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

Afternoon all, I have tried to catch up but my poor brain can't remember everyone's details it's been so busy here
Best wishes to everyone who is struggling at the moment, some tough stories and too much waiting as ever.
rocket just to join in the undercarriage conversation I had 2-3 days each cycle when I was very itchy down below, it passed without needing treatment.
leslie I'm sorry you've been so poorly and stuck in hospital, I hope you feel better very soon.
Excellent news mrs I'm glad they share your view of future treatment.
chewing fingers crossed for a more successful onc appointment.
tutti that poor man, I'm very glad you rescued him, but what a distressing experience for him (being abandoned that is, not being rescued by you!!)
I have my first check up with the onc next week, tablets aren't doing much for the hot flushes/sleep and my nipple still looks very odd and is a bit sore 3 months after the rads - fresta did you have that?? I seem to think you had yours checked?
Waves to all.

I'd got the NHS Hollywood wax in my cancer positives column. I have now transferred it to the negatives column on the basis of itchy bits.

Pepper, when you say your nipple looks odd, do you mean it's a different shape or a different colour (if you don't mind me asking) ?

Mysilly the knotting might be needed! I'm also considering harnessing up the various pigeons and magpies outside my window...

Tutti well done for looking after the man :) did you get the results today or do you have to wait? Was it an echocardiogram? I rather enjoyed mine. Apart from concerns about the etiquette of resting my breast on the technician's arm.

mrsrhod that sounds like the best possible outcome, especially that you avoided the procedure :) fingers crossed for the menopause!

pepper sorry you're still suffering from the hot flushes good luck with your check up. And I hope your nipple recovers soon.

minty there's always a price to pay isn't there. But I'd definitely take knocked out over nausea/vomiting. I hope they can get the right balance for you :)

gingeroots I've never had much luck with Buccastem. I did try it yesterday but I find that it starts to taste really really awful once it gets to a certain point. And that cancels out all the initial benefits. I try to spit it out before it starts to taste funny but it's hard to time it just right. When my nice oncologist first prescribed them she said "we like to give you these, even though they don't actually work!"

I'm still in hospital. I have been in twice as long as I was in when my lungs were full of clots (I've seen my CT report and I was riddled with them! Can hardly believe I was wondering around perfectly normally)

Some oncology people visited earlier and seemed to be thinking of discharging me. But I think they are waiting for today's blood results.

I'm having painful stomach cramps but otherwise feel alright. An aromatherapy/massage lady visited me earlier. It was absolutely blissful

Sorry meant to wave at everyone I missed. I'm scrolling back and forth on my phone screen so I'm sure I missed someone out! I hope everyone is having a good Monday

Glad to hear you're feeling a bit brighter Leslie. at walking around full of blood clots. Hope you get home tomorrow if it's safe.

Just had the heart echo for a base line before I start the Herceptin/chemo. apparently I've definitely got one, but my DD would dispute this after getting her up so early for school this morning

Obviously that should say wandering I'm hoping that was autocorrect otherwise I shall punish myself Dobby-style

I'm glad you've got a heart Tutti I got a long report from mine with lots of measurements. And yes there were clots in several sections of my lungs on each side apparently heaven knows where the hell they came from. But I'm also riddled with "innumerable" tiny tumours apparently. Most are less than 1cm. (They left me unattended with my notes the other day so I snuck a peek and took a photo of my report!)

leslie glad the aromatherapy people made you feel good.
Tutti good one you for standing with that old man! it is hard to question whether You have a heart after that :)

I don't mind at all tutti my odd nipple is much paler than the normal one and has kind of yellowy bits on it (very Halloween) no discharge but it is a bit sore. It did peel completely after rads so maybe this is what they look like on the way back to normal....

pepper that would certainly scare away any trick or treaters! I hope the soreness improves soon

Glad your appointments went well today MrsRhod and Tutti. Well done for helping the elderly man Tutti
Pepper hope your hot flushes improve soon
Leslie hope you can get home as soon as possible. It must be boring stuck in hospital.
I've just had a message to say that my niece had her baby girl today so that's good news.
Sweets are in a bowl ready for all the trick or treaters. Have a good evening everyone

To add to peppers description, my nipple is also paler after rads two years on and it's shrunk a bit. The areola is also paler and smoother. It was also very sore immediately after treatment, I'd have struggled with a fourth week but it wasn't necessary. I don't think it took three months to recover though.

