timing for me to post about my haircut. It is a hard time when the hair comes off, but it is very, very temporary, far more so than it might feel now, I promise. And the idea of lunch in place of the haircut is lovely. I never wore my wig either, but it is probalby a good idea to have one, as it depends what you are going to do, and who with - you might feel it's better to do some things with hair. You never can tell, so having it in reserve is belt and braces.

And I hope you see the oncologist really soon, start making a pest of yourself if you don't. And thinking of SR for her treatment today (and wishing mad needle nurses somewhere a long, long way away - maybe on a retraining session or summat)

Hope Emmsie is OK - also RWU, Pennies, BB, and everyone else.

xx

smee · 14/05/2010 12:09

A big YEAY from me too Haggis. How utterly fab for you. Does it feel a bit strange? I'd bet it does.. What next though? I suppose regular check ups. How often will they see you?

Cakes, please don't feel awkward about your haircut - it's incredibly helpful for me to hear that others have gone through all of this and are coming out the other side. I genuinely love hearing about it all as it makes me realise though tough, it's doable. Being one of (sadly) many is making me feel far less isolated.

  • BCN called me this morning to say my Onc appointment is next Friday, so that's okay as at least I know now. I'd imagine they'll push me in for first session asap after that.

Kurri, that's shocker about you maybe having one more than you thought. Really hope it's an admin mess up. Are you onto Rads after that?? I'd bet it doesn't feel like it, but you sound like you're already a long way through. Hope you're still feeling okay this morning.

Cakesandale · 14/05/2010 14:04

That's OK then Smee - glad it's all helping. It really is do-able - and a big YES!! for the oncology appt. Relax and do nice stuff til then. KK's treatments are herceptin not chemo (she's done the chemo and rads as well) so when she has done with these, she really will be all finished, which will be just fab, it has been a long old haul.

Hope haggis is still feeling good this morning: a weekend of celebration should be on the cards!

KurriKurri · 14/05/2010 14:23

My choppy crop needs to be re-done Cakes - I had in mind to grow it a bit, but it just won't grow longer, only thicker. It is getting slightly wavy though which is more like my old hair. It just feels horrible at the moment, coarse and out of condition (the thyroid again I think). I feel as if I don't really know my hair anymore IYKWIM, its different and a bit odd. (sorry rather a long ramble about hair)

Smee - sorry I wasn't very clear about my treatment, I've had chemo and rads., I'm now on herceptin which is every 3 weeks for a year.(18 treatments) (I'm nearing the end of my year)I have lost track of how many I've had- chemo unit say 17, but reception gave me my next lot of appoints. and had put an extra one on. Probably just a mistake (quite common unfortunately ).
Anyway - I'm glad you have your onc. appointment now - you can start to feel a bit more organised I found, once you know your treatment dates.

I've been to keep fit this morning (feels virtuous). I also broke the machine in M&S by putting my card in upside down - it just jammed and the assistant couldn't cancel or clear it. Meanwhile the queue is building up, everyone tutting at me - oh the shame!

I think Cakes is right about the swirling emotions emoticon MAS - we should have one especially for our thread or maybe we could just put a line of all the faces!

Love to everyone, and hope a good weekend is had all round. Thinking of you RWU, BB and Wubbly - hope all is well. And treatment not too bad for SR and Pennies

smee · 14/05/2010 14:27

Ah thanks for that Cakes - I am a bit out of the loop in terms of the hauls you've all been through.

Kurri, sorry I got it wrong, but Herceptin on top of everything else makes it an even longer haul. So pleased you're near the end. You deserve a long service medal, though hopefully something better than that..

Cakesandale · 14/05/2010 15:09

Liking the idea of all the emoticons - my days are very like that - they start with a smile, end with (several) biscuits, and cover everything in between on the way - especially and at the moment as I am working on a medical type project. You would not believe the things I have read and seen just recently. OMG, as my teenage neighbour would say.

But KK this is getting ridiculous - you are in the weekly roundup AGAIN. Cue a emoticon.

