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

twitter sorry about your news , good idea about enjoying a xmas without chemo- wondering if I follow you on twitter ??

I'm feeling fine today - nervous about Thursday ,tbh I think I am going to go ahead with trip to Canada regardless ..i'm only going for 10 days , how much difference can that make and it's so important.

I haven't told anyone in my Canadian family so want to forget an enjoy time spent with them , not have them worried.

Leslie - hope you're feeling better ,,are you still in hospital?

and thanks for the good wishes - its a nice feeling being on this thread

So sorry Twitter that it wasn't better news. I hope you're getting lots of love and support at home - as Leslie says, even if you're expecting it, it's still a sucker punch. I got Gem/Carbo for my recurrence so have no experience of Caelyx ... I think it's quite commonly used as second line in the US (as Doxil) so maybe more info available there. I recurred last year in Nov and both my onc and surgeon advised me to wait until the NY saying that there is no evidence that starting chemo very quickly on the basis of a scan is better than waiting until you're symptomatic - particularly not when quality of life is factored in. Sending you a big hug. Little Grey - hope you get some good sleep in while the toddler is away! All ok today thanks Leslie, but I'll be taking your lead and finding myself a blanket right away. zzz.

I’m sorry too that it’s not better news.

ggirl can I ask how you’re getting on finding travel insurance?

Consultant has said I’m fit for our booked holiday, but insurance company doesn’t cover cancer patients. They will either refund in full (don’t want this, want to go) of will cover me for everything else as per policy as long as I get additional health cover.

So far, the cheapest quote is for an annual policy for multiple travel to Europe only at £600. Does that figure sound typical?

I did get anti sickness pills, so I'm not feeling too bad. Although they're given me steroids to take today and they've told me to take them early as chances are they will stop me from sleeping. I'd kill for a decent nights sleep at the minute.

Aw Twitter thats rubbish At least you can have a break over Christmas and enjoy spending time with your family. I really hope you have a better year next year

purple I'm glad you got some tablets. Definitely take the steroids early on. Hopefully they won't affect you too much

I hope everyone's having a reasonable day. I am still in my PJs I feel bruised all over from the chemo. I'll have to get up later as I have choir rehearsal, but until then I am lazing under my blanket again

iVampire well I haven't even looked for travel insurance yet. I normally do that about a week before I travel and now this has happened I have so little info that I am going to wait until after my Appt on Thursday .

I am a Canadian citizen as well as Uk but I've had a google and I am not entitled to anything as I suspected.

I have no idea of the average figures sorry .

Macmillan used to have a list of recommended insurance providers, but they don't anymore, which is a shame. They just say to use a specialist one as they're usually cheaper/better suited.

Lots of people recommend insurancewith so they might be worth a look? I haven't used them myself. I can't remember the name of the company I used last year as it's all a bit of a blur

Leslie thanks for that link ,that company looks perfect.

www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/coping/practically/travelling-with-cancer/travel-insurance/specialist-policies-and-insurance-companies
I had non-cancer related cover but nothing else last time we travelled, so I have no recommendations I'm afraid.
Leslie have fun at choir and get back under the blanket. I have choir on Thursdays, so even though I'm chemo-weary, I'm steroided up!

I feel a bit bummed out today as I think my ascites is on its way back, which as well as being uncomfortable and unsightly, is possibly a sign chemo isn't doing what it should be. Which is doubly shit as my last CA125 was normal for the first time in months. What a warped rollercoaster this is.

Thanks all!

I found a list on leukaemiacare.org.uk as well (which has quite an overlap with the cancerresearchuk list)

Multi-travel annual for 1 year, based on no change to medical info, £600. Single trips cost ranges from £150 to £180.

I found people on the phone were really helpful (significantly more so that ‘regular’ companies) and happy to do an illustrative estimate. They clearly have an industry-standard underlying script as I was asked the same questions by all companies I tried.

So ggirl I was wondering if it might be worth you ringing one today to find out what questions are on your script so you can make sure you cover them all at your appointment

m.leukaemiacare.org.uk/resources/travel-insurance-companies

nicky you're brave going to choir on steroids grrrr at the possible ascites. I hope it's not that. When do you next have a check up?

Waving to everyone

Hi guys
Feel a bit of a fraud joining here as not diagnosed with anything but bit freaked out as just had scan due to unexplained bloating (wanting to eliminate ovarian cancer). Obviously the sonographer doesn’t say anything but spent ages on one side and hardly any on other side. Then did an internal scan. May be nothing but has really freaked me out. Results won’t be with gp for five days. Would be grateful for any feedback/support.
Also sending to everyone here.

Hi Sketchily sorry you've got this to worry about. I hope you'll get some reassuring answers soon. I'm sure there's lots of possible non-cancer explanations, but of course you'll worry about the worst case scenario until that's ruled out

Twitter I took my manky toe to the podiatrist, and thought of you. How are you doing?

Thanks Whatwould. You’re right and I’m feeling a bit more positive already. Whatever happens, I’ll just deal with it.

And eat cake.

Bit concerned my last post sounded a bit flippant. Certainly didn’t mean that. Just nervous and trying to be upbeat. Anyway results next Friday.

And thanks again for this thread.

Not flippant at all, Sketchily

Eating cake is an excellent coping strategy

Sketchily i am at that worrying stage of waiting for news as well ..its hard . I hope you get good news , I'm trying to stay positive , then get moments of panic . I have appointment tomorrow but not sure that will give me any definite answers .

IVampire good idea ..what sort of questions did they ask you?

They might have different scripts for different types of cancer.

IIRC, I was asked how long since diagnosis, whether I had been advised not to travel, or been advised to limit activities, if I had received a bone marrow transplant, whether I was on chemo at present (I explained the targeted drug I’m on) and if I took other meds including regular painkillers, and if I had been told it was terminal, and if any further investigations were pending.

BTW the one on the link I posted earlier (Insure Cancer) wouldn’t quote for me btw - they specialise in those with considerably more hostile treatment regimes,

Ah ok thanks , I went through the screening for the one Leslie linked to but something went wrong right at the end and I couldn't be bothered to do it again . I will make sure I get some answers re travel tomorrow .
I can't see them being able to give me a diagnosis tomorrow ..not from a CT ??

Whatwould thanks for your kind words of support. Twitter I’ve been following your earlier threads and sorry to hear the news isn’t better.
ggirl I hope you get some positive news tomorrow and that you can go on your trip. I should imagine they wouldn’t do much treatment over Christmas anyway, so will be happy for you to go.

Good luck to everyone having treatment and waiting for results today. ggirl I was diagnosed on the basis of a CT - although I suspect the protocols for different types of cancer diagnosis vary - so they might be able to give you some news. I hope it is good news. Sketchily waiting is scary, but as Leslie says, there are other, better possible explanations too. I hope the cake helps stave off the panic in the meantime. Did they give you blood tests alongside the ultrasound? Leslie - hope you've got your fluffiest chemo slippers on today as it's a bit parky out there. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a hot blanket ..!

Are you having chemo again today nicky? I've got two more weeks off - switched to three week cycles for a bit, yay! :) it's nippy today so stay cosy, and fingers crossed for a hot blanket!

ggirl good luck today did they biopsy the lump during the colonoscopy? Hopefully they can at least give you some answers today even if not a full diagnosis.

I hope everyone has a good supply of

Nicky, yes they did a blood test too. And a stool test. So I’m properly checked out!