Bottle 'o Tamoxifen

surfette

GirlFriday, that is very frustrating. I'm wondering if it's because of your family history? I have a friend who's sister, mother, and aunt all got breast cancer and my friend was told she had a 45% chance of getting it.

Sherryc

June-- I know you will feel much better talking to your Dad.  I will pray for you to have the strength that you need to be able to get through it.

June thanks, decisions are hard.  Right now every 6 months does not bother me as far as time.  Money is a different situation.  But knowing that I will never get to the yearly thing really bothers me.  Also I really feel in my heart that somewhere down the line I will end up with a new BC and have to endure this again which I do not want to do.  I really do feel the right thing is the Double MX but will still wait and be open minded until I talk to all my DR's.

GirlFriday

Surfette:  No family hx of any type of cancer.  Met with genetic counselor.  She took my family hx, and I'm at the high end 12% chance of being genetic predisposed.  It's so ridiculous. They are trying to fit me into research for Cowden's syndrome. Which can start at any generation.  I have none of the symptoms but BC, and a uterine fibroid.  85%+ dx'd with Cowden's have macrocephaly, or a big head.  When the doc measured my head she measured it loosely, in an attempt to fit me in the study.  I have a small head. I know I do, because I wear a small baseball cap.  Like I said...it's all so ridiculous.

eulabt

Girl Friday,

I have your same cancer and was diagnosed 3 days after you. Stage 1, Grade 2, 0/4 nodes(1 had isolated cells, but still neg.) Er=Pr+ and Her2-. My papillary was only 5mm, so they could nor get a result from the Onco type test.  BMX 1/31/11 w/TE's and no chemo. Tamoxifen for 5 years. 2 Dr's recommended the same thing.

Sandeeonherown

Sunangel....glad I am sitting alone in my living room right now....so glad you shared the story...

June...having someone you love is sad....but it might also comfort yor kids to know that you and your dad are able to say good bye and plan and stuff...might make it easier for them to say their good byes to him too, you know? My first funeral was my mom's.....not because here were not other deaths in my family when I was a kid but because my parents decided for me that I should be sheltered from death....made my mom's funeral even harder as I had no 'base line' you know?

girlfriday- stats are not always accurate...I hav enot slept for 9 months because I was told there was a 50% chance that cancer would occur in my other breast within 14 months of my diagnosis..that lobular 'features' could go either way....my oncologist old me last Thursday that it was 15% over ten years....and I have slept solidly for the past 5 days...coincicence? I think not....go to Chapters (or Indigo?) sit your bum down in a chair and haul out all the breast cancer books and get some data and survivor's perspectives so you can go in to your meeting armed to the teeth with knowledge and feel more in control of what hey are spewing at you...REALLY helped me

Sandeeonherown

ok...so as soon as someone has breast cancer...or a heart attack or whatever...suddenly your ENTIre family is more disposed to having the same....So because I had breast cancer, my sisters', my niece, my cousins...all are suddenly more likely to get cancer? Seems CRAZY to me....yet we all keep getting told the same thing....so really...as soon as one person gets it (even though Nova Scotia has the highest breast cancer rate in Canada; therefore this is likely environmentally caused....my sister in China and sister in the western part of Canada are all suddenly in danger!)....just pisses me off.

swanseagirl

Thanks ladies for your kind words and prayers.

My daughter has an appointment with a breast specialist at the UW next Wednesday.  Have an early morning appt with hopes that is she needs imaging they can do it the same day. We live and hour south of Seattle, two in traffic.

This is bringing back some anxious memories for me.

Is it too early to start drinking?

Jules

June2268

Jules I am there drinking with you, so you are not alone.....praying for all you gals!  Again, thank you all for your constant kindness and words......HUGS!

tinkertude

oh LADIES IF YOU ARE ALL DRINKING PLEASE COUNT ME IN!!!!! Promise i will stay grounded!

peg119

Me too on the drinking part.

EastCoastGrl

Yes...drinkng....I'll have one...or two also!

chabba

A bottle of scotch sure sounds better than a bottle of tamoxifen!

Sandeeonherown

Jules[ as long as you are no longer hung over for the trip! if the drinking has already begun, I will take a red wine if you please! Tink..remember that we are watching you.

pinkcandy001

Hi been taking tamo for  8 weeks now, first 5 weeks brillant, very dry peeling skin (but suffer from ezcema), dry cracked heels, now having constipation problems, bad news at the moment.  Back to see my onco early, as these stomach pains are like labour pains, constipation a problem.

Please tell me that this passes, i certainly hope so.

Nothing worse that your entire body being in pain - who needs it.