MaryAnnSingleton · 14/05/2010 15:36

do tell Cakes - unless it's gross !
thanks for understanding about the CBT and stuff - swirling emotions it certainly is but if I can just get it out then that should make things so much easier. I was offered the opportunity of going to a drop-in evening(held every week) but really can't imagine doing that - feel a bit picky and ungrateful but..
RWU seems to be looking for a fancy bed for her littlest dd (according to facebook)
Love to everyone, hope it went ok today SR and that Pennies,BB and wubbly are all ok and very glad to hear that you're seeing your onc. soon smee.

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MaryAnnSingleton · 14/05/2010 15:36

drop in thing at Cruse,I meant

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Cakesandale · 14/05/2010 16:25

Ooh that sounds a bit hard to deal with MAS, with you on that one!

Glad to hear RWU is still bashing the plastic, she must be feeling better.

The details - no, not gross, just some very sad things that happened in a clinical setting (NOT a hospital fortunately, so no-one who is having treatment need worry about this) and we are investigating whether they could have been avoided so that, in a similar situation, the same things need not happen again.

Actually I have had a few health type things just recently: they are always absolutely fascinating.

Cakesandale · 14/05/2010 16:27

Had health type things to work on, I meant - obv you all know I've had a few health type things to deal with as well

MaryAnnSingleton · 14/05/2010 16:53

Cakes !!

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sandripples · 14/05/2010 18:07

Hi all - chemo this morning - feeling a bit rotten so brief post. They had to have 3 goes to get the cannula in [shock[ No emoticon available to show how quickly I was felt faint, was put horizontal with an oxygen mask on . Poor nurse was bit too I think. I think she neneded a G and T. Lovely supervisor nurse camne to the rescue. She's v. skilled.

It finally worked. That heavens twas last Epirubicin.

For Smee - they have not all been like this and I have useless veins so don't panic. On the whole mine has not been too bad.

Think if CMF does not go better I will ask for a line in tho.

Haven't been sick so far - took extra anti-sickness at 4pm. prob won't be able to go to the loo for a week now

Love to all and hurray for Haggis - have a great w/e. I can imagine it must feel v. emotional. Well done.

KurriKurri · 14/05/2010 18:12

SR - poor you, how horrible - I hope you're feeling a bit better now, and get a nice rest this weekend.

reallywoundup · 14/05/2010 19:25

Hello all! Alas mas was correct, I have been spending inordinate anmounts of time searching for a princess bed for dd! I haven't found one to rival the cot yet- so it's staying for now!

Sr- feeling for you, I have always had issues with veins , I had a new port put in on Tues, surprisingly painless, already forgotten in fact!

Sounds like we have some celebrations on the thread with treatments einishing etc! WELL DONE!

Sad news today in the RWU camp, a lady who I got to know through treatment passed away this morning. She was only 22, cervical cancer, but was given a better prognosis than me! Terrible for such a young'un, makes you think about things though! Went straight to see my support worker to have a chat when I got told- with the mental instability I've had recently I didn't want to slip back, helped a lot!

I'm off to a friends tomorrow to dispose of her ex-hubbys stuff, it's been 6 months since he abandoned her and her 18 mo son for a newer model, and she's still tripping over all his weird crap!

MaryAnnSingleton · 14/05/2010 19:45

poor SR - how horrid - hope you manage to keep the sickness away
RWU - so sorry to hear about your friend - so very young too Glad you had support..
The end of treatment is very odd - I felt really low after the end of rads,as I'm sure I've said before - weird.

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ebbie22 · 14/05/2010 19:54

Helloall,well done Haggis am glad ur getting there,so crap at the mo and really feel like im just going downhill and noone can helpme,in the procesof changing doctors..
Hands so bad and foot to go in plaster next weekso feeling v. sorry for myself...How is everyone doing?
Pennies how are u?

sandripples · 15/05/2010 13:39

RWU - I'm so sorry to hear about your friend. My sympathies, especially as she was so very young.

