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

Stupid question (excuse me I'm new at this) - I will obviously take the day off work to have my WLE the next day is my normal working day. Will I be ok to go back to work the day after this ? ie op on Tuesday, home on Wednesday and back to work on Thursday. Or am I mad!

Tbh info given at clinic today was crap. It was along the lines of you have some cancerous cells but we could find out enough info. Come in to have a further section removed under GA. we will see you again after the surgery. Too in shock to ask or remember much of use. I might phone the clinic tomorrow to speak to the specialist nurse. Is there any thing you suggest I ask?

Re dds. Will let school know. Great idea.

Sorry that should have read the following day is my usual NON working day

Hi Dora, I too have dcis I had an operation wle on the 13th October, and I am still a bit tender so I'd say you won't be able to work the next day, I had Paget's also so I had my nipple removed as well I had 3cm of dcis and I didn't get clear margins they are going back for more on the 10th November.

Maybe find out the grade of dcis I think mine is intermediate but I'm not sure about anything else. I felt much much better about things after the wle knowing it was out or most of it out as I found out 2weeks later..

Morning All
Rocket, so sorry you are so anxious, I hope it goes well tonight. Do you have a towel and the back of your neck to stop the feed pipe making your neck cold as well ? That was the tip I was given by my onc nurse when I was thinking about cold capping.

Haven't read it all back yet. First chemo was a bit mmmm. I wasn't in the main room, I was with two very elderly terminal men receiving palliative care (bloods etc) in a treatment room, not the main unit.
The actual unit was completely slammed, with 5 women getting their last dose and three unexpected people getting transfusions etc, so there were no chemo chairs in the main unit.
So guess who had planned a lovely task on my tablet (which needed charging) only to find their were no plug sockets. I ended up with a floppy Woman's Weekly for the whole three hours. Very boring. Conversation wasn't great and it went very slow.

So they give me a suitcase of 6 anti emetics, one including yet more bloody steroids, and then the grand finale....... 5 lovely injections that I have to self inject into my stomach starting this afternoon [shocked]

tonight ? today obviously. Was warned that the steroid one would make me hyper, and I've been up all night clearing and rearranging cupboards.

Morning and hugs to all who need them.
Tutti sorry to hear your chemo was a bit boring. I was surrounded by old people too. An elderly man kept doing really loud burps so I couldn't sleep. He was very deaf though so wouldn't have realised how loud they were. I always buy a thick magazine before I go and take a book to stave off the boredom. What are the injections for? I have to self inject GCSF for a week and it's not too bad although I'm not needle phobic. Just try to not look at it much if possible.
I am having ultrasound scans today but other than that the rest of the week should hopefully be fairly relaxing. Have a good day all.

EtTu I found that if i did the injections with the needle at an angle I could barely feel it, but if I kept the needle straight it really hurt. You'll be fine.

I'm needle phobic . If I see them before they go in, I run.

I will be chasing myself round the kitchen trying to catch me and pin me down

Dora, I think you're going to need more than one day off following surgery. I don't work so have no experience to offer and I also had surgery to my armpit but you will have a dressed wound for a couple of weeks probably. I can't imagine you would want to be working for at least a couple of weeks, maybe longer. I guess a lot depends on your job and your commute. I wasn't able to drive for a few weeks and was very wary of being in crowded places and being bumped. It's definitely a question for your nurse and probably a visit to the GP to be signed off.

Tutti,my that all sounds very boring, hope you get a better seat next time. I'm laughing at the thought of you chasing yourself round with a needle.

I'm glad you find it funny Mrshodge. For a fat bird, I'm quite fast, and I've got a feeling I'm going to put up a hell of a fight.

My money's on Tutti to beat arch nemesis Frutti

tutti sorry you had such a boring time yesterday. Unfortunately I've always find the process fairly dull. Good luck with the injections though

dora my first WLE involved a lymph node biopsy in my armpit and to be honest that second scar was more troublesome. It was on my left side so I found driving difficult with gear changing and like mrs said I avoided crowds soil didn't get bashed. I had surgery on a Thursday and went back to work 10 days or so later on a Monday.

