Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hello all, @PaulineS27 hope all goes well for the operation for you - meant to post sooner so you'd have a chance of seeing my message... but I still don't seem to know what day it is! My reconstructed breast is swollen and a bit tender now radiotherapy has finished, but nothing major and it's fading. The skin was a little pink but beyond that all fine. So I've got away very lightly. @Guest user cording is a bugger, my sympathies. But the chyle leak and associated treatment sounds like a next level nightmare. Really hoping this phase passes soon for you. @grannyp Glad you survived the party! @dipitdee Hope you've managed some sleep this week with or without the sofa? How is it settling down and how's the drains? I'm not her2+ so I won't be on Kadcyla, was just including it as an example of our array of treatments... don't want any division between our different flavours of cancer, all inclusive group here! I'm all done with active treatement now, surgery, chemo and radiotherapy done and dusted. Just need to take bisphosphonates and tamoxifen going forward. So feeling very lucky compared to those of you here with things still ahead of them. Your 'Titty Committee' really made me laugh, I so wish I'd thought to entitle my update emails to folk that! Brilliant! @Karden hope you get help with the nausea, my first two rounds of EC i didn't take the supplied nausea pills as it was so low level it didn't really worry me. By the third I was merrily throwing them down my neck though and they worked fine so hope a change in meds will help you. I only had the EC components not the F bit that you are having in addition - and first round I wasn't too tired, second round was very tired but recovered half way before next session. Third session i didn't really recover in the three weeks till my next chemo. @Shine13 great news from the surgeon! Hope you get on the Kadcyla it sounds a good new option. Radiotherapy was fine for me (although a drag) hope it is for you. Overall I'm fine, just tired a lot still. Yesterday was reasonably energetic but slightly stressful, and though sleeping well I feel very tired and groggy this morning. I'm expecting a steep linear recovery I think and that's plainly daft! But overall good here. Hope everyone is getting through their week, and wishing you all a nice weekend. Well, @PaulineS27 is spending it in hospital... @Guest user will be spending it eating celery, in agony and unable to move... but APART from that i mean 🙂 Take care, Pye xx ... View more

@dipitdee  Bit scary about residual cells in the remaining nodes after chemo, for you specifically, and for all of us. There was no sign of node involvment from the MRI for me, but surgery revealed the sentinel nodes were affected and then 7/23 axillary nodes. Perhaps it just shows us the importance of  kadcyla, tamoxifen and other treatments we must follow up with.  Regarding sleeping with drains in - I sleep in the left side of the bed, drain was in my right side. But i managed to trail the tube over my chest to the bottle which I sat on the floor next to the bed. Didn't have any problems other then waking sometimes when i got in a bit of a tangle. Suppose this depends how long they've left the tubes for you thought? Hope you manage to find a good nights sleep!  @grannyp Glad your upcoming party is a little less daunting for you. I took the opposite approach to you and told everyone about my cancer whether they wanted to know or not, casual aquaintances included! Conversation was inevitably along the lines of 'oh thats a bugger, where are you in your treatment', then a tale about their/family members cancer.  I went back to work after my diagnosis as treatment couldn't start due to Covid, and was very anxious about dealing with everyone. Reactions varied from those i'm closer to wanting to know all the details, to those I know less well just giving an extra warm 'lovely to see you back'. Then of course as I work in a large blue collar environment some folk didn't know and it was just a 'oh you been on holiday again yer lucky sod?'. But it was all fine, I actually felt really warmed and supported, this was 3 weeks after my diagnosis. I know we're all VERY different but hope that helps a little x ... View more

Oh @Guest user thinking of you going through all this... insult to injury sums your current experience up exactly. @donkeywoman my arm ached for nearly a week after my 2nd jab and i was a little hot/cold and poorly, felt nothing from the first jab. Glad to hear work is going ok, yes beware the travelling - I've felt far less tired last two days without the trip to Sheff and back for sure. @Shine13 do you hope your surgery has gone ok, my sentinel nodes were the sorest bit by far!  @grannyp glad to hear things are going ok, a party would put me into a panic in normal times let alone at the moment - but I'm sure you will handle it with aplomb Final rads were on Tuesday yay! Skin still looking OK, slightly pink, and my breast (implant) and underarm are a little swollen, just fluid, nothing painful. It's great to have got past all the worst elements of treatment (well hopefully!)  I'm now waiting for them to remove my ovaries, although should be put on the injections to disable them in the meantime if there is a delay, then I can start on the bisphosphonates, and continue the Tamoxifen of course.  So nothing traumatic left to do (ovary removal is just keyhole surgery so don't expect it to be bothersome). Its really nice to take some exercise and eat well and know progress you're making isn't about to be trashed by surgery or chem or rads! Hope everyone is doing well this week, Pye xx ... View more

