i’m back - with short hair! am getting used to it but the back of my neck is sooo cold:)
Good news today just got back from my first appt with the onc. and I can go on my cruise in August i feel like cinders “you shall go to the ball” Oh i also have to have something called fec t but the important thing is my cruise!!!
thanks for all the welcome messages my kids think that verybody is mad 
nearly forgot … please could i hold a swimming ring (xlarge) and a huge glass of sangria while wearing very big sunglasses and a floppy hat? for the calandar
foxy ferret we had ofsted in our school last week - i was so sorry to have missed it…
Bad Bambi I had FEC-T as did GIJ and many others - it is totally doable. But what fab news about the cruise - hurrah for you onc! I know what you mean about cold back of neck - the one thing I still haven’t got used to after more than two years!!
Not seen the book you mention Grumpy, but I did buy the Scar Porject one which is very moving - USA women showing their mx (and other) scars. Also avaialble via the appropriately named online bookshop.
I’ll stay clothed and hold Gok’s coat for him… too much of a wuss otherwise… would need a LARGE lectern or a very big pile of very big black Bibles to hide behind!! 
I love you lot of nutters!
Bring on the Gok but I am concerned we might get a bit chilly in the buff on the prom in Morcambe, even in August!
Been hiding in a camouflaged tent in the furthest corner of the Dark Dark Woods trying to hide from forthcoming TAX but must be braver. Will catch up on posts ASAP but in the meantime can anyone help…
Am looking for a wonderful post I saw very early on in this damn BC journey…
The Low Chemo Moan song? Some bright spark wrote new words to Do The Loccomotion and i would love to direct some very fed up ladies to it to brighten their lives.
Thanks,
MMM x
tra lala la la la la am back from my sunny (NOT) Spanish holiday, loaded with giant sombreros, pastries and sangria…first 2 days lovely next 6 freezing boo hoo seemingly Spain had a very mild winter…SO felt right at home. Laughed crazily when we came out of Edinburgh Airport sun was shining and it was warm!!! Oh dreary dear…didn’t even wear my new padded swimming costume…we can’t change the weather, tears flowing freely, sobbing tee hee, you can only be optimistic for so long, looking daily at grey skies and pouring rain.
“Special Assistance” was fab, helped greatly so would def do it again and recommend to all. (thanks Kay for the info)
Lynn travelled with me freely, she’s my new best friend, she is a def “tag a long”, don’t like her that much…
Showed my Mum my new armwear, she said “that’s not too bad, you can hardly notice it”, I said “mum I have one beige arm and a freckly one???” Mum replied you can always PAINT freckles on, you have got to love them.
Welcome badbambi 
, Happy Belated Birthday to you JCJ, special cake for you.
Now back to business will need two benches and a giant sombrero plus usual tiara and flashing light shoes for the calendar photo shoot, can I also have a “privacy” shoot (closed set) cause am modest xx
PS Forgot to mention came back with a nice “wee” beard.
I feel pretty , Oh, so pretty , I feel pretty and witty and bright! And I pity. Any girl who
isn’t me tonight. I feel charming, Oh, so charming. It’s alarming how charming I …singing brightly as I skip around Benchland xx
MMM, It’s Post 164 in poetry thread:
http://www.breastcancercare.org.uk/community/forums/poetry-thread?page=5
Oh dear Katy!! I’ve been to Spain in the rain and cold when it should have been mild and sunny (my honeymoon!) I caught a nasty cold from standing in the snow on my wedding day in satin shoes (fab photos though) and then first day in Spain I fell over and skinned my knee. So my new husband was kept busy dosing me up with lemsip and putting plasters on my knee…how romantic, lol…
Just quickly nipping in before a busy day in Land of NED.
