Evening all
Chascat - have just signed the petition, I too think it is disgraceful that the cull has been approved.
Bandage is now off and neck area is cooling down, I think I will have a couple of leathery patches which is a shame as I have always used high factor sun screen to protect my skin, but needs must… I do have an itchy spot on the top of my backl, apparently this is the exit point for the rads.
Well I seem to be a lady who lunches at the moment, Marie67 (lovely to see you) and my current boss last week and a close friend today. Better not get in the habit as I suspect I will be back at work in the near future. Still get waves of tiredness if I try and do too much. Not sure how long this goes on for but hope it gets better soon.
Washed my hair the other morning and towel dried it roughly, when I later checked in the mirror I had joined the mohican club, not a style I would recommend but at least it is now long enough to think about standing up.
SCACO’s passing was quite a shock, it all seemed to happen so quickly and I suspect it has made a lot of us feel a little bit on edge. I was only ever a lurker on the dark woods. I cannot imagine what her family must be feeling. Thats the 2nd person who has passed reaaly suddenly, it just does not seem fair, but then again when is cancer ever fair.
Wintersocks - sorry to hear Socks has not returned, I do know how you feel as ours went out one night and never came home. We will not get another cat whilst we live here even though we both love their characters. She used to wake my husband up by walking up his body purring and tapping his nose with her claws and on one occasion when he was sound asleep she bit him to wake him up for breakfast, he still bears the scars today!
Wolsty - I am sooooooo envious, glad you had a fantastic evening. I consider him to be a showman with huge stage presence as was Freddie Mercury and Phil Collins. I had my seroma drained twice 1st time around and once after my last op. After the last op when I sat up after lieing down I gurgled. The BS had to use a portable ultrasound machine to find where it was hiding, but luckily it did not reform. If it is that uncomfortable I would ask for it to be drained.
Ceej - know what you mean about having word problems - hapens all the time at the moment, trouble is OH struggles to understand what I am trying to say and sometimes I cannot help him as each time I try another wrong word pops out!
Well congratulations to those who have now completed rads. Good luck to those yet to start, it will soon be over, just remember to slap the old cream on. Hang on in there to those not quite finished.
If you want to hear something funny which I did last week when I was getting my breakfast - I put orange juice on my Wheetabix and put the sugar bowl in the fridge! That’s certainly chemo brain and we had such a laugh about it - what a hoot!
Megsmum - Well done finishing rads and getting through the other end. I’m still applying cream and I finished on 26th July, but only about twice a day now. Still get twinges in the treated area and have to keep up with arm/shoulder exercises when I think about them. Hope you are doing OK.
Waitingtoo - Sorry to hear that you are feeling quite sore but I can relate to the red nibble and feeling very tender. I used to sit with nothing on my upper half to let the air get to it, which is what they told me to do when I can. That’s OK when the weather is warm and you are not feeling cold etc. You get much better weather than us so perhaps you can do it at this time of year over there. Hope it calms down soon for you but with more sessions to go then may be not.
Ceej - Love the banana story! Hope your daughter is OK now and they found nothing untoward on the scan? My gym membership is being re-instated from 1st Oct so I will be back in action trying to get fit and reducing weight. Must say that I’m looking forward to going back but will be building myself up slowly and not trying to over do it at first. It’s very upsetting hearing about another lady/person passing away but I didn’t go on the thread and am unaware of her messages. All very sad for her and her family and it must be a very hard time for them. I tend to not go looking much on other threads because it disturbs me when I read about someone having a hard time or receiving bad news. I sometimes look on the newly diagnosed because we all know what that feels like, and I have posted a couple of messages to help reassure going forward. I don’t know if it helped but I know it did me when I was in that situation. Good that you are not feeling sore at this stage and long may it continue.
Pargayan - Glad to hear that your sore area is clearing up for you at last. I don’t remember having a sore area on my back where rads would have exited. My boob, nipple and under arm got sore and tender but other than applying cream I was OK in the end. I still have bouts of tiredness now but not so often and have more energy, also tend to forget sometimes to pace myself. It’s good that you are getting out and about for lunches and doing what we took for granted before, and I’m sure you must be enjoying lunching out. I’m getting a good cap of hair now and positive comments on how well I look etc, which is encouraging. The big question I have to ask myself is ‘will I get it coloured again’? Probably, but will wait and see how it all looks when it gets to an acceptable length for colouring. Once it’s coloured again it will be a 4 weekly thing and do I want to go down that route again?
I can’t write personals to all this morning because there’s just not enough time, sadly. I’m sending my very best wishes to all our ladies and I’m thinking of you.
