Roll up, roll up and join the lacies for CANCER SUPPORT THREAD 59 - anyone with cancer is welcome (and those awaiting test results)

[WhatWouldLeslieKnopeDo]

Hello everyone,

This is the cancer support thread, which has been running for many years under different names. Most posters have breast cancer, but various other cancers are represented too! Whatever cancer you have, feel free to join us. We also welcome those who are awaiting test results to find out whether or not they have cancer. We know how difficult the waiting can be and we are happy to hold your hand. Hopefully you won't need to join us permanently

Feel free to ask any questions. There will usually be someone who knows the answer or will know where you can find it.

Whatever you do, stay away from Google!

You can post anything you like here. We don't mind swearing or complaining or angry ranting. We aren't brave or inspirational and you don't need to be either. Nobody signed up for this, but we support each other as best we can

The previous thread is here

Doesn’t it just Leslie? ** talking of reading, is anyone here a reader? I need some recommendations for decent books to take into hospital when I go in

Hi purple...i read voraciously...roughly what sort of books do you enjoy?
And very sorry about your diagnosis.
Waves to all.. .
Thinking of you chewing...xx

Thanks Freddie, I’ll read pretty much anything, I do like an autobiography as I’m nosy about other people’s lives but I don’t think there’s anything I wouldn’t give a go if it’s recommended by someone

I told my teens this week.

I was something I dreaded, but wasn’t as bad as I’d feared.

What helped was waiting until the diagnosis was confirmed and there was an outline treatment plan. So awful news, no two ways about that, but also things to do about it, which really mattered.

I said I’d be informing schools, but one has asked me not to, so I’m having a think about that. I’ll need to find out why - didn’t want to pursue it too hard on the day they were finding out.

I have my prescription for the targeted drug, and take the first dose tomorrow. The first chemo has reduced my WBC cell count to within spitting distance of normal, so that’s a good start point for the next one.

Hi everyone ,
Some new names on the thread, sorry that you find yourselves here , and so sorry to read the news on Chewing

Biscetti My 5 weeks of radiotherapy covered Christmas and new year (2015/16) . I had rads Christmas eve morning (Thursday) and the next one was the following Tuesday (29th) . However I know they did get a few people in on the Sunday and Monday but they were people who were at the very end of their treatment. So chances are you might be 'off' 23rd, 24th, 25th and 26th.

Someone asked about cold capping ( sorry can't find the post now to check who) I used the one thats plugged into the machine and had pretty good results . I kept being told "oh so and so used it , it didn't work" so my approach was - I will give it a go , if it works . . .great , if it doesn't . . .well Ive tried ! From my experience, my top tip would be layers ! Day before I started chemo I had my graduated bob thinned out , it was the longer bits of hair that I lost .

Hi purple , sorry you are here. My cancer is that area as well (endometrial stage 4 , spread . . . bloody well everywhere, part of bowel removed along with hysterectomy).
I'm sure I have that booklet in my extensive Macmillan collection

Leslie hi , hope you have a fabulous time tomorrow night .

Hope eveyone else is as well as can be

Right we are very chatty this evening so I will start a new thread now so we don't get lost, then I'll faff about with all the other bits later. Tbh might just direct people to info here as not sure anything has changed since then, but will have a look through :)

New thread here

Vampire sorry that it’s spread to stage 4, I hope whatever treatment you’re getting is helping.* I’ve read lots of stories of people being diagnosed with stage 4 and are now in remission, I hope that’s a possibility with you too Let me know how you get on if you do decide to let the school know. It’s not something that I had even thought about until coming onto this forum.* It’s makes sense to let them know especially if it starts affecting their school work

Bloody hell, no idea why I seem to be typing half my posts in bold. I will get the hang of this at some point

purple

I think you’re muddling me with stila who has just mentioned stage 4.

I have leukaemia, which isn’t staged, as there is no primary tumour - it’s everywhere in your blood from the off.

I’m still deciding about telling schools - wondering if DD in particular is worried about the burden of other people’s reactions. That’s something we need more conversations about. I’m still worried about it, tbh, as I won’t be telling more people until I’ve told my close family (next week).

Deciding what and when to tell STBX and X-ILs also difficult. Anyone else here had a diagnosis during separation?

Ah yes I apparently can’t read names. I still haven’t told anyone other than my husband, still need to tell my ex (sons father) and my parents. Telling other people is the thing I’m dreading most, I’m waiting until my scan to tell them so I have the answers for any questions they have

Just jumping in from a teacher's perspective - I would say that telling someone at school (e.g. head of year) is a very good idea, even if you ask them not to tell the teaching staff unless necessary. It just means that if there is a change in the child's behaviours then someone knows and can fight your child's corner...

Stila thank you - that is what I am hoping for. I will be about 3.5 weeks into my radiotherapy (out of 6.5 weeks) so fingers crossed the same or similar can apply here. I'd be happy if I could at least have Christmas Day off!

Purple I'm so sorry to hear of your diagnosis. Like you I was weirdly calm when I got mine. It's odd I think, that after a fair old while of not knowing and hoping, that when told the very worst, it becomes more manageable. I did wobble nearly a couple of weeks ago, but I'm back to the 'it is what it is' feelings. It's crap, but I'll take whatever they throw at me.

Anyway, I have a pre chemo appointment on Tuesday morning for bloods etc. The SpR called me and went through some details with me so she could prepare my prescription, and yesterday I received my appointment card with the next few listed. Looks like chemo will be starting on the 6/11, which is fine (I'd requested 03/11, but no matter). The only bummer is that the 6th is one of my DC's birthdays. Still, it's a happy day for me, obviously, so I will allow that to prevail and not let it cloud my day.

Oldest and youngest have been told thus far. Obviously they are devastated, but took it far better than I could have wished for. Oldest works for Cancer Research, so she is pretty clued up and will have lots of support from colleagues, as well as being able to find out loads of info, which on balance I think is a good thing. My 8yo took it so much better than I thought she would. She asked LOTS of questions which we were able to answer. Reassured her that it's ok to cry, and to ask questions whenever she wanted to.

Decided against telling the other two over the phone... Both will be home from university next weekend, so we will tell them then. Felt that summoning them would just frighten them. But I feel so much better that I don't have to tiptoe around smallest now.

Have told school too and things are in place for her if/when needed.