MMM not everyone has a rubbish time on Tax. I actually preferred it to FEC becuase it didn’t steal my energy, so overall I felt more like myself. I would suggest taking pain meds proactively because the neulasta jabs do cause bone pain (very odd having an aching sternum and skull as well as lumbar spine (the worst place) and other bones). I was lucky 200mg ibuprofen 3 hourly six times a day (equivalent dose to 400mg three times a day) kept it at bay. The first cycle is the worst cos you have no way of knowing when the pain will start or how long it will last. I had one day on the first Tax (day 5 or 6) when I oculd not get comfortable and paced my house all evening because I had used up all the pain killers by taking 400mg at a time :(. Apart from totally wiping out my taste buds for nine weeks and the fact that I was getting tired by the end of it all, Tax wasn’t bad. But then I was that annoying <expletive deleted=“”> who was able to work all through her treatment. IF THE PAIN IS BAD SHOUT LOUDLY and doctors will give you stronger pian meds.<br>
<br>
Hugs, spoons, iced doughnuts and stawberries for anyone who wants/needs them. Then off to work I go. </expletive>
Thank you JCJ and Rev. The sun is shining in a clear blue sky and I can see three pairs of nesting birds from where I sit. I WILL come our of my tent today!
Mandy x
Mandy, I too found Tax OK. First one, I did have weird aches in jaw and tops of legs/sternum, but nothing like that on subsequent ones. I didn’t have neulasta and was OK throughout. You do get a dry mouth/mouth ulcers and taste seems to go - but no way as bad as FEC for fatigue.
Jen x
Fingers crossed for me too then Jen,
thanks xx
A letter arrived today with the date for tattooing my reconstruction - almost the last step of the process. Having waited 15 months on a 3-4 month waiting list for my reduction, I’m really surprised that a 6-8 week wait will be just 5 weeks! I am a weird mixture of intrigued, excited and bemused about it. But the good news is that it’ll be done before I go off on my hols in June
Almost across the finishing line Revcat. Great news!
kay x
Rev ask about eyebrows!!! You would be extra gorgeous for your hols - and for Morecambe…
grumpy
Sorry, now got a mental image of RevCat with nipple-pink eyebrows. That’ll teach me to speed read over breakfast! Have a good day Benchies
Pink eyebrows (in a shade of my choice no less) now that would be different! To be fair, I do have eyebrows, they’re are rubbishy and thin and fair (or white/grey!); before chemo I had lovely shiny, dark brown eyebrows.
Just so long as I don’t end up with eyebrow coloured chesticles!
Today we farewell our littlest GABBie, so meeting some amazing women at the cemetery. A sad day but one in which we will celebrate LIFE. Carpe Diem Benchies, in whatever way is right for you.
So sorry to hear about your friend RevCat, hugs to you too xx
Was thinking that my newly or not so newly acquired facial hair may actually be useful to others ie EYEBROW REPLENISHMENT…hairs are black and vary in length, would be lovely to think that I was growing them for a reason?? Some glue and glitter, SORTED wispy eyebrows no more xx
I could contribute to the eyebrow farm - from both my face and, bizzarrely, my back! (no I did NOT say both my faces!!)
Spent the day 1:1 tutoring kids for the dreaded Maths SATs that are looming ever nearer. Had some lovely “eureka” moments when they realised they COULD do that thing that’s been bothering them. That’s when I particularly love my job.
Just to say, mmm, that I had no side effects from the Neulasta… follow the mouth care to the letter, drink gallons, and follow whatever your body is telling you. Ring if you have ANY doubts/symptoms/questions - there is NO SUCH THING AS A DAFT QUESTION! It’ll seem like forever, but will soon be behind you…
Revcat - tattoos? Really??? he he
wending my way to the kn****rd bench… didn’t sleep last night…
take care benchies
love
Jane
It’s a glorious morning, the sun is shining and IT’S MY BIRTHDAY!! Whoo hoo!
Last years was spent at hospital waiting for results of second op so was largely ignored . This will be different I hope, I know the children have been conspiring so who knows what may happen.
Going to make myself a cake this am., new recipie I’ve given. You all know my lack of culinary skill but it sounds easy enough and if successful I’ll bring some for you to try later. Got to go…ingredients to buy…
Happy Birthday FF! Hope you have a wonderful day and may your cake rise with impunity! I’ll pop back for a piece (OK, slab, hope it’s a big one!) later.
Many many more Happy Returns. xx