Coming out the other side - one year on!

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Hi everyone and welcome Rhian.

Poor Erin, really sounds like she needs some emotional support.

Yvette, I have a meeting with the genetics counselor on Monday (whilst I’m having my swamping!) so will fill you in on what happens. I’ve decided to wait until my chemo’s over though before having the blood test done, as it can be difficult to get enough DNA. It’s really windy here in Plymouth too; am sat here in my woolley hat freezing my a*s off!!

Good luck with next swamping Janice. You seem to be catching up with us fast!

Had crap day yesterday. Been feeling fine last few days then woke up feeling breathless and weak. Was supposed to go out for dinner but couldn’t manage it so stayed in and had pizza instead. Didn’t even have any vino so must have felt bad! Better today though so will make up for it on the vino front,lol!! No worries Pauline, I’ll have a drink (or two) for you tonight :wink: Am thinking about buying some Christian Louboutins online to cheer myself up but worried that hubby may not be too happy about it… guess I could say they’re an early xmas prezzie…

Have as good a weekend as you can manage lovely ladies.
Caro xxxx

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Caro - thats my girl - go for retail therapy when all else fails xxxx
fab man cooking fish, chips, and mushy peas - oh I miss proper northern mushy peas from the white dolphin on Downing street in Sutton or the Barracuda on Mansfield rd.!!!

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Oh dear, I’ve gone and done the dirty deed and purchased some shoes. Oooh I LOVE mushy peas… is that Mansfield Rd in Nottingham btw?!xx

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Hi all

Wow Caro - did you go for the Louboutins?? How fab is that. Are you on FB? We need to seem some piccies. Absolutely right that you treat yourself at the moment, anything to keep your spirits up.

Yvette, I met with the geneticist last Friday (and still haven’t had time to post on here about it). They had sent me out a form beforehand to fill in details of any known cancers in my close family, which would include me and siblings, my parents and their siblings, and my grandparents. I did that in advance and sent off to them. There is a fair bit of history, but most worrying is Mum having ovarian cancer at 39. Seemingly it is very rare to have under 40. Anyway, on Friday the lady was lovely, and we had a big long chat. Basically, given the history provided, she thinks I am at fairly high risk of carrying BRCA1 or 2 genes, so was happy to go ahead with the full blood tests. cont …

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cont … (in case I lose it all!)

I went to my GP on Thursday who did the bloods (as I was there getting bloods done for a liver function test whatever on earth that is). Bloods were posted up to Yorkhill yesterday, so I just have to wait for results now. I think she said they would take about three months. We discussed the options if I DO have the gene, and even if I don’t, but they still see me as at high risk of getting ovarian cancer or a recurrence of breast cancer. I have pretty much decided that whatever the results are, that I want to have my ovaries removed. Since having my baby 13 months ago, I have a constant pain where my left ovary is, which really worries me. Also, I have been told I would have to wait two years post DX before trying for another baby, by which time I would be 41, so I think I will just count my blessings and be happy with my gorgeous little boy. Also considering a double mastectomy, but would definitely want the ovaries out first. I think ‘better safe than sorry’ in this case.

Yvette and Caro, let me know how you both get on next week.

Love to all,

Shenagh xx

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I am welcoming the bus number 69 with a grimace and a glass of tasteless but very relaxing vino… everythinh bloody hurts and as pixie says even my eyebrows ache!
Whoop whoop caro! get yourself on Fb and post some piccies!
I need a new gortex jacket so I’m off to tog 24 for one in purple (£200) not as sexy as louboutin but so essential for furry babies and kite flying!
nite nite my lovelies and yes mansfield rd is in notts and we may need to make a mercy dash in Jan lol xxxx

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my retail therapy today was at tesco shopping for lamb curry. Then got very down in the dumps trying on outfits as i have a wedding to go to in two weeks and am determind not to buy anything in a big size but every thing i tried on didn’t fit i have grown 3 dress sizes since May aarrgghh my belly is bigger than my boobs…but my feet are the same size so think i will just have to revert to buying some shoes too, though i have for too many pairs of high black shoes…dare i type this i have just counted them 45 pairs oh boy, lets just call me emelda. I think ebay needs to my attention.
would love to see those L’s on fb too
the weather in London is turning cold think we will all be needing gortex jackets. Going to take my new little car for a spin tomorrow, but having a few glasses of something this evening

good night hope the aches melts away and and the sweats don’t wake you up

rhi xxxx

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Wow i’ve only been AWOL for a day and it’s taken me half an hour to read all the new posts

Was a bit down in the dumps yesterday as saw the oncologist and he told me that i needed to have an echo/ecg as i’m so breathless all the time so now i’m worried about that but i’m sure it will be ok. Had a good night out last night tho so that cheered me up. Lots of vino and a good curry, just what the doctor ordered.

