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! :)

Checking in after a bit of a break!
I've felt in limbo since my radiotherapy finishing - but I have my check up tomorrow with the oncologist.
Doing so far, so good - I've been very vigilant and I can't detect any red areas that could be any cancer - so hoping that radiotherapy did do its job.

I've been keeping busy by starting the 5:2 eating plan and exercising - think I've lost about 8lb so far.
I've also joined a HOPE course run by macmillan - only attended one session so far but it feels like it will be positive.

Leslie - pleased your check up went well and you're feeling ok on the chemo.
Chewing - hope you're feeling a bit brighter too and your treatments are doing their job
Flippy - great news on the grant! Hope you have a lovely time - you certainly deserve it.

Thinking of you all every day x

Leslie glad your check up went well.
rocket nice to hear from you. Hope your onc check up goes well tomorrow. Well done on the weight loss so far.

I am feeling a lot less tired today and have been enjoying the sunshine. I have also been wearing my wig a bit to stop me from feeling (and looking) too much like a peanut head

rocket good luck tomorrow :) how are you healing from the radiotherapy? I hope it's not too sore. Well done on your diet and exercise

chewing that's good to hear

Goodnight lacies. Sleep well!

Chewing I meant to say have fun wading through your notes - I'm keen to hear what might have been added/rewritten to make them comprehensible! Glad to hear you're enjoying the sun.

I'm still "wearing in" my wig which is quite tight (v reliable in the wind!). I've braved removing my hat in public; took it off in Pret a Manger the other day and no-one blinked.

Another beautiful morning here - I just love this time of year and these early mornings do wonders for my spirit.

Love, hugs & waves to all the lacies.

Argy I'll let you know more when I get them
Yes, it is a lovely morning. I am going to go shopping with my wig on later - hope it stays on. For bald days I have a new cap saying ' Hair designed by chemo'
Hope all lacies have a good day with positive results for those who are waiting.

Hello, can I join for a bit of moral support?

I've got an appointment at the breast clinic coming up after a referral from my GP this week. A couple of months ago I noticed a ripple or indentation under one of my breasts when I lift my arm in the air. I've got big boobs and the mark is on the inner underside, so isn't really obvious when my arms are down. No idea how long it has been there but it doesn't seem to have changed since I first spotted it. No lump, redness or orange peel like skin etc.

Upon examination the GP could see it too. She couldn't feel any lumps and was very reassuring but has made the referral to the clinic to be sure. I'm mid 30s and have breast fed two kids for 12+ each so my boobs aren't in the best of nick now and am desperately hoping that the mark is related to that!

However I have made the terrible mistake of googling and everything associated with a breast indentation seems to be bad news with a bleak prognosis. I know that I need to step away from the computer and stop thinking about it but I am fixated by it and worried sick. Just wish the appointment would hurry up!

Good morning Gold, but sorry you've had to join us. Hopefully your visit will be a short one. I'm not a breast expert so I can't give any useful advice but you are certainly very welcome here. Fingers crossed you'll get your appointment quickly in the meantime, step away from Google!

I hope everyone enjoyed some sunshine yesterday. I've given up on my wig and hats because they give me a headache if I wear them too long I've never been able to wear Alice bands for the same reason so obviously I just have a stupidly sensitive head!

Just in case anyone hasn't seen it, there's a live webchat with Breast Cancer Care today between 12 and 1pm :)

Leslie I'm aiming to be there!

Gold yes, step away from Google. Way upthread there is a great post by amberlight which I found very reassuring. Essentially the vast majority of lumps are benign (but she explains it much better!). Best of luck.

Morning all. I shall try to be at the web chat too.
Gold please try to keep away from Google. A lot of information out there is out of date or may not be relevant to you.
I enjoyed the sunshine yesterday and didn't get any funny looks whilst wearing my wig. It was very hot and itchy though so I will stick to wearing it at cooler times in future. I am going to get another shorter wig so that might be a bit better.

Thank you all. I'll try and step away from the computer and have a look for amberlight's post.

Waving to all. Hi Gold. Yup, not a doctor, but read lots of research papers and provide people with some of the highlights.

