Neo-tAnGo

Public Archive
21

Hi All

Quisie - are you sure you don’t mean minus the coffee as in Irish coffee but just the whiskey!!? Really pleased the biopsy was ok. In one way want you to be on the trial as that’s what you want but also good if results negative hope I make sense as didn’t have much to start with and have even less now, a bit like another part of me soon! Good luck for Wednesday. (Day I’m off the see The Police, can’t wait) staying at a friends for 2 nights so will be good to get away but sure I’ll end up using her computer to come on here.

Jo - from what I can gather I think you can have both done, I am certainly going to try for it. I don’t think they charge for it either, as said I did ask for BOGOF.

Love to all you girls on here, I’ve cried buckets reading some things and Laughed till almost cried reading others. Thanks for all the support, even though feel on another planet it’s getting a nicer one.

Love

JulieL
xxx

22

Hi Girls, and welcome to Jeebee !!

From reading everyone’s comments, it seems we’re all of the smaller boobed variety ! (LOL). My Consultant said that’s why I was having a mastectomy. Unfortunately he can’t do the reconstruction at the same time, as I don’t have enough skin, muscle etc on my back (I’m trying to work out if that’s a compliment or not!), so I’ll be having a tissue expander put in, and injected with saline every two weeks and then about six months later there should be space for an implant to go in.

My Consultant actually asked me if I’d ever considered going bigger, as now was my chance ! After all, he will still have to work on my other boob to bring it into line with my new one (if you get my meaning) and he had commented that they were “slightly droopy”. Thanks. Anyway, I’ve opted to go up a cup size (to a 36C) and he’s happy with that and hasnt mentioned anything about me having to pay for it, so I’m assuming I’m getting my new boobs for free ! We were invited to go and look at some photo’s and went last week, where he gave us a PowerPoint Presentation. I was under no illusions so it was actually fine, and to be honest seeing some of his work convinced me that I’d got a good Surgeon !

Must admit, although I lost a lot of weight on EC, I’m more than making up for it now ! I’ve put half a stone back on and am now eating for England.

Anyway girls, got to go shopping now (to buy more cakes!)

Love to you all, and have a good weekend

Juie xxxx

23

Ahhhhhh Julie -------- hmmmmmm, now, i could really try the Irish Coffee without the coffee part LOL I understood you perfectly, and thank you.

Enjoy the concert - i’ll try not to get jealous! Although i did see sting in conversation three years ago - and got his autograph :wink: Have the most wonderful time possible. just don’t stand so close to me.

regards the BOBOF Boobs - my surgeon prefers both to be the same and, is more than happy to do a reduction and uplift so my old boob matches my new one. According to me BC nurse it’s quite standard to eother reduce or enlarge the remaining boob. But sadly he doesn’t do tummy tucks or liposuction - suppose that was rather greedy. And the new boobs will be on the NHS.

just off to see if i have any coffee free irish coffee …

24

Hi All

Quisie - I am so so so jealous you met the man - under normal circumstances I would never speak to you again!!! Hope you enjoy your coffee!

By the comments it looks like I may have more choice in bras in the future as so many don’t start till B cup, what’t a B cup!!? I thought I was quite big over last 3 yrs getting to an A cup. Shame about the lipo bit. Congrats Julie on your other post. Enjoy your cakes.

Cyber love to you all, off to do tea, speak soon,

Love

JulieL
xxx

25

Hi all

I started on the NeoTango trial on 30th April this year and have just had my LAST chemo on Tuesday 29th August. I have had 4 x Taxol and then 4 x EC. The Taxol gave me joint pains and made me very tired after third and fourth lots but the joint pains did ease off and were manageable with pain killers. The EC has been harder due to the nausea.

I lost all my hair about 20 days after starting the treatment - eyeborws and eyelashes went last but the good news is that everything has already started to grow back, even before the last chemo. I was a bit worried that the chemo had stopped working but my bc nurse has told me that my body is getting used to the drugs and is starting to recover from the ‘shock’ of it all - only problem is I will have to start doing the old legs and arm pits again! Pity we can’t have selective hair regrowth after all this!

I was scanned after the first 4 x Taxol and my tumour had shrunk 6mm (original size 4cm, Grade III Invasive Ductal Carcinoma with nipple/skin involvement). I will find out at next scan whether I have had further shrinkage on EC on 14th September and then surgery on 21st September followed by 15 sessions of radio therapy. I will probably still need a mastectomy after treatment because of skin involvement, size and location of original tumour - I am not at all sure at this moment whether I can face reconstruction or anything having never had a ‘big’ op before. I will just have to wait and see.

