Darling buddies from May - moving on

Life after a breast cancer diagnosis Recovering from treatment
621

hi everyone

still no outfit, lily youve done enough shopping for all of us, did you buy anything yellow? ive seen some things but problem is they show my scar which ive said before is high up, and im struggling to hide rolls of flab, ive just come back from walking again, cos i had some choc cake for pudding, so had to walk it off.
nicky
how come you only have to wait 1/2 hour before you can eat my onc says i have to wait two hours? it would be easier if it was 1/2 hour for me. i think its something to do with digestive system. ive not been getting so much pain from secondaries how about you?
lisaf
be nice when you finished the decking youll be able to sun yourself.

everyone take care x

622

Hi de hi campers,
Nicky glad you are getting on ok with the tablets and fingers crossed for the heart scan. When do you get the results? Strange that Lorraine has to wait longer, guess she was in the wrong queue lol. Bet you love not having the ‘hunt for a vein’. I think almost anything would be worth avoiding that, for those of you who have well used veins. I am on my longest spell so far without an appointment and it does make it easier to push it to the back of your mind a bit more. Have a fab weekend x. How about meeting at Brands Hatch for a race day in the summer? Another holiday sounds fab.Is it def going to be Florida? Please bring me back Minnie ears!!
Lisa did you enjoy BGT tonight? Getting a bit much all the sob stories for sympathy votes though. I hate seeing little kids voted off. So your third outing into dressland lol. When you find these full body wonder garments please share the info lol. How lovely to be asked as a Godmother. I have 4 Goddaughters and was really chuffed each time I was asked.Did you know that certain alcohols are depressant and pull you down? Vodka is one of them. Might be worth working out if another drink leaves you feeling happier. Deck sounds fab, I’m on my way.
Lorraine sorry I did not buy anything yellow. I was in a pink mood. Going to the coast and shopping tomorrow so will try to look around for yellow things.Couldn’t you wear a camisole or summer top under an outfit to hide the scar? BTW (to anyone interested)my friend who had a mx has found a fab sun top with a built in bra for the falsie so there is no chance of it popping out of place. She looked fab. I have been out walking tonight too to try to prepare myself for the race for life. Arggh why oh why did I do it???
I went to the uni library this morning and some sniffly grotty coughing person sat opposite me and all I could think of was swine fever. Must be getting paranoid but moved just in case. Spaghetti bolognaise and then strawberries tonight, hence the walk. For some unknown reason hubby wanted to go back and look at the place where he fell in a lake while fishing when he was 9!!! Don’t ask me why but I dutifully stood and sympathised and the laughed my head off that he was made to walk home in just his very wet pants, squelchy shoes and a travel rug!!!
Keep em crossed for sun I am off to the sea
Lily x

623

Hi
At last the lovely weather is here. Went for a long hike with some girl/lady friends of mine last night to a village pub so I guess I’ve walked my Race for Life already! A very humid evening which was a pleasant surprise from Weds when I was soooo cold! A nice walk across fields etc so no road contact except for 1 bit. We weren’t daft enough to walk home in the dark so got a lift back about 10. The walk justified the chips I had :slight_smile: Have a great day at the coast today Lily - should be a bit quieter than the weekend will be! Have an ice cream for me - and you. Yes, we could look at what’s on at Brands hatch - I’m sure OH would be more than happy to meet there!
Lorraine - I’m on ibandronate not the other ones which you’re on and I can’t remember their name. The packet says 30 mins and then another 30 mins of being upright. I try to go longer than the initial 30 mins so they get absorbed OK. When I discussed changing with my onc she didn’t have a preference to which one to use other than the other one has more than one tablet to take as a dose - don’t know if this is right but we went for the one I’m on. I checked out on here with a few questions and the Marsden Drs seem to think it’s as good as Zometa (IV) which I wasn’t even getting before because of costs so that was enough to convince me! It’s making a big difference to how I feel about how intrusive all this is - let’s just hope they work as well as the IV seems to have done! As to the aches - yes - they do seem OK, nothing really to report which is they way we like it isn’t it? I think the regular dose will be better as when you’re on IV the effect seems to wear off nearer the next dose - or this could be I imagine it does.
Lisa - decking sounds great - what’s with the live gig you’re having? Hope you’re getting some decent weather so you can enjoy it. Lovely that you are to be a Godmother and it’s so nice that husbands family still think of you as family. So many things for you to be dressing up for - lucky you! Hope the wobble is long gone and you can enjoy the weekend - prob is a downer from the booze, however don’t beat yourself up over it - go out and have a couple - after all it is the weekend and we only live once :wink:
Woohoo, Friday and Monday off for me. A nice lazy weekend with a couple of walks included plus no doubt one or 2 BBQs. A hot one for the footy on Saturday. My Dad and Brother are going to Wembley as mad keen Everton supporters, OH will have to watch at home as not been lucky to get a ticket and is a mad keen Chelsea supporter. Let the best team win! And yes, let’s hope it’s a better gme than Weds.
Take care everyone else, have a great w/end and hope the sun is shining wherever you are.
Nicky x

624

Hi ladies: haven’t been on here for a while but have been reading all your news. Weddings, holidays, work – it is getting better isn’t it?

