The Lacies are back for cancer support thread 56 - all welcome!

[WhatWouldLeslieKnopeDo]

Hello again, and welcome to our 56th thread. Some of us have been here ages and others have just joined. I hope you've all made it safely over to the new thread.

An extra special welcome to anyone who is lurking and feeling a bit shy. We are all quite friendly and we definitely don't bite, so please do say hello if you'd like to.

All are welcome here. We started off as a breast cancer support thread many years back, but all cancer types are welcome and at any point in the "journey", even if you haven't yet been diagnosed. We have all had different experiences but there's almost certainly someone here who will understand how you are feeling.

Our previous thread is here.

I have started the new thread a little early, and I will explain why in a moment.

Hi Chewing.The actual drain isn't much fun, but I have to admit that what comes out is quite interesting.In a really sick ghoulish way . I think I've had a couple of lymph nodes (????)

I hope the bloods are OK.

chewing glad they got plenty of samples this time. Fingers crossed for the results, and for your bloods good luck with the MRI scan too. Busy week!

Tutti glad it's providing entertainment at least but I'm sure you'll be much more comfortable once it's out

Tutti hopefully you'll feel so much better with the drain out. That dead arm feeling is a pain, I'm always terrified of shaving my numb armpit and slicing into it without realising.

On another entertainment note, I found my boob sloshing like a hot water bottle just after the op fascinating. Husband had to tell me to stop jumping around to hear it slosh

Hi FlyChick. The dead arm is quite shocking really. The thought that it will be like this forever is tough isn't it. I'm waxing from now on.

My boob doesn't slosh It's very taut and pert. So pert in fact that the other nipple is about a foot lower.

A question for those of you that have lost your hair. A lot of my hair fell out over the space of a few days last week and now seems to have stopped Is this usual or will I lose more after the next lot of chemo? It has thinned out a lot but no bald patches yet. Thanks for any advice.

chewing mine has done similar. Lots fell out. It was below shoulder length and looked awful so I cut it into a short bob to prepare for shaving it. But then it stopped falling out. It is noticeably thinner on top, so I have to wear a hat in the sun so my scalp doesn't burn.

I really have no idea what will happen next, so this is not very useful to you. But wanted to offer some solidarity!

What chemo drugs are you on? Do they always cause hair loss? My current regime causes hair loss in most people, but not necessarily total hair loss.

Also at your sloshy boob! FlyChickie

Hiya Leslie. Hope you are doing ok.
I'm on Carboplatin and Etoposide and was told that I would lose my hair. It is very thick hair though so I wonder if that means it will stay in a bit longer. I have cropped it pretty short in preparation for losing it but now wonder whether this was necessary. A lot of people have said it suits me but I was mistaken for a bloke when I took ds to the barbers the other day
The man did however look a bit when he clocked my large bosom

Hello lacies.
Chewing, mine fell out in big lumps then the remaining patches just kept shedding. I think this is why most people just go and shave it all off.
tutti, the drain is absolutely horrible I agree. I had mine in for about a week and it was such a bother especially at night. Once the fluid level is really low they will take it out. Amazing how once it is gone you feel so much better. The arm pit and arm and shoulder will take a while( it has been over a year and they are still not normal) but i can not stress enough how important and useful the stretching exercises are. Keep them up. Gives you something to focus on and a goal to work towards till your next step.
Minty, I hope all is well with you.
Leslie, how are thinsg your way now? When is your next chemo?
Mrs, you have been quite for some time. Hope all is well your way? Hope you are getting a lot of rides now with the newly lovensed family member
Waving to everybody else.
I am still awaiting my CT scan and mammogram scheduled for next week. I have been trying VERY hard to keep busy and distracted. Luckily my brother is visiting and it helps to have him around.

Back from a lovely holiday, lots of sun and cocktails !
Hope everyone is going ok, I'll try and catch up

Going ok ? I meant doing !

Hiya royal
mum glad you had a great time on holiday.
Well I went to hospital for my chemo. I was kept waiting for quite a while and was asked several times what time my appointment was. It turns out that they had me down as going in tomorrow but I had previously told them that I couldn't do that time as I was having a MRI so that was why it was rearranged for today! They were most apologetic but I have to go back early tomorrow now and then have the scan afterwards. I wasn't too pleased as I had paid a fair bit for a cab there and my lift back wasn't available until later on so I then had to get 2 buses home. I realise it is down to human error but they had not sent the confirmation letter either or the blood test paperwork. Hopefully tomorrow is a better day.

Oh what a pain chewing :( you get yourself emotionally ready for it and the travelling is a hassle too. You could just do without it. I hope it all goes smoothly tomorrow
Can you get patient transport to hospital if it's a fair way, I met of people doing that for rads though they did have a bit of waiting around

Hi Royal, yes I've been a bit quiet for a couple of weeks although I have been reading.

