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

Morning Lacies, Back from Dorset and hope everyone is as well as they can be.

Just had a phone call from my BCN. I've got clear margins !!!!!!!!!

Hurrah! Is the next step chemo?

Triplets welcome to the thread. I hope your chemo today is as good as chemo can be

Yes Mysillydog, but they've said 4 to 5 weeks.
I'm not happy with that, my chances are severely reduced because of all the surgery delays, and the NICE guidelines state that I should start adjuvant therapy within 31 days of surgery.
I've got the consultant appointment on Thursday so I'm going to start getting a little more strident; I've been pretty easy going so far.

Good afternoon

Tutti yay for clear margins! What a relief. That is a long wait for chemo. I hope your consultant will speed things up.

Good luck today triplets :) I hope the chemo side effects are bearable

chewing good luck with today's chemo and I hope that yesterday's appointment went well

Mysillydog how is uni going?

Jo how are you feeling now?

pepper I'm glad you're feeling positive. I hope you get some improvement from the hot flushes soon

I hope everyone is having as good a Tuesday as possible. I have a craving for Paxo stuffing so I'm trying to resist the urge to make up a batch

Tutti, good news about the clear margins but not good that they want you to wait that long for chemo! Hope you can speed things up.

Tutti I had a bit of a wait in-between surgery and chemo. You do need to fully healed because otherwise it may not be safe. I think I had about 3 or 4 weeks and I didn't even vaguely feel healed. I think you should be able to argue your case to bring it forward a week or two.

I had another Herceptin ticked off the list today. It's my birthday, but luckily not much of it was spent in the cancer day unit! They were pretty quick

Waves to all.
Tutti good news about the margins. Did you find any fossils in Dorset?
Leslie the meeting yesterday was a bit and - a bit like the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing.
Saw a member of the team I hadn't seen before so he had to update himself with what was going on. I mentioned the 'special' meeting that was held about me but he said he knew nothing about that and there was nothing on my notes about it. I asked about more scans but these will be done when chemo finishes as they don't think it will be worthwhile doing any more at this stage. I have recently seen a letter that was sent to my GP and it stated that the spine tumour is unlikely to be isolated which makes me think there's more somewhere Can't have focused rads on my spine so it will be general rads on the back. I had previously been advised that the bone might crumble so expressed my concerns that I might end up in a wheelchair at some point. I was told that they would do all they could to try to prevent this.
Anyway, had chemo this afternoon and have got to start injecting myself tomorrow for 7 days. Hopefully the SE's won't be too bad.

Happy birthday Mysillydog! Have a good one!

Happy Birthday Mysillydog

If you fancy Paxo, go for it Leslie

Oh Chewing, that's worrying and frustrating for you

We weren't really fossil hunting this time, but we found a few; we mainly went crabbing at West Bay. Caught three in two days, but one was big..... almost a sarnie's worth.
I lost £3 gambling. Warning to all Lacies. The penny shuffle "appears" to be rigged at the West Bay arcade. Just a word to the wise.

Hi all I'll start with an apology that I haven't rtft - my brain can't concentrate on much at the moment, but I'll endeavour to catch up on all your stories soon. I had diagnosis of breast cancer last week, hopefully it's DCIS as scans/biopsy suggest so far but back for results of a second biopsy tomorrow and then booking in for probably mastectomy asap (doesn't look invasive but it's extensive so likely to need full mastectomy). I'm going through waves of fear/optimism all the time. Hard to be optimistic lying awake at 3am, isn't it?

Sorry you're here Labradottie. It's a whole roller coaster of emotions, but you're not alone.

Thanks Tutti, I've just caught up on a few of your updates and see that you've had some good news with clear margins and hope you can speed up the chemo. My first biopsy was cancelled because of equipment failure which lead to three weeks of delays - now I'm wishing that I hadn't just smiled and accepted it politely each time. Waiting is horrid. Hope you can speed things up.

Hi, I've been lurking here for a while now, trying to be brave to say hi (I think not talking about things, almost makes it not real somehow!) I was diagnosed with breast cancer in mid July and I'm 3 cycles into FEC-T. I'm 33yrs old and have 3 DC, and I guess I'm after some hand holding from people who have been or are going through this all. Trying to be positive but finding it hard when noone can really give me any answers to all the questions going through my head

Welcome. I've got/had breast cancer but I'm ashamed to say I don't know its name. There are some fabulously well informed marvellous people on here who will hold your hand. I just smile and wave.