Nicky you seem to be having problems still but at least is sounds as if they are looking after you. I had an echo to check my heart when we were deciding about Herceptin. Sounds funny with all the squishing noises doesn’t it? Hope yours is OK. Got my results in two weeks. How are the palpitations? I still get some, mostly at night, but nothing to worry me having been told by the Prof that “your pump is working!”

Lily you seem to be having lots of fun with the wedding plans and dresses, etc. I’m not sure it is your style but there is a website called Box2 which caters for the more generously proportioned (!) ladies – very soft trousers/skirts with waterfall type tops. Not cheap but different. I recently went to Bicester, the discount place, where there is a company called Nitya. French co but their clothes again are soft and long cut to give you a nice long line and hide all the bits. Your OH’s experience reminds me of my sister – when we were both about 8/10 we lived opposite woods and fields and in the days when kids went out all day, we were running across the field when she found the boggy big, got stuck and when I pulled her out left her shoes and socks in the bog. Had to walk home barefoot with me in hysterics. Don’t think Mum was too impressed!!

This is my anniversary week of the first lot of poison – can’t believe the time has gone so quickly, but WILL NOT keep doing the “this time last year
” bit. As they say, get over it. Got a mammogram next week – oh joy – not looking forward to that. The Arimidex is OK, just got aching hand joints but that comes and goes, find Ibuleve gel quite effective. Haven’t got the hot flushes problem now, did have at start. Am taking the Glucosamine stuff, but don’t think my Prof was too impressed when I told him – Hm, OK then – was the response. Also had Dexa bone scan which showed that my bones were perfect – must be the result of the high impact aerobics I did for 15 years when I was younger and mad – and able to do it!

Last week we were in Suffolk, place called Halesworth, not far from Southwold. Friends have bought a house there so we borrowed it whilst they were in Lanzarote. It was OK, quite a small place with miniscule garden – bit different to the one third acre at home! Dog came too but was not impressed with garden either.

Weather looks set fair for the next few days so will get out and about and do some walking. Must buy sun hat as hair still a bit thin on the top.

Have a great weekend everybody – let’s hope we hear from Angie soon – this is getting worrying.

Hugs to all

Julia

625

hi everyone

lily 2000
i have found a dress at last and it was from dorothy perkins bit like a sixties style dress, straight yellow lace. i am going to wear it like a tunic, because its above my knees and legs are not that good. i can not believe i had to have a size 20, before this disease i felt bad enough being a 16. anyway i am now deciding if to wear brown leather accessories, or black. also went to m and co. and had a few summer outfits, quite pleased with them, but again had a large size to hide lumps and bumps. i am trying to watch what i eat, but nothings happening. i cant resist some treats, so opting for healthier naughty options. like tonight, a choice between cornetto and solero lolly, picked solero so i saved 150 calories and it was just as yummy. but life without treats, not for me!

nicky
i understand why you can take your tablets differently, would perhaps be tempted to change, but the ones i have suit me, and at 100 POUND a box hopefully theyre good. have fun whatever you do this weekend. and if your going a barbie they suggested coating strawberrys with lemon curd, and sugar and then sticking on sticks and barbequing i dont think i fancy strawberries cooked. love them straight out of the fridge, yummy.

julie
nice to catch up with what your up to. like youve said its worrying not hearing from angie.

everyone enjoy the sun, its certainly hot, not too good for the hot flushes but i just carry a wet flannel around with me, bliss.

