Lacies, elephants, potato-based snacks... Whatever we are, this is our 57th CANCER SUPPORT THREAD

[WhatWouldLeslieKnopeDo]

Welcome everyone to another cancer support thread. This thread is open to anyone with any sort of cancer. And we have plenty of hands to hold if you're undergoing tests for cancer. We are always pleased to wave people off with an all clear, and there's plenty of room here if the news isn't what you hope for.

So don't be shy! We are a friendly bunch and there's probably someone who has been through something similar. Nothing is off limits here. Scream, shout, swear, stamp your feet...

I'm sorry that anyone needs this thread, but very glad that it's here. Cancer is shit. But it's a little bit less shit when you have people to share it with.

Our previous thread is here

Oh minty rest up today.

Minty
Hang on in there. Sending you everything positive I can muster xxxxx

Checking in - 1 down and 5 to go.
Yesterday was hard going and the cold cap pushed me to the brink. I felt terrified when it was kicking in - but then it did settle to a general discomfort and slight headache. I had a heated duvet and hot chocolate too.
It distracted totally from the drugs so they kicked in later. Been feeling very groggy, weak, headaches and slight sickness but nothing as bad as expected. So far.
Is this a good indication? Part of me is waiting for the real shit storm to begin?
I've just had my booster injection - thankfully I have ample tummy to stick it in.

I've already watched the entire 2nd series of Catastrophe - so must be ok?

Love to all - so glad I found this support x

Morning all!
Minty so sorry you had to suffer so much. Let us hope it gets better. Hugs.
Rocket with my first round of chemo( dose denseAC ) the bad days were between 3 and 5 before that and after that ( every two weeks i had them) it was okay. Some chemo drugs start to kick in a few days after you have had them, but ket su hope in your case the SEs are as mild as can be!
Have a good day all.

There's plenty of room under the blanket minty sorry you're struggling. I've had my worst ever couple of days too. I am planning not to have another chemo until they have a decent plan for preventing the side effects. Have you spoken to your team about your side effects? Please do. Hopefully there are things they can do to help

rocket well done on getting through the first one. The cold cap sounds horrid, but I am glad it wasn't as bad as expected. Hopefully this will be the extent of your side effects, but it's hard to know. I know I say this loads so sorry if I've already said it, but it really does help to keep a diary of the side effects if you're not already doing so. Then you can know what to expect next time and when to plan duvet days or fun things :) also helps to be able to report back to your team. Well done for doing your injection

Thinking of bob and wishing you a speedy recovery

Hi just checking in I'll read later, I'd my surgery yesterday it went well I was very upset before I went in the theatre they told me to focus on why it was being removed and to focus on getting better and the rest will follow, dr took a cone biopsy to get the dcis, I asked the nurse if they don't get clear what happens she said mastectomy can they not go in again, if dcis isnt invasive why a mastectomy, it was a long day left home @630 back home @730 we live an hour from hospital I was faintly tired and sick I went to bed better today a bit sore I play waiting game now again till 2 weeks maybe more

Hello Bobdylannumber1 good to hear you are home. Surgery is never easy. Let us hope they got it all with clear margins and you are soared more of it. Take care.

bob good to hear that all went well. Fingers crossed they've got clear margins. I know it's difficult, but try not to think about further surgery as hopefully it won't be necessary. Keep resting

Hello again Lacies.
I read this earlier and wanted to share it here:
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/heather-lawrence/breast-cancer-awareness-stage_b_12453260.html?utm_hp_ref=uk&
I think it is fair to say that we know what she is talking about!!

Glad to hear you are home Bob, fingers crossed for clear margins for you.

Minty, Rocket and Lacie - sorry you've had rubbish days, hope you're feeling brighter soon.

Tutti - very inspired by your story of foot stamping.

I despaired today on asking the onco's secretary to ask reconstruction surgeon's secretary for surgery availability BEFORE I bother to meet him for more poking and prodding. Secretary was confused that I'd want indicationof timescale but agreed to ring. Then came back to me shocked that I'd have to wait until January. I had a slight Tutti foot stamp and she came back to me with a different surgeon and two week wait instead. Thanks for the support thread! Feels like I'm not alone.