Morning All,
Just a quickie question…I start rads next Tues and have been applying the aqueous cream for 2 weeks or so now, can I put it on in the morning before I go for rads or do I have to leave the boob completely clean of anything ? :))
Weather very showery here today but a hopeing for some rainbows :)))
Hugs
KQ
Hi KQ i used to put cream on at least an hour before rads but if i had an early morning session i just put it on the night before.
Good luck although it is sooo easy compared to chemo but watch out for the tiredness it sneaks up on you.
Keep strong xx
Hello MM’s,
Just a quick drop in
Well sunny but windy here in Somerset our little holiday home for the week is very close to the sea which is lovely , went to Longleat yesterday which was fab. Had a bit of a blip Mon, woke up feeling vey shivery, and area around MX scar very hot and red, so ended up going to a walk in centre, where I was given a good check over and diagnosed with cellulitis now on antibiotics, they think the symptoms may have been there for a while but masked by the redness from rads and the hot flushes from Tamoxifen area much better today, so ladies never let your guard down!!!
WS I have had my seroma for 8 months now and it does get uncomfy, as is round my back near my shoulder blade, no one has wanted to drain it as the said it would re absorb itself still waiting!!! Though since being on these antibiotics it does seem smaller.
KQ You need to go with a cream free area for rads, I used to apply the cream when I was getting dressed afterwards.
RAECHI glad that you are now home, hope you are doing ok.
PARAGYAN glad the bandages are off and area is improving, hope you have managed to get your OH’S results sorted.
Hope everybody else doing ok, heading off to Cheddar Gorge today.
Jane
Chascat - I have a foot in both camps as far as TB and what to do about it with regards to Badgers and farm animals. I love Badgers and hate to think of culling but also have sympathy for the farmers who have to have valuable livestock slaughtered because of TB. Was watching something on TV about it yesterday and didn’t realise that they can’t have their cattle jabbed against TB because of EU rules. Don’t know what the answer is but something needs to be done to stop this senseless killing. Signing a partition to try and stop it is one thing but I doubt they will take a blind bit of notice. Everyone in the local county of King’s Lynn was sent a ballot letter to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to a huge Incinerator being built of the outskirts of the town. It was an overwelming ‘NO’ but they have totally ignored that and going ahead with it. So what was the purpose of that and a total waste of local tax payers money? They always do what they want but want to been seen doing the right thing initially!!!
Marie - Phew sorry to hear that you had to get checked out but good that you are now on the mend again. Just goes to show that we still have to be alert to these things. Just as well that you have a nursing background and know what to look out for. Sounds like you are having a nice holiday and are enjoying yourself. Nice to hear from you and take care.
Megsmum - I was told to go with clean skin for each treatment and apply the cream asap afterwards. Also not to apply an deodorant to armpit on treatment side until two weeks after treatment finished, assuming everything healed etc. I’m sure that other ladies will come on to confirm what they were told and there may be differences depending on hospitals etc.
Well I started back at work yesterday and was met with banners saying Welcome Back and balloons!! It was such a lovely surprise and I was overcome with their kindness. Being able to go into work periodically when I was well enough has kept me going this last 8 months, and the girls their have been very supportive.
My skin underneath my boob as broken down and is now bleeding its very sore indeed and also a patch in my arm pit has started to peal. I hope that the gel and dressings will keep it from going further. Its a pain (in all ways) to have this soreness but its the end of treatment so I can put up with it!!! I was told that I could cream my skin before rads in the morning.
I love tghe banana skin story, and have had many similar mental blips!! I find myself describing something because I cant think of the proper word, or I say a word that sounds similar but means something totally different!! Its like altzhiemers!! Wonder if things will improve as time goes on?
I start Arimadex this week, have any of you experienced any SE’s? Im not sure if I should take it at night or morning? Since I have had my ovaries blasted the hot flushes are daily… ho hum, the joys of being a woman!
Its brilliant that things that would probably really worry us, we can share on here and know that many of us are experiencing the same, which puts things back into perspective. This site is worth its weight in gold !
Love to you all, hope those we havent heard from for a while are doing ok.
Gabby - I’m on Arimadex and found that I get more flushes now and my joints are stiffer. Have you had a bone density scan (Dexa) to check your bones before starting this or have you got one booked? Arimadex can contribute to Osteoporosis (spl?) so they need to know if you have any problems before hand and keep an eye on you. They told me that I need one of these every two years to check etc. If you haven’t been offered one then I’d speak to your hospital/BCN so they can get it sorted asap. I didn’t experience any skin break up but just a tiny area at bottom of arm pit where it peeled. They told me to keep it dry and aired as much as possible and it worked. Hope you heal up soon and you are not too uncomfortable. Glad that you are now back at work and you had such a nice welcome back - how thoughtful of them. Take care.