-Found a lump or dent? 9 out of 10 will be benign.
-Found out it's breast cancer? 19 out of 20 will be just in the boob. And can now be removed/zapped/poisoned successfully.
-Found out it's breast cancer that has spread beyond boob and armpit? If it's in just one other place, we're seeing results where 80% of those can still be zapped/surgeried/poisoned and it works.
-If it's in more than one other place, e.g. liver, bones, lungs, then teams can give up to seven different forms of 'holding treatment' for many sorts. That means that it converts it to a long-term nuisance, similar to living with diabetes or similar. Annoying, certainly. There are no guarantees.
Some will have a sort that is truly tricky. We'll never deny that.
-Pretty good research happening around ways to improve the odds a little more. Sensible amounts of cheery exercise, e.g. brisk walk every day, if people can. A glass or two of red wine now and again, for those that can drink such a thing. Vitamin D. Curcumin and black pepper supplement. Lactoferrin supplement. Avoiding bright white/blue light at night as much as possible. Having a cheery social network. The oncology journals are reporting the findings on these. Talk to your teams about what they think might help.

• I know that sounds weird, but (generalising) faster growing cancers are greedy, and drink chemotherapy and other potions at top speed... thus dying horribly and fast. It's the slower growing ones that can be slightly more tricky. On the oncology graphs, the difference in life chances between slow growing and fast growing is barely enough to register. Both are excellent now. It's just info for the specialists, so they know which potions and zappings to use.

In summary, step firmly away from Google, as the info on there is as out of date as reading something from Medieval Britain. Many good people on here who are a source of wisdom aplenty x

Brilliant, amberlight, just brilliant.

Just called my gp for the results of some blood tests to find they've had to turn all their computers off as they've been infected by a ransom virus. I had heard about it on the radio a few minutes earlier, seems to have targeted big chunks of the NHS. I hope they ge it sorted quickly, what a sick thing to do.

amberlight thank you - the most calming thing I've read since going to the doctors!

I've just seen the news about the cyber attack myself. What a mindless thing to do. Fingers cross things are up and running again quickly.

mrshodg I have been waiting for a phone all today and was about to phone but I guess there is no point now.

gold I hope you get good news. In my darkest hours I would feel my anxiety with 4am google binges. It doesn't help but it is hard not to.

chewing I love the cap. Glad you have been enjoying the sunshine

I don't think everywhere is affected so it's worth a call, otherwise you'll be waiting all weekend

My hospital isn't involved and I am now too late to phone. It's my own fault, I should have phoned this morning but am feeling so lethargic that I couldn't face it.

Hi everyone . I'm new here.
I'm 47 and found a lump 2 weeks ago. I went to the Dr on Monday and have an appt at the breast clinic next Thursday.
My left boob feels tender and I'm conscious of the tenderness each day.
I've been ok mostly this week as I've been trying to keep busy but I keep getting waves of fear.
I've no dimpling, rashes, redness, discharge and no family history so I'm telling myself it's a cyst to try and keep calm. Trying to keep away from Google as well

@Wishingitwaswarm you have just the right attitude . Senior you positive thoughts

Not senior - although I am having a lot of senior moments - sending you positive thoughts

Welcome Wishingitwaswarm and good luck for Thursday nine out of ten lumps are benign so the odds are in your favour, but that doesn't eliminate the fear. Definitely steer clear of google. The internet is completely full of nonsense about cancer. Even a lot of the scientific research published is now out of date. And that's before you get on to coffee enemas and healing crystals

Tw1nset sorry you didn't get your phone call I hope you have some distractions for the weekend!

mrsrhod at the computer twats and sorry they've stopped you getting your results. I hope you can get them on Monday.

Waving to everyone else and wishing you all a good weekend

I can't believe this thing with the hackers. It beggars belief.
Hi Gold and wishing. Sorry you have cause to be here but the ladies on this thread are great. I just wanted to say that I had never realised before I had cause to be there just how many ladies have to visit the breast clinic to get something checked out at some point and also that most walk out again later on with no problems found. It feels like passport control at the airport sometimes. They will look after you.
Hope everyone's having a decent weekend xxxx

Afternoon lacies. Hope you are having a good weekend.
Today I received the package following my request for copies of my records. The MDT notes are of little value. There are no actual records of any of the discussions, just a scribbled outcome e.g CT scan or disease progression. I requested copies of all treatment plans and can find none in any of the paperwork or on disc . Does anyone actually have their own plan? What does it look like?

I am seeing my consultant soon and have a list of questions for them already.

Afternoon x
I had a very positive check up on Thursday 😁 there's no indication that the cancer is lurking and I'm looking clear and healed.
My oncologist was very positive - and he doesn't sugar coat anything so feeling like I might be able to relax a little and think this could possibly be the end of it?
It's hard to let go though isn't it? not sure I really believe it yet after my history.

I've appreciated and sometimes clung onto the help and advice I've had from you lovely lot during the darkest days.
Hoping everyone is doing ok today xx