Are any of us getting tattoos over our scars (not anatomical ones like nipples)?
I’ve always said I wanted a tattoo but for it to be meaningful (which was why I was so anti getting radiotherapy ones, which it turns out I didn’t need anyway).
I’ve finally found a design I want and now I’m do restless cos I can’t get it til after my reconstruction surgery (cos my surgeon left a nubbin on my back and he says he’ll fix it when I have my reduction surgery), and it’ll be 18 months AFTER that!! Ugh.
Next year it’ll be ovarian cyst removal, then the reduction could be ages after cos there’s a waiting list.
I was so upset about the sycamore gap tree in Northumberland being felled, I visited it as a kid and then the Robin Hood movie came out and I was obsessed after realising it was the same tree (I love that movie!). Because my scar is kind of sloped like a valley I thought I could get Hadrian’s wall on the scar itself and the tree.
I’m very excited but annoyed now I have to wait so long.
@mrsjelly I’m feeling okay, anti virals have worked a treat thankfully. I am glad I went with the suggestion to take them. Think that was either @naughty_boob or @salbert that said to take them so great tip! My oncologist had suggested them but I was sceptical but yay!!
Amazing about the book! It was your comedy that started the conversation so that’s brilliant. Let’s see what the moderators say. There are a few of us interested so I think and fingers crossed we are onto something xx
Hi, all I’ve been quietly reading the thread and catching up, as usual some lovely comments to read! I had a tough time last cycle so had face to face pac meeting before third chemo. Doctor changed anti sickness, suggested taking loperamide on a more regular basis and to my suprise stopped carboplatin! Slightly concerned but will trust the suggestion! So chemo 2 days ago, lets see how it goes! At the moment i do feel better, early days though. They managed to get biopsies from second area of concern this week too, waiting game until 14th July for results, boob lovely shades of rainbow bruises hope everyone is doing ok…we got this!
Congratulations @gromit12 that must be an amazing feeling. Heres to a life free of 3 weekly diary restrictions, with the odd vino and not having to worry about your liver count! Onwards and upwards with getting on with life X Best wishes from a fellow Kadcyla patient in for the long haul (yesterday #5)
Many thanks for the answers, much appreciated and apologies for not being able to answer soon. As I said I finished the chemo treatment but I’m a wreck, totally knocked out by the side effects. Hopefully I’ll start to feel better soon. In the meantime I’ll read your posts as really behind
Lots to be happy about today. @carrie5 HOORAY!! Chemo done and bench slapped. We need to see you in your tank. The crazy granny is unstoppable!
@norts That’s a lovely pic of you and you look really well. Those trips are all the sweeter now. I haven’t managed to leave the country for well over 2 years but when I do, my excitement will be sufficient to launch that jet plane and send it soaring into the sky. Have a wonderful and well-earned break.
@hasnae87 - You made me laugh aloud when you referred to your current home town as a ‘non pleasant town called Slough’! There is a poem called Slough in which the first two lines go ‘Come friendly bombs and fall on Slough! It isn’t fit for humans now,’. You would probably appreciate it. That pic of the beach in Tangier must feel like a world away. A small one though, what with @kartoffel having worked in the same place and @norts going to school in Slough. I think you should definitely promise yourself a trip to that restaurant when you get through this time.
@mrsjelly - Permed eyelashes? I didn’t know that was a thing! The last thing I need is frizzy eyelashes as well as a frizzy bonce. I think I will leave that well alone. Welcome home from surgery, by the way. My chest was not a pretty sight after my reconstruction but just over a month later and I am actually starting to appreciate the sight of it in the mirror again. The lack of nipple is a bit disconcerting but once I’ve got that tattoo in place I’ll be flashing like a dirty old man. You have ticked another stage of treatment off the list and been shopping in M&S straight after major surgery with a drain and PICO tubing. Not much will phase you after this.
@arty1 Sorry to hear about your daughter. That’s such a sad thing to go through. I know a few people who have been really affected by miscarriage. At least she has a great mum to help her through. I do hope this house purchase completes in as stress-free a manner as is possible and that you get to move this time. And get you…another high-brow client! Body painter to the stars!
@gromit12 - Woo-hoooooooo!!! Kadcyla done. I genuinely feel so happy to see a pic like that. It IS something to be celebrated and because we are along for the ride, we all kind of celebrate too.
@sez - I am getting a nipple tassel tattoo complete with sequin effect. I was once in The Graduate in London playing the nipple tassel twirling stripper back in 2000. I’m positively excited about it. I feel it’s a way of reclaiming something that was mine but got taken away. I also like the idea of finishing off a crap journey with a bit of a laugh. A friend asked me if I would honestly want to be an old lady with a nipple tassel tattoo, to which I replied ‘Hell, yes!’ So I totally agree with you that it’s great if your tattoo is something meaningful to you. I say absolutely 100% go for Hadrian’s Wall and the Sycamore Gap tree. How wonderful! I have my initial appointment in September with a view to doing the tattoo in October. I have to go to Cheltenham for it so I plan to make a little break of it.
@galdiolus That will definitely have been @naughty_boob who suggested anti-virals. I would never possess such practical advice and common sense, much as I’d like to. Glad you are feeling ok. And yes, fingers crossed re the book.
@sassy3 - Sorry you had a tough time last cycle. Hang in there. We are with you all the way. Same goes for you @celestine - don’t stress about being able to answer quickly. Drop by and answer whenever you wish. Never an obligation.