Thank you :)

Happy birthday silly
Welcome triplets, dottie and bottoms. Sorry you are here but I find it very helpful being among others who are dealing with this horrible disease. There's lots of good advice and often some silly moments to help lighten the mood

I have had more than my fair share of delays and 'faffing' and also had surgery pulled the day before due to a change of plan (again). There's lots of ups and down and it can be frustrating but hopefully you will all get good outcomes from your treatments/results.
dottie good luck for tomorrow.
Tutti I always think that the penny arcades are 'fixed'
What would Leslie Knope do? She would eat the Paxo I reckon

This page moves fast welcome too many bottoms, I'm new here too😀 Great support, delighted you got good news tutti . I'm having a pre op tomorrow and having my wle on Thursday I'm not nervous at all but as I said before I'm nervous of the aftermath, I'm very very emotional at times other times I think feck it it will be ok, and I'm listening to lots of Bob Dylan (tutti will relate to that one) and drinking my new vice brandy.

Morning all and welcome Dottie and Bottoms as said sorry you too find yourself here, but MN is so brilliant for support, hand holding and a guaranteed laugh! I have been here through the death of my son, the birth of my triplets (I was almost 46 and they are now 18) then my dh`s stage 4 bowel cancer (in his 5th year remission) and now here I am myself, diagnosed 10 weeks ago with stage 1c ovarian cancer, had full hysterectomy 8 weeks ago and my first chemo yesterday. It was not the scary experience I thought it was going to be, in and out in 90 mins, lovely reclining chair, hot wraps, fluffy pillows, free lunch and the kindest of nurses both male and female. So far am feeling ok, got lots of meds to start taking today, steroids and anti sickness. So one down and five to go! Hope you ladies are all doing as well as you can, love to you all. xx

Triplets that's great news about your DH and your first chemo.

Bob There's nothing like Dylan for chillin. The WLE is a

Toomany Ask all the questions that you have spinning around. If you're like me you always think about the questions after consultations. We're all here to help if we can.

pepper I hope you can get something for those flashes. I found those the worst symptom of my natural menopause. They're deeply unpleasant. .

Waves to everyone, hopes that Leslie is well and truly stuffed.

OOps The WLE is a really easy OP Bob. So good I did it three times

Welcome labradottie and toomanybottoms but sorry you're here

bottoms how many cycles are you having? Is three halfway through? I hope the side effects aren't too difficult

labradottie I hope the biopsy went well and that you get the results soon

Smiling and waving back at you Exit!

bob good you're not nervous about the op. Will you be in hospital overnight?

triplets you've been through the mill haven't you! I'm glad yesterday's chemo experience wasn't too grim. I hope the side effects are gentle

chewing they're really messing you around! I hope you can get some more satisfactory answers to your questions do you have a reliable nurse who can fill in some of the gaps?! Good luck with the injections

Tutti sorry you didn't win big!

Thank you for all the welcomes, feeling more positive today although the side effects have lasted a lot longer and worse this time round which is rubbish. Hopefully tomorrow I'll be on the mend again. I'm having 3 Fec and 3 Tax so half way through. Then onto a lumpectomy and radiotherapy.
One question I do have is, is it ok to take Gaviscon/Peptac Liquid for indigestion. I seem to suffer from it on day5 and 6. I keep meaning to ask at my appointments but always manage to forget with all the other questions I have.

Hello all - my first chemo starts tomorrow and I think the fear is setting in.
I've been so busy trying to get house in order and myself in order that now my stress levels feel sky high.
I went to the unit yesterday for blood samples and first use of my port which is working fine thankfully. The nurse is really lovely and the room is nice enough but I still feel like I'm about to jump into a black hole of terror and fear and pain.
I don't know what's on the other side....

Also my bras are uncomfortable as bad boob has swollen and just looks weird. It seems to bruise/indent easily from any bra I wear. It's a bloody heavy GG cup now.

Hope everyone else is managing ok