Well done labradottie! Amazing what inspiration one can get from this thread. Best of luck!

Can I join this thread? Just been to see a specialist about a lump in my chest and was rushed through having bloods, a biopsy and a ct scan. So very scared. I was so confident he'd say it was nothing.
I went on my own, I cried the whole way through. I'm a single parent to 3 young kids and I'm petrified.

Sorry you have to be here useristired.
I'm pretty new so not heavy on advice but good for a handhold
It is good you had all the tests done so quickly - everyone will say that waiting is the hardest part. The tests are hard though - I felt totally poked and prodded.
I hope you can take some support with you to your next appointment x
I have two young children too and they were all I could think about.
I'll be thinking of you xx

Hello useristired of course you are welcome, but I wish you didn't have to join. The fear, anxiety..all absolutely understandable..everybody here has and still does worry and get scared and upset..i have children too and know what is going through your mind now.
I know you do not see it now, but it is actually very good that you are being investigated so quickly..many here will tell you having to wait for the procedures you have already have makes it all so much worse. The waiting for your results is going to be the toughest part..it is the fear of the unknown as we all can relate to so well..
It is hard being on your own at this time..is there any close friend, sister etc whom you could confide in and whom you know would be a good support? But don't worry..we are here for you..you can ask anything or just come on here and express how you feel ..nobody will judge you , but let me tell you that many lumps do turn out to be benign and although we all fear the worst, even cancer is so much more better treated now than ever. Now my advice, try to take things one at a time..did they mention when the results would be available? Also, avoid Google as much of what is on there is old and will not help.if you feel you must know more seek the trustworthy, well reputed sources like cancer research, Macmillan, the national cancer institute ...but you will feel overwhelmed so probably best to avoid reading much now till after your results come out.
We are here for you..remember we have been where you are..we totally understand.

Hi useristired, sorry that you find yourself here too. Like rocket, I've only recently joined the thread - diagnosed last week and my first worry was for my children too. Wishing you best results from all your tests. Can you take support when you go for the results? Horrible to go through it without support.

Thank you for the replies, I get the results next Friday at 11am. Already feels like it will be the longest week ever.
I have no support really. I'm better on my own , it's nice to have this board.

Right Bob. Gonna read you a bit of a gentle riot act. I don't minimise, I shoot from the hip and I won't give you any bullshit to placate you or ease your mind.....
The nurse doesn't make clinical decisions about mastectomy or otherwise. A BCN (not my allocated one), said exactly the same thing to me after my second op. It wasn't true and it wasn't accurate.

Secondly. I'm a bad example. 1 in 5 women need a second cavity shave because they don't have clear margins. What are the odds therefore on having three ???? About the same odds as winning the lottery I would imagine. My cancer profile is completely different to yours; its aggressive and fast. Getting clean margins is a challenge in that situation, but that isn't the case with your diagnosis.
Breath you've done the worst bit so far. You're brave and it's possibly been one of the hardest things that you've ever faced; but don't meet trouble half way. Concentrate on healing, indulge yourself and try to distract yourself with small but lovely things over the next couple of weeks.

Minty and Leslie. I hope as the day's gone on, you've started to feel a bit better. It's awful that you've both had such a rough few days.

Useristired Sorry you're here. You've got that gripping fear and are still in shock I expect. The waiting is the worst part, but we're all here if you have any questions.

Labradottie. You go girl, so happy it helped. It will be the Lacies' stamp..... a bit like line dancing but with very wild hair

Welcome useristired but sorry you have had to join us. Everything crossed for your results on Friday. Is there absolutely no one who can go with you? It can be helpful to have a second pair of ears. If not, make sure you take a notebook and write down all important details as stress can make you forget things :)

mrsrhod are you around? Haven't seen you for a while so hopefully that means you are busy with lovely non-cancery things :)

Have a good weekend everyone!

