Ha ha like the idea of Brad Pitt etc providing a diversion. I usually just pretend I’m not there, but I have to say we have an amazing practice nurse at current GP who’s done it before you even notice…miles better than some of the rummagers I’ve come across over the years. Feeling more chirpy again about Barnetgate now ladies, so thanks for your support Tat & PM Brave. Much appreciated at the low points. Tat, I was feeling fit, happy & healthy last week, essentially totally back to normal, bar the octogenarian hair colour/style of course. I can play tennis for two hours & do 18 holes of golf & have suddenly even lost the need for a fatigue preventing ‘lie down’ (went well with the old lady hair ha ha) between activities. It’s almost as if the boob cancer gods looked down & thought ‘she’s doing a bit too well, let’s get her again’. Anyway, onwards & upwards. AC really pleased you are doing well & have a good support group. I guess CUH follow up will be 12 months from end of treatment, but if you have any concerns before, just call that Tina. She did mention I would be called in for a ‘treatment debrief’ but I don’t know if that’s just for chemo types to help with odds & s*ds side effects which are still lurking. My only remaining thing is that chopping/grating/zesting injuries (which I seem to manage on an exceptionally regular basis) take weeks to heal. I have often damaged them again before they are properly healed & might as well buy shares in finger plaster companies. On zesting, my chemo nurse told me lemons are killers of cancer cells. I looked at the research & turns out it’s the zest & juice of all citrus fruits & it’s so effective they are even trying to make drugs out of the chemicals. Tip of the day. Have a great afternoon all. xx
Just popped in from May Rads. Saw the bit about Brad Pitt and thought “Where? Where? Where?” Then read down and saw the bit about Johnny Depp and thought ohhh yes please. Perfect distraction!
I am on day 5 of 15 rads. Xx
Maybe we should introduce a new radiotherapy rule…if there’s any blokes in room the have to be Brad or Johnny a-likes! Hope your skin is holding up Red, I know you were worried about it a while back. Mine’s totally back to normal now, can’t even see the branding iron line. All the best xx
I have only had 6 of 15 so far. Little itchy up near the top on inside but apart from that seem ok so far thanks Bibi. I read a few weeks back in the Royal Marsden leaflet that their experiences show people with fairer skin seem to have their skin handle the rads better! Hope it’s true xx
Good to hear you are back to normal. I like the look-a-likey thing. Can I order a Chris Hemsworth please! Xx
Lols @ ‘rummagers’ 
Glad you’re back on the golf course and playing tennis, Bibi.
Good to hear you are doing OK with rads, red. Unlike Bibi, I can clearly see the rads area, but it’s nowhere near as obvious as I expected after 33. I was expecting a kind of deep tan line from what I’d read, but I guess people who are unhappy about the side effects of rads are more likely to post about it?
Happy Friday to everyone 
xx
Tat 33!! How many are you having? I thought 15 was enough. It’s gone so quickly to 8 though. Has anyone else with recon felt that their port area is tender? I really feel mine when ai move about now. Boob feels like a rock and it’s been having shooting pains going through it today but they said to expect the as its the nerves healing themselves. Bit flipping sore when it does though. If it had carried on for too long would have had to get the pain killers out.
Feel tired after a busy weekend back in Kent (1hr 30min drive away) to celebrate my niece turning 6 last Tuesday and my nephew 2 tomorrow. Thats a lot of driving along with over an hour away each day for rads last week. My car says roll on 25th for a rest!
Not long now, Red! I was pretty lethargic in the last 2 weeks of my rads and for a couple after, but a long weekend away on the coast helped press the reset button and get me back into a more normal routine. I had 33 rads for a sarcoma in my breast, pretty standard for sarcomas as they are aggressive. Hope the rest of your rads pass swiftly and you recover quickly xx
Wow that’s a lot. I have only had 11 and it’s already looking sore. Can’t imagine how it would be after 33! No not long now, 4 to go! Can’t wait xx
Tat not sure if your results are today, but good luck anyway. I have fingers & toes crossed for you to beat the stats. FUAS as you ladies say ? & FOBC for the rest of us gals. Mammo 14th June eek. Decided to have all my tennis/golf friends over for a lunch on the 15th, as it will be a year from discovery of mutant boob alien. Apparently anxious time for many of us, so thought I would take my mind off it with a party. Timing of appt will either be great or terrible, as results same day, but I’m not changing it. That blinking BC has controlled my life for a year & I’m not giving in this time. Good weekend all. xx
So pleased the MLD is helping, Brave and hoping you can keep on top of it yourself.