Beryl,
I too have sympathy for the farmers, however, all the scientific evidence says that a cull wont work, that’s what upsets me, I can’t understand why they wont vaccinate the badgers as they’re doing in Wales, keep everybody happy. If the petition gets 150.000 signatures parliment have to debate it. I’m a huge supporter of wildlife and am so angry about this as they just wont listen to the evidence that the cull wont work, the old boys network are controlling this one i’m afraid.
Right, off my soapbox - my husband is sick of me going on about it!
Love to all
Lydia x
Hi lovely ladies,
I was so sad to hear about SCACO, I was only a lurker but it did seem so quick, very sad and very frightening.
I had the day off work today to get my hair done!! I’ve had it coloured, i went to Jasmin at the Cancer Hair Care charity based in Stevenage. I wasn’t sure if she would do it, as the front is still very thin but she said it would be fine and it is! It’s really nice to have a bit of colour instead of grey. It’s still very short so she didn’t cut it at all. There was a lovely lady there who is 3 months ahead of us and her hair looked fab, a proper short hair style.
Gabby, I’m taking Arimidex and thought I had se’s of aching creaky bones, but several people have said they have that and aren’t on any medication yet, so probably isn’t the Arimidex at all. I started taking mine in the evening, but forgot it one night, so started taking in the morning -now I’m back to evening, as I forgot again!
Marie sorry to hear about the cellulitis, hope it clears quickly. Enjoy the rest of your holiday!
Joan, hope you’re having a lovely holiday, and well done to your hubby on doing the Great North Run and raising money for BCC!
KQ I was told I could put aqueous cream on as long as it had time to soak in, so at least an hour before rads - typical that we’ve all been told different things! Good luck with your rads.
Pargayan I had the itchy area on my back too, was a real surprise to me, I’ve still got a tanned circle on my back! Enjoy being a lady that lunches!
WS & Rae, hope you’re both recovering well after surgery.
Beryl I’m impressed that you’re going back to the gym! I would like to start again after my holiday, but just feel so tired by the time I get in from work I’m not sure if I won’t just be wasting my money.
Megsmum and Sassy, I’ll be joining you trying to loose weight, even though I had such a sore mouth and food tasted like cardboard while having chemo I still managed to put on a stone over the last 9 months. I will wait until after my holiday though.
Wolsty, sounds like you’ve been having a lovely time! Hope the heart scan went well.
Hope everyone is doing well, thinking of you all. I’m off on a Med cruise on Saturday morning and can’t wait!
Love and hugs
Caren x
Care_N - I’ll be going back to the gym but don’t know how I’ll get on but got to start sometime/somewhere! It is confusing that we all get told different things going through treatment isn’t it? I love cruising and I think we have done about 7 altogether, which includes the Med’ and I’m quite envious that you are going, but I know you will enjoy it and hae a great time. Which cruise line are you going on - our favourite is Celebrity Cruises? We have done Royal Caribean and Holland America. I hae been inspecting my hair from different angles to see if it is just grey. I have light grey, dark grey and very faded ginger, what a mix! I’ve been told it looks great but time will tell how it all turns out. I know my twin would tell me to get it coloured so I’ve got until next May (she said she’s coming over then) to make a decision one way or the other. What type of hair colour did you have put on? Sorry so many questions. It’s intersting about the aches and pains and what is responsible for it because we have had so much thrown at us going through this. I hope it eases up one way or the other. Just as well you’re not thinking about losing weight before going on the cruise with all the food they give you! Enjoy!
Beryl XX
Crumbs…mustn’t leave it so long between checking posts! The good news is that my irregular visits are as a result of being back at work (part time but with increasing hours to get me back to full time) and a desire to be more active. Got my first band gig this gig this Saturday (the Boathouse, Rushall near Wallsal if anyone is in the vacinity) so am excited about that. Loving being at work part time. Shame I can’t keep the shorter hours but I need a full wage for now. August was my first treatment free month so I’m about 7 weeks into recovery. Hair is various shades of grey. Not very long but getting thicker. If I’m honest I feel very ugly at work. Can’t get used to having hair that isn’t long enough to move yet. EveryOne says I look good with such short hair but I don’t feel like me. I shall be wearing a hat for the band gig. Other than that an starting to enjoy life again!
Hi Beryl, we’re going with Holland America, never been with them before so hope it’s good. You’re right about the diet, I usually put on about 7lbs, so will have even more to loose by the time we get back.
The hair colour she used was Loreal Excellence, which she said is nice and gentle, she said you need to use a lighter colour than you want but to make sure you leave it on for 30 minutes. I really like having brown(ish) hair again but husband and daughter both said they preferred how it was!
Good luck with the gym, and good luck with your gig Twinky!