Mmmm. My half boob nipple and aureola are a lot paler, pale like it's had a shock (getting chopped in half will do that I suppose ). Have to make notes in my radiotherapy section of my cancer notebook about yellow bits.

Leslie. I quite blatantly sit and read my notes. Taking 'photos is the act of a true cancer professional. I'm so impressed. Less impressed with innumerable tumours in your lungs ^^ see half boob above, my lovely pert new one didn't interfere with anyone's arm through the whole process, she did however have to lift the big one and tuck it behind my ears to get to my heart

How lovely chewing. Welcome to the new baby girl

pepper my nipple amd aureola peeled and became a pale shadow of their former selves. They're gone now though.

tutti trying to picture books being rearranged around ultrasound probes

mrs glad you had a good appt today and consultant is taking a practical watch and wait approach. Fingers crossed for no more bleeds and a safe passage through to the other side of the menopause

Boobs not books!

pepper, my whole breast is slightly different to the other one since RADs. The skin is sort of plumper than the other one and the nipple is a bit larger and spongier. It did have a yellow crust for a while right at the end which peeled off after a few weeks. Also I've noticed it is completely hair-free compared to my other one (which I have to pluck regularly )

Oh dear lord, I'm just getting used to having a tache and you say I'll have to pluck my nipples too. At least I avoided muesli pants
Reassured by everyone else having mismatched pale nipples, thank you.
Welcome to chewing's niece's baby! my niece is expecting her first as well, we're all very excited - it's been nice having some good news to look forward to this year. Though I'm way too young at 47 to be a great aunt clearly (my sister is only just 46 and about to be a grandma though!)

pepper. Don't forget to wax your chin. That's where your eyebrows go to retire

Have been reading thread but didn't feel up to posting for a while. Waving to all and to all those scared, sad or dealing with crap news.

Do push for answers and challenge consultants. The crazy foot stamping inspired by Tutti worked and I'm recovering from mx and recon that they managed to find a weekend slot for after having told me Jan was earliest possible.
I'm feeling sore but surprisingly not too sorry for myself. Apparently I wasn't as attached to my attempted assassin boob as I thought. Early days and that may change, but so relieved to not still be waiting for the date to arrive.

Best wishes and good luck to all with your appointments and results.

Lovely to hear from you labradottie and I'm glad you have had your surgery. Good luck with your recovery

I don't have anything to add to all the nipple descriptions, but I hope that all those in discomfort have improvement soon.

Plucking I can sympathise with. My cetuximab seems to have deprogrammed my eyebrows and now they don't know where they stop

I am settling down for yet another night in hospital. But tonight really hopefully will be my last night. They've stopped my IV antibiotics.

Waving to everyone. Night night

Good morning Lacies.
pepper i had 28 sessions of radiation therapy( trust me it was A LOT) and my breast is still. Different in colour and size to the other one. Have you tried coconut oil? It. Did me wonders skin wise.
leslie how's the toast this morning :) hope all is better your way.
Have a good day all.

Morning all
I've not slept well . Looks like chemo is on as I didn't get a phone call so perhaps I'll have a sleep in the chair later.
Hope you all have a good day

Oh Chewing, hope you get some rest today.
Leslie, here' hoping that you really do make the great escape. Everything crossed.
Labrodottie, glad my stomp advise helped and it's good to hear you're healing well.
Off to get my hair chopped ready for chemo tomorrow.

. Here's to all our hairy and wonky bits and all of the Lacies xxxx.

Gingeroots, I'm definitely not a prof. I read a fair bit about various cancers though?

There are some brilliant lectures available from Manchester BioMedical unit available if you're interested Amber. The one yesterday was "NanoTechnology in Cancer", and was really interesting.

Hope all the Lacies had a good night.

Hair cut, check, nails black, check, ..... off to first chemo.

Hope everyone has as good a day as possible.