Cancer Support Thread #71 - here to help if you’re dealing with cancer in any shape or form, come in and say hello.

[Brassica]

Hi again everyone and welcome to the 71st new thread for cancer support.

All those who are currently being treated, have been treated in the past, have worries and concerns and/or are having tests are very welcome to pull up a chair and chat, vent, rant, pour hearts out, share milestones and anything else! We are a very friendly and all-too experienced bunch on here and there are no questions too small or silly to ask.

Our previous thread is here .

Anyone with any type of cancer (female or male) is welcome. And we will hold your hand if you're waiting to find out whether or not you have cancer at all.

If you've got a loved one with cancer then your best place for support is probably on the Life-Limiting Illness board.

Please can I invite current members to reintroduce yourselves below for latest situations and stories so far.

[Brassica]

Getting the ball rolling, I’m Brassica and I was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer in April this year. I’m 46 and live in London with my husband and 8 year old twins. I’m awaiting results of genetic testing to see if I carry any of the genes for BC. Treatment-wise, I’ve just finished 4 cycles of EC chemo and will shortly embark on another protocol for 12 cycles, before having a lumpectomy (hopefully not mx) and then rads to mop up. Showing a good response to chemo so far. Not working while this all goes on. I have barely cried at all since diagnosis and assume I am riding for a fall at some point!

[meercat23]

Thank you Brassica

I was diagnosed with breastf cancer in March. It was a 12cm tunour which had not spread to the lymph nodes. Since surgery I have been having weekly Paclitaxel and three weekly Herceptin. Also six monthly bone protecting drugs. Will also start 18 sessions of Radiotherapy next month and then oestrogen reducing drugs

This thread is an amazing source of support and encouragement from truly lovely people. I am so grateful for it

[TwitterQueen1]

TQ here. Age 59, dx with ovarian cancer in 2017, lone parent with 3 amazing DDs . Was doing very well on trial drugs of olaparib and cedirinab until they discovered 2 brain tumours last month. Now having 3 zaps of stereotactic radiosurgery.

[Mrstraveller]

Another breast cancer person. Diagnosed in late July 2018. 3.5cm tumour, widespread malignant calcification and at least 4 nodes involved. HER2 positive. Joined the thread about October time I think when I was mid chemo. The practical advice and support and humour on here got me through. Somehow gave me greater mental strength for which I will always be grateful. It’s so good to talk to other people who know what you are going through. Had mastectomy and full node clearance in Jan and then radiotherapy in March. Still on Herceptin and due to start a course of bisphophonates (spelling doesn’t look right) at some point.

[Mrstraveller]

Oh I’m 52 now. Was called for my first routine mammogram as I was going through chemo [bitter laugh].

[Restingbitchface01]

Breast cancer person here. Diagnosed August last year. 5.5cm tumour. Originally diagnosed as DCIS. Discovered after surgery that a small aggressive HER2+ tumour was also present. Have had 4 rounds of TC chemo and herceptin and 19 radiotherapy sessions. Returning to work on 1st July. Still feels like it happened to someone else!

[Bloodybridget]

Hello, I'm relatively new to the threads, ovarian cyst detected in late April, had radical hysterectomy three weeks ago, definitely cancer, have follow up appointment next week to get full pathology results, stage and grade, and presumably treatment plan will be discussed: I'm expecting it will be chemo. Very hopeful it is very early detection. Surgeons were very pleased with op.

[Bloodybridget]

Oh I'm 65. Live with (female) DP.

[Mrstraveller]

Thanks Brassica for the new thread xx

[meercat23]

Just realised I said I had a 12 cm tumour. It was 12 mm. Sorry

[Diaryofalways87]

Hi everyone, I'm new to these threads but have read a few now. Sounds like I'm having a similar journey to brassica.

I'm 31 and was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer in February 2019. Just finished 12 weekly chemos of paclitaxel and 3 weekly of carboplatin. Next week I start my 3 weekly chemos of FEC, which I'm a bit nervous about as I hear it's a bit more hardcore.

I have 2 DDs aged 5 and 1, and live with my DP of 10 years.

[BitOfFun]

I was diagnosed in October last year with Stage 4 Inflammatory Breast Cancer. It's spread to my bones, possibly my lungs, and one of my adrenal glands. The good news is it's hormone receptor positive, so I'm being treated by suppressing all oestrogen in my body. Going into instant deep menopause has been quite a shock, but I guess it beats the alternative...

I had a second lot of scans recently, and found out yesterday that the cancer hasn't spread any further, and the tumours in my lymph nodes have actually shrunk, so I'm cautiously optimistic. It's incurable, but the plan is to keep it at bay for as long as possible. If I continue to do well on this treatment, I'll have another two years or so.

