CANCER SUPPORT THREAD 60! Here we are again... join us if you have any sort of cancer (or if you're waiting for cancer test results)

[WhatWouldLeslieKnopeDo]

Welcome everyone to a shiny new thread :)

It's a club nobody wants to join, but if you need us, you are more than welcome. If you're waiting to find out if you have cancer or not then pull up a chair. We hope you won't need to be here long, but we are here as long as you need us. And if you do have cancer then this is the place for you. Swear, rant, scream, laugh, cry... someone will have at least an inkling of what you're going through!

We only have one rule, which is do not Google. Though perhaps we should update that to please Google responsibly as few can resist completely!

I hope this thread will be a source of support for all who need it

Our previous thread can be found here

Very early good morning
leslie I hope you get some sleep and relief and feel better today
Mr chaplain should've known better! Where's the palliative in that
Anyways, I am waiting to hear from you this morning and hoping you're feeling much better.

Morning, I have had my MRI results and the tumor is 55mm and other smaller ones are visible in the rest of the breast. I am booked for a Mastectomy next Friday, I can't have a reconstruction as I need to have Radio afterwards. Consultant won't commit to wether I will have Chemo as well but I would think its probable. I'm only 39, one Daughter, lovely Husband n a silly Cockapoo - they are my World. I haven't cried, I won't give in, making light of it all, telling my Parents it will be ok as they cry down the phone to me. Pre-op Monday, radioactive thingy Thursday, Op Friday. Do I go to work Tues, Wed? I don't know what I'm doing.

I hope you managed to vomit on the Padre!

It just beggars belief that someone would disturb a sleeping patient,

Bringback I think you're in shock sweetheart. Having a cry - in fact many cries - doesn't mean you are giving in. You can do it in private if you want to but personally I think it's a good thing. There will be so many emotions running through you and your body needs to find a way to cope with them. Plus you need to lean on your DP now. He will want to know how he can help you.

One of the saddest things for me during this year of ovarian cancer has been that my beloved dog had to be pts in January - she would have been such a comfort to me - so I get what you're saying.

How old is your daughter? Have you told her what is happening? I wouldn't go in to work if I were you - unless you feel it would help distract you.

Rant away on here. You don't have to be the strong one all the time.

Miri - I finished radiotherapy mid October. If you've been through chemo then radio will be easier but I had mine to my nork so perhaps different symptoms to other areas. Look after your skin - I used aloa vera in the morning and Aveno cream in evening and aveno body wash and have on one spot of discomfort on bra line. The radiotherapy itself takes a very short time. More time is taken faffing about positioning you into exactly the right place. The radiographers are amazing and very kind but you do slightly feel like a slab of meat at times. I had after effects almost straight afterwards which is unusual so feel a bit squiffy, sick, then freezing cold, then boiling hot then ok. Whole process would take about two hours and was fine if I could flop and watch crap. I worked the first week but fatigue was too much for me. Fatigue majorly set in after treatment finished and lasted another two weeks so I could do supermarket shop but would then have to rest. Back at work now and ok. Honestly, it really wasn't that bad.

Hi everyone. Have been trying to post for 4 hours but baby and toddler are tag teaming tonight so this will be a brief hello!
Sorry to see new members here but hello and welcome to you all. Miri, Leslie is right about me being dx at 13w pregnant. My little girl will turn 1 on Tuesday! It's so scary though not knowing what the future holds for you or them.
Leslie sorry to hear you're back in hospital. Hope you're on the mend very soon.
Twitter pleased your toes feel better. Yay for shoes.

Apologies for my absence lately. Rads are making me very tired, and I'm struggling to think properly so I read and want to respond but can't think of what I want to say. Only 8 sessions left now though. Nearly there.

greyboots fingers crossed your MRI results are positive. I have a primary malignant brain tumour so if it is bad news at least there's someone round here going through similar.

Lots of to everyone else I've forgotten. Always in my thoughts.

Good morning 😊

I've been reading through this thread and it's wonderful, so much support, honesty and also humour.