Caren
Evening Ladies, hope you’re all ok. Half way through now with Rads and its going fine. A lady asked me yesterday why my hair was growing back the way it is (like a mohican) She wasn’t a patient just a friend of a patient. Good job I have a sense of humour eh!!
Having loads of hot flushes with Tamoxifen and its a prob knowing what to wear, I suppose layering up is the answer
Anyway off to have a big glass of wine, is drinking lots of alcohol a side effect of Tamoxifen cos I’ve suddenly become a right lush ha ha
Nite Nite
Bettie xx
Evening ladies
sorry its been a while.
Socks i would get in touch with the paper about socks. when Molly went missing i went on the local news papers page and put an advert on there. the next thing they wanted to see if they could help. they ran a story on her and put a great big picture of her in. it took a month but she came home.
Better go. oh wants my phone to call his cousin. pppfffftttt.
Speak soon x x x
Hi ladies
Nice to see you back Amylou xx
I’m so impressed with myself today, I went out with a running club for 3 miles - walking and jogging. Got home and was soooo hungry I went to the chip shop and got pie and chips ha ha.
Only 4 rads left for me - am a bit pink and a little sore under my arm as when I asked them how far to put the cream they just said “the whole area” not very useful when you dont know how high it goes! they told me to use aqueous cream morning and night and I’m using simple shower gel and alum free deoderant.
I saw the consultant yesterday as all the underneath of my boob has gone really lumpy, horrible, but he says it’s normal.
No daughter and no grandson tonight so a very quiet house! it was a relief for her to have an ultrasound yesterday and nothing untoward showed up. I’m becoming a real scaredy cat!
Twinky - what sort of music does your band play? would love to come and see it one weekend.
My niece is in the 80s Mania thing and Abba reunion that tours around, and we’re gonna go and see the Abba one in Worcester on October 12th. It’s a really good night out
OH is driving a Ferrari on Sat for his 50th - present from the girls who work for him - so of course I’m being dragged along to watch “yawn” - I’ve made lots of comments about the following weekend being our “anniversary” as it will be 10 years ago that we first got together - 10 years and we STILL live in different cities ha ha. So he better have planned something nice!!
Right - am off to bed - Mr Grey is calling, although my daughter is dismayed that I’m reading it, but it’s a welcome change from my usual horror books
Goodnight all - don’t let the Tamoxifen bugs bite xx
Carol
Evening Ladies
I hope everyone is well. I have been busy today getting ready for holidays on Friday. Had to do a bit of shopping as i could not get my shorts past my bum! Like some others i have put on a stone since diagnosis. Need to buckle down and lose it when i get back.
KQ my rads team said it was fine to put on aquaous cream before treatment as long as it was all absorbed.
Marie Sorry to hear about your cellulitis. Hope the antibiotics do the trick.
Gabby thats rubbish about your skin breaking down! When was your last rads? I’ve been very lucky so far. I finished on 5th september. The skin on my arm pit peeled and my boob has felt a little hot. I also had a bit of tenderness on my back but none of it has been too bad at all. Hope I am not speaking too soon! What a lovely welcome back to work you had.
I also have had some difficulty with words. I sometimes just cant think of the word i want to say. It is very frustrating. Hope it is temporary.
Care-n i am so jealous of you getting your hair coloured. I can’t wait to
have enough hair to colour. Have a great time on your cruise.
Beryl I think you are right about reading too many posts on here. It can be
very upsetting and very frightening.
Twinky i would love to work part time but unfortunately couldnt afford it just now. I have made a resolution to only work my contracted hours though and not work crazy long hours that I did before. Enjoy your gig on saturday.
Bettie not long now until you are finished. Enjoy your wine.
Iiimmmmm bbbbbaaacccckkkk lol.
Marie67 hope your scar settles soon and please the flushed are slowing down.
Kq i start my rads on Monday. they’ve not even mentioned the cream!
Waiting too hope your chest isn’t too uncomfortable for you and they sort something out for you.
Sorry its only quick but children are both ill and Im running around like a loon. Soo looking forward to the meet up so i can catch up with you all. Joan I’ve got a bit lost with it all sorry. i know the date but would you mind messaging me with the details. Im really sorry Im in such a tizz over things and i hope your doing well. Beryl, ceej peanut parsnip bettie carabel ebhippo gabbylamb poppy dani sassy twinkey reachi lydia angelhearts carry hope your all ok.
Sorry if I’ve not mentioned everyone but my thoughts are with you every day.
Quick question before i go has anyone had rads to the chest wall? Dulcie hope your feeling ok.
Big hugs and kisses to everyone x x x
its very sore indeed and also a patch in my arm pit has started to peal. I hope that the gel and dressings will keep it from going further. Its a pain (in all ways) to have this soreness but its the end of treatment so I can put up with it!!! I was told that I could cream my skin before rads in the morning.
