Hello my Tami sisters, I'm new here.

In 10 days will be my 1st survivor anniversary. Yep, on April last year at age 29 I found a lump on my left breast that after a mammo, ultrasound and biopsy showed it was cancer. The very next day after my diagnosis I was told I was pregnant (my first baby ever!) and I knew this was gonna be a real rollercoaster of emotions for my lovely husband, our families and myself...

Long story short: I went under lumpectomy in May, no clear margines but clean lymph nodes. Second surgery was a mastectomy in June (no re-construction YET). Because of my pregnancy, my chemo treatment was on hold until I gave birth, here in Norway there are few studies about how chemo affects the baby so Onco and surgeon recommended to wait. After "enjoying my pregnancy" ,the scheduled c-section was at 8 months pregnant in November.
My beautiful daughter did amazing at all times, not only while I went under both surgeries but also at birth: she arrived to this world with a good loud cry and after 2 weeks at the NICU we finally went home to spend Christmas and New Year together as a family.

FEC chemo started two days before Christmas, lucky me! Hair dissapeared after 15 days.. now I wear a wig (her name is "Chonita") when out and about and at home I go commando. Just 3 weeks ago I had my last round of chemo and since then my hair is growing back... soon I'll have the same lenght as my daughter's baby hair

MRI and CT scan of the chest, spine and pelvis were performed a month ago and showed no cancer at all, I'm clean Now those are some good news.

Now is time for Tamoxifen for the next 5 years of my life.... oh well. Starting tomorrow May 1st 2011. So here I am, joinning this wagon. Any advice, words of support or simple "hello" are very welcome.

Today I went to pick up Tamox at the hospital pharmacy, to be honest I'm not really looking forward to start this in the morning. The SE's are somethign I'm quite worried about, I already have hot flashes due to chemo and they are not fun, not when I'm changing my baby's nappy, not when I'm having a dinner out with friends....not when I'm only 30 years old!

Oh well this is me, will see how it goes. I've been trying to read a bit this thread every now and then but for me Tamox seemed to be something so so far, now it's time for it. I think I'll be around more often now :P

Hoping that everyone is having a nice weekend!

Joy

Hi Joy, What an amazing story!! Welcome, I've been on "the Tami Train" for 4 months, doing okay mostly. Congratuations on your cancerversary too! Weeeee! I had my 1st on Mar 29! So glad you are getting back to health and have all that behind you. Now onto complete recovery and all that life has to offer!!! BTW - most SE's have been what you would expect for someone going thru menopause, mostly hot flashes...Take care! ~Beans

JOY//Welcome aboard so sorry we had to meet this way but you will find lots of great support here. Congratulations on the birth of your daughter... what a journey you have been on.

Beans feel better

Hi sherry hi Jo no pillow fight last night someone must of slipped me the happy juice because i passed out..only to wake at 1:30 with an anxiety attack and oh what a day it has been.... ugh!!!!... tomorrow will be better tomorrow will be better... i will just kepp chanting that!

Tink u have been through alot tomorrow will be better

Was busy today. Took my 3 mike walk and stopped at a plant sale on the way home. Had lunch with a friend right after that. Came home cleaned house, took a nap and did laundry. Supper is now in the oven waiting for DH to get hm. He spent the day taking a concealed

Handgun course

Joythank you for sharing your story and you will find out that everyone here is quite the same and yet different with the SE.....I had constipation and insomnia in the beginning and that pretty much went away within months.......I feel like the brain is not what it used to be and I blame Tami on that......ask away any questions as all the women here really care and will jump in to just listen or to help in anyway they can......

Sohardbnme Welcome!  Any SE yet?

Beans glad you are getting some answers......

TInk how are you doing lately, I worry about you?

Jo, Sherry, Sandee, Alicia I miss you gals and sorry I haven't been on as much as I used to be, I will return when things calm down some here.....

Gals I am getting really worried about Jules......has anyone heard anything yet about her daughter????

Joy and Sohardbnme - Welcome.  Hope your SE's are few and easily "doable".  I've been on the tammy train for six months now and have had several of the more common SE's.  They come, they fade away or you learn to control them.  Mine have been manageable.  May your's be so as well.

welcome aboard SOHARDBME..this is a great thread with wonderful ladies.....

June/jo....miss you ladies tooo!!1. I think i am just having a real hard time with all that has happened. Even bumping down to 10mg I cant seem to get my body to relax. I take my anxiety meds and still dont feel like i should. I guess i shouldnt expect to bounce back so fast from this last trial in my life... but i am so frustrated as i felt like i was making some progress before everything happened with my daughter... i guess one day at a time... but i tell you i wasnt this stressed out with all the bc stuff ugh!!!

Hi ladies, checking in.

Daughter had breast appointment last Wednesday. Waiting for results to come from the UW.They still can't determine if she needs a biopsy. She wants one just to rule out anything and to get on with her living stress free.

