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.

Thanks for the tip royal . Do you just rub the oil into the skin?

stila yes - the short bits are properly curly!
rocket you should have seen my face when my step MIL told me that it's categorically not chemo that makes your hair fall out - it's the "shock" apparently.......!
chewing a new plan and a special meeting sounds like you have plenty of experts looking out for you.
MLaB was it you asking about rads tips?? Apart from the moisturising thing, I took a pack of wipes to get rid of the pen marks which they mark you with each time. I had 2 crop tops that were comfy enough to wear and was really upset when one got stained with biro. Apart from that take a book as they're not always running to time. I found rads quite sociable though, you tend to see the same people every day and you're all in your dressing gowns - quite the ice breaker!
leslie hope they've let you home now? or at least that you are well looked after in hospital

chewing yes just rub it on the area after each rads session. Another thing to be on aware of is the actual position they put you in for the rads. The session itself is so short and is done in no time, but having to raise your arms above your head ( i used to joke about the hand rests and the bondage like position being like something out of fifty shades of grey) at first it seems an ok position but it did tend to make me sore and stiff those first few days.

leslie how are you today? Thinking of you

Really good advice royal on getting through rads

Well just got back. Bit shell shocked really. My good arm is black and blue and covered in lumps.
They couldn't get the canula in, and after 22 attempts in my one good arm they ended putting it in my foot.
The first anaesthetist looked about 12, and I've never had a canula hurt as much as her seven attempts.
She eventually came back with a Consultant; and she tried all over the arm, then another consultant anaesthetist, and then an ultrasound.
After an hour and twenty minutes they ended up using the vein in my foot.

I was very close to losing it. It was SHIT.

Bloody hell Tutti! Surely they could have tried elsewhere well before 22 failed attempts! You rest up now. I'm surprised you could post an update after all that

I' really wired Chewing, feel like I'm in shock. The morphine's taking the edge off; but I can't believe I've been through it.

They had someone urging me to squeeze their hands as hard as I could, and the young anaethetist at the head end trying to get me to breath through it
(like labour).
I looked down at one point and I'd got five canulas sticking out of my arm.

Surgeon came into recovery, patted my hand and apologised; and then the discharge nurse said that I'm to insist on the most senior anaesthetist on the unit if I have to have anything else done; and insist on a gas regime so I'm knocked out first before they try to get the canula in.

Thought I was getting over my needle phobia, bit it was like a nightmare. I was seriously thinking of getting up from the trolley and saying "Look, I just can't do this, I'm done", and calling it quits.

Blimey, you have a needle phobia too? . Yes, definitely get knocked out if you have to go through all that again

Oh Tutti you poor thing. Definitely ask for a port or picc line for chemo. It's always harder to cannulate people before surgery because they are dehydrated but normally anaesthetists can do it.

I really hope you get clear margins this time and the pain management is ok. Are you home or staying overnight in hospital? I hope you manage to get some sleep anyway and if you have drains that they behave.

Jeez tutti that is horrendous!! They should have done something to sedate you first. I'm shaking at the thought of what you've just been through. Really hope you can get to sleep tonight and I hope they've given you some bloody strong painkillers to get through the next few days

I'm at home. I didn't have this problem at all with the first two ops and have always been told I had really good veins.
They said they thought it was because of the radioactive jabs, apparently it's made them friable and fragile so the canula was going in fine; but then just popping back through the vein wall. And it was incredibly sore.

I was starting to panic and lose it; but thankfully didn't flip and show myself up... but it was a close run thing.

So sorry for not reading back, and being all about me me me. Hope evrybody has had a good day, and will catch up tomorrow. Going with DH to pick DD up from friends.
Thank you for your support. Just needed to tell someone xxx

Gosh tutti that's awful, hope you get some decent rest

Goodness gracious tutti

That sounds awful Tutti. I hope you're able to rest. Surely there should be a three attempt rule before getting a senior person in to do the job properly**
Im not needle phobic but I would be after that. Take care x

Our hospital has reduced from three attempts to two, which is a bit annoying. I know my veins are shit so I fully expect the pincushion experience and I'm quite happy to have the same person do it. But 22 attempts is absurd

Everything crossed that it's all out now and you won't need any more surgeries any time soon!

On PICC v port... I love my port. It has definite advantages, like being under the skin so I can shower as normal etc. But very few people are trained to use them. Only the chemo nurses and district nurses can access it. So whenever I go to A&E or for scans or anything like that they have to insert a cannula anyway.

So for short term (I know six months of chemo doesn't seem short, but it really will fly by!) I'd recommend a PICC line personally. I haven't had one so can't comment on them really. But the insertion is less invasive, so no need for anaesthetic. And all nurses can use them.

Anyway, speedy recovery Tutti

chewing how unsettling to have yet another change of plan! I hope your bloods are better by Monday is it your white blood cell count again? Have they mentioned the GCSF injections to boost them? It might be worth asking if you keep being delayed

rocket I'd say use the lovely shampoo :) I got a lovely toiletry set which included shampoo and conditioner. So I really enjoyed it as a treat while I still had hair. There's all different advice about what shampoo to use. I ignored it all because I figured if all it took for my hair to fall out was the wrong shampoo then it would probably fall out anyway! If your scalp gets sensitive then you might want to use something gentler though.

Lots of people experience the "chemo spa effect". I found that my rosacea and KP completely disappeared. It also helps things like psoriasis. I didn't get my sun allergy rash and insects didn't bite me for months. No need to shave legs etc if you do.

Thank you all for kind wishes :) I had an echocardiogram today to check my heart wasn't under strain. It's fine so that's a relief. I also did my Fragmin injection myself tonight. So hopefully I will be allowed home tomorrow with a supply of injections! :) my oncologist might let me switch to tablets but I'll have the injections for now.

Stila sorry you had the injections too. Ouch!

Sorry to all I have missed. Love to all

Just spotted the thread is very nearly full so I will start a new one and add the link before we fill it completely!

Stand by for a shiny new thread...

Our new thread is here

See you there :)

Hi I've just been diagnosed with cervical cancer.
I'm also going through a lot of personal problems too (my DH has just left me he doesn't know about the Cancer yet)
Just wanted to say hi xx

Hi, Try cancer support thread # 74 on General Health for more traffic. You will get lots of support there. Sounds very difficult, didn’t want to read and run