@Guest user fabulous news that you are cancer free I am so chuffed for you! You seem to have as difficult a road as possible ahead despite that good news with everything going on though. Pressure bandage? Low fat diet? Fekk that it sounds like a nightmare, I whined enough about the normal post surgery swelling and my sports bra. Good job you have that sense of humour to keep you going! @Karden mouth ulcers sound bloody miserable, hope they are able to reduce the dose as you mention. I've just got two more radiotherapy treatments next week then that's that done and dusted. So far no problems with it other than tiredness. I'd expected to be physically tired, but am actually sleepy tired too. Not something to complain about in the great scheme of things though. Hope everyone else is getting along OK, take care, Pye xx ... View more

Oh @Guest user that's simply arse. Thinking of you and hope they can sort it out xx ... View more

Hello everyone, @Guest user oh the joys of that buzzy little bastard battery dressing, waking you up all night, well once you've got to sleep after disentangling yourself from the drains of course. I was in a rush to get the drains out as they're so annoying, but wish i'd had them in longer as they're not as annoying as gallons of fluid sloshing around under your skin! I've had mastectomy and it was followed by ANC 3 weeks later. That was last October and yes back of my upper arm is still numb, and my armpit area, was warned that was how it was likely to stay, it's no bother though you get used to it. So sorry to hear about the A&E incident, that's really inexcusable, you shouldn't have had to deal with it. Hope you are recovering. Had my 5th radiotherapy today, the treatment is a doddle, @donkeywoman I am so bored of the travelling already! although it's not problematic and have had some interesting detours on the way home - but hey i'm a 3rd of the way through already. No side effects apparent as yet, although they say start around 2 weeks in and peak around 2 afterwards. Always something to look forward to with this breast cancer lark isn't there? My hair is growing a litte, but in a male-pattern-baldness way. It looks scraggy and frankly minging, hope this phase passes cos it's a lot worse than actually being bald. It looks really unhealthy and nasty, like some poor druggy, malnourished, homeless soul. Pye x ... View more

Hi all, Well look at that @grannyp over the line first! Well, apart from the years of other stuff of course, but that will just become the norm for all of us I suppose. The tough stuff is now in the rearview mirror, congratulations! I have 2nd Covid jab tomorrow, and commence 3 weeks radiotherapy on Wednesday, going to be exhausting I think but it'll fly by. Probably do me good to get out more too to be honest, I go for my walk daily but a wider view of the world is probably due. Oh the secondary chat rooms... yes I went there a few months ago too. I'm hoping that rather morbid couple of hours will help me keep motivation going to fill my life, rather than idle through it. Despite this experience I can see it being so easy to just slip back into complacency and waste time that could be better spent. Hope everyone has a good week, Pye xx ... View more

Good evening everyone, @Karden My dreaded dental visit turned out to be straight forward thankfully! I'm so sorry to hear you're in for more chemo sessions, the PICC back and all the hassle that will entail. I hope you can try and focus on the really positive news, that your lymph nodes are definitely clear. @Guest user bless you, that feeling of grief washing over you out of nowhere is just awful, imminent doom is hardly fun either. Thinking of you, and don't feel any worse about things for having yourself a pity party, you're allowed.   @PaulineS27 & @Shine13 - ah the last session and the blessed PICC removal! Glorious!    @PaulineS27 I had immediate reconstruction, prepectoral implant. Very happy with the choice - happy to answer any questions and go into as much detail as you like here or via direct message to save bogging everyone down with the description of my new breast, who i have named Julia after my surgeon 🙂   @donkeywoman Glad you're perking up, so nice to have a day out - my exploration has peaked so far going to Sainsbury's in Matlock to pick something up. It was SO strange to be in a different place - surreal to be excited just to wander into an unfamiliar supermarket. Good job we've decided not to go abroad again this year, think it would be a sensory overload after the last 12 months!   I'm back on the Tamoxifen now having stopped it for my chemo, so far so good although I want to confirm with them that the deteriation it causes in my eyesight won't be permanent (didn't even realise it was the tamoxifen until i stopped it for chemo and it improved dramatically, thought it was just age creeping up on me). After today's visit to the dentist, he's replaced the filling that disembarked during chemo and given the all clear for bisphosphonates which I'll have for 3yrs - when the get around to removing my pesky ovaries anyway.   The radiotherapy consultant rang and said having looked at my scan they are unable to safely treat the lymph nodes near the breast bone as my lungs would get too high a dose. I'm a bit gutted about that as my lump was situated very close to my breast bone, so I can only hope that the chemo will have dealt with any cancer cells lurking there. So I start that on the 28th for three weeks. Now it's all fingers and toes crossed that I'm not one of the unlucky 20% who suffer capsular contraction of my implant... there's always something new to fret about isn't there?   I've been making the best of the sunshine we've had here the last few weeks, my bald head looks slightly less horrific now it's seen a little bit of sun. Hope everyone else has too - very jealous of @grannp's zoo visit, must put that on my agenda post-radiotherapy. My other good news is that my latest 'Fit Note' is for 4 months - so don't have to worry about returning to work until August at least, feels like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders, if only for a while.   Take best care of yourselves everyone, Pye xx ... View more

