Hello, you lovely lot
Thank you so much for all your supportive, kind messages regarding my Dad. The old bugger pulled through yet again and my Mum says she thinks he is indestructible. He has been sent home but it’s been a stressful few days. GCSEs are under way so now we just have to pray!
@angie007 - I’m so sorry that what should have been a good experience that would give you confidence was actually a distressing one. I bought wigs from the MacMillan centre, from online shops and also from a wig bank and they all got more wear than the one I had fitted and which cost the earth!! I particularly loved my Hat with Hair. Don’t give up. Have a look at cancerhaircare.co.uk for loads of great info.
@norts Goodness me! We really do have parallel lives right now. I totally agree that we are at that age where we are stuck smack bang in the middle of ageing parents and teenagers and it’s non-stop. I tell my parents it’s the price I pay for getting to have them live to ripe old ages and that they cared for me for all those years so now it’s payback time. My Mum hates to have to ask for help but she’s 90 in October so has had to accept some limitations. Also sending you every good wish for your father-in-law’s op and recovery (no…wouldn’t want to be that surgeon either! 
) and for your kids exams.
@arty1 Dad has an absolute catalogue of health problems but the congestive heart failure is a new one. He is in his late 80s and he has truly lived. He has wrung every drop out of life so for that, I’m happy. He certainly never has to look back and feel like he missed out!
@anb1 - It’s a fact that the way in which your consultant and oncologist convey information has a massive bearing on how you feel about it. The difference between my first consultant (who I called Dr Doom) and the ray of sunshine that was my second consultant was huge. Polar opposites, in fact. I went from feeling desolate to full of hope just by switching consultants and hospitals. It’s why I feel so strongly about this forum. I honestly feel that you still have lots to be optimistic about and that if he had been a bit more positive then you would feel differently. Surgery will remove anything that is left and your lymph nodes could still be clear. When we see these people, we are so vulnerable and we look to them for reassurance. When this doesn’t come it can leave us fearful and in despair. Do you have long to wait until surgery? Even if there was bc in your lymph nodes, there is still lots they can do. Many of us had it in the lymph nodes, me included. Here I am out the other side of treatment and looking forward to my reconstruction on 23rd May. This time will pass, even though it’s so horrible. The sun will shine again for you. Sending love.
@sooz1 - PET scans are scary, it’s a fact. The word scanxiety sums it up perfectly. Hang in there and keep us posted. I’m so glad you are able to clean again. Little milestones do bring joy in ways we never expected.
@sassy3 - Sorry you’ve had a bad reaction to docetaxel. Delays are frustrating and disappointing when we just want to get on with it all. I hope that they can switch you to another drug that you can tolerate better.
@sez I am also surprised (but less so these days having been on this forum for a year and a half) at how differently each trust operates. It’s definitely something of a lottery.
Oh @hoggie - That waterproof sleeve! Getting shot of that thing was indeed lovely.
I had my pre-op phone consultation yesterday and have my pre-procedure investigations on Wednesday of next week ahead of my reconstruction which is 2 weeks today. I’m so excited!! This is the good bit at the end of this sh*t show, right? I am getting a permanent soft implant on the side of my mastectomy, my saggy real left one is getting a lift and the best bit is them taking fat from my hips to pad out the bits that need padding out. Also…and this might sound a bit sad, but I’m looking forward to a couple of days break in hospital. A bed and a book…lovely!
Have a good weekend all,
Salbert
xx
I’ve been feeling mostly ok, some sensation returning including a bit of phantom nipple sensation which is the weirdest thing! Starting to have a wobble about my PET scan next week to check the ‘spot’ on my spine. Just terrified they find mets everywhere 
makes me feel sick. Every little ache in my back and hips I’m convinced it’s something bad, hoping it’s just stiffness from being less active than before.
x
. I’m having surgery last with possible bit of radiation. Stay strong and take one day at a time. We will beat this!