take care x

626

HI.
just a quick post as lost track of time lyinginthe bath reading. Only realised how long I had been in there when I suddenly got very cold, 4 chapters later! Went to the coast today, good old Southend, or sarthend as the locals say.ED and little chap came with us. He had stayed the night before and was very excited at the prospect of the beach. His Mum was excited at the thought of a day off from looking after him. We did a bit of shopping first but spent so long in Primark we didn’t get anywhere else lol. Oh well I am still in that same spendtoo much mood. I realised this when the girl said she did not have a bag big enough and would 3 bags be ok. Bought everybody pressies, including myself naturally. Then we had lunch in one of the coastal restaurants and then sat on the tiny bit of stoney beach until the incoming tide forced us up on to the promenade. Little chap just had time to dig a couple of holes and make some castles. Southend is known for its lovelt ice cream so we were FORCED to have giant 99s and laze on the grass for the rest of the afternoon. Well what a surprise I am red in places, ie burnt but not sore. Strange as I never catch the sun, would chemo still be affecting that? Good job I had my rads bits covered.
Lorraine well done, sounds very trendy, will you wear leggings under? Saw some fab bright yellow sunglasses for your party!Congratulations on saving 150 calories, shame I ate them for you lol.
Julia, fab to hear from you. You didn’t say, where your results ok? Good luck with the big squeeze, it is over quickly. Mine was not as bad as I thought.Will check out those places thank you. Hey we love Southwold and often go up there, like going back 40 years but really cute place to visit. Nicky you are putting me to shame with the long walk. I am walking with my good BC friend Tracey and another local lady’s daughter and friend. My girls are running round like professionals and waiting hours for me to come in. Thank you your ice cream was even nicer than the one I had for me! Tablets sound a good choice for you. My MIL was on the iv stuff just because they had nothing else and though it must be in her bones. She did not get any benefit so probably didn’t have bone mets. Another little lady I met at the hospice was on iv bone stuff and told me she had terrible pains when the next one was due. One time she was delayed due to a bank holiday and said they were really painful. So hope tablets do the trick for you. Have a lovely weekend and I expect it will either be sunshine and smiles or ‘the ref needs glasses’ in your house.
So I wasn’t quick, whats new? Sorry machine is doing mad overtyping. I have a plan re our friend, speak tomorrow
Lily x x

627

hi everyone

i may be quieter this week staying at sis, with my elderly mum while sis is on holiday.
still trying to lose some of this flab, walking a lot, and eating less, but cant give up all the treats.

lily 2000
glad you had a lovely day at seaside, you had to mention the ice cream, didnt you? know my mind is thinking of 99’s but ive had a solero instead, they are yummy for 99 calories. but did have small peice of neices birthday cake yest, and tiny pack of choc buttons 75 calories. i dont think i will wear leggings under dress, hubby thinks they dont look right, at my age, cheek of him! so maybe linen trousers, if i can find some large ones.
just debating what to have for my tea, cant have salad no cucumber, stir fry no sauce, this is what happens when you leave home for a few days, and leave oh to the shopping. anyway back to sis’s soon to sit with mum, took my books and knitting. get bored at times, cant take pc, cos no connections.

everyone enjoy the sun, dont burn your bits and peices, lymphodema nurse says dont forget the sun cream, tissue is sensitive now.
x

628

What brilliant weather we are having hope it lasts. Ive burnt today never have done before did keep boobs well coverd tho, we just go a bit mad when the sun comes out, we dont see it often enough.
Lily I havnt been to the coast for ages I may have to take a trip before I start work again. Its great taking kids to the beach building sandcastles and paddling in the freezing cold water ha ha.

I love the colour yellow its a nice cheerfull colour may have to go shopping to buy some yellow things :0)

Ive still not seen the cardiologist yet they are having a meeting on the 16th June to discuss my echo so should find out soon whats happening. Im off to bed now the sun has tired me out Take care everyone xx

629

Hi,
that is sweet of you to Mummysit Lorraine, so your sister can get away. Lovely when families all pull together. I think you can wear anything you want at YOUR party. Make Victor wear yellow trousers that will keep him quiet lol. Sorry I talk about food it seems to be a permanent fetaure of my personality!! I used to hate going out to eat when younger and just ate enough to not be hungry, even when tiny, so was still only 7stone 6lb when I left school at 18. I think that is why I am obsessed now, making up for lost time. I would not even dare weigh myself at the mo - ignorance is bliss.
Well the whole family came round for a bbq so we were packed out and I loved every minute of it. Hubby does the bbq but just as he started the self igniter fell off and then the controls went random He informed me that he thought it might blow up, being agas fired one so that was nice and reassuring. I shut both doors between him and everyone else and left him too it. No point getting everyone with exploding bbqs and flying sausage shrapnel lol. He was ok but apparently we need a new bbq now.
Here we go Lorraine - burgers, sausages, hickory basted chicken, minted lamb and pepper kebabs, salad, etc, strawberries and cream and chocolate brownie cake with cornish ice cream. Yummy yum.
Last night we went out with SIL2B’s parents and had a great time and another meal - I stand no chance of cutting down at present. Had the most enormous home made meringue with mascarpone and mango.
Salads for the next few days.
Hope the sun shines on you all this week, back to school for me
Lily x