Son got in from his prom 1 hour ago. I’ve texted him but no response. I won’t be surprised if he is crashed out in a crumpled suit with an empty McDonalds bag beside his bed.
Funny you should mention tattoos. I was never really a fan but after having 3 dots for my radiotherapy that I didn’t choose to have I’m now thinking maybe I ought to choose one to change the narrative.
Went to the hairdresser this week, a former pupil!, who has many and we got chatting. He’s recommended a local lady who does fine line tattooing. Was thinking something along the line of a pair of boobs (a bit like we’d draw in our school books, I had a Wild deodorant case with boobs all over supporting Coppafeel charity and it was my inspiration) and a pink ribbon.
I’m still a bit of a chicken so haven’t popped in to talk it through. It’s on my something to do list, but not sure when.
I’ve always loved tattoos on other people but knew I couldn’t have any unless it was something I wouldn’t regret. The amount of ugly tattoos I’ve seen on people and been told they regret it and did it on a whim always put me off.
My cousin passed away last year (***k cancer🤬) and he had loads of beautiful tattoos, when he passed away his mother and sister (both seemingly squeaky clean vicars wives) decided to ink up in his memory. My aunt hasn’t been able to do it yet because ****ing cancer got her too so she’s had to delay it. My cousin was able to get hers last year and she got beautiful flowers (really ornate) to represent her and her siblings, and my aunt will eventually get an identical one as it’s for her kids.
Seeing that just kind of reaffirmed how beautiful they can be and we love that my departed cousin would have been endlessly amused to know his mother and sister would pay tribute in such a way.
It was why I was so anti the radiotherapy ones, I’m a little more level headed about it now but at the time it felt like the choice to mark something so personal on me permanently was being stolen and I was instead going to be branded. I’m easily riled these days (also easily happy so swings and roundabouts).
I was lucky I didn’t need any in the end but I had told them they’d have to find an alternative method and they’d accepted that was how it was going to be.
I don’t want anything to remind me of this experience (my uneven, eventually smaller norks will be reminder enough) hence why I choose the tree I loved. I always said I wanted my ashes scattered there I loved it so much. I can’t think of a better way to keep it close to me.
I love your idea too. I love fine line tattoos, I think mine will be one too (for the many intricate branches).
I’m rambling again. I need to return to work asap (my SSP runs out on the 15th of next month so my manager is helping me get back before then).
The Graduate is one of my favourite films, we had a cat called Dustin Hoffcat because of it.
I didn’t know that’s why you were getting the tassel, that’s brilliant.
I just hate that I have to wait so long to get it. If my surgeon hadn’t given me a back nubbin I could get it next year (instead of at least two years now ).
Trying to focus on the positives, I can do my research and find an excellent tattooist who works on scars
Well to celebrate this weekend I’ve come to Leeds for Endure 24 a 24 ultra race where you run as many 5 mile loops mas you can! Treating myself to a glamping tent
@gromit12 Nice! Are you doing it solo? Loads of people from my old running club did one a few weeks ago… it looks like fun
@naughty_boob If you’re into fine line tattooing, there’s this guy that occasionally works in London that does really clean line work. I’ve been following him on instagram for a while and I really want to get something from him when I’m healed up after surgery. Still have no idea what though! https://www.instagram.com/okanuckun if you want to check it out.
I just got a call from my oncologist (always a bit of a heart in mouth moment when I see unknown caller flash up on my caller ID - especially at the weekend when you’ve just had a scan!) that the results of my MRI had come back and I’m unremarkable. Best kind of scan results! I had been getting headaches and my vision was a bit off the last couple of weeks and I’d also been having some sharp rib/hip pain but it seems like it’s all just side effects of… something. I’m on so many things (Kadcyla, tamoxifen, zoladex) it’s hard to know what causes what since so many of the side effects overlap. Hopefully a lot of will go away once I finish kadcyla next month…
Thanks for the recommendation He has some really cool designs.
So pleased your scan was unremarkable. I mentioned to my oncologist on Friday I’d been having headaches over the past few weeks but they think it could be the hot weather and the pressure increasing or the oxybutynin I take to help with hot flushes, it was originally for bladder issues. So told to drink more and review again in a few weeks. Luckily I don’t feel sick or dizzy, otherwise I would be having a scan. It’s so horrible we can’t just go, oh it’s just a headache, always have to think has it come back. I think that’s life from now on after a cancer diagnosis, I’d be so worried not to mention it that it could be a worse outcome.
@gromit12 well done on completing kadcyla x i get number 5 on Wednesday . Just back from 5 day break at Seton Sands Haven caravan park. It was peaceful and relaxing just what i needed best sleep ive had since being diagnosed last August. Came back to some bad news my sister in law got diagnosed with breast cancer 8 years ago but unfortunately it has matastasised to her stomach and spine, we are all gutted. Hopefully treatment keeps it at bay. Having meal this afternoon with my family fir Ruby Wedding .
Best kind of scan @kartoffel , great outcome. Really sorry @caz591 to hear your family not so good news. This is such a roller coaster. It really is grab the nice bits when we can. Have my radiotherapy dates now so at least I can work round that. Just booked a couple of nights in Wales for later August, on my list to walk up Bird Rock, we used to have our caravan on the farm at the bottom and it was always the first thing we did. Dogs coming too so that could be interesting. Might have to go up a size walking boots as I think some toenails will be departing soon, oh the joys…
that’s amazing news and well done to you! A well deserved celebration xx
hope everyone is doing ok…we got this!
Must feel so great to be done with Kadcyla… what are you going to do with all the time you have now 
).
He has some really cool designs.