But it is good to see you back on here and I hope you're feeling reasonable.

Ebbies - I hope the new doctor will be better for you. You need a lot more support than seems to have been available so far.

Thanks for the support - am feeling better today tho was sick last night. Have done some baking this morning - little lemon and rice puddings and also a lemon tray sponge. Going for a nap now.

wubblybubbly · 15/05/2010 17:19

Hello all, I've been a bit lax in keeping up with all the goings on. I'll have to take some time to catch up on what's been happening for everyone. I think I've been spending a few weeks pretending this isn't happening, before the chemo kicks in!

I did spot the fantastic news from Haggis that your treatment is all done for now. Brilliant news.

Had my first FEC last Wednesday. It's not been bad physically but I think emotionally it's given me a bit of downer. Not sure if that's the drugs or just the reality of it all kicking in again.

Woke up on Thursday morning full of beans and good intentions, only to drop like a stone within an hour, followed by a beating myself up episode for not being able to do all the things I'd planned.

No sickness though, barely any nausea as the Onc has given me Emend, just a bit washed out. It seems daft that this is the first time I've actually felt even slightly poorly throughout the whole process.

Has anyone else had problems with burping? I think I might be heading for the Guinness Book of Records for the most burps in a minute .

I must read back now and catch up on everything. Hope everyone is well and getting on okay?

MaryAnnSingleton · 15/05/2010 18:35

hey wubbly !

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wubblybubbly · 15/05/2010 18:45

Hey MaryAnn, sounds so much better! (The Hollies?)

I woke up this morning dreaming of tinned garden peas of all things, so we've just had roast chicken with mashed potatoes and garden peas [grin}. Lovely comfort food nom nom.

Genevieve123 · 15/05/2010 18:56

Hi, I'm new to Mumsnet. Just read your post regarding your mum's arthritis. Something worth trying is organic cider vinegar (2 tablespoons) mixed with honey and drink four times a day. I read about this in the Daily Mail a couple of months back. This 55 year old mum had suffered arthritis of the knee for years, having her drugs dose increased as the pain increased. She was finally bed-ridden when the arthritis spread to her spine. Her daughter got onto the internet and found this cure. Her mum improved after a week and after six weeks was completely cured. You can check this article out on the Daily Mail website I should imagine if you missed it.

I know this cure works because it is also fantastic for gout which my husband suffered from and was very cynical about trying, but was amazed when after 10 days the pain subsided that evening and was gone the next day.

Apple cider vinegar becomes alkaline once in the body. Arthritis is very much linked to acid bodies. You can get a list of alkaline foods as a chart on the internet (alkaline-acid food chart). Also worth noting, cancer cannot survive in an alkaline body which our doctors do not advise us of.

Also, did you know that more people die as a result of taking arthritis drugs than do on our roads. It's a real scandal that doctors do not know / are not allowed to impart knowledge of side-effect free alternatives, when one is suffering so badly from toxic pharmacological drugs.

Worth a note.

KurriKurri · 15/05/2010 19:11

Hi all.

So sorry to hear about your friend RWU, how sad for you, I'm glad you were able to talk with your support worker, these things are very hard to cope with.

I hope you have some success looking for DD's princess bed - she will feel grown up when she goes into a 'big bed'.

Lovely to see you Wubbly, and you have one chemo out of the way - that is a big step. Sorry you are feeling a bit down - it does tend to bring it all home. I found the steroids affected my mood a lot - made me quite miserable, so that could be an additional factor. It's good they've given you something effective for the nausea, and you will pick up as the first few days go past.

The lemon cake and puddings sound yummy SR - I love lemon pudding, you sound a very good cook.

I got up early and went swimming today - it is depressing how unfit I have got just not going for a couple of weeks, I was being overtaken by ninety year olds!

I bought a pattern for a maxi dress, and some fabric, and have just finished the cutting out. If its not a complete dogs breakfast, I will put a photo up when I finish. (it is a very quick and simple pattern, so shouldn't take long.)