Me, I had my first mammo since dx last Thursday. I too am waiting for the results. Radiologist said it looked OK at a glance. However, as soon as I see my results I will breathe.

And the icing on the cake. DH broke thumb today helping unload a horse out of trailer. Spent the day in ER, then onto surgery to put pins into it and realign.  Now we are home. He has all the drugs and he won't share.  Girls I need you to come over with your pillows and give him a whack.

My sister is out visitng from the UK so by the end of the day I'm heading for bed not my lap top.

Hope everyone is well.

Hugs xxxxxx

Jules

Hi girls. Just started Tamoxifen yesterday. Fearing and awaiting the SE's. told myself even if they arrive I will push on and pretend they don't exist. Hope that is possible. Many of you have said that joint pain is the worst. i worry about that and struggling with my job. Only time will tell. Anyone taking any good supplements that help?

Joy, you have been through so much. So glad to hear your daughter did well through everything. Hopefully we will be w/those who have minimal side effects.  Happy anniversary...and many more! 

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/04/110406085050.htm

Fish Oil Boosts Responses to Breast Cancer Drug Tamoxifen, Researchers Find

So much going on here !  Jules hoping and praying for good results for you and your daughter, sorry about hubby's finger.

To all the new ladies, Welcome !!  You have found a wonderful place full of compassionate, smart, funny women to ride this train with you ~

I had my surgery Friday, am really quite sore and swollen but plugging along.  I hate the pain meds so I am taking just tylenol or motrin.  Made it through my daughter's Junior Prom pictures yesterday.  (about 80 kids on our lawn)  They all looked beautiful.  That's it from me for now.

You girls with the sick daddies HUGS ~ Tink how is your god daughter doing??? 

Thinking of you all on this beautiful Sunday !!!

Alicia

Jo - thanks so much for the well wishes! It is def getting better each day now, whew!

Tinkertude - Thanks for the well wishes, much appreciated. So sorry to hear of waking up with an anxiety attack, I hate it when that happens. Just before this rash thing, my DH woke me up because I was moaning and carrying on in my sleep, I was having awful nightmares so was glad he got me conscious. I do hope today will be better for you!

Sherry - Sounds like you did have a busy day, how nice to get to a plant sale. What kind of plants?

Sohardbnme - Hi and welcome! I have been on Tamoxifen for 4 months and mostly doing okay...mostly what would happen going thru menopause any way, hot flashes, night sweats, moodiness, wanna bite someones head off sometimes - just kidding. I sure hope Tami treats you well!

June - thanks for the well wishes!

Chabba - I think I will be back in your neighborhood within a week.

Sgreenarch - glad you are taking a little time to step back and take a deep breath, I'm glad you got some answers on the blood work. I know how every little thing can send me right into panic again. I'm sure wishing you the best! I will be having the laproscopic ovary removal next March, I was told it's an outpatient procedure with short recovery and will bring my chance of ovarian cancer to zero. This is another cancer in my family.

Swanseagirl - best wishes to you and your family, sounds like a lot going on, wishing your DD is okay and that your mamos turn out clean (my next set is this month...) and so sorry to hear about your DH

Letterchick - I have been doing a lot of mind over matter to stay on Tami, it's been 4 months and mostly all is okay, wishing you an easy time with it! I haven't had joint pain, I do take calcium and vit D.

Cp418 - thanks for posting the fish oil study.

Joy - My grandfather was from Norway, he passed before I was born, but my mom had all good stories about him.

Alicia - glad you got through the surgery okay, that's funny, I hate the pain meds too and never took them with my 3 surgeries last year, just took Tylenol a few times. Glad you made it through the prom photos too!

Jo - vent away! That sounds so hard to have to pick up the work of two people. I would be upset too. Is there any way to replace the two who are quitting?

Hugs to all and have a great day! ~Beans

Jo - I hear you on some people not wanting to work...we have been trying for 3 years to find a builder to do our mountain cabin...we are finally just going to do it ourselves - well my DH is and one of our friends we will hire. I will be the gofer. We aren't retired either so we are also glad to work!! That is frustating to find out on Sunday and when you could have had much more time to prepare. That sure sux.

Thanks Ladies - Getting the news so early this morning really got me downn today.  Hubby told me they had made the decision to leave 10 months ago and just decided to spring it on us now.  They will still be around for 3 weeks and the way I feel right now - I just wish they would not bother coming to work.  I don't know how I could have a decent attitude but it will somehow all work out.

Sandee - I am instituting your 24 hour rule.  With the recent events, I can't look too far into the future and really have to take one day at a time or I will go crazy.

You Tammibabes are absolutely wonderful and I love all of you.  Thanks for letting me vent today.  I try to keep everything so positive but sometimes.....well, you know.