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! :)

dora I'm sorry to hear you are struggling. No experience here, but hopefully someone useful will be along soon has your GP suggested any medication or techniques to help?

dora that sounds very unpleasant (sad) I had 6 months on tamoxifen and while I didn't have anxiety I was very on edge the whole time, frequently in tears and horrid hot flushes . My GP prescribed venlafaxine which in a half dose is for the flushes but is an anti depressant normally. I have to say despite an enormous reluctance to take something called an anti depressant it's been transformative. I can just cope better with all the side effects. I just switched to Letrozole 2 months ago and the flushes kicked in again but I just feel more capable or maybe grounded is the word.
seemyvest I was wondering how you got on last week with your procedure, hope it's gone well.

dora that sounds really grim . I've no experience of tamoxifen but pepper's suggestion sounds like it would be worth looking into.

leslie sorry to hear you had a pretty rough weekend, I hope you're feeling a bit better today.

halfbaked what awful news and something you could have no way to prepare for. I hope his prognosis is not as bleak as it first seemed and that you are able to take good care of yourself while it's all going on

Halfbaked, that is totally rubbish news about your DB, and also for you being in hospital again. And Mintyneb, rubbish news about your DD too, I hope she recovers well. It's about time the universe gave everyone on this thread a break - it's not like we haven't got enough on our plates. Hope you're feeling ok Leslie. Dora, surely your GP can offer you some practical help - I hope so.

I'm so grateful that I do have serious illness insurance, but the annoying thing is that my consultant still hasn't completed the report - it's been with him since January. I don't know what to do - he's said he'll do it, his nurse has said he'll do it, and my insurers have been chasing him too. I haven't billed anything since December, and although I've finally been told that I am entitled to ESA, it's a tiny amount. He knows I'm self-employed and have no other income, and it's not like the report is really time consuming or difficult for him to complete. Yet another worry I could do without! Gah!

On a brighter note, one of my friends drove for almost five hours to come and spend a night with me and DS yesterday, which was lovely. I really am blessed when it comes to my friends :)

How is everyone? It's very quiet here so hopefully that's a good sign :)

Flippy I hope your consultant hurries up with the paperwork!

dora how are you getting on?

Halfbaked I hope you're feeling a bit better this week and that you've had some positive news about your brother

minty I hope your shoulder is doing OK

fluffy I hope your rash isn't too uncomfortable and that you're getting on OK with the injections

chewing I hope your biopsy went well. When will you get the results?

rocket I hope your radiotherapy has started off well

looking have you had your post op results?

SeeMyVest I hope you are recovering well from your procedure. When will you get the results?

Lavender I hope your dad has had some answers by now

I think I must use the word hope more than any other sending everyone my good wishes. It is sunny here today. My stomach is very crampy, so I'm watching Law and Order SVU under my Woolly Hug blanket

reporting in with great news - i am not double dipping in the cancer diagnoses!

consultant said i had a rare and peculiar complex cyst but no cancer found with in it - i am beyond pleased!

i am signed off from urology - its been a very surreal fraught few months, im not sure about rushing into reconstruction quite yet either.

i watched the whole box set of penny dreadful while recovering - good wishes to you Leslie

That's fantastic news lookingforbaubles and definitely a cause for celebration well done for being rare and peculiar

Radiotherapy has started off well enough.
It feels a bit like going to the dentist when you daren't move your tongue in case it gets drilled. Except it's your whole body and you've got your top off! I'm reassured by the preciseness of it when they set me up - it's to the .5 mm it seems.
Mood wise i am now veering from 'it'll be ok' to sobbing at the 'what if' scenario that has a high chance of unfolding.
Had a good chat with my chemo nurse and BCN today when I had my herceptin injection. Really lovely caring bunch - but they have no guarantees either. It's ok they didn't dismiss my fears - but I am still scared and just trying to keep a lid on it.

Thanks to all kind words received last week. Means a lot. Xx

I'm glad radiotherapy is going OK so far, and that you've got some support from your nurses. The uncertainty and fears must be very difficult though. How is your DH doing? I don't really have any useful advice. But do consider asking for something to help with the anxiety if it becomes overwhelming.

Morning all
I won't name check as I am bound to forget someone but and to all.
I had the biopsy a few days ago and will find out results next week. As I am 'complex' there will be various tests/stains undertaken. I am looking forward to finally getting a full understanding of the type it is.
Hope you all get a bit of sunshine this weekend.

Good to hear you've now had the biopsy chewing and I really do hope you get the answers you need next week.

rocket sounds like you've got some good support in your team, it's good that you were able to have a chat. I hope the rads continues to go well and you don't get too sore too soon

baubles that's fantastic news, yeah for being peculiar!! You deserve some time now to rest and regroup before thinking of more surgery

flippy that really is bad about your insurance. No wonder these policies take so long to pay out if half the reason is because people can't do a simple piece of admin! But what a lovely friend you have to have travelled all that way, she's someone very special.

leslie I hope your cramps have eased off and you're not feeling so lousy.

Thanks for asking after me. Despite the exercise my shoulder is getting worse by the day and certain movements are now ridiculously painful. I'm going to have to get hands on treatment asap I think.

On a brighter note I'm having a few days away in Ireland on my own with one of my closest friends and it's just nice to talk and eat tea and cake and finish the day with a glass of wine (Although my tolerance to alcohol is now severely impaired !)

Hope everyone else has a good weekend

Can I join in pls? I'm told I have a large ovarian mass but won't be scanned til Monday. I went to doc with huge distended belly. Had an ultrasound and was packed straight off to A&E. I'm having my stomach drained - 7 litres so far.

