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

toomany I used gaviscon during my chemo with no ill effects so you should be fine.
rockets best wishes for you tomorrow, deep breaths, one hour at a time and I'm pretty sure it won't be as bad as your imagination is expecting

I'm not nervous about the operation at all but I'm nervous about looking at the wound where my nipple used to be I really don't want to look at it at all if I can help it, but as long as they get a clear margin I'll be delighted and then deal with the rest as I go along and see what treatment I'll be having and when.i was at hospital for pre op and they have a cancer centre there I went in for a chat I really can't believe I was in there chatting about me having cancer it still feels like a dream but I'm not waking up😕

Good luck rocket . The first session is a bit daunting but once you get through that it's a lot easier. I quite enjoy going now as I get to relax with a book and tea and biccies

I know what you mean about jumping into a black hole of fear rocket that's exactly how I feel I'm ok then I'm bursting into tears I did it at the nurse at the cancer woman and last night I sobbed myself to sleep my poor husband all he could do was hug me

Good luck to you too bob I know what you mean about it all seeming to be a dream

Hi toomany, sorry to hear about the indigestion. I think its best to speak to your onc, they'll prescribe something that doesn't interfere with your chemo.

I have a cancer notebook that helps me remember the questions. I take it to bed every night and then put it back in the handbag for during the day.

I'll be thinking of you tomorrow Bob. Hope it goes well.

Sorry, didn't see you the Rocket. I was still on the last page.

Do you think the breast swelling is down to weather changes or have you been doing too much? I get a lot of dents and pressure points, and I've had to just put up with the surgical bras for now; they're the best of a bad lot.

You're bound to be anxious about the chemo. It's a massive leap into the unknown; but look at all the Lacies here who are doing it, or are on the other side. We're all thinking about you, and you'll come back tomorrow and you'll have taken that first step.

I didn't really have noticeable swelling until a few weeks ago - I think the initial biopsy and then the nipple biopsy have irritated it and it's now so evident.
I don't have any surgical bras - I've bought bra extenders from the maternity shop and have soft ones for night - it's just so big - even XL doesn't feel enough support.
Thank you for the support - I will be thinking of you all tomorrow.

Thanks for all the welcomes, as we expected my biopsy shows cancer too extensive for anything other than mx so booked in during half term.

Bob - I can totally relate to your feeling of being in a weird dream (and your worries of nipple-less scar).

Best wishes to everyone going through any version of this.

Will be thinking of you tomorrow Rocket.

Good morning all. I am thinking of all of you : those who will be starting chemo today and those undergoing surgery.
Sme tips for that first chemosession: if you have a close friend or family member who is funny, convivial and just makes you smile bring them a,ong if not i highly recommend watching stand up comedy ! It helped me through and when i got sleepy i jus took a doze. I would also allow myself something really nice like a chocolate muffin with a lovel cuppa. You will be pleasantly surpirsed at how much easier the session actually is!
Heartburn: avoid tea and coffee on an emoty stomache if you can..this helped me incredibly well: Maaloz Plus suspension..it works like magic!
Have a good day all.

Oh and Rocket. I had the same issue with bras after my op as man Lacies here might remember..get some cotton ones with no under wiring and also definitely a larger size for now. It will be uncomfortable for a while but things do get better really. Best of luck.

Rocket, in terms of pain, bruising and swelling, I think the biopsies are possibly the most painful procedure. The nurses call them punch biopsies and they go very deep.
It was 5/6 weeks until my bruising came out and it stopped hurting.

The surgical bras are all cotton, as Royal says, with no underwires; and front fasten so you don't have to stretch wounds. John Lewis , (Royce bras) £20 each after the VAT refund, £24 in total.

Good luck rocket and bob and anyone else with appointments etc today

bottoms yay for halfway through! I take Rennies and no one has told me off yet. Do you take lansoprazole or anything similar? I get that in my chemo goody bag and it has pretty much stopped my indigestion

labradottie good you've got it all booked in, but sorry it's needed!

My digestive system is protesting again so I'm quite worn out. Hopefully it will calm down soon

I hope everyone is having a reasonable day so far

Morning.
I am feeling very worn out too today Leslie - hope your digestive system calms down soon.
I've had some pale pink Converse boots delivered today so that I can kick cancer up the arse

Was just reading the thread and was surprised to see I'd posted! Didn't remember that at all, but wasn't pretty out of it with the pain...fortunately just lasted a day after each shot.

Have just had second FEC on Tuesday and have to go through 4 more shots of that starting day after tomorrow doctor was least interested in the pain...I think perhaps I'm very wishy-washy, sigh. Love the nurses and the staff though, they've been nothing but kind.

Have been super positive and quite upbeat outside of that episode...oddly this did set some people off, which was weird...people close to me who care a lot...like Leslie mentioned before they were insistent I wa sin denial or deluded, it was really annoying. It just has to be gotten through, one has to cope - -and I need my routine and my focus on the kids and my outlook to remain consistent, it helps me. Not sure why some people,feel if you don't go to pieces in some way it's not 'right'. Anyway.

Finally did have a low moment yesterday though, hair is almost gone and was struggling to shower with new Limbo cover on PICC line and the remaining hair was just shedding like mad all over the place and I just felt yuk and have been a bit down since, nausea post-chemo and general tiredness from having to deal with babies just coming out of bad colds is probably to blame really. Hope I'm back on my feet again soon, would like to go have the odd tufts left shaved off.

