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.

Yes good luck to everyone starting back at school today.

I did a birthday party for dd2 at the weekend and I think it went well. Her actual birthday was in July but I wasn't really up to it then, so better late than never. I have children starting school on Wednesday and Thursday, and my first day back at uni is the following Monday. I am feeling terribly apprehensive about not coping with the fatigue and generally not being as smart as I used to be.

It feels like Autumn today and I feel quite chilly. However, at night I'm boiling hot and my sleep is rubbish - I'm guessing tamoxifen is the culprit there.

Exit

pepper well done for coping with rude child (ten seems old enough to know better!) and I hope DS2 enjoys his trip

Mysillydog late party sounds perfect - spreads the fun out a bit! :) do you have support in place for uni? I got lots of help when I went back. Think timings were similar - I finished chemo end of July and started uni in October

Autumnal here today too. I'm all wrapped up in a blanket! Feeling vaguely human today so should probably get up and make the most of that :)

Good morning lacies. Thanks everybody for asking and your kind wishes. I am not totally recovered from the cold but defintely on the mend. DC at school and I went to see my oncologist who out my mind at ease as the reports did not show anything sinister. What a relief. There were a few things he said we would have to monitor ahead but nothing out of the standard context of follow ups. Funnily, I was not "happy"... Just relieved. I think it is hard to be happy anymore! It is more like grateful that things are not worse!
pepper i totally understand the way you feel. I have to get back to work too and am dreading the first day. Kids dosay thungs as they are yes. My DS1 keeps saying' that lump has really chnged you mummy" i feel like saying" oh baby you have no idea!" But just try to reassure him.
Wishing everybody a good day ahead.
sleepy thinking of you as always.

Leslie we cross posted. How are the SEs? Hope as the day progresses you get to feeling better.

Good luck to all those returning to school/work.
Rushing this morning as leaving for another pre op in ten minutes. So apologies for not reading back, but love to everyone; hope today is as good a day as it can be.
Don't worry pepper. Children interchange "funny" and "different" at that age.

Sorry for my typos..by now i should get an Oscar for them!

Best of luck Tutti!

Morning all.
Hope it goes well tutti
Royal I think relief is exactly the right word for it. I always feel grateful after results that things are not worse than they are but I am getting more results this week which I am a bit worried about.
This week is pretty full on with appointments and chemo hopefully (dependent on bloods). I have a well being visit from my manager today but can't really add anything that I've haven't told them already.
I have been getting a few pins and needles in my hands - could this be neuropathy or something else? I will mention it to the onc when I see him.
Have a good day all.

royal thank goodness for nothing sinister, but understand not really feeling happy. After all the stress it's just a bit of a flop! I hope your cold will clear up soon :)

Good luck with pre op Tutti

Cross posted chewing yes pins and needles is probably neuropathy. Good luck with your busy week, and with your manager. Will this hopefully be the results appointment where you finally get all the results?!

When I had my pre op my blood pressure was through the roof - something I have never suffered from. The nurse was very suprised as I seemd so upbeat. I think I must internalise my anxieties.

Good luck Tutti

Forgot to say royal thanks SEs not too bad. My fuzzy steroid eyes are wearing off! digestive issues as always, but manageable. I'm hoping to venture out later and enjoy the lovely crisp air.

Hi Leslie. Yes, this should be the final result (for now) to see if it's anywhere else. Just want to know one way or another so I can move forward.

Royal, I'm pleased to hear that the oncologist had nothing nasty to reveal but I understand why you aren't turning cartwheels. It's very strange now, hoping for the least worst option.

Good luck to all those back at school and filling in the dreaded ucas application, that seems early even for medicine. Also those of you returning to work.

Leslie I'm glad you're feeling a big better today, hope you manage to get a bit of fresh air today.

Although it is a little cooler my hot flushes are coming regularly now so I'm generally too warm. The family are always complaining about all the windows being open and the dc wander around wrapped in snugly throws, moaning loudly. DH is getting used to sleeping in a wind tunnel. But, I'm happy as it looks like the menopause has kicked in and when I see the gynaecologist next month I can refuse the hysteroscopy. I'm also starting physio for my shoulder on Friday.

Hope the pre op went ok tutti. My bp is always high at these things.

I've got my 6 month check up with the BC nurse next week and I'm still waiting for an appt for the scan of my clavicle.

I meant I can refuse the hysterectomy, the hysteroscopy is expected,meet again.

Well I'm back and my BP behaved, but I've gained a kg in less than a month .
My usual (1st) surgeon says he will be doing the re-section aggressively and there will be substantial deformity. I'd prefer that than going for a 3rd round.
Got back to letter for my bone scan appointment morning (9am) the day after my afternoon surgery. (1pm)
The hospital is two hours away, I have to hang around for 4 hours and then another two hours back; not sure I'll be up to it, but don't want to delay it.

