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

Hi everyone- just wanted to pop my head in and wish you all a happy Christmas. I've been lurking since being diagnosed with metaplastic breast cancer back in July. My last chemo is on Weds and then on to rads

Leslie hope you feel better soon, glad the pain is improving.

Best wishes for the new year everyone xx

And carbuckety Hope your daughter can come home soon xx

Sending every good vibe for your daughter, carbuckety.

Hi all
I just wanted to stop by and wish everyone every possible best wish for the days ahead. I have been hiding from Mumsnet since May, largely to give my head a chance to move on amongst other things but I shall forever be grateful for the support and help I received on this thread. Lots of love and strength to everyone . Deutsch xx

All the best, everyone, and Merry Christmas.

I have STBX staying - something I would not have contemplated usually - but he’s pulling his weight when I can’t pull mine because of tiredness, and it seems to be working. He’s going to take DC to midnight mass (and I hope they’ll come in quietly!) then we’ll all sleep late tomorrow. Then just us together with a good lunch at home.

I hope everyone has as good a day as they can, and are either with the right people or in the right place, and ideally both!

Merry Christmas everyone and here's to hoping 2018 is a healthy and happy one

I hope everyone has the best day possible tomorrow, even if that just means feeling ok rather than crappy from treatments

Hello all. This is my first post on here so am not really sure of the thread etiquette! I have Pmed the OP waves to Leslie a few days ago (diff name) and have decided to post mainly as am struggling this eve and feel it isn't fair to talk to those who I usually have been speaking to. I don't have a diagnosis and am very aware that I am essentially coming on to a thread where most of you do and stressing about something that hasn't actually happened yet. That was my reason for being worried about posting.

I have been ill for 2 months and long story short they have ruled a lot of things out and now suspect lymphoma (I have seen the letter, that is what it says and what I was told). I was referred urgently and the nhs lost the referral internally so it has only been processed because I phoned to nag...I now have an appointment for Thur. I can't help being pissed off that if it had been done properly I would have had the appointment before Christmas.

My anxiety has been helped somewhat by being given citalapram which has taken the edge off. As prior to that I was fairly hysterical. I am feeling a bit reflective because it is this time of year and you are kind of urged to look back and look to the future and make plans etc...

I have been lurking for a few days and I really hope you all have as nice a Christmas as possible and feel as well as you can be on the day. Sending mince pies and or to you all

I think the waiting to find out is the worst part of it Misty, I know it's difficult but you need to remember there's a whole load of other things that this could be and even if it is cancer the odds are on your side. No the treatment isn't much fun but it's perfectly doable, I'm over halfway through mine and I'm still at work.

I know it won't stop you worrying but there's absolutely nothing you can do at the minute so try to put it to the back of your mind and enjoy your Christmas

misty as purple says waiting is agony and I'm sorry you are doing that this week of all weeks. I hope you manage to be a bit distracted and have a few moment of peace.

Happy Christmas to everyone else and thank you all for this marvellous thread. I hope everyone manages some Christmas cheer and I'll be remembering those who we lost along the way. Now....where's the snow??

Just popped in to say Merry Christmas to you lovely lot , hope everyone manages to raise a smile (and a glass or a mug ) inbetween treatments/waiting etc .

misty lots of people join us before they have a diagnosis, so don't worry about that though we are always pleased when people turn out not to have cancer and we can wave them on their way. As others have said, the waiting is the hardest part. Especially as you've been waiting months. I'm glad you've got medication to help.

Sorry not to reply to everyone individually. I was thinking of you all yesterday, but didn't feel well enough to post. We ended up in A&E in the evening as my temperature was playing up and got to the dreaded 38. Of course by the time I got there it was back to normal they filled me up with fluids, but thankfully my blood results were fine so I was allowed home!

I hope everyone had as lovely a day as possible yesterday

The TQ household had a lovely relaxing day, sitting, eating and generally chilling out. We managed to make the present opening last until nearly 7pm - I think that's a record! It's not that we have zillions of presents, we just do them one by one, go for a walk, watch tv etc etc.

Sorry to hear yours wasn't quite so chilled Leslie, I'm sure A&E appreciated your company though.