A few weeks later I had to have more surgery on the same breast but they didn't touch my armpit. Surgery was again on a Thursday but I was well enough to go back to work the following thurs. Everyone is different obviously but I didn't have horrendous pain in the days after the op and any I had could be managed with paracetamol

Had scan and it now looks like I will be having surgery after all I was told that the lump has reduced and gone soft which indicates it has died but lymph nodes will have to come out. Will know more at next onc meeting.
Also had call from the hospital to say that they've had a cancellation so can fit me in for an MRI this evening so there'll be another trip there later. Never a dull moment

Work have been great. Told me to take rest of week off/work from home if I want. Couldn't ask for a better reception to the news.

Finally spoke to BCN who was supposed to see me yesterday! I have to go in on Monday for a wore to be put in but the only time they can do is 12 - right in the middle of the day which means a trip back home from work and back again afterwards. Oh well means I will make good use of my travel card that day.

Otherwise trying to keep positive (aka forget about it). Thanks for all your posts. They are keeping me sane. Dora

Good news about your work dora hopefully they'll keep up their kindness. I've had the wire inserted before both surgeries last year. The first time was done using ultrasound to guide it in and the second time was using a mammogram (which was horrendous!) But both times they were put in the morning of surgery. They may want you to go home and relax afterwards so that the wire doesn't move rather than going back to work. The wire is pretty long and they coil up the bit sticking out of the breast under a dressing so should be a safe but you never know

chewing that's a pain about the surgery, hope you won't have to wait to long for it. Good luck with the MRI this eve.

Chemo again for me tonight but I have all my drugs so I'm hoping they'll work as well as last week

Hello Ali just wanted to let you know that the hospital called today to say that they have compared my current scans with the ones from two years ago before vacuum biopsy and they are happy to downgrade from indeterminate to benign as it looks so similar.
I thought I would feel more relieved but for some silly reason still feel unnerved about it. I think it's because with the vacuum biopsy they took the vast majority of the lump away and it has come back so it's very difficult to compare like for like.
I think it's because DH diagnosis came out if nowhere with no symptoms so I have lost my confidence in everything.
Anyway thank you so much for all your support over the last couple of weeks. I've been overwhelmed with the strength you all show on here.
Wishing you all love with our various treatments
DH and I did consider running away to a cottage by the sea - reading the best books and watching the best films - and just see how long he lasts. But we decided it wasn't the greatest idea :-) x

You could still run away to that cottage between cycles of treatment, hold onto that thought.

I'm pleased that the team are happy to downgrade you but I totally understand you not wanting to jump for joy. Even just dipping a toe into the world of cancer plays havoc with the mind and nothing ever feels certain again.

But good luck to DH and I hope that his treatment is tolerable and gives you both the best you can hope for

Thank you c

I'm not sure I belong here but feel I need to post.

I found a lump in my right breast 2 weeks ago. I had a lump on the left side 6 years ago but mammogram and ultrasound found it to be some sort of innocent calcified area. I waited to see if it would go away but went to the gp on Monday. She could feel the lump immediately but said my armpits felt fine.

I have been referred to the breast unit and my appointment came yesterday for next Thursday. I'm really scared. When pressed the gp said the lump was smooth and does move which was a positive but I don't feel reassured somehow. She said it was about 2.5cm which sounds enormous. Her parting comment was that I needed to remember that treatment had improved hugely in recent years. While this wasn't her intent, that comment is haunting me and I can't stop myself reading more into it.

I fully admit that I struggle to cope with health issues. My mum died of bowel cancer which was missed on a number of occasions. In terrified I'm about to have awful news. I'm 41 and my little girl is 7. I'm not sure how I'm getting through the next few days.

Exhausted but couldn't ignore your post indyandlara. Welcome to the thread. I hope you'll only be with us for a brief visit :) I've got bowel cancer so I'm not the best to advise. But one thing to keep in mind is that nine out of ten breast lumps referred to the clinic are benign. Don't read anything into the speed of the referral. Almost everyone gets an appointment at the breast clinic within two weeks. It just means you won't have to wait too long for answers. The not knowing is the hardest part so you have my sympathies. And she's right that treatment improved, and continues to do so. Chances are that you won't need any treatment though fingers crossed for a harmless cyst!

Waving to everyone else. Sleep well

PS sorry about your mum

Thank you and thank you for answering so late on. I know I need to get a grip really but I really am very frightened. It feels very different from my previous lump. I hope you've managed to get som eat Leslie.

Some rest, not som eat.