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

I got the dreaded 'P' word today - as in palliative. I'm not ready for this.

Nicky Niraparib / Zejula is not suitable for me as I am definitely platinum resistant.

Apparently if I do have the BRAC gene other options / trials may be available but I won't get the results for 10-12 weeks. I've got a 50% one year outcome prognosis.

Well, that's a bit of a headfuck if you'll pardon the expression there isn't really much to say, Twitter except to send you a huge hug. I hope the genetic results will open up some more options for you. Do you have anyone with you for real life support this evening?

Hey Leslie it is indeed the biggest headfuck of all time. My very good friend (OC stage 1c 2 years ago) of 20+ years was with me at the consultant appt. We have the same consult & onc nurse and she had her 4 month check up earlier, so we met in the cancer clinic and then went on to lunch.

I had bloods for chemo starting on the 11th and the BRAC gene test. If the gene test is positive there are apparently other trials available. Poor Lisa! She doesn't like doing bloods and she had an active audience of 2 and an additional passive audience of 1 (ie me looking the other way!).

One day at a time is my mantra from now on.

One day at a time, indeed. Though I've had times where even that seemed too much. One minute, one breath if that's all you can manage right now.

I hope lunch involved lots of yummy treats!

Hi All, just thought I would post as seemingly at the start of my journey and could do with support and wisdom.Sorry for length of post.

6 weeks ago I had dodgy liver function results so had more tests and that resulted in an ulrasound.I was sure it would be all fine but radiologist said she had concerns and she would be fastpathing the scan to my GP. Complete shock but still thought it would be OK.

CT scan, MRI scan later shows tumors that may have spread and I was told yesterday N.E.T suspected which they will treat aggressively.

To complicate matters I was divorcing my abusive ex and the 1st scan was 2 days after court so I now have the added complication of finances which I agreed to assuming I would be working fulltime.
Plus I have to sell the family home and ideally move an hour up the road to be closer to family but that's not ideal if I have to have treatment.Not straighfoward!

Ex is awful, despite knowing I was undergoing treatment he threatened to take me to court to sign the order despite it only being a week and it was just before Christmas.He has also threatened to ask for my pension as "maybe I won't need it".
Our youngest is 11

Despite ex I am feel supported by wonderful family and friends and remaining positive.MDT meeting next week and I have nuclear scan booked.There are less keen to biopsy due to location and risk of bleeding but maybe the next step.

Still can't believe it as I feel reasonably well but would welcome any advice.

I have

Twitter that's shit. I'm so sorry ⚘

Twitter that must be a complete head fry...fucking cancer. Holding your hand....and suggesting gin. You take care..xx.

Aw that's bloody shit huge hugs Twitter and I'm keeping everything crossed that trials will help

Twitter so sorry to read that, does it really take 10+ weeks to get a BRAC result? I’m sounding incredulous because it was 10-14 days for my test for Philadelphia gene fault. Hoping typo, not that long in limbo.

Hi Hermione It sounds like an awful time for you. Have you got/can you get a SHL to insulate you from appalling STBX?

When will they do the next scan? Those early days, when they are still working out exactly what’s wrong (and how badly wrong) and then what the treatment options are, are really hard. And like you, I had the extra bafflement of not feeling unwell.

Happy New Year to everyone! Wishing everyone the best, even when you have to hunt really hard for any aspect that’s not utterly crappy.

I’ve been well enough to go away for a few days over New Year. First blood test of 2018 on Monday

iVampire I'm glad you managed to get away for a break :) fingers crossed for your first blood test of the year

Hermonie what a lot to have on your plate. Your ex sounds like a piece of work. I know moving during treatment isn't ideal, but if the facilities are similar then you may find it a lot easier to cope with your family available for support. Sorry you've had to join us you will almost certainly feel a little better about it once you have more concrete answers and a plan of action. All the dithering and testing and wondering is exhausting.

