Morning all 
Fingers crossed for you this morning Francine, hope endoscopy results are good and you can straight on to the BC treatment. Don’t know how you’re keeping your sense of humour, you’re a star.
Have you moved now Pandorra? Lots of new space to decorate so that should be fun once the hard work of unpacking is done. Well, the decorating isn’t exactly fun is it, but choosing just the right accessories to go in a room is a pleasure that I can spend hours over. It’s one of those things that I get to do with my Dad as I like old stuff so he spends ages scouring junkyards and car boot sales for me to find bits and bobs (found me a gorgeous 1930s typewriter recently) so that gives him something to do that he enjoys as well as helping me.
Good luck with the change in hours Cheryl, it’s hard to stay disciplined enough to just do ‘normal’ hours isn’t it, somehow or other there is always a reason to end up there 10/12 hours. Sure that such long hours can’t be good for anyone never mind those of us who’ve had health issues to deal with.
Off out with friend to the National Portrait Gallery tomorrow to see an Audrey Hepburn photography exhibition (I think she was the most beautiful woman in the world, so elegant and stylish) and then on to Somerset House for a photo exhibition of The Jam and a nice lunch. Don’t think the weather will be good enough for too much outside wandering but that should keep us busy enough.
Boob very achy around scar and where the tumour was so I’ve gone back to my surgical compression bras for now. I’m beginning to wonder if it is just normal monthly hormonal tenderness but exacerbated by the surgery. It isn’t bad enough to worry about, just a bit uncomfortable. Beryl and Francine, I’ve got the whole dryness thing going on too but I’m not taking any hormones so perhaps it’s just the start of the menopausal hormone changes kicking in. You wouldn’t think a few simple little hormones could bring about such dramatic effects would you - but at least a natural menopause should be easier to deal with than one induced by the treatments *crosses fingers and hopes*
love to all
xx
Sharon
Hooray, I have the biopsy results, shocked! Showed a small benign tumour that will need watching and some mild inflammation in the bowel. How lovely to look forward to regular dates with the a****e doctor, as my husband so nicely calls him! He has a great way with words. Must remember not to show him my boobs, bit of an automatic reaction now whenever I see a medic, lol. Will discuss my results with him on 22nd and then see the BC surgeon on 06 August. Had to laugh today, called for my 5 year smear test. Yet another part of my anatomy to show off to the medical world? might pass on that delight at the moment, surprisingly! Feeling exhausted with the lack of sleep and decided to paint my nails at 4am, OH wasn’t too impressed and in the morning I could see what a bad job I’d done. Note to myself, do not paint your nails in the dark?? Daughter is sending me lovely photos of San Sebastian (spanish Basque region) and I so wish I could be there with her. Next year, God willing. Love to you all. XFrancine
Thank you Beryl. Afraid the sleep had been elusive for a long time now but it’s worse since I started taking the Anastrazole, as I have really bad hot flushes at night. I’ve swopped to Egyptian cotton sheets which have helped but still wake up drenched. Of course I do want to sleep during the day, which isn’t very conducive to running a business! Still at least I had already gone through the menopause and wasn’t suddenly pushed in to it artificially, as you say. Must be horrible. Glad to hear that they’re sorting out your follow up. Won’t it be great only going to hospital once a year. love Francine x
Phew Francine! Horrible having to do yet another set of medical visits but at least no bowel surgery needed for now so hopefully you’re back on track to get the BC sorted soon. I’ll be so happy for you when you can get through the breast surgery as you’ll be on the home stretch then. Will be standing along side you, albeit virtually, cheering you along all the way
Hope you can relax a little bit now and get some sleep.
Look after yourself
xx
Sharon
Hi ladies
it’s nearly midnight and I’m just back from the emergency vet with my adored kitcat Dollop who is very sick. Was worried that I’d be coming home having said my goodbye (he is 16 next month so generally pretty creaky at the best of times, really thought I’d lost him earlier). Couldn’t bear to leave him at the vets as he was so terrified he was hyperventilating so I’ve brought him home. I’ve been told to keep a close eye on him overnight and take him back immediately if he gets any worse. It’s going to be a long night 
Job thing is moving along nicely Beryl, heard this afternoon that I have got an interview on Monday for the job I like the sound of so I hope it looks as good then as it does on paper (and that they like the look of me too of course). So worried about my cat I can’t seem to care much about the work thing at the moment though so might have to wing it a bit during the interview (although in fairness, spouting rubbish is one of my specialities so I’m sure I’ll be no worse than usual!). Glad to hear the hospital are finally checking you and hopefully you’ll be discharged to just annual visits now too.
Love to all
xx
Sharon
Edit: Pusscat improved this morning although still feeling ill poor thing. Phew, very relieved cat mum!