I've been suffering with a really painful shoulder for some time, actually since last November and have finally arranged to see the GP next week. However, just this evening I was looking at my collar bone which has also been very painful and have discovered it's quite swollen at the end under my throat. So I've been googling bone Mets and you can imagine I'm feeling panicked. I suppose it's been at the back of my mind for sometime and I've been trying to ignore it. It's on the opposite side to my affected breast. I'll ring the BC nurse in the morning, feeling a bit sick at the moment.

Sorry, that's all very me me me. Hello to everyone, quite a few going through chemo still, hi to tutti, I spotted you on another thread yesterday. Minty, hope you're ok. Leslie thinking of you too. Royal, thanks for asking.

The fear of cancer coming back is always there, so I really feel for you Mrs. Hopefully your BCN can fast track you an appointment to get this checked out.

My last rads tomorrow. It will be nice to have a break from commuting.

Chewing, I'm sorry. That must be so frustrating and the cost only adds insult to injury.
Hi MrsHodge, you're bound to be hyper vigilent, I know I am and I've only just started this whole rotten business.

Royal. I ditched the drain and the bag today; but was so used to it that I tried to grab it back off the trolley to take it with me
I'm hoping I'll get some decent sleep tonight.

And they also took the dressings off and didn't replace them as they said it was healing well. So I also got to see the wounds, and if I'm honest I didn't really want to look today.

mrsrhod sorry that you are having this worry.
mum I may look into patient transport - thanks for the info.
silly glad you've come to the end of rads. What next for you?
Tutti glad that you've waved goodbye to the drain . Hope you sleep better tonight.
I hope to sleep better too ready for my early start. Night all.

mrsrhod sorry you've got this to worry about. I hope your nurse and GP can reassure you, and help with the pain too. I'm really sorry, for some reason I thought you were quiet because you were on holiday!

Welcome back mum it seems like you've brought some sunshine back with you, so thank you

chewing how enormously frustrating! It's annoying they couldn't squeeze you in as it was their mistake. Intriguing about the hair. I wonder if the rest will fall out after your next dose.

Tutti yippee for no drain! :) I hope you sleep much more comfortably. Good news that it's healing well.

TeamGB that's great, how is your skin?

royal I'm well thank you :) next chemo is tomorrow. I'm glad you've got your brother to distract you a bit from next week's appointments

Waving to everyone (especially any lurkers - please don't be shy if you're reading and want to post)

Hello Leslie
Hope your chemo goes well tomorrow. I couldn't be squeezed in today as the drugs wouldn't have been ready in time. I'll keep you posted about my hair

I really must get to bed now or I'll be shattered tomorrow. Could always have a sleep during chemo I suppose.

I look forward to your hair update I'm losing patience with mine. Mainly because my scalp is so itchy! At least when I'm bald I will be able to put lotion on it.

Sleep well. I can't sleep, but should probably try again. Sleeping is a good way to pass the time during chemo, if you can manage it :)

Morning all, I'm a bit sleepless at the moment but as I plan to spend tomorrow in bed I can always nap.

I am having trouble with my appetite at the moment and so am having fortisip drinks between meals. Some flavours are nicer than others but the yoghurt flavours and the mocha are quite tasty. I was reluctant to try them as I thought they would taste like slim fast or something equally vile. I'm still loosing weight too fast though. It's frustrating. Dh cooked my favourite tea earlier and I couldn't even manage a bite.

Might do better tomorrow though as I have had another transfusion

Morning (not so) Sleepy
I've not slept very well either. Sorry to hear about your appetite. I have not lost mine yet and in fact have been eating more than usual so have gained weight which I'd rather not. Hope the transfusion goes well tomorrow and you get a lot more rest.

Sorry about your appetite sleepy I guess just try and have little bits as you fancy it, glad the drinks are not too yukky. Good luck with the transfusion

Sorry your head is itchy Leslie I dreamt last night that I had nits that's probably made you more itchy sorry !

It's my birthday today, birthdays are a bit weird after cancer aren't they wondering how many more you'll get but going out for a meal tonight

My next door neighbour's (not my nasty neighbour) very elderly mother has leukaemia (sp) and had no appetite after the last round of chemo and someone suggested using a lot of cinnamon Sleepy. It seemed to really work for her so it might be worth a go.
Good luck with the chemo chewing. The hair sounds awful What

Didn't sleep great last night as there seems to be a lot of swelling going on and was worried for my Daughter and her AS results today. The school have published the grades but not the boundaries or something, so I am waiting for a lift to school, which is something I hadn't planned for today.

Sorry to be a nuisance, but can anyone tell me what their ANC wound is like ? I might be being a bit precious about the whole thing, and I know it's early days, but mine is a bit of a state/shock.