Thinking of everyone

Pinkie 

pinkcandy001

Oh sorry forgot:  Cancer Uk help line says chemo, radio, and tamo etc all cause constipation and stomach problems, apparently (i had 3 weeks radio), radio and chemo esspecially can cause delayed reactions. God.

Pinkie

sunangel27

June.......to tell ya the truth......I was crying as I typed it. I thought a few times about not telling it, but there are times when ya just gotta pull up them boot straps and share some things that are personal to help someone else!    

I understand about the kids being there, mine were too!! And neices and nephews! But, I finally got just a few minutes with my stepdaddy and had to do the "talk". Your moment will come. I will pray it does!! The kids will understand I am sure, and then they will know how much you love your daddy too! It is hard on kids, but they are so strong!!!! Some, maybe most are stronger than us!! Just look at the kids who go thru cancer......oh my how they amaze me!!!     And I know this first hand doing fundraisers for St Judes where I use to work! It just amazed me!!!!!!!      Anyway...... ((((((((((((((((((JUNE)))))))))))))))))

sunangel27

Sandee.........as I told June, sometimes ya just gotta share.         And I agree with you on the kids and death part. When my grampa died when I was 6 I was sooooooooo scared!!! I remember screaming and crying cause I didn't want to get out of the car at the funeral......no one told me what happened, I was just so scared!   The next time I had to deal with death was when I was 15. My best friends brother was killed.....it was still so dam scary to me......then someone explained it was as much a part of life as living.......

And I have to agree with you on the part of "family".........my dad had heart problems for years!! My sister died of a heart attack at the age of 27! My mother had breast cancer. Every single time I turn around a dr. is looking at me like I am dying when I go in for check ups the first time seeing them. (Well, I did get breast cancer.....but heart has been checked and ticking strong!!

sunangel27

oh and p.s. because my mom had bc. and I had bc. ........they highly recommended me to get the genetic testing done............well, it is good to know for my grand daughters.......but dam........3, 340.00!!! YEP, AND i HAVE TO PAY IT ALL......INSURANCE WOULD NOT COVER IT

sunangel27

Pinky, hey and welcome!!    Hope those tummy problems get better for you soon!!!!!!

sunangel27

Well..........missed out on the drinkin' with y'all last night....but tonight I will be having a few myself.......gonna relax with my bestie from Atlanta.....she will be here around 5. Pick her up at airport then off to a nice dinner then home to relax and catch up on a lot of time!!

She posted something last night that hit me hard!!!!

"You've got to have friends"............Bette Midler knew it....Momma knew it. I learned the value of friendship from my mother. Blood is not always thicker than water. Look around you. They could be here today and gone tomorrow. Like Toni."                      

Her friend Toni had bc. She passed away just a little over two months after she found out. It had spread all over.   She told me she was so so so thankful that I had gotten checked so early. 

I can't wait to see her........there will be alot of tears. She is like my sister, and I am like the sister she has never had. Hug your friends today. Think about those that you haven't talked to lately. Keep in touch.

Have a great day everyone or as best as you can. I will check in with you wonderful ladies later 

Paula

Sherryc

Jules hope you guys are able to get everything done today.

Had to take my Dad to a gastroenterologist yesterday. They have had to delay chemo because its blood work is all messed up and they think he is bleeding somewhere. So today he is having a colonoscopy. My nephew is driving my parents today. The appt yesterday was a late afternoon and by the time we got finished got home and got the stuff he has to drink it was 9PM when I got home. Went straight to bed. My parents really wear me out. And of course my mom was calling at 7:30 this morning because she did not write down all the instructions of what pills my Dad could take this morning and she can't remember. But at least she remembered there was something to question.

pinkcandy--I had really bad constipation at the end of rads. Drank tons of water and had to end up taking a stool softner. With tamox I have not experienced that but probablly have had every other SE. My Mo kept telling me that my body would adjust to just give it time. I do have to take prilosec for the neausea. Otherwise after 2 1/2 months my body finally adjusted and most everything has gone away. I only have warm flushes now instead of hot flashes. I also have to take Melatonin for sleep but at least I was able to quit taking the prescription sleeping pills. Hope your stomach cramps get better.

heartnsoul76

Getting ready to go get a CT scan - just finished drinking the yummy barium shake. mmmmm! Now I just hope they can find a vein without too much trouble - I hate the hit or miss technique! This technician is usually very good. Can't wait until this is over....ugh!

heartnsoul76

Well, my good technician let me down - but at least I only got two pokes. Now I'm going to lay down, sometimes these things just wear you out.

Sandeeonherown

Paula-- thanks for that....and you are right..sometimes you have to share so that others ..and thank god for friends....When I had to go in for BC surgery, my best friend/sister was here and my separated partner...when I had my heart attack...same pair showe dup and then two other friends so that I would not be alone that first week...the scariest....no one tried to 'take care of' me...they were just with me...beside me....caring about me and keeping me company...lots of tears and chats as you said. Aren't we lucky really?