I am driving myself a bit mad during the wait for biopsy results so thought I would join this thread for a bit of support. I saw that it's ok if you are waiting for results.

I found a lump in my breast so went along to the breast clinic on Tuesday, for what I thought was just tests. I didn't really look into what happens at the clinic as I wasn't worried at all, I also went on my own so what happened was a very big shock for me.

I had an ultra sound, mammogram and core biopsy. Whilst having the ultra sound they saw that my lymph node was enlarged, that and the lump meant I got a 5 on the BIRADS. I did not expect to get results like that on the day.

So now I have to wait until Thursday until my results.

Oh and on Friday I found a small lump in my neck, absolutely flipped out and went to my GP, she said yes it is my lymph node in my neck that's come up, she tried to get me in to see the consultant earlier but couldn't. She was lovely though, saw I wasn't coping well and gave me some lovely diazepam and sleeping tablets to make it all a bit more bearable.

Can anyone give me an idea of whether they can grade the cancer (if it is) at the results appointment and will they be able to tell if it has spread or do I need to wait for them to remove it?

I never ever want to go to another appointment so unprepared again as that was by the far the worst bit.

Thank you in advance.

Betty - I think it depends what they could see from your biospy - I had to have another one to get more information. Also I'm having a MRI scan to see if it is elsewhere.

Breastcancercare.org.uk is a great site if you want to know more about what to expect on results day.

Hello LittleGrey sorry to hear you're so tired, though hardly surprising with a baby and a toddler, let alone the treatment.

Betty you are most welcome though of course we all wish you weren't here, if you get my meaning. Will be thinking of you this week - the waiting and wondering is so hard. I can't help as I'm ovarian, not breast.

Toe is still disgusting. I've realised it hurts less because the neuropathy is getting worse in my fingers and toes. I'm losing the feeling in my big toe - it's nearly all numb.

I have a busy hospital week coming up. Consultant tomorrow, treatment Wednesday, CT scan Friday.

Leslie I hope the vomiting has settled down.

Hi betty...i had a very similar experience to you.. .went along to breast clinic feeling v chilled, on my own, and it was very strongly indicated that the news is be getting at the results appointment wouldn't be good...i was put down as C4, and the consultant said I wouldn't be seeing him again as he no longer did operations. Huge shock. I'd had loads of lumps before which were nothing.. fibroadenomas etc!
I went along for results and they had all.the info...hormone type, grade, size. I then needed staging scans, they did think it had spread to my lymphnodes. As it happened I was very lucky, when they did the sentinel node biopsy the nodes were clear, it hasn't spread anywhere else and i just needed a lumpectomy and radiotherapy. But I can't pretend the waiting to hear that was much fun. I too went the sleeping pills route (zopiclone) and the odd beta blocker for results appointment. But I promise once you get a plan it is all very doable. Take lots of care and i wish you the very, very best...xx

I had biopsies from my lymph nodes as well as The Lump!!

Hopefully I should know if it has spread on Thursday? I don't think the lump on my neck is a good sign either.

I am 31 with 5 children and a full time job, I feel fine, not ill at all, I wasn't even worried as I thought there would be no way. I just can't comprehend how I can have this. I bet everyone thinks that though.

Hi Betty I went through the same, thought all was fine, GP hadn't fast tracked me. Inital Mammo n Ultrasound indicated 11mm, MRI showed 55mm. Still in total shock. Mastectomy this coming Friday. I will be here through your journey, hand here to hold.

Twitter Thank you for your kind and supportive words, I have had a few tears now. My DD is 13, She is taking it all in her stride, So I need too as well. I'm up and down, but today is a better, calmer, more accepting day.

Hi Bringback. What were your biopsy results if you don't mind me asking? Also did you have anything on your lymph nodes? I really do want to be as prepared as possible.

It's weird, I'm not so worried this is going to kill me, more that I don't want any of it, appointments, treatments, worrying, none of it.