I hope everyone's treatments planned today went as well as they could. Thank you for the advice on indigestion, at the minute its not been too bad so just avoiding any triggers and will check with my BCN about what I can take. I have another question, anyone who has had FEC-T, which is worse the FEC or Tax? I came through the first two cycles of FEC fairly ok, however cycle3 has been bad with feeling drained and nauseous so now dreading starting Taxotere as my oncologist implied the side effects its worse. Just wondered what other peoples opinions were on here (so I dont go googling!) :)

Afternoon Lacies. Sorry you're feeling so worn out Chewing , don't ruin your lovely new boots kicking that cancer's arse now, put carrier bags over them. You'll get the job done and look rather fetching all at the same time.

Outlaws I have not cried at all yet (but came close today). Instead I have made very poor taste jokes throughout. Whatever gets you through the bloody day is what I say.
Your hair is an important part of what made you You, and you're bound to feel low when you lose it. You're allowed to grieve for it. With regard to your Doctor, if you're in pain, stamp your feet until he does something about it. Don't think you're a light weight. It's bad enough without suffering more than you absolutely have to.

Hope you're feeling OK Rocket and it's turned out less scary than you feared.
Thinking of Bob and hoping that the surgery went well.

Also thinking of you Leslie. I'm imagining you sitting on that sparkly, furry nest in a corner.... stuffed with Paxo Hope you are feeling better.

Well saw my surgeon for the last time (for a while). He hugged me and said that he thought I was lovely, always made him laugh and had really cheered up the unit... he almost made me cry .
The margins were clear but there was another micro tumour, but he's released me into the wilds of chemo land.

So they said 4 to 5 weeks and I said no and stamped my feet. I gave him the stats that I'd found on cancer research etc. and he got my BCN to get the Oncologists secretary on the 'phone and he spoke to her, (the BCN had been trying all week with no success). Voila.
Appointment next Wednesday

And then I had the lovely cyst that I've been growing in the armpit of the cannula arm aspirated and that was nice and then DA Da... I left the building

Sounds like you had a very 'productive' day tutti. Stamping. Your feet was obviously worth it. I shall stamp mine next time I see the oncologist and I will wear my pink boots to do it
Outlaws hope you feel a bit better soon. My hair is dropping out fast now so I have clippers at the ready for when it's almost gone.
I am not on the FEC regime so can't offer any advice in that regard I'm afraid.

Tutti well well well look at you putting your foot down and all good on you for getting the dates changed ! Now get ready to tick them chemo sessions away..
outlaws it is bound to happen at some point..there will be okay times and not so okay times, but remember you never chose this...so never feel like you have to be or act a certain way. What are you going for now? Hats or turbans or a wig? I found turbans to be more convenient..never got round to wearing the wig I got!
Waving to each and every other lacy..take care all..

Evening Everyone, hope all today's appointments have gone to plan and that you're all at home with a hot drink and something lovely to eat. We had rain here for the first time in weeks and its cold so I've decided that winter has arrived!! toomany I've had fec-t, started about this time last year and had 7 sessions in total. 3 fec and 4 tax, herceptin and pertuzumab. The herceptin then carried on by injection into my thigh after the rest of the chemo finished. Personally I found the tax ones better as although I ached and felt shattered I didn't get the fuzzy chemo brain feeling that I had with fec, also my veins felt better as I didn't have a port or picc line. The side effects with tax kicked in after about 3 days and lasted between 5 and 7 days but it was strange after the fec which hit immediately. Also my hair started to grow back on tax so that was another benefit (not huge amounts) but I had a resonable covering by the time I had my last chemo and now 6 months on it just looks like a slightly short haircut and my fringe is just below my eyebrows!! If there's anything else you want to know please ask

chewing enjoy your new boots! I hope you're feeling better?

Outlaws sending a big hug and hoping you feel better soon. Everyone copes differently. I think some people just have a set expectation of how someone with cancer should behave. Also I think some people see it as their opportunity to be the Super Amazing Supportive Friend of a Cancer Patient and get pissed off if you ruin that for them

Tutti great that you've finally got chemo booked in a reasonable timeframe!

Tutti humour has been my saviour! As long as I can find the funny I'm alright. And we'll done you...I need to channel some of that spirit!. rover that's interesting to know about the FEC-T...I think FEC has not been too unbearable and I'm a bit anxious about the T. royal no wig yet, thought have an appointment with the NHS lady to find out more. I have a couple of £1.99 beanies of eBay that I love so have ordered a few more. Leslie yes, there does seem to be a very definite cast to the 'cancer patient' - not keeping with that does seem to confuse people!

Morning Lacies. The chemo "shorthand" is intriguing and I spent a happy couple of hours last night trying to research what my chemo would be and trying to decipher your abbreviations !! It's kept me out of mischief anyway!!!

Outlaws, you've got buckets of spirit and you're handling the whole new chemo regime really well.
Rover it's nice to know that someone has been where we're heading and come about the other side ...... and with a fringe !!!!!

I'm really hoping that everything went well for Rocket, Bob and anyone else that had treatment yesterday. Sorry for being so vague. I can't really get the hang of this and seem to lose my post when I scroll back. I have a chronic condition called "Absolute Dumblewit"

Does anyone remember Hill Street Blues ? I'll draw on one of my favourite bits. "It's a new day Lacies, and it's tough out there. Let's make it a good one"
.

Crawls out of my hell- hole long enough to ask leslie if I can use your blanket again or at least get you to budget over? Had the most horrendous night after taking my second dose at bedtime. Can safely say it was one of my worst chemo experiences ever

Sorry I won't name check anyone (it's all about me obviously!) But thinking of you all. I'm impressed and proud of the collective strength of our little herd