It's not summer yet, but we are on cancer support thread 69. Join us if you've got cancer or are having cancer-related tests.

[WhatWouldLeslieKnopeDo]

Good evening lacies and welcome to another thread. We filled the previous one rather quickly with dog stories

Hello to any new posters. Feel free to join us if you've got any sort of cancer, or if you're waiting to find out if you have it. We are always happy to share our experience and hold hands, and even happier when we get to wave goodbye to people who have had the all clear :) (please do come back and let us know either way - sometimes people just disappear into the sunset, leaving us wondering whether they were OK or not!)

It's helpful if you can post a quick (re)introduction, even if you're a regular on the thread, to save people having to remember or to refer back to previous threads. There's no need to "catch up" - just join in whenever you want to.

I forgot the most important thing dog pictures are more than welcome (or any other aesthetically pleasing pets)

Hi All

I have breast cancer. I’ve had 7 rounds of chemo and a mastectomy in January. with removal of all lymph nodes. Still trying to recover from the surgery but it seems to be slow-going (or feels that way).

Currently awaiting radiotherapy.

This thread has helped me immensely to get through the last 7 months.

Sadly I don’t have a dog but would like one that is already trained!

I'm not really sure what to write as my introduction as to be honest, I wasn't really expecting to be here for another new thread.

I have stage IV colorectal cancer. It has been incurable for several years now, but has recently become terminal. I am under palliative care at home. I am practically bedbound. I am 28 (celebrated my birthday since the last thread!) and live with my parents - my mum has taken leave and my dad works from home, so they are able to care for me.

I am trying to be as open as I can about the dying process in the hope that it will help others to prepare. I am happy to answer almost any question and will ignor/deflect if it's too sensitive.

Mrstraveller sorry, I don't know what type of dog it is

Leslie there isn't a cockerpoo in the world that is well behaved! They are all manic . Your aunt is keeping things from you...

TQ here. Ovarian cancer dx March 2017. Undergoing third-line treatment on a trial at the Churchill in Oxford, taking PARP inhibitors Olaparib and Cediranib, thankfully orally rather via IV.

In all my enthusiasm about the new thread, I forgot my exciting news for the day/week/month...

I visited my kitchen!

(For newer people wondering WTF, I designed and planned a new kitchen for my parents, as a sort of chemo project. Then I took a turn for the worse between designing it and the installation. It's very nearly finished, but as I'm generally confined to my bed in the front room, I have only seen it in photographs until now.)

My beautiful Lucky, who died January 6 2017.

Honestly, he's an absolute angel. I've never seen a more loyal or obedient dog. He's got me the closest my mum has ever come to considering having a dog. I'm glad we didn't get one as it sounds like he is the exception to the rule!

Oh my goodness Leslie I didn't realise you were so young! Congratulations on visiting the kitchen, was it as you designed?

So happy that you’ve had a trip to the kitchen!

I’m 35 and also have stage IV colorectal cancer. Initially I had liver mets and now lungs, which means I’ve jumped into the incurable box too. Am working at the moment on managing the cancer and living as good a life as I can. Which is mostly successful on both fronts actually. Happy to field questions on:

• chemo side effects
• colonscopies
• liver ressection
• pulmonary embolisation
• egg harvesting/freezing
• pelvic radiotherapy
• working with cancer
• dog training (ha not really)
• why Leslie is so ace
• distraction techniques
• good nail colours for chemo
• hot consultants

Puppy picture attached. He’s my boop!

Hi Leslie,

You won't remember me (well, because I've name changed since) but a while back I had a cancer scare and joined the thread. I am a couple of years older than you but at the time, I couldn't believe the positivity in your posts and the support you were able to give others, myself included, during what has been an extraordinarily difficult time for you. That takes someone with bags of empathy, a true heart of gold and buckets full of compassion to be able to be so considerate to everyone else whilst you have had so much to contend with yourself.