Thank you for explaining that Freddie. I have already had a biopsy from my lymph nodes so will hopefully find out Thursday.

Hi all. Hello to the new posters; fingers crossed for your results. I'm an ovarian patient so can't help with good info but send you all the best. Twitter I've been made to wear cold boots and mitts for my dodgy hands and feet - have they offered them to you for your neuropathy? I don't know honestly if it helps yet, but it might? Good luck for all your appointments this week
Leslie - a popping noise on the adhesion and a rush of some unspeakable foulness. At least that's what they said it was! I hope that you are being well looked after and are managing to keep some food down now. Lots of love.

Bringback, it's almost four years to the day since I got my diagnosis. Very similar to yours, though it turned out my tumour was a little bit bigger and I had significant node involvement. Just like you, I was in complete shock. I couldn't eat, sleep or barely function. Four years on and I'm fit and well today. I'm lucky, of course, but I'm also typical. I hope the same for you!

And Betty, good luck with your results. Fingers crossed, they'll be fine. If not, you know where to come to get support to get through it.

Leslie - I got my breast cancer diagnosis not long after your bowel cancer one. I didn't find this forum until my treatment was almost over so I've mainly lurked and cheered from the side-lines. I've seen you be the best cheerleader and best support over the years so I hate it that you're having such a rough time. I hope the pain meds have kicked in and the nausea is subsiding. I hope you're okay?! Sending you all my lovexx

Hi all

Sorry I'm quite dopey so I'm not going to be able to reply very coherently, but I shall do my best :)

I am still in hospital but have been better today. Less pain and managing to eat/not vomit, after a bit of a setback overnight (nobody had signed my prescription, grr). They're hoping to switch me to tablets tomorrow and let me home, which will be nice. These hospital mattresses always seem to give me horrendous back ache - anyone else? Too squishy.

LittleGrey I know what you mean. I am reading and wanting to reply, but failing to actually turn it into words and then type them! Not surprised you're exhausted. You're on the final countdown now. Please don't worry about updating here if it's too tiring but know we are wishing you well and cheering you on

Patara how are you doing now? Thank you for your kind words

I'm sorry we've got more newbies awaiting results etc. It's such a grim time. I will leave the reassurance to those more qualified but I really hope everyone gets the best possible news

nicky I don't fully understand but it sounds hideous. I'm hoping that won't happen. Nobody has mentioned it anyway. They're now not convinced it's the adhesions as such. They're probably making the pain worse, but the consultant surgeon looked at my scan and x ray and basically said the opposite of what everyone else said no sign of physical blockage, but my gut has just slowed itself down. Thankfully it's now gurgling away very loudly to show it is back in business.

Anyway I'm rambling away. I am going to need a nap after all this exertion love to all lacies

PS Twitter not good about toe I hope someone can sort it out for you

leslie, so good to hear from you. I hope you're back in your own bed today.

Good luck for Thursday Betty, the waiting for results is the worst bit. Time seems to go on forever when you waiting to find out

Hope you get out today Leslie and manage to get some decent sleep

I’m going to see the consultant at 2:00 today so hopefully I’ll find out when I can start treatment

Good luck with the consultant purple

TheFarSide are you still reading? I think you often

*of you

Sorry if that sounds a bit creepy

Hi LittleGreyBoots! Thanks for saying hello. We don’t know anyone else who dealt with cancer and pregnancy at the same time. It’s a bit of an emotional rollercoaster... DW is being amazing - she’s caring for me in my post-surgery state (I can’t lift or drive, am still in pain and very easily tired) whilst coping with the pregnancy. I feel really guilty - this should be a time when I’m spoiling her and she’s resting, but it’s just full of worry and she’s doing much more housework etc than usual. I feel like my health is preventing her from enjoying her pregnancy However, 20-week scan is on Thursday so we’re just crossing our fingers that everything’s ok. God knows we need some good news.

Congratulations on your 1 year old It gives me hope.

Lots of love and best wishes to everyone on the thread - fingers crossed this is a good week for us all.