Cancer Support Thread 98: support for those diagnosed and going through treatment

[FcukBreastCancer]

Hello 👋

@Nonamelass I’ve been thinking about you. God be with you throughout your surgery and recovery. Prayers from across the Atlantic are continuing. I’ll take you to Disneyland when you get better, ok?

Thanks for all the help with the mouth. The ulcers are a PITA. I have the mouth wash, and steroids, will try and get the gel and the special tooth paste.

everything is so so dry now when I eat, even an apple or grapes tastes like sandpaper.

Hope all goes well today @Nonamelass💐 thinking of you.

good luck @Bangersndmash- hopefully you will get the gel and toothpaste soon. As @ForestFlowerFairysays, the main thing I was told by the dentist was about dental hygiene as a whole: lots of fibre etc.

@Bangersndmash For the life of me I can’t remember any recent recent occasion that I needed general anesthesia. Maybe an EGD few months back? Just curious.

@Sbmpp think I might be getting my wired crossed sorry. I know @Nonamelass is having surgery today and I thought you were saying it wasn’t under GA!

@Bangersndmash I most probably was confused? Thanks for replying :)

Hope everyone had a good day! I had port fitted today, hoping this will make future treatments easier. Now sat very straight on the sofa, expecting to be sore for a couple of days, anyone already got one and have advice??!!

Hi everyone have been back in room/ ward since 7pm. All seems to gone have well !! Importantly I’m alive I had this irrational fear I wasn’t going to wake up 😅😅I have absolutely NO PAIN though I’m aware it’s probably like when you have tooth out and it’s all ok in the beginning. I look pretty flat under the bandages which is ok by me ! Lots of love friends xxx will write more tomorrow xxx

@samlovesdilys I’ve had mine for about 1.5 yrs now. It’s so much nicer than being stuck with an IV every week or so (the veins in my right arm are shot due to the first year of chemo). After the healing period I didn’t have to do anything to it. When it’s time for chemo I put on numbing crème and I don’t feel a thing. Good luck!

@Nonamelass Thanks for letting us know! I have a great big smile on my face 😍! Hope you heal quickly and get to go home to a cozy bed and couch.

@Sbmppthank you! That’s exactly eat I am hoping for, sore today but will take some paracetamol and crack on! Happy Friday everyone!!

So pleased to hear that you are well and at home again @Nonamelass💐 🍰 I hope you continue to feel better today xx

Good luck with the port @samlovesdilysi don’t have one but I had considered it. If chemo had carried on longer I probably would have done as my veins were really breaking down.

Not home sadly!! Was hoping to be in one night but for some reason I seem to be staying in … drains I think. I really want to go home asap thought xxx

Oh no! Well I hope another night will be helpful @NonamelassSomeone to help with the drains has got to be good 😊

@Nonamelass you be taking care of yourself post surgery

So ladies, I'm out the other side. I cant recall if I posted this already so apologies if I'm repeating myself.
I finished radiotherapy on Tuesday. Felt too self conscious to ring the bell, but left smiling.

Side effects will take a while to settle.
Boob's hot, red, solid. Reminds me of breastfeeding. Got some gel to put on sore skin. All a bit sweaty and uncomfortable.
I am now looking forward to getting the boobs back into a bra.

Had two doses of tamoxifen, will be on for 10 years

Has anyone heard from risotto? Don't want to bother her if poorly

@Nonamelass congrats and glad the surgery went well,

@FcukBreastCancer well done, amazing achievement. Congratulations to u too!

Am home !! Crazy its just uncomfortable cos of the drains. I’m dragging around one on each side. Other than that no pain alot lot less than sentinal or lymph bode removal. Its early days I suppose. I feel ok. The scars look ok ish .. I’m flat for sure… it doesn’t feel too bad .. love to everyone xxx

@Nonamelass so glad you are home, thats a relief - hope your recovery goes well..