I believe we are all here for a reason and if your purpose has solely been the support you've given to so many others, then you should be incredibly proud of that. You have made such a difference to so many lives and you continue to do so.

You are truly inspirational and you are really in my thoughts at the moment. Sending love your way ☺️

Hi all.

Im Mrs Ed and im 31 years old. Im currently awaiting an appointment on 6th march to discuss a colonoscopy. My GP wasnt concerned about my symptoms but i pushed him and eventually he agreed a referral. This has been slightly on the back burner as 4 weeks ago i had my first child.

Counting down the days as very anixous about everything.

MrsEd I'm also waiting for a colonoscopy. Mine is a week Friday (I was referred under the 2WW), but the GP is not hugely concerned it's cancer due to my age (33) and suspects it'll be IBD. There is a chance though, so I'm half lurking, half dipping into the thread as I feel really silly talking about my concerns IRL. The wait is horrible though, so I hope yours isn't long.

Yes i know what you mean. Ive had various blood tests which was all fine but cant help thinking there is something more. Of course google doesnt help and im constantly looking on the internet reading up.

My husband knows i am worried but i havent mentioned it to him for months, he thinks im over reacting and should just listen to the gp

Hi all - lovely new thread!!

Just popping in to say I’m so so pleased you got to visit the kitchen Leslie!! Awesome - I hope you were happy with what you saw there (I’m wondering if there is a dedicated cheese fridge?!).

Name your list made me laugh

Waving to everyone tonight

Oops forgot my intro - I am fuzzy, 40 years old, just finished 9 months of chemo and mastectomy treatment for breast cancer. One daft doggy who I adore

mrsed I hope you are just passing through... but for now, welcome - there’s an amazing support to be found here

Sorry forgot to say thanks for starting the new thread Leslie.

Hi all,

Thanks for starting the new thread Leslie and am also very pleased you have managed to see the kitchen you designed in the flesh. I also like the idea of a cheese fridge being included in the design!

Just to introduce myself, I have breast cancer. Diagnosed last June after finding a lump in my armpit. 7 rounds of chemo followed, then an op in Dec to remove the tumour and my lymph nodes. I have just started radiotherapy to the chest wall. 6 out of 20 treatments down....

How are you doing purple? Am glad your kidney has perked up a bit, now we just need to get your strength up. Spinach/greens are good for iron (& steak if you eat meat?) Hopefully now you have the wheelchair a few bracing trips to the coast for some fresh sea air may help too.

namechange I love your list! My Mum & Dad are visiting at the weekend and bringing my dog back (I haven't seen them since Christmas which has felt odd after they were back and forth so frequently whilst I did chemo) looking forward to seeing my pooch too and doing dog walks again. The cats are not quite as keen to see him back as he can be quite lively!

fuzzy your boob looking like a posh artisan loaf was not the plan! What a pain to have to have more surgery, hopefully the quickest of procedures for you, but a royal pain none the less.

MrsT I am still uncomfortable from the op, although my youngest did accidentally launch herself head butting the site a few weeks ago which was agony. Plus radiotherapy is making it feel different at the mo too. I think it is normal from talking to other people. I keep being frustrated by that side being slightly feeble and I either forget, or overcompensate using the other side. The wrapped ice pack sounds a good idea from flyingarcher as I found it felt like I had a rolled up (sore) newspaper under my arm. My armpit still sort of feels like someone else's if I touch it as don't have much sensation on a good 50% of it. It just feels strange, but also looks fairly normal.. I hope you are recovering well from the ops too keepcalm and pandora

TQ love the cockerpoo story, I too only know naughty/cheeky ones. A dog trainer who I spoke to once said that cockerpoo's kept her in new cars! My old English cocker was always rolling in stuff, getting messy, chewing things etc

Glad you are healing well from the op dulce and managed to 'go' without too much assistance.