Caro, My head is also sooooo white it frightens me whenever i see my reflection and i now know what i’ll look like when i’m grey all over. I never did loose all my hair tho, it’s like a new born babys head it has a fine layer of hair but you can see all the scalp…weird. Eyebrows and lashes thinning, arm and leg hairs plenty and still hairy feet:-(

Love the hat pixie, had to find mine the otherday. I ahve a very warm russian style hat with the ear things but still not cold enough to wear.

Pauline i ahave hadplenty of vino for you over the last 2 days, it was very nice, hope white was okbut may try a red tomorrow.
Try not to stress about getting back to work as it may slow down your recovery, try and take it easy if you can, i know easier said than down. I only became self employed in november and payed out for lots of new equipment (still paying for it) But i know i will not be in the right frame of mind to rush back into it sraight after rads, can you work up to and start with just a few hours and gradually increase? Hope your coping with your s/e and congrats on it being the last one!!!

Rachel definatly a kite flying day today sorry you had to miss it.

Jayney…where are you? have sent off the forms so will hopefully see you in 2 weeks. Hotel looks fab. Anyone else going to the YWF. Are you on FB and you Caro???

She Hope your ok. your meal yesterday sounded fab!!! I also want a tat when all this is finished. I’m thinking of flowers on a twine one colour for my son and another for the girls and maybe stars for the ones that didn’t make it. I like the ones on the wrist and foot.

Sue, debs, Alexa, Lulu,Yvette, Mumzsy, Droopy, hope your all ok and enjoying the weekend. Sorry if i’ve missed any one …chemo brain

Welcome Rhian Hope your doing ok

Erin come back Please.

Anyway i’m sure i had more to say but just can’t think right now so may go and have another glass, shame to put in back in the fridge and i am having it for you pauline (lol).

Lots of love all my fantastic new friends who have helped me so much over the last 5 months, where would i be with out you all.

Gina xxxx

p.s Anyone else on Face book??

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hi ladies
ended up in A&E on sat for some reason i had a pr bleed and dont know why rang the out of hours hemotology and onc ward they told me to go there to say i was a bit digusted about the cleanliness would be a joke the removed the dressing from my pic line and had the nerve to tell me off for stopping them pulling the line holder off with the dressing they couldnt get blood from it and the dr had to take it with a needle near my knuckle and guess what he didnt wash his hands he didnt put gloves on and dropped the blood syrnges on the floor but he did wear gloves doing the examination thank god so now i am home with sample bottles but i go see onc tomorrow so i am going to bring it up with them then they just slapped 1 dressing back on over the pic line, thats my winge of the day lmao welcome rhian this site keeps me sane do get erin to come back we all feel like not posting but she is missed hello to everybody else will post after appointment tomorrow and let you know what they say slept well for first time in weeks last night too
love to you all
janice

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Gina, your tattoo idea sounds lovely. Do the stars mean that you have angel babies? Sorry huni, I didn’t know that. I have one angel baby. I lost our first baby on 3rd August 2007, but will never ever forget him, and tell Jai all about him. Sending you love and hugs ((()))

Morning to everyone else, the sun is shining here, hope it is for you as well. Have a good day and keep positive.

More later,

Shenagh xxx

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Bless you all and thinking of those beautiful angels that are keeping an eye on us! I love memorial tats - we will be th emost wonderful painte dladies ever at the end of all of this.
Rhain you absolute mega star - 45 pairs of shoes - wow! I love shoes but tend to only ever wear fit flops or MBTs - I have some gorgeous italian leather high heels but again I tend to fall of them so they stay in the box - I love nine west especially OHHHHHHH again cant stay up right and thats without a drink!
well just spent 152 quid on a new gore text jacket in purple and plum from berghaus, not quite the same as a pair of louboutins but ha well I’ll have some fun when my muscles finally relax and allow me walk up right rather than resembling the movement of neanderthall man!
Still in bed - and may just stay here all day - no energy and slightly zonked on tramadol due to the bone aches.
love to you all - I am still amazed at how wonderful it is to have friends like you lot xxxx

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Good morning gang

ha ha i haven’t worn high shoes for ages LOL I will take a pair of flip flops in my bag for the wedding.

Gortex jacket sounds just the job at this time of year, i am off to take the kids ( big kids 19, 22, 24 + boyfriend)to wales next weeknd for a short break. I have booked half a dys pony treking as a surprise, now wonder if i will cope as i couldn’t get out of bed this morning with the aches ( and i am 4 months post chemo) though i could just take a few tramadol and float through the whole experience
Janice - that sounds awful the whole experience, make sure you do complain, dear god you are already at risk to infection because of treatment.
Uni Glo do some great little cotton beanies, that are just right for keeps heads warm but not over hot. I always struggled with hats due to the hot flushes so used to truddle into central london , naked, but people were sooo kind and used to talk to me even on the tube. Oh Lordy just re read this obviously i mean head naked not my whole body!!!I’m on fb Rhian Jones ( London)
I hope everyone has a good relaxing sunday, if it can wait until tomorrow or for someone else to do it then just sit back.
Go girls with the tats , at 48 bit long in the tooth but i have a secret one on my bum ha ha :0)

Sunday {{{{{{hugs}}}}}} to everyone

xxxx

ERIN - Please pop back theres strength in numbers and all these numbers here are wishing you back.