[SnowsInWater]

Thanks for the new thread. I'm 56 and live in Sydney with DH, 16yo DD and 20yo DS2. DS1 is married and lives nearby. I was diagnosed in March this year with Stage 3 Inflammatory Breast Cancer. Had 4 rounds of AC Chemo, two Taxol with two more to go. I am due a mastectomy end of July, I'm hoping to persuade the surgeon to do a double and be done with it! Radiotherapy after that then some hormone treatment as I am Oestrogen positive (HER2 negative). Treatment is going well but I'm feeling a bit down at the moment, I keep looking at my boobs trying to prepare myself for the fact that they won't be there in a few weeks.

[SnowsInWater]

BitOfFun - that is great news!

[Mrstraveller]

BitOfFun

Happy to hear your news.

[iVampire]

Thank you for the new thread brassica

And that’s great news BofF

I’m also in the ‘incurable but treatable’ camp. I have leukaemia (CML) and am stable on a targeted drug (TKI inhibitor). This means that leukaemic cells are barely detectable in my body, even on the most sensitive tests available. So it’s a kind of functional remission. I’m about to go for my next regular monitoring (3 monthly blood tests) which always makes me a little more tense.

I’m in my 50s, with teenagers.

[Mrstraveller]

I had an ECG yesterday. I find the position you have to lie in really uncomfortable. I feel so stiff and awkward. It took me ages to be able to get myself off the bed, straighten up, get top back on (still struggle with getting things on over my head). The radiographer was busy typing at the computer and I bet she was thinking I wish she’d bloody hurry up.

[Toofaroutallmylife]

Thanks for the new thread Brassica

I was diagnosed with a malignant melanoma on my vulva in January 2019. Had half my vulva and some suspect lymph nodes removed at the end of January- luckily the lymph nodes were clear but some melanoma in situ (pre-cancerous) were left behind.

Having been receiving adjuvant immunotherapy as I’m at a significant risk of recurrence, but that has led to (mildly) raised liver enzymes. Immunotherapy has been paused and I’m on steroids to try to sort the liver out, but it’s not responding as expected, so may move onto “watch and wait”. I do love a bit of uncertainty (not)!

Am in my early 50s with 2 teenage DCs.

[redspook]

Hi all,
I am a relative newcomer, having been diagnosed with cervical cancer at the end of last month. I have had CT, MRI and PET scans and am now waiting for a sigmoidoscopy as they are concerned that it has spread to my colon.
After that i should receive a treatment plan.
I am 59, with a long term partner and two young adult sons.
I'm not an anxious person by nature but am currently going out of my mind. The lovely people on the last thread have been so kind and supportive.

[Diaryofalways87]

Oh redspook, the waiting really is the worst part, you have my sympathy. Brassica, how did you find EC (I'm guessing FEC is similar). If you had any side effects, when did they generally start after each cycle?

[Brassica]

Diary I have found EC to be ok but definitely tiring to be on. I started with 3-week intervals but these were then reduced to two-weekly in order to get through it faster as I wasn’t suffering too much on it and response was looking good.

For me, side effects have been hair loss (about 17-19 days post first cycle). I shaved my head at that point. Also extreme weariness on days 3-6 generally, meaning confinement to bed. Chemo brain, a weird feeling of head and body not being quite connected up. A few nose bleeds, some loose bowels, and utter annihilation of taste buds for a week post each cycle. No sickness, no constipation (so long as I drink plenty). Honestly I think the loss of interest in food has been the worst bit for me.

I fainted yesterday and stayed in bed all day (also doing so today) which is early in the cycle for that but I put it down to the shortened recovery time. Now I’m done with EC hopefully the taxol phase will be a bit easier to bounce back from.

[Brassica]

I should have asked, how did you find the Paclitaxel and carbo? That’ll be me next.

[Diaryofalways87]

I have lost my hair already so that's fine. I have had similar side effects. I've only had 4 days of fatigue which isn't too bad out of 12 weeks of treatment. I get tired but that's usually fixed with some rest. The only other side effect that's annoying me is painful nails. You can get nerve damage in your fingers and toes but I haven't had this. Oh and I've had the taste bud thing too which sucks when you love your food. All good fun!

[Dulcedelecherocks]

Hi lacies and thanks for the new thread brassica.
I was diagnosed with stage 3:5 (!!!) bowel cancer in March 2018, had emergency surgery and 3 months of chemo. I was told I was stage 4 but then told by the oncologist there is no spread and the cells found which led to the stage 4 diagnosis were just spillage from the tumour. Who knows.
I don't have any tumours at present (I hope ) and am not having any treatment. I am however waiting for genetic results to establish if I have a condition called Lynch syndrome which may have caused the cancer, and if I do I'll be having a hysterectomy soon.

[mrsed1987]

Hi all,

Two reasons for me. My mum was diagnosed with ovacancer in august 2016 stage four. She had 6 carbo/taxol a hysterectomy and debulking in feb 2017 and then 2 more chemo. She was deemed NED but only for a short time as her ca-125 was already rising at her 3 month check up. She started further chemo at end of september 2018. Again this only helped for a short time and she is now on a trial at the royal marsden in london.

I am also awaiting a date for a colonoscopy, i had a voicemail from them earlier but 3 times i called back with no answer!