Hi Sharon. How is Dollop today? I know just how you’re feeling. My lovely old boys George and Henry both became very poorly at 17 but I decided to nurse them at home. At least they had me with them when the time came. I still carry their name tags in my purse 7 yrs later. I still miss them so much and sometimes talk to them (mad catwoman!) Keeping my fingers crossed for the lovely Dollop and for your job. I’m good at spouting rubbish too, especially at interviews, is it an HR/MRC speciality!? XFrancine
Hi ladies,
Are you getting some rest Francine or still too sore? I can lend you a few box sets if you’d like, or a colouring book. Think I’ve even got some jigsaw puzzles somewhere. Happy to send them on to you if you’d like them to while away the waiting time. I know this is going to make me sound like a madwoman, but when I worked away from home a lot I used to phone my cats as they liked hearing my voice. My OH used to hold the phone up so they could hear me. And I liked hearing them too of course. The fact that I phoned the cats more often than the OH was a source of some tension, lol!
Thanks for kind thoughts Cheryl & Beryl, I know you’ve both got a lot going on at the moment so hope you are both getting some time just to relax. Does the world still look all bright and shiny with your new improved vision Cheryl or does it feel normal already?
Dollop has improved a bit and is up and about now but looking very sorry for himself. Delighted to see him moving again but keeping him still enough to syringe the three lots of medication down his little throat is a bit of a challenge - still, can’t complain because I’m an even worse patient :womanlol:
Definitely going to have to wing it in the interview tomorrow but can’t be bothered to fret about it, it’ll either be OK or it won’t but at least it will be over! Actually I quite like interviews as it’s always interesting to meet new people. I have to give a presentation too and I don’t think I’ll be able to wing that bit of it so I’d better get cracking I suppose *adjusts specs, brushes hair out of eyes and tries to look vaguely professional*
Love to all
xx
Sharon
Hi Sharon. How did the interview go. I expect you smashed it, and how is Dollop, more importantly. I bought myself one of those adult colouring books and some posh pencils but was bored rigid after an hour! Didn’t find it relaxing at all, not sure what that says about me! I’m off to the dentist tomorrow so must ensure that I don’t get the boobs out. Bit of a knee jerk reaction when I see someone in scrubs and a mask, lol. X Francine
Morning all
Pusscat back to his old self this morning so that’s great and I was pleased with how my interview yesterday went. Not sure I’m quite what they are looking for unfortunately which is a shame as I really liked the people, the place and the role. Still, I don’t think I embarrassed myself and I enjoyed talking to them which makes me feel a bit more confident about the next ones.
Francine if you haven’t seen it already, I can recommend The Sopranos boxset: 178 hours of viewing and almost all of it brilliant if a bit gory (but then we’ve all got quite skilled at handling gory haven’t we :womanlol:?)
Take care all
xx
Sharon
Oh yes, we love The Sopranos. Our daughter calls us Tony and Carmella! Do wish Carmella and Furio had got it on(!). Had my check up with the bum doctor today who was lovely. Not often you get a consultant talking to you for an hour and really caring. I’m doing very well apparently, recovering very well and fit for BC surgery. I will have to be on heparin injections for a month after surgery, oh joy, better start practising on an orange now, or the OH! He rather scared me when he told me how near I was to ICU and a big op, not to mention pegging out! Still i’m here to tell the tale. Onwards and upwards.
Great news Francine. Do you have a date for surgery yet or is that one of the things you’re discussing at your meeting on 5th August? And have you decided what sort of surgery you are going to have? Big scary stuff isn’t it, really feel for you.
I had good news this afternoon, was offered the job that I wanted so now I’m just trying to work out if I can afford to accept it (the salary is dramatically lower than I usually earn and less than I asked for) but I want to take it if I possibly can so will be seeing where I can pennypinch on my budget to make it OK. Sure I’ll manage it somehow and I can’t believe I’ve been lucky enough to get the job. Someone somewhere is looking after me
xx
Sharon
Thanks ladies. The organisation is a really old, traditional one and the job offer includes free lunch in the extremely posh (strict dress code) dining hall. Just looked at the menu and tomorrow is a soup starter; roast beef and roast potatoes, yorkshire pudding etc (or a veggie alternative of polenta & roasted veggies) followed by lemon syllabub. Think the diet might be under threat! Ah well, I’ve decided to accept it and just adjust to a life of being poor and fat but hopefully happy! :womanlol:
xx
Sharon
Sharon, fantastic news I knew you’d smash it! They are a lucky lot to have you. A new start and a new challenge, exciting but probably a bit scary? I was once offered a job at The Natural History Museum which I so wanted to do but the salary was low and it was fixed term. I’ve always regretted it. You may be hard up but you’ll be well fed!!