Thanks tutti, you are right it is still all new to me you are right for sure, I was in bed this morning thinking about the whole thing about loosing my nipple mostly tbh, then I thought the DR did his absolute best to get the *g cancer out and I'm moaning about what it looks like at the end of the day my nipple was diseased he took photographs before the surgery I agreed to them as is rare it's for research or whatever, when he showed me from an angle I could see it was spreading FAST so all I want is this out clear margins and I'll have radiation and I am planning to give something back to others going through what we're going through I want to turn this into a positive I' would have thought myself as a strong person till this happened but this has flowered me well I'm picking myself up now and getting on with it, I even mustered up the courage to look at the wound took off the plaster, but it's covered well with plasters that I think need to stay.

Others here are going through so much and it really isn't fair I suppose we all support each other through all of this, I'm feeling so much better from the support I am getting here thank you all.

Bloody hell Bob, don't apologise for grieving about the loss of your nipple; it's a massive thing to come to terms with; I was just trying to say (badly), that you have a low risk of resection or mastectomy.
My neighbour's sister has had WLE and we both went for results on Thursday. She's clear and of to radiation land.
I'll keep repeating, this whole cancer thing is a massive head fuck.
You don't have to pull yourself together. You are a strong person and you're not being unfair to any one of us; we all have our ups and our downs. You do whatever the bloody hell makes you feel better about the whole shitty process.
But don't touch the wound covers anymore!!!!!

It's a lovely day here. Just back from conkering and have done a bit of gardening. Hope everybody is doing well.

Morning lacies, thinking of everyone and hoping people managing day by day paddling on the pond of life . Rads finished last week and I am currently sporting a matching pair due to a hot pink (especially where the boosts were done) naughty boob if will take the positive and enjoy it while I can before going back to be completely lop-sided .
toomany thing is with chemo that everyone is different and you will get different views. I found fec hard but it improved by the end of the first week and got used to having a "good" 3rd week, T floored me and I ended up in hospital on 2 cycles before changing to weekly Paclitaxol, but many find it easier than fec. The key thing is that your team will manage your treatment to keep you safe and as side effect free as possible and when I think about it now it all seems a bit surreal like it happened to someone else.
tutti good for you gor standing your ground.
I think the phased return is now sorted as my manager has said she is more than happy to be flexible and extend it and I will be working pt for a while using annual leave. On the not so positive side i have been completely shafted and will not be returning to the post I left, I am beyond furious with the way it's been done but will have to draw a line under it as I can't change it. I have bitten the bullet and applied for another job so am hoping I can get my brain to function properly for interview.
Have had some lovely questions this week like "oo have you managed to fill your time ok while you have been off? " yes you f#$&!/g idiot i have felt to ill to worry about it the surgery, chemo and rads kept me busy and "oh didn't realise chemotherapy for breast cancer affected people like that" erm did you think you got an extra gentle one cos it's all pink, it's cancer you f#$k wit, sorry for lowering the tone the tourettes has well and truly kicked in lately xxxx

Hi Leslie, thanks for asking. I'm fine thanks, having a bit of down time between hospital visits, I have to face the gynaecologist in a couple of weeks who wants to slice and dice my bits to alleviate the tamoxifen effects. I'm not so keen still.

There are lots going through chemo at the moment which I can't help with, being about the only one here who dodged it. But I am willing you all on and wishing all the new people going through testing the very best and hoping for clear results. As everyone has said, it is the worst time and just do whatever it takes to get through it including stamping your feet if things are taking longer than they should.

I'm going to have a quiet week, DH is currently on his way to Tokyo for a week. I'm hoping that having the bed to myself will allow me a few nights of good sleep, I'm being disturbed by the usual tamoxifen challenges.

Hi mfs and good to hear from you. I hope you manage to make the decision that best works for you. I imagine it is no easy job at all and no wonder you are so preoccupied. You mist have already discussed with your doctor(s) the possibility of moving on from Tamoxifen to the other stuff which is normally prescribed for postmenopausal women? Would that make any differemce in terms of your symptoms? I must say the stiff joints and heat flashes bother me a lot, but the bleeding you had to endure must have been really annoying. Take care and good luck.

Oops ghat was supposed to be mrs