I'm heading north tomorrow to see my Dad and then east to see my brother. Looking forward to a few days break - as long as I don't get too many questions. Dad asks the same things over and over again, which is very tiring and I don't really want to go into too much detail right now.

That sounds lovely TQ I'm very impressed with the prolonged present opening! I hope you enjoy your trip and don't get pestered too much. Families can be difficult when everyone has their own way of dealing with things, and not necessarily compatible with yours

The A&E staff were so lovely. The tea lady even had mince pies to hand out.

Hello. I’m currently terrified. Red rash on left breast, I’ve been referred to breast clinic. I’m scared it’s inflammatory breast cancer. That was just on Thursday. (It only appeared maybe Tuesday).

Since then, I’ve got pains all over my upper body, in arm0pits, down both arms, in shoulders, across back of neck and a burning sensation across my back. At first these were fleeting, but they are lasting longer now and appear to be mainly around left side. I can’t find any lumps though there are a few spots that are very tender if poked. The original rash has improved (with steroid cream) But is still def there.

I’m desperately hoping I’ve got some other kind of illness because it’s come on so quickly, but I keep reading IBC is aggressive and fast moving. Is it possible that it moves this fast? Anyone here know?

Thank you (and sorry you’re all here, though I’m glad to have you to ask...)

Welcome FatMe, but I am sorry you need to be here. What a worry for you hopefully someone who knows more about breast cancer will be along shortly to advise. I'd imagine it's more likely to be either a virus and/or anxiety making you tense. You'll be much more alert to the slightest symptom at the moment. I hope that you get your clinic appointment quickly

FatMe could your rash be a shingles?

Hello Milly and Leslie, do you know, I’m pinning all my hopes on it being shingles. It doesn’t look particularly like shingles, and I’ve had shingles before, so it would be unusual, but absolutely everything else would point at shingles.

And thanks for your replies. It means a lot. I’m surrounded by family but haven’t told any of them.

It's especially tricky at this time of year when there's so much pressure to be cheerful and you don't want to "burden" people with worries. Have you any real life support though? Fingers crossed it's slightly different looking shingles!

I do, thank you. My DH knows. And is being concerned but without losing his head. He’s a good ‘un.

Think I’m going to go GP tomorrow if I can get appointment and ask them. I’m driving myself nuts.

I'm glad he's being supportive. Seeing the GP sounds sensible. If it's shingles they might be able to give you something stronger for the pain as well. Good luck

Hello lovely lacies. I just wanted to wish each abd every one of you a very happy Christmas and more than anything else peace of mind during the ups and downs of cancer times.
I've been given the results of my dexa scan (bones) and it suggests I have some osteoporosis mainly in my left femur. Happy days! I've been told this is a consequence of my treatment...sigh.
Anyways, it's not bad and I 've started the injections to combat it.
I hope you're all doing as well as can be.

Oh great, just one more thing you could do without royalmama but I hope the injections are straightforward ones and they do their stuff.

Have you managed to get an appointment, FatMe ?

My post-Xmas bloods were fine - first time I’ve consciously worried about how they would be. Possibly because although alcohol is not banned, I should drink in strict moderation only. That slipped a bit over Xmas...

Vampire I completely forgot to ask at my last appointment wether or not I'm allowed to drink alcohol so I played it safe and didn't have a drop, and I got lots of lovely alcohol gifts for Xmas too more to celebrate with in a few weeks if I'm lucky enough to get the all clear

I hope your feeling better Leslie

Good luck with the GP today Fatme, let us know how you get on. Fingers crossed it's nothing more than shingles

Good morning

nicky I hope your last chemo of this round is going well and that you are wrapped up warmly!

royal that's a pain. Is it causing any symptoms? Hopefully the injections will sort it out how often are the injections?

FatMe thinking of you and hoping you have managed to see your GP

iVampire great news about your bloods, especially with the extra Christmas indulgence

purple one of my oncologists positively encouraged drinking, but I don't drink so it was wasted on me! Hopefully you'll be able to enjoy all your treats in a few weeks. How are you feeling?

My chemo isn't until next week because the chemo unit has been so busy with the bank holidays. So a few extra days of freedom!