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! :)

Leslie I do that do, if I'm not wearing the belt then I stand up and forget about the pump :)
I had the stoma and colostomy bag when I had the emergency surgery at the start of November. They said it may be reversible so will wait and see. Have drugs to help with the diarrhea, keeping a note of which days seem to be worst and the consultant said once there's a pattern I can take the Loperamide in the morning to try and prevent.
I agree that telling people is one of the most difficult things. I think I'm now up to date with the people who need to know and now I'm starting to think about messaging various "old" friends that aren't local or I don't see very often but feel I should let know.
Thanks for the concern about my bum everyone :) My butt seems to be a bit better, had a bath the other night and that really helped.
Hope everyone else is OK

Thank you halfbaked Leslie and java great advice all round. I had a sudden thought today about getting a pre-mastectomy photo-shoot. The added insult to my injury story is that 2 years ago my DH left me for another woman after 25 years. I have not had sex since (and I'm gasping for it) and now there's no chance that another man will see my lovely breast before it gets chopped off. Has anyone else done this?

Oh dear I just re-read that post and I hope there's no-one from the feminist boards here as it sounds so pathetic! It's not just about a man seeing my breast - it's me as well!

Well everyone. Had pelvic screening today. Found 6cm cyst in my left ovary with septum. She said this makes it complex. Referral to gynae for further investigations. Nothing seen anywhere else. She said gynae may do internal and decide next option. I just want it gone. Especially with my ca125 result of 53. Has anyone knowledge of such cysts and what should I be asking at gynae appt.

Googling this giving me more worry as apparently more chance of malignancy. 😓

sdoc2016 my kidney has complex cyst with septum - its 10cm

my surgeon was very open, said it was 70% chance it was cancer but until they remove it they wont know for sure

he wouldnt biopsy it as they didnt want to disturb the fluid with in it - so the whole kidney is coming out

i had no idea what questions to ask - so i asked them, what should i be asking!!

ArgyMargy i posted on facebook a farewell message about my left boob going - i joked about any one wanting one last tweak on it to let me know

i got a very nice offer

Argy I'd count myself as a feminist and wouldn't think anything negative or pathetic about your idea.

sdoc I know a fair few people, including my Mother in Law, who have had ovarian cysts and not cancerous. Have you got a date from gynae yet?

www.nhs.uk/conditions/ovarian-cyst/Pages/Introduction.aspx

@lookingforbaubles. I hope u fall under the 30per cent of non cancer. Will see on Thursday. I'm not hopeful given all results this week. God it's happened so fast I'm literally shaking. Good point about biopsy tho. I just want all gone now. The waiting game horrible as u will no. Will u have surgery soon.

@fluffywhitekittens. This Thursday. My gp fasttracked me given ca125 of 53 and now this cyst with septum has been discovered. Hopefully they will operate to remove ASAP.

Sdoc Good it's not too much of a wait. Everything crossed for you that it's just a cyst and not anything more serious.

Thanks @fluffywhitekittens. I just need to put on my big girl pants (just need to find them first lol) and wait till then. Everyone has been so supportive. Because I don't want to tell anyone only DH it's been great to talk through this forum.

@sdoc2016 they think because of the size of the cyst its been there years!

i could have had it out before christmas but not being able to drive over christmas would have been hell - we live in a rural village type place

he agreed it wasnt doing anything - i had no symptoms and my ct scan came back clear for my lungs plus my bloods were clear of calcium, so he was happy to wait till after christmas

im going in 1st Feb, 2 nights in and then home to the sofa with the cat/dogs to recover - its a 2 week wait for pathology to tell us what it is

i hope Thursday is reassuring for you, take a note book and dont be rushed out of the room!