Thanks everyone for your good wishes. He was such a lovely guy and didn’t ask me to get my boobs or bum out, for a change, lol. I celebrated by eating a slice of chocolate cake and drinking a cup of coffee, the first in 3 months. Wow did it taste good. Looking forward to seeing my daughter in London this weekend for her birthday and going to Hawksmoor in Covent Garden for lunch, feeling my wallet twitching already. Now just waiting (again) to see the consultant on 6 August to discuss the surgery. Xx Francine
Oh yes Beryl, I’m crossing my fingers for you to be discharged to yearly check ups. I was feeling a bit low today. When I realised it was another 2 weeks before I saw my consultant I suddenly felt so weary and emotionally drained. Then I got a lovely text from one of my daughter’s friends who’s had health issues all her life and had a stoma from 19. She is a wild water swimmer and doesn’t let it stop her from doing anything she wants. She said that it’s part of being human to overcome adversity and continue to flourish and we all have it in us and she’s right. Felt a lot better after that. Hope everyone has a good weekend. I’m looking forward to a day in London with my daughter tomorrow to celebrate her birthday. X Francine
Hi Maria. Oh the creamed spinach and the chips fried in beef dripping!! Daughter and I shared the chateubriand, amazing, medium rare. I love Covent Garden, especially the human statues, frightened an American tourist to death when it suddenly tapped her on the shoulder! I lived and worked in London for 40 yrs and moved out in 93. Lot has changed, uber taxis for one! Lots of those rickshaws around ripping off tourists, £10 a minute! No insurance, not licenced and so dangerous. Give me a black taxi any time, I can still hail one a treat! You can take the girl out of London as they say! Where do you live then ?
Morning all
Francine I was thinking of you and your daughter on Saturday. I went to the summer festival at Ally Pally and did a ‘behind the scenes’ tour which was fab, got to see the old BBC studios and the theatre which hasn’t been open to the public since the 1930s. So pleased they’ve got some lottery funding to do it all up and re-open it as I’ll have a West End quality theatre in walking distance of my home and, presumably, it’ll be the same for your daughter.
So, lovely ladies, any advice for me on how to handle returning to work/new job? I’m slightly dreading it as I know what a hard time many of you have had.
xx
Sharon
Congratulations Sharon, well done. Just take it easy, day by day and I am sure all will fall into place. Just think of the new people you will meet and maybe some new friends. Don’t overdo it. Will be thinking of you, please keepnus updated. When do you start. I have had a crappy time sine moving as inherited a head cold, lost my voice, other half so pleased and then on Sunday the start of a tooth abscess. So much pain and antibiotics seem to be taking for ever albeit just 24 hours today. Once again told immune system is still very low so bought some vit C tabs as can’t drink orange juice due to acid. Anyway onwards and upwards as they say, but soooooo fed up with pain! We have certainly been tested haven’t we girls. Hope everyone is keeping ok. Looking to book a holiday for September and can’t decide on greece or st ives. Do we want hassle of airports? Any thoughts appreciated. Sending love and everything else which is special to you all xxxxxxxxx
Hi All!
Seems working 30 hours a week is a good distraction. I can’t keep up with the forum as much as I’d like. I’m grateful to be working for now. Some days though after 7.5 hours and really no break to speak of I come home eat and fall asleep in my chair that I’ve made my bed for the last seven months. It’s really good to love what you do and to enjoy those you work with. I’m blessed that way. Still not taking Tamoxifen and feeling a little quilty over it. My joints still ache/thinking it’s herceptin. And a shoulder arm issue not sure what that’s about. Well wishes to everyone!
Sue
Hi Pandorra and SueBee, so happy to hear from you both although life is sounding pretty miserable for you at the moment Pandorra. Any chance you could take a few days off now just to relax a bit and give yourself time to recover? I think you said you worked in a medical centre so you’re probably catching every bug that walks through the door! Both holiday destinations sound good to me, but I guess St Ives will be easier as you won’t have to fuss about holiday insurance (haven’t tried it yet but I’m told it is difficult/expensive to get cover to go abroad after a cancer diagnosis). And think of the cream teas, yum!
Sue you’re so right about work, enjoying what you do makes all the difference doesn’t it but I am a bit fearful about just not having the stamina the cope with full time work anymore. Hope I’ll get back into my stride quickly. I start on 17th August so am trying to plan ahead a bit so that it isn’t too much of a shock to my system.
For all my whinging and wailing about possible boob shrinkage after radiotherapy, in fact I’ve got the opposite problem now in that my treated boob has swollen over the last few weeks and seems to be swelling more each day. It’s now a full cup size bigger than the other one so I’ve had to go and buy more new bras and put stuffing in the smaller side :womanfrustrated:if it doesn’t settle down soon I think I’ll have to ask for a referral to the lymphoedemea nurse to learn how to massage it properly. I’m getting impatient now and just want life to go back to normal!
love to all
xx
Sharon
Hi all, know the feeling Sue, you get home and think of bed and I only do 16hrs a week. Sharon you are right working in a medical centre is asking for it. Forgot about the travel insurance, be interesting to see how much. I so fancy st ives though. Re your swollen boob, I have exactly the same problem, leaving a mark where the bra cup goes! Think the other half enjoys my daily show of whipping of the bra and showing him the bigger boob! Any advice helpfull.
Hope all doing ok, masses of love xxxxxxxx