May be able to go home for 24 hours, which would be lovely.

TwitterQueen1 of course you can join, but sorry that you need to. Seven litres you must have felt so uncomfortable! I hope the draining has helped and fingers crossed you're allowed home soon

chewing I hope you're not too sore after the biopsy. Hopefully it will give them some useful information to work with

minty sorry to hear your shoulder is still troubling you. I hope it improves. Your Ireland break sounds lovely. Enjoy!

Is there anyone else on here with ovarian cancer or is it all breast cancer?

Would like some positive stories if so! The www is pretty gloomy.

There have been a few people with ovarian cancer, but none posting regularly at the moment, because they've finished treatment etc :) quite a few of our oldies lurk though so hopefully someone will see your post soon and appear with encouraging news.

How are you getting on?

Pretty crap tbh. Stuck in hospital all weekend waiting for a ct scan. DDs visited earlier tx to dsIS and all seemed well but they rang later in tears & v upset & had all been arguing with each other, which upset me. (Not dsIS who had gone home)

Everything I've read points to stage 4. And we have a new puppy who is causing stress because she is not yet housetrained. She is going to have to go to CSIS as well. Youngest has exams in 3 weeks and she needs to be able to focus.

Ugh. Hospital sucks. I'm sorry you're stuck there

How old are your children? I'm glad they were able to visit, but sorry about the fighting and tears! Do you have a partner? Good idea for you sister to take the puppy to reduce a bit of the stress :) does she live nearby?

Step away from Dr Google! I know it sounds trite, but try to take it a step at a time. A lot of Internet information is out of date or just plain made up. Have they said it is definitely cancer? They'll hopefully be able to give you more information after the scan, but they often cannot give full staging until after any surgery.

I hope you have a peaceful night and that you get your scan tomorrow

Twitterqueen my mum had ovarian cancer 5 years ago, she took my daughter out today, something at first we did not think would be possible.I echo what Leslie said step away from Google.
I hope the scan makes things clearer for you, so you know what you are dealing with.

I saw my DB today, he has woken from his coma but initial signs are that he has suffered brain damage. His memory is awful, he didn't know who I was and much of what he says is nonsense. I will try and see him again this week before my next chemo on Friday.

My DD is not coping well with everything that has been going on, her tantrums are epic. School have arranged some counselling. I've got to meet them tomorrow and explain the situation, before they meet her.

The cat I've inherited from DB is sick and left lots of poo and sick around the house. I remember now why I haven't had a pet before!

Sorry, this has been a poor me blurb... I think I've had to let it out here so I remain positive in RL

triplets hasn't posted for a while, but she's been having treatment for ovarian cancer

Bloody hell Halfbaked it never rains but it pours eh

Please don't apologise. This is exactly the place to let it all out.

The cat situation sounds difficult. I'd find that too much to cope with tbh. Is it actually unwell or is it stress? I hope you can get something from the vet to help. Would it be able to go to a cattery instead? Be careful cleaning up the mess as it's an infection risk during chemo.

I'm really sorry that your brother is showing signs of brain damage. I hope that it will improve with time. It must have been very upsetting that he didn't know who you were

I hope the counselling helps DD. It's not surprising she's acting up with so much to deal with.

I hope that you're not suffering too much with chemo side effects. And I really hope that things get a little easier for you soon

Can I join too please? I'm waiting for my appt to confirm/exclude ovarian cancer on Friday - ultrasound for gallstones picked up 2 cysts one on each ovary - one a dermoid and one on the other side which is smaller and they are more concerned about as there is what looks like a sold mass in it. Ca125 came back as 56 (anything over 35 is normally questioned) and then after the scan last Monday it was repeated and it came in at 86. Appt isn't at my local hospital but in the gynaecology/oncology unit at another in a nearby town so I'm v scared.

7 weeks time I will be officially post menopause which from what I have read can mean a potentially different treatment plan. The scan woman said they couldn't tell if it was cancer until it was under a microscope but reading as much as I could find and the print out from my scans, I'm not felling very positve. V hard to carry on as usual and not easy to explain to ds2 (20) who has autism and learning difficulties and currently under the mental health team for LD, why I have been having so many medical appoinments without scaring him.

*TwitterQueen1 Can we hold hands?

Oh eatyourveg yes please. Here's mine. I'm actually crying with relief at not being so alone.

I'm scheduled for 9.30 am for the scan and biopsy so hopefully will know Moore by the end of the day.

Your poor son - it must be so confusing for him. Do you have a partner to help? I don't. But the girls are great. Hugs and everything crossed for you.

Good morning eatyourveg and welcome. I'm sorry you have cause to be here though it's a club nobody wants to join!

TwitterQueen good luck with your scan and biopsy

Thanks for the welcome. How was the scan TwitterQueen1? I didn't realise that a biopsy was possible at the same time? How long do you have to wait for the lab to get back to you with the results?

Yes dh is here and all 3 dc are living at home at the moment ds1 working before starting his masters in the autumn and ds3 (also on the autistic spectrum but high functioning) on a gap year working before heading to Newcaslte for uni in the autumn - just want this all over and sorted by then.

Anyone know if its possible to somehow read a kindle book without a kindle? All the books I saw in the library at the weekend were so depressing but amazon seemed to have a no nonsense one which I could read a sample of and it seemed just what I was after (simple easy to understand and lots of explanation of what to expect) but its only available as a kindle download.