Hello everyone, Seems to have been an eventful week or so for most folk. Really appreciate everyone's updates. Thanks to @grannp regarding the 3 week vs 1 week raditherapy - I was a bit miffed to find out I had to do 3 weeks, thinking it was just Sheffield being behind the times, but your explanation makes sense in my case. @Karden I had the cording, its a bugger, they say it's just your arm usually but i also had from breast up to my neck and from my armpit down my side to the bottom of my ribs too. Kept up with the stretches and massaging it, a bit uncomfortable, but it went in a couple of months. Just reaching my arm up high while sat or waiting for the kettle to boil a few times so you feel it 'pull' is all i did really. Hoping for the best outcome for you regarding the residual tumour and further chemo. Whenever we think the waiting for results game is behind us it seems to crop up again... I had my initial radiotherapy consultation last Monday, i liked the consultant and the staff were gold standard as I've become accustomed to. I'm just worried about capsular contracture of my implant, I'd be so gutted to lose it after waiting out through Covid to have an immediate reconstruction. But I was aware of the risks, and was considering refusing the radiotherapy to the chest wall and just having my lymph nodes done - but the discussion in the consultation has made me come down on the side of getting the chest wall done for the sake of preventing recurrence. Which is after all why I'm going through chemo / radiotherapy / tablets / voodoo after all.  So another week is upon us, I have the bloody dentist to go to...I'm anticipating this with more terror than chemo but it probably won't end up being quite as bad. Hopefully. Pye xx ... View more

@grannyp thank you for the kind words, my mood issues lasted only a couple of days thankfully! Then i had period type pains although no actual period again, so slotting it down to my delightful PMS making itself known. You're so right about everyone thinking normal service will now be resumed...not sure how that is going to pan out, I think it's time to be a little more selfish going forward for me (or even more selfish depending on your point of view!). Do hope radiotherapy has been ok for you - look forward to hearing about that as I think you are the vanguard of the group on this one i think? @donkeywomanI'll be going in on my motorcycle, can then go 'the pretty way' to try to enjoy the journey, and hopefully find a corner of the car park to fit in, so will make the best I can of the jaunt. (Do have a car but it will be a miserable experience with the traffic, so bike it is!). Hope the blood transfusion works wonders for you.  @Kardenglad you've got through the surgery well physically. It's a lot to take in so quickly just since November. I think I was lucky in that respect to have been put 'on hold' between diagnosis and treatment starting for 7 months due to covid, gave me a lot of time to adjust to everything mentally. Not a big help to you at the moment, but be kind to yourself and feel free to have a break from being strong and just flop 🙂 @Guest userOMG you're got it all going on! Only bit i can help with is to say I had similar surgery -  took a few months for it to settle. No pain really from the mastectomy, the node clearance gave me more issues. I really want my 3d tattoo nipple when treatment is over, poor little blind booby at the moment. But overall really happy, don't feel at all like i've lost a breast. I've been very tired after my final round but coming up to 3 wks since my last chemo and I'm feeling pretty ok. Bit miffed to find I'm having various aches and pains now. I go for my usual walk, which i've only missed a few times through treatment, and I get pains at the side of my knees. Woke up with a pain half way down my forearm last night. Nothing bad enough to take painkillers for, but has made me aware of the damage the chemo has done and it's going to take some time to repair. Monday is my initial radiotherapy appointment, I should have done a lot of research by now which i haven't... that's the weekend reading sorted I suppose! Hope everyone is bearing up with their various gripes, love Pye xx ... View more