@lookingforbaubles. I hope all goes well for you. Is it keyhole surgery? It's the waiting game that's the worst. Thank you for suggestion bout notebook. I never thot of that. 👍

Thank you fluffy and looking . sdoc2016 there's a reason we don't recommend googling! I do hope it's benign and removable.

yes key hole surgery, hes 99% sure he can do it that way - he has spoken to the plastic surgeon who is doing my breast reconstruction to see which areas she would like left alone, his thoughtfulness impressed me!

a silicone bag will be inserted inside of me, the whole kidney bagged up and sealed, then hoiked out in a slightly bigger cut on my back

i get to go in on the day of surgery, and home as soon as i can walk/shower - my car keys will be hidden for 2 weeks sobs

Thanks @argymargy. So kind of u to say and for the record I think u should get photo shoot done. Just for u!! @lookingforbaubles hopefully surgery is straightforward and without complications. I can't believe the bravery and strength of all the woman on here and for everyone to take time to reassure me is so heart warming. It actually makes me feel that I might be able to face whatever Thursday brings. No matter what Outcome I will be forever grateful for everyone's support this past few days. Ending this evening with glass of wine and pringles and maltesers. Gonna play monopoly with DD before bed and try to not Google anymore. Love to all. X

Evening all, I haven't been in here for ages. My treatment finished over 2 years ago.

leslie is doing a fab job on here. I know you have had a tough time but you are a complete star.

Also was open mouthed at your upcoming kidney surgery baubles 'hoiking it out in a silicone bag' .... v best of luck with that.

Morning all.
I met with my surgeon last night and I'm having my surgery next Friday 27th. It all seems so quick now. Full left breast and lymph nodes.
He said my wound will have a suction type dressing. As he wants to remove the spread of the redness it is going to result in a tight scar. Has anyone else had this type? It sounds uncomfortable.

Feeling positive though and in a safe pair of hands.

Keeping things crossed for the surgery to do the job, rocket. Yes, sounds like a surgeon who knows his onions, to use a phrase*. Only had lumpectomy so no use for answering your question. Was there redness originally, or has it happened since?

Thanks amber light. There wasn't redness to begin with but once they started biopsies it started it off I think. Then it's got gradually more red during the chemotherapy.
It's doesn't hurt particularly but looks like all the blood vessels are damaged underneath.
I can't find any similar images on google so maybe it's unusual?

Good luck rocket, I hope it all goes smoothly, can't shed any light on the redness sorry.
Sdoc at least it's all moving quickly, I hope it's benign and can be easily whipped out!
Argy totally get the photo shoot. I'm a way off surgery so haven't contemplated that yet, but recently split with DH so kind of understand your thoughts!
Baubles your description of your surgery is weirdly fascinating! I'm amazed by what the surgeons can do.
I'm on day 4 post first chemo and despite mainlining ice lollies and feeling a strange kind of tired I'm doing ok. I'm getting used to the PICC line, but it made everything so much easier.
Just taking each day as it comes.

Hello, it's dinster here.
I haven't been here for a while so waving and sending best wishes to everyone recently diagnosed, waiting for results or having treatment.

I just wanted to send a particular wave to royalmama - royal, i know you had some scans lined up this month and just wanted to check in and say I hope you're doing ok...

Also, leslie how are you doing?

Hope everyone is taking it easy, staying cosy and enjoying and if nausea/appetite permits.

Evening all, hello dinster , leslie how are you after chemo?
I hope everyone is as well as they can be, and warm! It's flipping freezing here.

I have had some sad news today, no one else in real life will really understand so I hope this isn't too upsetting here. Don't read if you're feeling down or delicate
An acquaintance of mine - similar aged children with mutual friends - has passed away from her breast cancer. This is unutterably sad, because she refused conventional treatment since her diagnosis 2 years ago. She was following some shit cowboy Mexican diet "natural" "your body will heal itself" crap programme. She refused all pleas, believed them when they said she would of course feel worse before she got better and genuinely thought that the increasing lumps were the cancer trying to leave her body. I'm so cross for her, for her children and her husband.
She phoned a close friend last Friday in a sudden realisation that she was gravely ill, she was rushed to hospital but died on Monday.
I'm not sure why I'm posting this. I'm just shaking my head in disbelief and anger at the charlatans. I am just so grateful for all the medical care I have been given and I just don't understand her choice. I don't understand at all.

Pepper - that's unbearably sad and enraging in equal measures . I'm so sorry to read that this still goes on .

When I was having chemo the nurses were so upset because a youngish man had given up on his treatment .He wasn't English and was far from home ,they felt if he'd had family support he might have carried on .I still wonder what happened to him and feel so grateful for all the support on offer here .

And another here sending positive vibes to Lesley and any others in need of strength .