CANCER SUPPORT THREAD 58 - New thread, new year, but the lacies are still here! Please join us if you have any sort of cancer, or are waiting for test results

[WhatWouldLeslieKnopeDo]

Happy New Year! may 2017 bring health and happiness to us all

Welcome to oldies and to newbies. If you've just been diagnosed then this is the place for you. And if you're waiting for test results then please pull up a chair. We will hold your hand while you wait, and hopefully we will be able to send you on your way soon enough. If it isn't the news you hope for then we will be here for you.

Our previous thread is here

Following on from royalmama's suggestion (see, you're not just famous for typos!) I have compiled some of the excellent advice from the previous thread and I will post it below. I've divided it into sections to make it a bit more manageable. Please give me ideas on how to make it better for the next thread! :)

rovercat I had a recent blood test and over 6 months post chemo (no Herceptin for me) my white blood cells were still below normal. My onc said it could take up to a year to get back within normal ranges. It was both my neutrophils and lymphocytes. So I guess it's a thing.... He didn't say I should restrict any activities, just that it was likely to be tougher to shake off bugs.
I still have a faintly blue boob from the SNB dye and I'm six weeks shy of a year post op.
chewing I am so so sorry to hear your news. Bastard cancer, let's hope your chemo is both kind and effective for you.
sdoc we're always pleased to see someone get good results best wishes.
Waves to all, leslie hope you're holding up well.

Morning everyone sorry to read that so many are having a rough ride at the moment .
chewing can't think of anything useful to say bar that I have been thinking of you and hoping the treatment gives the fucker a pounding!
leslie glad go read that hour out of hospital and I hope your feeling a tad better.
mrsrhod i have been on anastrozole 4 months now and although iam still struggling with the pain abit the flushes have improved.
sdoc as pepper says we always like good news here
Waving to everyone else .
I had my first mammogram which came back clear which was good news but have nearly walked from work after 2 weeks back which isn't good it's made me cry more than the cancer ever did, barstard place

sdoc that's excellent news. Thank you for letting us know :) happy though we always are to welcome newbies to the thread, we are even happier when people don't need to join us permanently! I'm sorry about your dad's diagnosis. I hope his treatment goes well

Isadora you're not a fraud. It's such a difficult decision. I think some on here have had bilateral mastectomy when only one breast was affected, to prevent cancer in the other breast, so can perhaps advise better on their decision process. I would have needed the same bowel surgery even if I didn't yet have cancer, but I wouldn't have really had any choice.

rover I hope your white cells recover soon. I know a couple of people whose counts have stayed low long after treatment finished. I guess it can sometimes have a longer term effect. What were they like before treatment?

pepper at still being blue-boobed!

helly great news about the mammogram, but not great about work

I hope everyone is having a reasonable day. I'm still uncomfortable so I'm watching telly and knitting :)

sdoc2016 I am so pleased for you! Don't feel bad - we all panic at some stage, I think

Hi all I've ended up in hospital with a low grade infection. I'm being given IV antibiotics and injections to boost my immunity. Looks like I'm here for a couple of days. I'm gutted as I was about to have my DD back for the night. Obviously this is where I need to be but it sucks!

sdoc so glad to hear your good news and hope your Dads recovery is swift.
chewing bastard cancer, I don't know what else to say. Everything crossed that this chemo makes a positive impact.
helly yay to clear mammogram. Time to look for a new job?
leslie hope the knitting and TV is helping!
rocket I've been told I'm going to have injections after each chemo now to boost my immunity, I'm not sure what they are though and whether it's something they can give you?

Halfbaked sorry you're in hospital. It is so boring, but worth it to get rid of the infection. I hope you're able to go home soon

Argymargy. Thank you. ❤️

Argymargy. Sorry posted too soon. Wanted to wish you well on your surgery and for a good recovery. Xxx

Leslie. Thank you and sending very best of wishes.

Half baked. Hope that u not there too long and sorted soon.

Chewing. Thinking of you and wee prayer that it works.

To everyone. Respect to all and I will
Keep everyone in my thoughts.

I'm thinking of you all and mainly lurking now.