Hello everyone, @donkeywoman  Woohoo last chemo congratulations! Regarding the Chesterfield team - I've found them all fantastic (well bar one of the surgeons who thankfully didn't actually do my surgery in the end, but probably a personality clash rather than him actually being at fault). I read about your A&E experiences with horror - all the best intentions in the world there ends up being a disconnect in this sort of situation, luckily I've not need anything 'extra curricular' so have been spared that nightmare. Yes I do have the pleasure of travelling to Weston Park daily for three weeks from sunny ClayX for my radiatiotherpy, and yes I am far more anxious about the travelling than the treatment! @PaulineS27  thanks! Flopped a bit since my post here the other day, have a feeling it's the thought of returning to work in the not-as-distant-as-I'd-like future. But may also be hormones as my periods have now skipped two months, or lets face it, just about anything at the moment. Thrilled to read your updates regarding your tumours. @Woodybird  and @PaulineS27Regarding fur control I'm trying this Fur Inhibitor to see if it can keep my facial hair minimised, been so nice not to have to peer at my chin, tweezers in hand for the last few months. Read somewhere that men have trouble getting their beard back after chemo, so maybe there is hope for mine 🙂 Perhaps too much info... but also using it my undercarriage, happy to keep the landing strip in hand manually, but it would be lovely to have those parts that don't appreciate being trimmed or shaved inhibited hair-wise. Probably won't work but thought it was worth a shot for the price. Oh and Woodybird - isn't getting the picc line out great! It's done a wonderful job and glad I've had it, but damn i was glad to get rid of it. @grannyp  your updates have been so much a leading light for us all, you've been so open and honest about your doubts and fears (your initial fear to do chemo at all was so heart rending), yet such a great example overcoming them. Thank you. Great to hear your update @dipitdee  sound like me you've been thankful for all those who have kept up posting here it's been such a great help. So sorry to hear about your brother in law, wishing for a positive outcome for you all. Hope everyone is having a lovely Easter weekend, take care, Pye xx ... View more

Hello everyone, A huge thanks to all you regular posters, I've been here avidly reading everything every couple of days. However could barely muster the energy to keep family up to date, let alone input here too. I tend to withdraw when unwell. I've been silently supporting you all throughout, and taking great comfort from the posts. Had my last chemo on 19th March, I've already had my surgery so just radiotherapy, biphosphonates, ovaries removed and 10yrs tamoxifen/AI to go, be a doddle after chemo though! Today, to mark having recovered from my final session and hopefully now on the up and up, I've treated myself to some lotions and potions supposedly to aid hair regrowth (oh and one to inhibit too - thought I might try and use the opportunity to keep those parts I'd rather not get so furry again in check). Whether they will make any difference or not we'll never know, but it's nice to have a change of focus from have I got enough medications / food / dressings / strength to get to the otherside of the next chemo session. Now the weather is warmer and I don't need a hat I'm enjoying terrorising the locals with my bald head which I've accepted just about now, but oh to regain my eyelashes. Although my recent research into the return of hair indicates alot of people lose their last straggling eyelashes a few weeks after their last chemo... grr! Well wishes to you all, hope we are all going to continue using this thread through the rest of our tribulations. Pye xx PS: @donkeywoman  I'm at Chesterfield too btw, just in case you ever need to compare notes! ... View more

Good morning everyone, Been keeping up with everyone's posts, they are so helpful thank you all. I don't envy you neoadjuvant folk at all, at least i can see the finish line with my surgery behind me. I hope for wonderful tumor shrinkage results for you all. Had my 2nd EC on Xmas Eve, the team said my complaints from the first round were from stopping Tamoxifen rather than the chemo. I was rather sceptical, but damn they were right. My 2nd round I have named 'the burpy one' as I just seemed to burp for an entire week, which lead to some indigestion. Other than that and being a bit nauseous, although not quite enough to take a tablet, I really can't complain. I shaved my head on Xmas Day (20 days after my first EC round) - didn't have much else to do! - and sent a picture to my family to give them something to laugh at. I really don't mind it, although it's a bit of a shock still catching myself in the mirror when i don't have a head covering on. My eyelashes are starting to thin now though, which bothers me much more, I'll look like a sick person once those and my eyebrows go as they're dark. However the hairs on my legs though look like they belong to a chimp! I didn't shave them for a few weeks before chemo, thinking I could enjoy watching them drop out all the more. No they just seem to keep on growing... grrr the one benefit of chemo is yet to show it's face! Take care all! Pye x ... View more