Have realised tha on top of causing a blood clot....tamoxifen was definitely playing with my weight and my sleep. I have had 7 sleeps in a row...from 11:30ish until 7:30 am....no more 4am hot flashes...not more restlessness. Still waking up with my hands on my breasts unconsciously checking for lumps though...that is weird....anyone else doing that? (or is it just me..please tell me it is not just me! how weird would that be?)

Valgal

Dear Sandee,

Have you lost weight since you went off it? I was told my weight was more serious than my cancer by my oncologist so maybe I should just stop taking it? LOL Things are getting worse around here - (DH) but this weekend I'm going to my nieces college. If you guys don't hear from me its because I'm in between homes. Wish me luck! My best to all for a Happy Easter.

Sandeeonherown

Valgal- just a couple of pounds but that was more than I moved in 4 months with a personal trainer and I have been eating the same....walking but not doing any lifting or core work or whatever ...think it balances out a bit....but also sleeping....sleep is supposed o help you regulate your weight as well....waiting for sleep to strike me any minute now!

sunangel27

(((((((((((((((Sherry)))))))))))))) Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers, and your family too. I know how hard it can be on a person taking care of their parents. Yes, it is a great thing to be able to, but it can be wearing. Especially since you are going thru what you are.  My sister in La had to take care of my mom and stepdaddy by herself. None of us other 6 kids lived near there. It was so hard on her taking care of her four kids, husband and job plus the parents.  I will keep you close!!

Sandee, glad I did post it.  Joan got her yesterday evening and yep, there were a few tears, but lots of laughter last night. We went to a little tiny town out of the way restaurant here and had the BIGGEST hamburgers ever!! Neither one of us could finish! And we had laughter, especially since I couldn't find the right road out.......and nope wasn't drinking either!! But, as every one probably knows, in Kansas all ya gotta do is know N, S, E and W and you can find your way........most all roads are STRAIGHT!!!!! hehee        I did find our way, but we also had a good country drive which we both enjoyed.

She is sleeping, and as usual I am awake!!   

Also wanted to comment on the weight gain......it SUCKS BIG TIME!!! I was in 18's, went down to 16's and now my 18's are so tight and I have such a "mid muffin".......I HATE THIS!!!!  I have always had problems with my tummy being bigger, but this is horrible to me now....wish I had the guts to get off the tammy for that reason.......but I guess I am too scared to......

That is awesome that your friends were with you!! There is nothing more precious than that!!!

Sherryc

Update on my Dad.  They did the colonoscopy  yesterday and found cancer in is colon as well.  MO wants to see him this afternoon so I am taking my parents to that appt.  Mom is beside herself, my Dad is actually doing pretty well with it all.  Emotionally I am a wreck.  I got the call yesterday at 4:45 and had to track down my Boss to let him know I needed off this afternoon.  He is such a wonderful man, this morning he came in and told me not to every worry about the time I need off for my own issues or my Dad's issues.  He said go when you need to go and just try to keep me updated. Of course I started crying and told him how much I appreciated him being so understanding because I know it puts extra pressure on him when I am not here.  He said don't worry about it we will make.  I feel so fortunate to have him as a boss right now.  I have had horrible bosses in the past that would not have been this understanding.

pinkcandy001

Hi to all, it is another lovely sunny UK day (this is rare by the way), so I say enjoy it.

Easter weekend this weekend. Feeling abit better today. Will someone buy me an easter egg this year - very much doubt it.

Gradually things are calming down, i think being so sick after radio didnt help and ive not fully recovered, keep picking up every bug around. I dont seem to be putting on weight. I feel better than last week. Went back to my onco about tamo mainly to check to see if these symptoms die down still no clearer. Stomach pains still feel like labour pains (and who needs that). My onco said if side effects are causing major problems, which basically stop the quality of life stop taking it, but that u have to give it a chance to work. They gave me another blood test for hormone level to see if post or pre (which they have already done by the way), and get results next week. 

Checked the lottery and not a sausage as they say. My idea is to win the lottery desert island with nice hammock between 2 palm trees, a nice naked young man to massage me all over while sipping a nice pineapple juice - i am dreaming HERE BY THE WAY.  Have not had any alcohol now for over a year, i dont mind. Didnt know if u could drink while on this medication, wanted to let things settle down.

Hope everyone is feeling fab.  I always buy myself something when i feel down, especially clothes it makes me feel heaps better and this seems to work a treat.

Thinking of everyone

Pinkie

Sherryc

pinkie your dream sounds devine