Really pleased to hear that you are home @Nonamelass💐 I hope you carry on progressing with your recovery. I think the scars will calm down and you will feel so much better once the drains are out. All the very best 🌟

Just checking in. I know it’s unlikely that anyone else has the same diagnosis as me but I am sure we have similar existential overload. Currently on day 2 of 5 for radiation treatment for my eye cancer. Will be completed on Friday.

Will get a genetic profile biopsy result in the next few weeks as to whether it’s a mild tumour or aggressive which means my mets risk is either 10% or 90%.

Then 5 months post radiation I have a check up to assess if the radiation has been effective. If not enucleation is the next step.

Onwards and upwards everyone.

@Connemaraai did 5 days radiation on my back before Christmas, made me really tired, sore and I thought the 5th day would be the worst and over - but actually took a couple of weeks. Sorry not to be more positive but i am feeling better now if that helps.
I saw my oncologist yesterday, he isn’t hugely helpful, doesn’t say much but doesn’t seem worried so I guess I shouldn’t 🤷🏼‍♀️ when in reality I’m already beginning to worry about March scan and what it could show. I need to focus on now!!!!

How are you doing @Nonamelass? I hope you are recovering. How are the scars?

how did the radiotherapy go? @Connemaraado you have the genetic profile through now?

I had a busy day yesterday and today I’m rather wiped out so I’m just vegging by the tv. Will go to the theatre later but just for the first few hours rather than the whole evening. I’ve put my out of office on for the week. My sister is pressing me to get a second opinion on the lymphangitis.

@ventress good you have your out of office on, dont over do things and always listen to your sister!
How easy is it to get a second opinion?

I have been in bits today non stop crying this morning but may have been triggered by the thought of counselling with some random stranger I think - so I cancelled it when she rang. It was the correct decision as actually there is more support on here than with some random stranger who doesnt have cancer.

I always think of you in your chair relaxing and reading so you must return there....

I have been scheduled for ct scan only one week after my last chemo which seems a bit soon - anyone else had to do this ? thought it would be a bit later than that as I have to continue on with phesgo injections - let me know if anyone on here has had the same please also i am pretty rough for about two weeks after chemo so not sure i will be fit enough to go.

@cantbelieveIamhere slightly different for me but I had a pet scan pre chemo and will have a pet scan post chemo but pre surgery to see what we are dealing with.

also, randomly I signed up to a few charities where someone going something the same as you rings you to offer support and advice or just an ear. Every time they rang it gave me the worst anxiety and I cancelled the calls the last minute. I use a counsellor and that works for me but what works for a doesn’t work for b, don’t stress it. I’m glad you can find solidity in us.

Ive been having a shocking week, another round of illness and another round of fevers and anti biotics. Chemo is really, really giving me an absolute battering. My mental and physical health is in the gutter. Feel like crying most days but just hoping it all works out and gets rid of the C.

I absolutely agree with @Bangersndmashabout counselling. Only use a counsellor that suits you. I haven’t got to that place yet but feel that I should have - if you see what I mean.

I’m sorry that you and @cantbelieveIamhereare having such rough weeks. If you want to cry or scream or stamp around or do anything at all that suits you please do it! Do whatever you need to do, when you need to do it (this is the mini egg excuse I have 😉 ) honestly, do what you need to do 🤗 if it isn’t right for you then forget it.

Chemo is so hard on you, be easy on yourself . It’s really effective though. I wish I were still on
it most of the time.

I didn’t get further than my comfy chair and kindle today. I’m not sure why I was so knackered but I just had no energy. DH thinks it was the start of the new ribiciclib round. Sis is lovely but she does think her oncologist is the best thing since sliced bread. I’m not sure if I should get a different specialist? Not sure if it will be easy to get a second opinion. I need to ring the health insurance people.

See how you feel before cancelling the ct scan@cantbelieveIamhereI’ve always found them reasonably okay. I haven’t had to have the phesgo injections though.