Hello everyone, Good to read about everyones situation, it really helps. OK here - been pretty good since about day 10, although I'll feel energetic and then doing something pretty minor like clean the bathroom and just feel exhausted afterwards.  @Rachaelxhearts that's rough, they told me no indication of node involvment, then it turned out 7/23 were positive... I don't envy them having to advise us - a fine line of balancing the need to be positive but realistic. So some will be pleasantly surprised things are better than they thought, and others, well not so much. My sister had TNBC about 10 yrs ago, found the chemo a bit rough at the time, but recovered perfectly and has had no issues since - and things are forever improving as others have said. @Georgie76 I was put on Tamoxifen in March due to Covid, with some hope the lump would shrink enough to avoid mastectomy once surgery was available again. I so feel for you - for 7 months i was constanty checking it, trying to find ways of measuring it accurately at home (involved the tool chest) and generally 'ohh i think it's a bit squishier' and 'mmm seems a little smaller overall'. Seeing as I was checking it every 5 seconds I don't think I was a very good judge at all 🙂 And no it didn't shrink after all...but now i know that's not surpring for the type i have (would normally be surgery first for me). @Guest user oh you're a bit ahead (pardon the pun...) of me. Day 14 i washed my hair... mmm that's a lot of hair in the plug hole. Day 15 in the evening it began coming out if i tugged it. So today was day 16, i washed it and it didn't seem *too* bad from a plug hole point of view, had combed and run my fingers through it alot in the shower. I then towel dried it and as I pulled the towel away there were two huge wads of hair! I've given it a chop to experiment, cut in a fringe and made it a short bob. Tommorrow will go for something much shorter just to see what it's like. Then I imagine it'll only be another day or two until the other half's clippers come out. TMI but i tugged my pubes out as much as possible in the shower as they're itchy when they just drop out in your drawers 🙂 Take care all, Pye xx ... View more

@Shine13 Hello, yes everything I've read points to around the three week mark for the hair starting to go. I'm strangely intrigued by it. Bet I won't be once it actually happens! Glad to read you're coping well! ... View more

Good evening all, Nice to read everyone's updates. Hope everyone is continuing to manage OK. I'm day 10 after my 1st EC treatment, by day 7 the grotty 'hangover' feeling had gone and I'm pretty much normal if not particulary energetic. Had some low back pain on and off today which I think is related to the filgastrim injections, they said it meant my bone marrow was busy doing its thing, so took it as a good sign. My mouth is a little sore on and off (probably down to the packet of ginger nuts i polished off), but no ulcers as such. Also my gullet felt like I may get heartburn yesterday, but that seems fine again today. Is anyone else tugging at their hair to see if it's falling out yet? Going to give myself bald patches prematurely at this rate! Take care all, Pye xx ... View more

Hi all. @grannyp  Your first session was today - thinking of you! There's a few others having their first session tomorrow the 10th, I'm sure the chemo process itself will be absolutely fine and hope you have minimal side effects.  @Woodybird The drains are such a pain i was thrilled to get mine out, but then regretted it as i felt I was just a massive balloon. I'd turn over in bed and the fluid would go from my back to my boob and back again lol. Bit disconcerting! But same as yourself, these things pass and i'm well recovered now just a little  stiffness I need to keep stretching against - 7 weeks after my axillary clearance. Keeping up the stretches etc and things are settling nicely.  I've had my second 'stab yourself in the stomach with this stuff you need to keep in the fridge' today, bit weird but painless, no problem with the injection site or any side effects thus far. Although while typing this just realised I wasn't given a swab (or don't realise if i have been) to clean the site before the jab. Better delve through my stuff before tomorrows, the infection paranoia they drilled into me last week is passing already. Need to be vigilant, the silliest thing could cause an infection and a hosiptal stay.  Take care everyone, Pye xx   ... View more