It's good new Royal, but with the cold and everything, you probably don't feel like getting your pom poms out.
Leslie Still worried about your tetanus shots, and hoping the puncture wound is on the mend.

Chewing everything crossed for your busy week and results

The UCAS is ridiculously early MrsHodge. All vets, dentists, medicine and Oxbridge have to be in by that date, so the teachers can get the references done/1st draft by 21st. Great news about the hysterectomy.

Thanks lacies.
chewing hope your appointments and chemo go well and that there are no delays. Keep crossing them out!
Leslie, yes fresh air is always a good idea and glad you are not suffering from anything exceptionally grim.
Mrs, men just do NOT get it when it comes to hot flushes. I have literally described to DH what it is like and yet he seems to forget and looks at me weirdly when I am there fanning away frantically

When the family moaned about sub zero house temperatures Royal I said I'd turn the heat up for them, but then....I'd be getting naked. Moaning ceased with immediate effect, heating stayed off

Tutti that does seem rather a lot after the op will you be in hospital overnight? If you phone them they might be able to move it to the afternoon or next day. It might be worth asking your nurse to advise. I understand not wanting to delay, but if you end up cancelling on the day then you'd probably end up waiting longer than if you reschedule now

Sorry, I meant to report back re tetanus. I think I'm covered. I got my little pink book out yesterday and I had three as a baby, one pre-school booster and then the teenage 3-in-1. That was just over ten years ago. But I think once you've had the full course of five jabs you have full protection :) I'll keep an eye out for symptoms just in case though!

I've had a lovely little walk round the park. Nice crisp air :)

mrsrhod good news about the hysterectomy. And fingers crossed for your check up and scan :) sympathies to you and royal with the hot flushes!

I'm having my CT on Thursday.

Good news about the tetanus then Leslie. My GP said that if you've had the 5 you have life time immunity.

I shouldn't be staying in overnight fingers crossed.The BCN has just 'phoned and said to leave it as it stands, given that I was so fit the day after the op last time, she thinks I'll manage it. I must admit I'm not so sure.

My CT is also Thursday Leslie. Thought it was an MRI and was panicking as the rings on my ANC hand are wedged on with the swelling, but checked and it's actually a CT. Do you know if they inject in the arm or the hand for the CT and the bone scan ?

Royal. I used to hate the flashes; intense heat that starts in the centre, like a nuclear reactor meltdown, and then spreading to the face and back. At home, I used to rub an ice cube behind my ears and inside of the wrists.

Royal, last week when I was having a hot flush I put DHs hand on my chest which was soaking wet. I think he was genuinely shocked but is still moaning about the windows being open. I'm actually wondering how I'm going to cope when the cold weather comes and I'm going to have to wear more clothes and cope with heating everywhere. I'm going to talk to me BC nurse next week about natural remedies.

Tutti let us hope everything gies smoothly for you and you get to tick more items off the list!
Wishing you and Leslie relief once the CT reports are in.the contrast material is injected( that sudden embarrasing warm feeling you get like you have peed ) but I was also asked to drink some liquid stuff ( well a lot ) before the procedure.
Now my cold has subsided DC 2 seems to be going down with one and he was so excited about school and being in year 4!
Oh well, it was bound to do the rounds.
Mrs, hope your next follow up goes well. These hot flushes/ flashes are just so hard to predict too. Sometimes it is after a meal, sometimes they seem to come out of nowhere like a massive wave of muggy tropical extremism! I have so much more respect for womankind now..if it ain't periods or childbirth it is the menopause...oh the delights!

Yay we are CT buddies Tutti :) I'm glad your nurse was reassuring. It will be good to get it over with.

There doesn't seem to be any consistency with injection or drinking stuff for CT. Mine is always injected, but I also usually have to drink lots (a litre maybe? I never manage it) to show up all my veins nicely. I usually have the injection in the elbow, but I guess it's wherever they can find a vein. (Hopefully yours are nice and juicy! Mine are all hardened from chemo.)

Have you had a CT before? They're better than MRI as not enclosed. The contrast, if injected, will be in a little pump. They do some scans before the injection then again afterwards. As royal says, it can make it feel like you've wet yourself or just very warm down there! Hopefully you'll get an appointment letter that will explain about the contrast and whether you need to drink or anything. Usually you're not allowed to eat beforehand either.

The rules seem to vary lots though.

Poor DC2 royal I hope he perks up quickly. When is he due back at school?

Thanks Leslie. I am still not really over the needle phobia. I'm better if it's in a vein and not the fleshy bits.

Morning Lacies.
Good luck to all those having tests/results this week. I agree that the CT is better than the MRI - I found mine quite relaxing
I have the dreaded results meeting today with onc. I have been breaking out in painful spots on my face and neck so will discuss those and see if anything can be done to help. Will also mention the pins and needles. I was doing really well with minimal side effects but now feel like I'm falling apart a bit.
Hope you all have a good day.