Twitter I hope you managed to get some sleep

Waving to everyone else on this rather chilly morning

Just came on to give hugs to @Hermione and @Twitter. You've both got so much on your plate I think "one day at a time" sounds perfect and hope you are getting opportunities to be good to yourselves. That goes for the rest of you x

Hi! I’ve just been directed over here by @whatwouldleslieknopedo

So, signing in... Thyroid cancer here! Nice (or not) to see you all here!

Hello Cookiesandwine :) welcome, but sorry you're part of the club!

Are you having treatment at the moment?

Waving to everyone and sending and and as appropriate

nicky I hope you're feeling much emptier by now

FatMe I hope you are OK after your appointment

I'm rather breathless today so abandoned plans for a (short) walk, but did make a foray to the supermarket and did some cooking, so I'm counting today as a success :)

Sounds like success!

I’ve had my op to remove tumour and nodes, starting radioiodine therapy in a few weeks. So a slight pause in the proceedings before I get radioactive!

Will have a read through the thread to get acquainted with everyone

Cookies sorry that you are here, but welcome. If you feel like it, please do share how you got here and what treatment you're having, etc. I know nothing about thyroid cancer so I don't know what to say to you... except sorry, cancer is shit.

I hope you are recovering well from your op. The radioiodine treatment sounds gruelling. There have been a couple of posters on here with thyroid cancer over the years but I don't think any have posted recently!

It’s rare apparently...how lucky for me

I had to have a full thyroid removal and left side neck dissection. Wasn’t a fun experience. Had some infections afterwards, horrid. Am now suffering with lymphadema, so that’s attractive. Having some lymphatic massage to try and get rid of it.

The radioiodine therapy is next. I’m just really looking forward to this whole process being done. I’ve forgotten what it’s like not to be a cancer patient and for people to just speak to you about normal things. I’m in my early 30s, and none of my friends have had it, so I feel like the giant elephant in the room.

I posted a link on the other thread, and you might already have come across them, but have you heard of cancer support? Lots of people in our age range (I'm mid twenties)

The surgery sounds tough, especially with the added complications. A few of the others have had lymphoedema in their breast/arm after surgery. I hope the massage helps :)

Oops sorry that link didn't work Shine Cancer support

Thanks, I’ll take a look!

Yes, the lumpy neck is not attractive!! Very much looking forward to it going down a bit.

I didn't realise you were so young Leslie with all your advice and words of wisdom I honestly thought you were much older.

Are you still here Stila? Just reading back through the thread and I noticed you have a scan this month. I hope everything's going as well as it can be if you're still reading this

So sorry TQ - it's a bitter blow. I hope you're being well loved by your friend tonight. Such a lot to process. I don't know if it helps you, but it helped me when my onc said that I could see it like living with a critical illness - you know you aren't going to get better but there could be plenty of good life between now and then. Sending you lots of love.
Thanks for your good wishes Leslie - the drain wasn't too bad. Got 10.5 litres off, so I'm a lot more comfortable now, if a little bit sore. And I got a hot croissant with real butter for breakfast - as I know hospital breakfasts are a hot topic - so that was a bonus! I hope you're less breathless tomorrow x
Sorry you find yourselves here cookies and Hermione but welcome xx

Bloody hell Nicky! I though my 8 litres was impressive but your 10.5 is mega! How on earth were you managing to move? And croissant? really? That's Kent for you I guess . We don't get that in Reading I can assure you.

Thank you for the love and good wishes - all much appreciated. I am single but blessed with good friends, though they're never around at 2 in the morning of course, when I'm lying awake in a panic in bed. The friends I've told don't know how to talk to me at the moment, which is making for some stilted telephone calls.

So sorry to hear your news TQ. Cancer really is a bit shit, isn't it?
Welcome newcomers, though sorry you have to be here. I hope everyone is having a good weekend.
I was approached by a stranger in Sainsburys yesterday who told me it was amazing and inspiring seeing someone 'embracing' cancer. It was quite nice really, though i did feel like mentioning that I'm not even having chemo yet, it's just that the NHS don't provide wig access to brain rads patients .

Much // to you all

Hello cookies I had thyroid cancer .and had rai in march last year. Happy to answers any qs.