Thinking of everyone and their mammograms, stressful time, but love your approach Bibi :). My mammo will only take half the time…!!
appt was the 13th hut results weren’t in. I asked onc to call me ratter than traipse back to see her. I’ve been in Dorset for a week with no phone signal and no internet! Difficult to begin with but then rather relaxing!! Just been out for a lovely meal for OH’s bday. Life is good ? xx
Good to hear Tat! Is MLD something you can do yourself or will you gave to train A up? Great that it’s working Brave. Brilliant news. Hi Angel hope you’re still prospering xx
AC what a wonderfully upbeat post. Big hugs to you. Really pleased you’re moving forward now. I do agree about making a contribution after receiving such amazing support from various sources during this experience & have volunteered for the Someone Like Me service. xx
Although I know logically, after all this treatment, that the scan next week is very likely to be clear, but I can feel myself getting anxious about it already I have woken up the last 4 mornings in the middle of an imaginary row with the oncologist, BCN & my other half about not wanting more chemo. Tat, I know you have this on a regular basis, how do you cope? xx
Hi ladies. Sorry for radio silence, been v busy and away every weekend recently. Last weekend was a reunion of Hash friends from our days in Hong Kong. The Hash House Harriers describe themselves as a drinking club with a running problem and even though most of us are in our 50s and above, I think we excelled ourselves!
It’s lovely to hear you describe such a positive approach to the future, AC, and I completely agree with you - worrying today about tomorrow actually just spoils today. I’m not saying I have nailed it yet, but I’m trying very hard to enjoy today for what it is (hence all the weekends away!) and think about tomorrow when it comes. There’s a line in the Tom Hanks movie Bridge of Spies when one character asks the other ‘Aren’t you worried?’. The reply is ‘Would it help?’. None of us can affect whether we have a recurrence or secondaries, so worrying about it is wasting today…that’s what I keep telling myself, anyway!
I know you can’t choose what you dream, Bibi, but filling your days with as much fun and positive stuff as possible makes every day count. That’s all I can do to cope with scanxiety, just keep pulling myself back when I begin to wander off track… Some days are easier than others and I think it’s important to accept that it won’t always be easy or straightforward.
My son sat his last final on Friday. They have a tradition of ‘trashing’ after a student’s last exam and the pictures of my son in his white tie, suit and gown covered in silly string, shaving foam, confetti, tomato sauce and a few unidentifiable substances were slightly disturbing, but he looked elated! He now has two weeks of croquet, punting and hangovers before he leaves. He has a place on the Civil Service graduate fast track scheme which he’s delighted about, so he’s moving on. My daughter is about to start her A Levels tomorrow and is off to Greece with a bunch of girlfriends next month. It’s been a difficult 6 months, but we’ve all got through and have a lot to look forward to and be thankful for. Hope everyone else is feeling well, positive and making the most of the lovely weather. Hugs to all, Tat xxx
Thanks Tat. Full of good advice, as ever. I got ANTWA …Absolutely Nothing To Worry About. Sooooo happy. Now got my party today to enjoy with all the wonderful people who helped me through it. Hope all ok with you xx
That’s such great news, Bibi! Happy dancing here Enjoy that feeling and I hope you can shelve the whole bc thing for another year and LIVE!!!
Brave, I have a feeling that might be where I remembered the Bridge of Spies quote from!! *Blushes* We saw the film just before my mx, so Booby Brain will have been in full swing, sure I didn’t remember it from then. I’ve loved reading your blog posts, keep it up. So glad you are enjoying being back at work and the lymphoedema is under control - sounds like you have achieved a good balance for quality of life
Lots of love to everyone x♥x
AC, I am so sorry and my thoughts are very much with you. That is so very sad. You may recall my dad died in January. Life is very hard sometimes, isn’t it? Allow yourself to grieve and try to be kind to yourself.
Gosh AC really sorry to hear your news. Hopefully it was a merciful release from that terrible dementia for her. My father died of dementia just before my diagnosis, so I do know what you’ve been up against. Life is really chucking curved balls at you at the moment isn’t it? I’m so sorry you have this to deal with now, particularly as your previous post was so upbeat. Don’t worry about your children, they are very resilient & I’m sure, although it is upsetting for them, that it won’t dramatically affect the outcome. My thoughts are will you through all the funeral arrangements & other stuff that needs doing. Big hugs xxx
I’m so very sorry to hear this, AC. There will never be a ‘good’ time to lose your mum, but the timing really sucks for you all 
Please vent on here if you need a safe place to offload and try to be kind to yourself. Lots of love xxxxx