Sorry you have joined the club borntobe hopefully it will all move very swiftly once there is a plan in place.

toofar i am sure the catheter jiggling made for a very slow and cautious walk. Is there anything you have been advised to drink to make the first wee less stingy? I'd imagine loads of water may help that, and r cranberry...

hug handhold, hopefully it will not be anything sinister.

I hope you are coming out of the chemo fog knicker & feel more human

My sleep is all over the place at the moment, I had a busy Saturday and have been literally collapsing into bed by 8pm most nights. I've been awake since 4am and have mainly caught up on the thread. No doubt I will be shattered even earlier tonight as a result! I hope everyone is as well as possible & apologies to anyone I have missed...

Congrats on the kitchen excursion Leslie!! Hope it was as you'd imagined (or better?!)

I'm addle - also colon cancer stage 3. Back at work after surgery and chemo and struggling... waiting for 5 more months for another scan to see whether the last one was a bit weird because of the op or something worse. What fun. Thinking maybe I should get a dog too and stop working

addle

Get a dog
Get a dog
Get a dog
Get a dog
Get a dog
Get a dog
Get a dog

Morning all, struggling to keep up with the thread just lately, what with chemo fog, making the most of my up days and not always getting notifications!

Leslie glad to hear you managed a kitchen visit! Hope your keeping as well as can be expected x

TQ it was thanks to my sisters Cockerpoo that discovered my lump, so i can ignore any amount of disobedience from that breed! I was totally caught up in the best dog bread show, even voted! Never do anything like that usually 😂

I hope all of those who are waiting for results are managing to keep it together, it's an awful time and hopefully your results will be good x

My dx is stage 3 Triple Negative breast cancer, currently receiving neo adjuvant chemo, three down five to go followed by surgery and radiotherapy. Oh and just confirmed that i have the Brca 1 gene, which will have implications for my daughter

Waves to everyone else who has posted and hoping life is treating you well xx

Hey all. Sorry I've been mia.

I'm 32. Was diagnosed with stage 3 invasive breast cancer with inflammatory presentation in July 2017. Hormone negative but HER positive. I've had to push for everything ie appointments, scans and even the surgery itself.

Been through 7 cycles of chemo, developed chemo related heart failure and had my mastectomy and node clearance finally on 17/01/19 (after I got pushy and requested to see the breast consultant for an appointment) after being scared half to death and was told I could very well die due to being over weight.

I've come through it, the mastectomy has a slight opening of 2-3cms and I'm still leaking lots of fluid and I have to drain my boob(?is it still a boob) twice a day or it gets really tight and painful. So I've got to wait for that to heal before I can start radiation so hopefully start of March. But there is something longstanding with me as wounds never heal properly or take twice as long (despite a good diet of protein and iron etc)

I got some amazing news on the 08/02. He breast that they removed only had 2x 2mm alive cancer spots. Which is amazing as the mri scans had shown the cancer was the whole of my left breast (G cup so big area) and all 15 of the nodes that they removed were negative.

So I'm now on the path for weight loss surgery. I've lost 10lbs since my surgery and I'd rather not have gastric surgery but I've got to lost 8 stone to be considered for reconstruction surgery so we will see what happens.

Also my pip face to face assessment was 4 weeks ago and it should be a couple more weeks before I get a decision. So fingers crossed.

Love to all.

pandora it’s about time you got some positive news!! That’s wonderful. I’m sorry the wound is taking some healing tho

fluffy damn to the gene. My family is supposed to be getting tested but we are getting passed from pillar to post!

noodles how is the radio going? Are you on tamoxifen? I wonder because I am, and have also been doing a nice line in 4am wakings!!

Waves to everyone!

Morning all. I'm 45 and also part of the colon cancer club. Almost one year ago, emergency op, chemo and last week hernia removal due to surgery.
I'm also in the "I should get a dog" club.

Leslie your news made my morning!!! I'm so happy you got to see those tiles. I mean, they are just amazing.

Pandora it was about time you had some good news.

Hello at everyone else. I'm crap at name checking.