I have to admit that this still seems a bit surreal to me - I still can’t belive that this is happening to me - I had none of the risk factors, thought I was doing everything right, fit, healthy, good diet, non smoker - it is a nasty disease, no discrimination whatsoever - I really feel for you all.

I can pass on my tips re nausea on EC -
I tried Cyclizine and found that didn’t help so no have Levomepromazine and that is much better.

Tips re joint pains on Taxol -
I found that a bag of wheat heated up in the microwave was great for resting on ankles, knees, hips etc when pains were bad and also toook Co-codemol for the pain over the counter stuff but also got some stronger ones from the hospital for when it was really bad - just be careful as stronger ones had morphine in them and made me go all funny so only took them at night to help me sleep.

Tips re Dexamethasone
This stuff kept me awake at night but this, and probably the chemo, gave me bad constipation. Hospital suggested Movicol, helped a bit but needed a combination of that and max strength Senokat - 2 x Movicol sachets late morning/early afternoon and one Senokat at bed time seems to do the trick - it has only taken me EIGHT chemo sessions to get this right!!! Relieved person in so many ways!!!

If anyone has any more questions let me know and I will see if I can help.

Emotions wise I have been mainly okay, just want to get on with it and get back to normal again but do have low moments especially when I still have a long way to go to deal with the rest of this. Thinking about holidays for next year and treats for when rads has finished. I hope to be sorted by mid November - the time goes quicker than you think amazingly.

Good luck to all

Sue X

26

Hi All,

Blimey Julie, going up a size to a 36C??? I think I’d fall over if I did that, I’ve been a 34AA all my life (never had kids) and some people have made me laugh by saying once I have the mastectomy, it won’t be noticable!!! Gee thanks guys!!! The implant they’ve offered me (if I understand right) is a tissue expander, but one that they leave in once it’s expanded, they just remove the valve. To be honest, it was discussed on the day I was offered neo-tango, and I went in expecting to be given a surgery date, so my head was spinning. I did get some leaflets, so I’ll dig them out and let you all know. I think its fairly new.
When they first discussed surgery and reconstruction, and said they use tissue from your tummy, I thought great, new boobs and a tummy tuck! But having thought about it, and seeing some photos, (the consultant surgeon had a file, so ask if you haven’t seen any) I’m definately thinking that the less surgery the better. And I’m happy being my size to be honest, I don’t want them messing with the only good one I have left!!! I had heard implants can make your nipples less sensitive… *blushing again* and I quite like mine the way it is…
Thanks for the info on the SNB, I guess I didn’t get that cos mine were already obviously affected. Glad I didn’t get the blue boob syndrome! And quaisie, fingers crossed for you, but even if you don’t get on the trial, you’ll still get the same treatment as myself and Jo, so don’t worry too much, I’m sure your medical team will give you the best they can offer.
I’m off to see Australian Pink Floyd tomorrow night, not quite the Police, but should be fun.
Have a great weekend girls!
Shannon
xxx

27

Hi All

Just thought I would add a little comment, when first dx with bc and told would need mascectomy, I was going to go bigger and bigger. Had said wanted new bigger boobs and was going to go for 34CC or 34D. Alas that option not available to me now, as have secondaries and straight onto chemo, but if the opportunity arises, will be going bit bigger. Always wanted fuller boobs.

Had 2nd FEC on Wednesday and so far so good. Only downside was having my head shaved last night, but now think I have got over that trauma and ready to face the world again (I think). Hopefully each day will get easier and at least no worrying about my hair hanging in strands or picking up hair from all over the house.

Anyway, good luck to all of you with your ops and treatments and have a fab weekend.

Love
Dawn
x

28

Hi All

Shannon - Hope you enjoy Australian Pink Floyd, I saw Think Floyd about 4yrs ago at Peterborough Beer Fest and they were great, very hypnotic. I’m sure it will be a great night and it is so good to have these things to look forward to. Boob size I would love to be a B cup so will have to wait and see.

Sue - Thanks for the info I have written it down on my questions/info sheet that I keep as memory is terrible. But great to have info passed on. Well done on finishing your chemo and good luck for all the rest. Let us know how you are doing.

Julie41 - Hope you enjoyed your cakes!! Good for you to go for a C cup.

Dawn - Well done for last night have posted on other thread. Enjoy the pink hats. Hope you get the chance to go a bit bigger, if you know what I mean.

Quisie - Enjoyed your coffee??!! Have a great weekend.