630

Hi soulgirl,
sorry you must have posted while I was typing. Yes I don’t ever burn but have picked up a lot of colour this week without trying. So watch out any of you that do burn normally. You must go to the sea, there is something very therapeutic about the sound of the waves and the smell of salty air. I went and sat in coats last year while on chemo and felt like I could breathe properly for the first time for ages. Kids all love it too. Should be quieter on the roads next week when we are all back at school. Hope the next visit goes well
Lily x

631

hi all will catch up much better soon just really busy, hope everyone is enjoying this lovely weather!
xx

632

Hi,
sad day today. A lady I know has BC back and it has spread up the shoulder and neck nodes. She was just getting her hair back from her first chemo as I had my dx in Feb 08. Just bumped into her by chance and I was apparently the last person she wanted to see, in case it upset me too. So off she goes again mx and non-stop chemo and the hair again! Quite brought me down to earth with a thud so can’t imagine how hard she has had to work to get her chin off the floor. What a totally c
p disease. Sure wish someone would plough a stack of money into finding a cure
hugs everyone
Lily x

633

Hi everyone
Lily - it really is a sad and cruel disease isn’t it? Try not to get too down yourself but I suppose it brings the reality back doesn’t it. Poor lady having to go straight back into chemo. I’m sure I’ll need it again sometime but hoping that’s some way off and also that it might be one of the non hairloss ones - how vain is that?
A quick catch up overall. Glad everyone seems to be having a busy time and the weather has been fab! I’m sure, like you Lily, that the sun is affecting my tanning capabilities! Even last year when I kept out of it, and let’s face it it wasn’t too difficult as it seemed to rain all the time, I caught the sun very quickly on my arms etc. I’ve had a very lazy few days and enjoyed sitting out and reading - bliss. Back to work today though on the hottest day of the year - boo hoo. Hope it breaks for a couple of days then picks up again for the weekend - especially for all us workers, even if they are part time like me.
Hope everyone is doing well and no hospital appointments. I’ve had my one through for the genetics side of things, will have to see if this is just a preliminary one or more detail, then need to discuss with my 2 girls - although I think I’ll be doing that before I go. Other than that I hope to keep away for a while, I’m getting on well with the tablet regime 1st thing in the morning and I’m so glad it’s keeping me away from the wards for a while at least.
Take care all
Nicky xx

634

Lily, so sorry about that, its crap isnt it, every time I hear of it coming back I get terrified and panic about everything, its normal I would think, I just hate the thought of it coming back and ruining my life, take my hat off soooo much to those with secondaries, you are an inspiration.

Well at work with a thumping headache and floaters still, so paranoid head back on!!

Today is lovely and at work until 10pm an hour away from home - hope its back at weekend, got a midnight 6 mile walk on friday and hummer and meal for aunts 50th on sunday so another good weekend!!! PAcking them in this year and loving no appointments but back to them in another week or so!!

Enjoy the weather x

635

Hi all,

glad to catch up with what you have all been up to.

Lily I too had a chill run through me on reading your post. Just scares me stiff and like Lisa said thinking of all you ladies with secondaries with great admiration and wishing you all well. Please let there be a cure for this horrid disease soon.

I love going to the coast too and I do really believe if it is therapuetic well the victorians always sent people off to convalesce (not sure about that spelling?)near the sea air pity we do not still carry out that practice. We are just shunted straight back into normal life and work which, as I am sure others have found, is not always that easy. I over did it last week as I worked all week, supermarket after work friday, had people staying for a birthday party locally so needed to clean!!! ,danced my socks off Sat eve at the party which was great, took my mum out for the day on Sunday to Hever Castle and then worked yesterday. Didn’t eat correctly and had a very unpleasant evening with pain in my feet and hands and my legs and arms felt like lead really thought I was coming down with flu but I guess it was just exhaustion. so obvsiously even if the mind wants to go for it the body is still not quite there yet.

I am going off to France for the weekend with hubs to stay with our daughter just for a couple of days but I am really looking forward to seeing her again. and then I have the dreaded mammagram on Tuesday not looking forward to the squashing as I still get a lot of sharp pains under my arm pit.

Nicky glad to hear the tablets are doable, keep well.

Lorraine I think white linens would look great with a yellow tunic dress. Have fun.