Chewing I hate cancer and I wish this wasn't happening to you. I hope the new chemo works.
Leslie pretty much the same as Chewing. I hope the side effects are manageable on your current treatment.

Halfbaked the injections to boost your white cells are ok unless you are very needle phobic. Most people get taught how to do them which is better than waiting in for a district nurse to come. If you take the injection out of the fridge for 30 minutes before doing it, it stings less.

Flippy I'm sorry your surgery was so painful. I had no reconstruction so my recovery was easier, but my body looks a mess. I hope your oncologist comes up with plan that is acceptable to you. Once again I hate cancer and what it has done to your family.

Royal good luck for your biopsy tomorrow, and in particular for the wait for results. I have a few hospital appointments in the next few weeks, but they should be fine. I can't feel any lumps anyway.

I have only had a very quick scan of the thread but one post jumped out at me and that was yours chewing. I am so so sorry to hear your news, words cannot describe how shitty a card you have been dealt. I just hope you get the best treatment they can give and you can make the most of your good days.

To everyone else going through the mill I hope you start to feel better or tests go well

Chewing, feel totally free to ignore this - but, if you so wish, please remind me of what you have - was it small cell? What treatments have you had so far? I'm sure your team does know what's what, of course - I just tend to keep an eye on the research papers.

Can I pm you Amber?

Hi all
I have been busy sorting paperwork, writing will etc. I do all the finances,bill paying etc so dh will need to get up to speed.
Royal hope tomorrow goes well
Good news sdoc
Flippy, mrsrhod, Leslie, pepper, silly and everyone else – hope things are going as well as they can be.

Yes, no problem to PM me. Can't promise anything useful will emerge, and of course I'm not a cancer specialist - just have access to their papers and some time to read them. But you never know.

Thanks - have messaged you.

I hope everyone had a relaxing weekend

chewing that must be a tough job

Morning.I'm on way to hospital for chemo. I am really touched to have just received a pm to say that I have been nominated for a woolly hug. Big thanks to whoever put my name forward
Hope everyone has a decent day.

Good luck with the chemo chewing I am so pleased you are getting a Woolly Hug. I hope it brings you some comfort :) I wish there was more we could do

@chewingawasp. Thinking of you today. ❤️

Chewing you are in my thoughts and prayers. I hope the chemo has gone well and that it zaps the cancer. Cngrats on the wolly hug! Hope it comes in handy. You deserve to be pampered.
Well, I have had a dramatic day! The sonographer who was to do the ultrasound guided biopsy and after peering over the images of my breasts and talking me through it all, reached a very sensible decisionthat there was no cause to biopsy, seeing as everything there on the screen( especially the left axilla mentioned in my PET scan report showed nothing sinister). There was, she pointed out with convoction, nothing to biopsy! She alluded to the fact I was being overdiagnosed and made to worry unnecessarily.
So, she will be delivering her report to my team and that's that! I have been spared the whole procedure and with good cause. She was such a highly professional and lovely person, understanding and so good at her job. You don't always come across people like that.
How do I feel? Totally knackered! I have had to deal with so much internal pressure that I am unable to feel much now the danger is not there, well for now that is.
Waving feebly but warmly to everybody.

Chemo went ok. I am feeling quite tired so will have an early night.
Royal that is great news. The sonographer sounds fab. No wonder you feel knackered after all that turmoil but it must be a big relief

chewing I hope you sleep well

royal yippee! That's brilliant news :) I hope you managed to relax this evening

chewing I have no idea what a woolly hug is but it sounds good and totally deserved. Hope you get a good night's sleep. Royal great news for you!

chewing glad the chemo is over and done with, an early night is well deserved . Hope the SE are minimal and the overall effects are powerful.
royal what good news and what a relief! Hope you can sleep easy tonight
halfbaked are you still in hospital? I hope you aren't too bored, and that being bored is the most you have to worry about.
I am preparing for a day in a school tomorrow - my employers run education programmes in schools as part of our community efforts - I have 220 x 14yr olds to talk to about money. Normally I hide in an office, obviously I'm not going alone, but I seem to have volunteered to be chief presenter for my half of the year group