All you ladies on here have a really fun weekend. I have my Aunt and Uncle coming to stay overnight so looking forward to that. Only been back in contact with them over last 1 - 2 yrs as lost both parents 7 months apart, unexpectedly in that time and got re-aquainted with my mom’s sister. She/my uncle and cousins have been so supportive and has been great to get to know them again. I feel so lucky to have them back in my lives, just wished lived closer as don’t know many where I am and certainly no family local. Anyway will make most of the weekend with them I’m sure my Aunt will get me on the wine tonight, she’s terrible! (or perhaps not!) Anyway ladies as said have lots of fun, speak soon.

Love and hugs

JulieL
xxx

29

JulieL

You mentioned Peterborough Beer Fest - I live in Peterborough - where are you ?

Julie xx

30

Hi Julie41

Off Oxney Road, hope ok to put that. Where are you?

Love to everyone

JulieL
xxx

31

Julie41

Not sure if you get this as a whisper but live, off Oxney Road.

What about you

Love

JulieL
xxx

32

JulieL / Julie41 - I live in Peterborough too! Is there something in the water??? x

33

EEKKK !!!
Well if there is, they’re sending the water to Wolverhampton too! :o)

Hope you all had a good weekend ladies. Aussie Pink Floyd were amazing, and the setting, in the ruins of Dudley castle, was spectacular, along with the laser/light show. I felt “normal” this weekend, had my energy back, and no side effects at all. Hope this is as bad as it gets. Fingers crossed. I’ve also been eating well, appetitie is very healthy (or unhealthy, depends on which way you look at it!) and I’ve also had a few bevvies over the weekend, although just one glass of wine or a beer is making me very light-headed. (Cheap date according to OH!!!) We also saw a house we liked and made an offer, it would be nice to have a house and garden, as we’re in a flat at the mo.
Thanks for the info Sue, great to hear from someone who’s gone through it all, and tips are very useful. Good luck to you! JulieL, hope you enjoy the Police, and fingers crossed for you quisie for weds. Chin(s) up girls, ;o) …here we go for another week.

Take care all, hugs,
Shannon
xxx

34

Hi Shannon

Good to hear you had a fab time seeing Pink Floyd ! Having had my last chemo on Friday, my side effects are kicking in now unfortunately - my legs are killing and the pins and needles in both feet and fingers is no longer funny ! Luckily my appetite is on the up, I’m eating like a pig at the moment, but convincing my hubby I need to, to get my strength up for surgery - LOL !

Jeebee - another one from Peterborough - we ought to all meet up !

Love to you all , as always

Julie xxx

35

really jealous now - floyd AND police - harumph!

thank you so much for the tips Sue

when i was nursing my dad we found movicol was a bit harsh - for him senna and lactulose did the trick … my suster tried convincing him they were a rum cocktail, he never did believe her!

seems like there’s a lot of tykes on here - except for woolyhampton - i’m a wee bit further south than you girls.

hope the aches and pains are easing julie - wheat bags are excellent - but don’t overheat them, you feel such a twit at 3AM, in the garden, in your nightie, wanging a wheat bag round to cool it!!!

I should know wednesday if i’m going the tango or the waltz - still nursing my war wounds today though - was supposed to be elsewhere but no way am i having that seat belt anywhere near me!

hope you all had a great weekend

I don’t like mondays but believe there are signs of life

chunters off into the wilderness …

36

Hi Girls

Quisie - Just the thought of you in the garden at 3am, sounds so like me. laughed so cheers mate. Good Luck for Wednesday, will be thinking of you, not in evening though as only Sting will be on my mind!!

Jeebee/JULIE41 - would be great to meet up, don’t know how we can arrange on this site with the way they moderate it any suggests?

Hi to the rest of you on here, lots of love

JulieL
xxx

37

suggests that the Julies and Jeebee arrange to wang a wheat bag round their heads outside the nearest KFC at 9 am :smiley:

Julie, thanks btw and i am always glad to be of service *curtseys*

38

Hi

Not a morning person so perhaps pm. Having tea now so speak after.

Thanks for the laugh again, OH thought I’d gone mad how loud I laughed!

Love

JulieL
xxx

39

quisie

Your posts made me laugh - good idea about the KFC - theres one near me and JulieL definitely, so we just need to contact Jeebee now ! You’re more than welcome to join us. Four baldies in a KFC carpark wanging wheat bags around - now there’s a sight !

much love - and thanks again for the laughs !

Julie xxxx

40

please - don’t tempt me - i can get free board in either leeds or consett, but i do not think ANY KFC is ready for all four of us :-))
anyway, i’m not a J, i’m an R ;:wink:
hugs

x x x