Anyway catch up again soon and thinking of you all and sending good wishes. Enjoy the sunshine.

love Bev x

636

Hi,
thanks I am ok just sad for her and keep thinking about her going in for a really long op tomorrow. She is a triple neg so I think they have decided to really go for extensive surgery and chemo after, can’t have hormones of course and no more rads allowed. I had not realised they took so much beyond the breast. She was amazingly ‘positive’ and optimistic so that should help her battle through those early days after surgery.
Bev I am starting to feel alittle worried about the race for life, which is looming into view this month eeeek!Sounds like you are having a fab time and well worth the aching limbs I think. My mammo was not nearly as bad as my one for dx (first ever) so I think the operator makes a difference. Armpit pains are horrible, is it nerve pain? I just ask because I am regaining feeling where it was numb and wondered if yours might be coming back to life too.
Lisa thanks to you too. I am not panicking but seem to have had my hand down my top checking at least 5 times today so obviously on my mind. Just hope i don’t accidentally do it infront of one of my classes lol. You are working much too long hours, what are you up to? What is the next appointment? Are you getting near recon decisions yet? Lots of luck whatever it is x.
Thanks Nick, yes she has one of the tougher regimes this time and I believe 3 weeks on and just one week off chemo. I am hoping you and all of us will never need more chemo and can take our hair for granted like we did in those good old ignorant of BC days. Last year was rubbish weather wasn’t it or did I just miss it in my chemofog? I am really enjoying the sun but I am reacting much quicker than usual. I was sitting in an office with no daylight so it was a shock to find such a nice day outside. What a waste. Glad the tablets are still going well and it will give your veins a rest from Dracula, which must help. I got nowhere with my genetics as you know. They seem to do a lot of preparing and talking about what ifs before they actually do much. I suppose it makes sense.
Is anyone else finding it really hot at night? I am definitely more sensitive to temperature changes in the weather.
Love
Lily x

637

hi all, just in after a loooong day at work from 9am - 10.45pm, phew, luckily work collegue drove to carlisel and i drifted off tosleep for ten when we told my boss he looked as if to say why you still tired!!! on plus side interviewing for someone to do a part of my job and if the take it will take a chunk of me (to be replaced by other things no doubt), down side is they will probably pay a solicitor 35k for 30% of my job that I do, wish they would give it to me!!!

Know what you mean bev but im packing everything I can in these days and then sleep and have lie ins at weekend - have a lovely time with your dayghter in france.

Lily, how much are they taking away in her op, i know when they do masectomy and my rads done underarm which dont normally do, I also know that in surgery then can remove lymph nodes in neck, wonder why they dont as to me would seem logic place for spread, I could be being stupid thou! thoughts are with her, spesh loosing hair, everyone keeps telling me my has more body than before and although I have a bald thin bit would never twine about it ever and dont have much patience for others.

Boy Lily talk about heat, im sticking to my leather sofa as I speak, I sweat like mad, and boy night times I wake up and its dripping down my neck, yet on hols nothing so maybe we should all emigrate abroad!!!

Well, ive got a 6 mile midnight walk on saturday 6 mile, arrrggghh, dunno how I’ll do it, also got t-shirts to make, im superimposing our heads onto famous stars so yes, you might guess Im mona lisa, will post pic of me soon!!

Well, love to all better unwind with a wine and book in bed me thinks!!!
p.s. Lily , you had an idea?!?!

638

Hi,
I am having a big wobble, so won’t stay on long. Just heard that a lady with BC I have known for many years has died. Keep seeing her face and hearing her voice in my head. Our paths crossed many times, kids all went to play school and school together, her hubby was my brother’s school friend, then we were having chemo together, used to bump into each other waiting for the onc. It was secondaries.
What a totally crap week and an even more crap disease. Hope I don’t have to say that again for a long time, preferably never say it again.
sorry, needed to vent
Lily

639

Vent away its shit, im sick of this disease, why cant they find a bloody cure! Someone that was a member of ours at work moved away, was elderly but lovely bloke, went for a health check and they have given him around 2 months maximum to live and he’s gone downhill in a matter of days, bloody unfair, Lily its hard not to wobble I try at mo with no appointments to put it to the back of my mind but its bloody hard, i want it away forever, no one wants it, its horrid and dont want anyone else to suffer, Im in a mini wobble stage too with headaches and achy jaw and wonder how people know if have brain mets - cant be helped must all think like that.

Hope you get some sleep and take care and think how well you have done xxx

640

Hey girlies - chin up. So sorry to hear you both are feeling low with bad news, unfortunately it (ie Cancer of some sort) does manage to wheedle it’s ugly way into everyone’s lives. As you’ve both had bad news about people you know or are near you it’s bound to affect you. Try to put it to the back of your minds and live each day as it comes. One way to beat BC is to not let it take over our lives either physically or mentally. Try and have a laugh today or a treat, hopefully you will feel better.
There - Nicky’s soothing words for the day are done :slight_smile:
Nicky x