Hello Woody. Welcome along, what date is your first round? Have you recovered from surgery OK? Its now Weds AM following my chemo last Fri. Happy to report so far so good still, I feel a bit tired, and have a niggly headache sometimes, although not bad enough to take a tablet for (plus trying to give my liver as much love as i can). No nausea, not had any diarrhea. Had the occassional 'funny taste' in my mouth but it's passed and all my normal food and drink taste fine. Lips a bit dry, but on the other hand with the cold the heating is now on. Keeping skin well moisturised. You asked about the fasting, obviously NOT something to be done if you have any other health considerations. There is good evidence in vitro and in animal models that it really helps. However clinical trials have been small and inconclusive, though there is postive anecdotal evidence out there. There is a thread regarding fasting on the forum in case you've not spotted it: ANYONE ELSE FASTING WHILE ON CHEMO?  I fasted from bedtime Tuesday until 24 hours after my chemo. So that was 60 hours before and 24 hours after. I'm a big eater so couldn't really imagine being able to do it, but thought i'd give it a try. First day was a breeze, second day a bit tougher feeling a bit weak, but I had a really busy stressful week which didn't help. The hunger doesn't get any worse, it comes and then goes again, rather than ramping up. I tried to just drink water / black tea, but ended up with a tea with milk a few times because I'd forgotten. The only thing I ate were some olives in brine, probably a couple of dozen, each day. They are mainly fat/fibre and you are trying to avoid carbs and protein. The brine also had the bonus of providing some salt, I took an ordinary multi vitamin & mineral tablet each day too. All the best Woody and everyone, Pye x ... View more

Hello all, thought I'd join this thread and share the trials and tribulations of the coming months, I was diagnosed in Feb, due to Covid have been on Tamoxifen all summer. Had single mastectomy with immediate implant reconstruction in Sept, axillary node clearance in October. ER+ H-  I'm having 3xEC and 3xDox followed by 3 weeks of radiotherapy, 5 days per week.  Had my first Chemo on Friday, after a busy week of covid tests, blood tests, seeing the consultant, the pharmacist and having a PICC line fitted (which is fine if anyone has this planned, just a little tender the first day or two after).  Chemo process itself was no problem, nurses were great, took a while as had to have introductory chat with the nurses, but the process itself was probably only an hour and a half all told. Didn't feel anything and drove myself home again.  If i drink or eat at my usual breakneck speed I feel a little nauseous, but other than that OK, not had to take the tablets they sent me home with.  I drank lots as instructed, and first wee was very orange as promised. Continued to drink plenty then had a couple of hours of cystitis type symptoms, no pain but 'got to go NOW' and then feeling like I had no control, bladder not full. Sent me into a panic thinking I'd got a UTI after all the info you get about infections. It did pass after a couple of hours. Now i know about it i'll be going to the loo every half hour next time to keep my bladder as empty as possible to minimise the irritation. Maybe buy some Tena Lady too!  I was unable to sleep the first night, think it's mentioned the steroids do this, and really broken sleep the second too with random lucid dreams. Lack of sleep made me a bit out of sorts, will ask if they can give me something to help with this for next time.  Other than the above have been fine, been out for a couple of walks and all as normal really. I did fast for two days before and 1 after the chemo, which wasn't as hard as I thought it would be, and the lack of sickness or diarrhea are enough to make me feel i'll do it again. Be interesting to see if my bloods bounce back well.  Still I'm only a few days in...may be posting tomorrow that it's all gone horribly wrong! All be best everyone, keep us posted and share the highs and lows.  Pye x   ... View more

Sparkle - Glad that things are moving for you now that's a massive relief. I see so many here saying that the waiting is the worst part and they're not wrong. I sympathise with the letrozole vs tamoxifen confusion - just been reading letrozole is more effective for lobular which is the sort I have. Although I think from what the surgeon said I will be swapped to letrozole in the future so not going to fret on this issue for the time being. Sandpiper - thanks for the words of encouragement! Lump shrinkage is not now a major worry as per my update, although some would be nice to see as an affirmation that the Tamoxifen is doing its job - still only been taking it for 9 weeks so there is plenty of hope yet. Dear Delly - thank you as ever for the giggles and support of your posts. And your wonderful PM - which I am replying to this weekend. Sorry for the delay, but the wonder of having stopped taking the contraceptive pill means I now have PMS grumps again and can't be bothered with anything while in that mode! As for me, I had my telephone appointment and the upshot is I am just going to keep on munching the Tamoxifen until mastectomy with immediate reconstruction is available again. I'm very happy with this - my main reason for wanting the lump to shrink was because he said I couldn't have an immediate reconstruction due to needing radiotherapy. However he didn't mention radiotherapy this appointment and has now agreed the immediate reconstruction. The inconsistencies in what I'm told is concerning though, got this niggle that in a few months time it'll be 'oh woops, nope sorry, you'll have to have your reconstruction delayed'. Time will tell. And yes I know I should mention it to him to clarify...but I rather like this sand that I have my head stuck in for now! Take care lovelies, Pye xx ... View more