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i have to just add another post, i am sitting at my lap top , and my son is using straightners on my hair, its grown back about and inch but is curly and just looks odd, and he is getting very close to my EARS arrggghhh xx

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hey peeps

wanted to say hi to rhian and jane, welcome to our mad thread.

janice sorry your still having a crap time but hope your appt with onc goes well tomorrow.

gina and caro my hair is starting to grow in on my head a we bit since i changed chemo to cmf its looking a bit darker now but looked really white during the epi… feels like fluff i like playing with it lol… my leg hairs thinned on the bottom half of legs but still need to shave them, but they all fell out on my thighs one night and it woke me out my sleep cos the covers felt funny on my legs… my hairy big toes are no more though and a naked foof… arm hairs and eye brows are still thinning.

yvette, caro and she
i also had my genetics appt a few weeks ago and my blood pack arrived during the week iv to get blood next time im getting them checked before chemo… genetic wise i have had 2 diff BCs in both breasts by age 40 my mum had bc age 57 and we think her grandmother had bc but not 100% as gran was adopted and was when we traced family long time ago… but neither mum or paid much attention at the time in our pre BC days… anyway my genetic nurse said it will be 4 months for my bloods to get checked through the scottish labs.

its a lovely sunny day here in edinburgh and i have some work friends coming to visit me all the way from glasgow which is really nice as i only worked there for 6 months before this.

i have been really industrious and done housework!!! hoovering and cleaning cooker… feel like im nesting lol.

anyway hope your all having a nice day

im meeting up with the edinburgh girls tomorrow for lunch so that should be fun as always too.

love and hugs

Lxx

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lulu,i didnt think anything would make me laugh today but you did with ur foof lol,my oh loves it gross i would rather have beans on toast lol.5th fec 2moz everytime i think about it i cry what a baby.oh well,2 to go.hope everybody is well we are all nearly there xxxxxx

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Hi gorgeous ladies!

Just felt like giving you all a cyber hug, and to let you know just how wonderful you are and how much I appreciate your friendship :slight_smile:
Hope everyone has had a good weekend, and got plenty of rest if needed, without too many hassles from SEs.

It is lovely and sunny here in Old York. Relaxing on the porch. Tiny fluffy puppy is out watering the plants *grin*, and hubby and I are sitting with our laptops (how geeky!!)

Thanks so much to Caro, She and Lulu re the genetic info. Will let you all know what happens at my appointment. I was a bit worried about getting the info. On my mother’s side the family was living in India during the British occupation, so I am not sure how easy it is to get the hospital information (my grandmother died at 32 from some type of gyaencoloical cancer, but you know, they never talked about it in ‘those days’).

Thinking of you all xxx

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hello all
what a lovely thread,
you all seem so upbeat which is just what i need at the minute,

have finised chemo 2 weeks ago, and cannot understand why i dont feel elated, have had my app for rads planning 14th oct,but feel so down at the minute,think it could be that after rads thats it as i am tn, or is this how alot of people feel, i need to know how to get that positive vibe back, even with 5 eyelashes and a wig people keep saying how well i look, i look at myself and think “you must be joking”,
anyway sorry for ranting, reading all your posts about wine has made me go and get one,which i think i needed thanks, i havent been having alcohol since reading a web site were they said alcohol could be a factor in bc, think i need to keep off them webs

she, i to am thinking of having a tattoo, have always wanted one but never had the nerve, but after all the needle i have had over the last 6 months, a tatto should be a sinch

hope you dont mind me ranting on,
hugs to all you lovely ladies julie m x

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Welcome Julie. Glad you found us! We are a bit of a mad bunch, but with hearts of gold. I can honestly say that I would not have got through the past four months without the girls on here : O

As for alcohol, I think I have drank more since than I was diagnosed than ever before! I also read that it may be a factor, but the same cynics also say that breastfeeding reduces your risk of BC, and I had just finished breastfeeding my gorgeous baby son when I found my lump, so I think it’s all c**p.

A lot of us are thinking of having tattoos, maybe cos of what we’ve been through. Wait til you get your little dots tattooed for rads, that could be your first ones, then get a proper one. I have two already and I love them.

Rhian, love your new profile picture, but can’t decide, is that your hair (straightened by your son) or a wig? Either way, it looks fab! Will add you on FB.

Yvette, are you on FB? If not, get on there, and you too Caro - we need to compare photos!

Love to everyone else

Shenagh xxx

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Julie, there must be something in the air! I’ve just sat here and cried my eyes out, don’t want to be told i look well, bald suits me, just fed up with feeling grotty at the moment even though i know its last time!
Can’t eat anything nice cos all tastes horrible! Just one of those fed up days i feel, hugs to you!

love debs xxxx

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P.S. Lulu, have fun tomorrow and please tell everyone I was asking for them. Let me know when your next meet is, and I might try and come up to Edinburgh for the day. Would be great to see you again : )

Shenagh xx