Crack open the wine... it's CANCER SUPPORT THREAD 61!

[WhatWouldLeslieKnopeDo]

Some of us have been here a while and others have only just joined. If you're lurking, feel free to say hello. We are quite friendly really.

You are welcome to join us, whatever sort of cancer you have, or if you're waiting for tests to find out whether you have cancer or not (we hope not!)

Our previous thread is here. Do check it out if you're new as there's lots of useful information in the first few posts.

Best wishes to everyone who finds themselves here

ggirl what fantastic news. So pleased for you.

TQ re DD I have had my gp do a review with me on blood tests before - nothing serious wrong but something they wanted to discuss.

Leslie sorry you are feeling rubbish still and hope the nurses manage to sort you out.

I got a bit over confident today I think and did and ate a bit too much. Consequently been throwing up tonight . I'm hoping that's all it is anyway as I feel better now. We're due a snowstorm tomorrow (not UK before you panic!) so would be a big hard to get to hospital but hopefully won't need to go back in...again.....

bit not big. Stupid autocorrect.

Tayto I hope you feel better today and fingers crossed the snow doesn't cause you problems

TQ might just be because she's been in hospital so they want to see how she is. I hope she can get seen quickly so she isn't waiting/wondering too long :)

My pain is now under control, phew. I feel quite drowsy from the morphine so not doing much. And it seems to be aggravating my urine retention. Nothing is ever straightforward is it?!

Leslie I'm glad to read that the pain is better, but it's such a shame that the knock-on effects are rubbish. Sending love.
Tayto fingers crossed you have a better day today.
TQ I hope DD3's review turns out to be a routine/belts and braces thing. It's so hard not to worry though, however grown-up your DC are.

Three up 3 more times overnight . Calling surgeon's secretary when it gets to office hours. Don't actually feel too bad though.

On the plus side have now realised who Leslie Knope is . Glad your pain is under control Leslie.

Leslie glad the pain has gone and that you're more comfortable - even with a misbehaving bladder. I hope they get that sorted soon.

My crochet skills are improving! I can do popcorns now and need to send my squares off to Woolly Hugs next week.

Tayto sorry to hear you've been sick so much. Could be stress? I get nauseous when I'm dehydrated too.

DD's appt is a week tomorrow, so not long to wait.

Tayto sorry to hear that. I hope you get some answers from the surgeon probably a side effect of everything readjusting

TQ well done on the popcorns :)

I hope everyone has a good day

ggirl Fantastic news
TQ Fingers crossed that DD is doing ok and the review is simply routine.
Tayto Sorry to hear you're still being sick and hoping you got some answers from surgeon's secretary
Leslie I'm pleased to hear your pain is under control. Now if we can have a serious word with your bladder

Today is my one year cancerversary (to quote Leslie). I've posted more on my ovarian cancer discovery thread but wanted to say a HUGE thank you to everyone here - so much support, so badly needed and so much appreciated.

Leslie how are you getting on with your syringe driver? Have you managed to speak to anyone yet about a scan or more investigations into what could be causing the pain?

Nicky how did you get on yesterday? I was in and out in record time, though my nurse was spectacularly uncommunicative. The shakes are showing me up again - I spilled my glass of water all over the waiting room floor. My bloods were up on last month, which I take to be a good sign - higher wbc, plts and neuts. Are you feeling any better?

Tatyto have you stopped being sick yet? what did the doc say?

Waving to everyone else.

twitter i've just read your post on your other thread...but for some reason I'm completely welded to this thread, so am posting here. I just wanted to say I think you're absolutely marvellous. It must have been an extraordinary year and not in a good way. But you are coping so brilliantly. I find friends are funny...I told VERY few people as I didn't need chemo I could get away with it. even then...my very closest friends, some were frankly a bit crap....others surprised the hell out of me by being above and beyond brilliant and supportive - importantly still making me laugh.
Anyway will stop rambling, but um I'm raising a glass to your anniversary and if there's anything you can think of that I could do to help (um stop writing nonsense?!!!) then just let me know!
leslie how are you feeling today...i hope bladder has remembered what it's there for
tayto hope the vomitting has stopped and you're feeling well
genie hope radiotherapy is behaving....
waving to everyone else....

Hello everyone

Congratulations on your cancerversary TQ

wombat your stern words obviously worked as my bladder is behaving much better now, thankfully :)

freddie how's work going?

Pain and nausea still under control and I'm managing to eat a bit more. Phew. I might try and go for a little walk around the block later to get some fresh air and hopefully stop being quite so achy :) I've been sitting in the garden lots. Hopefully spring is well on its way now...

I hate being attached to the pump. It makes me really grumpy, disproportionately so. I just want to put the stupid bag down and wander off must stop being such a wimp!

leslie work today is a woman, who invited her cousin to live with her and her fiance....the cousin ran off with her fiance....horrid cousin.

AND a woman who's lost 6st..the transformation is extraordinary....So sort of an interesting day...
And er....I've never 'met' anyone less wimpy than you..glad pain and nausea more under control...and want to know where you live that you can be sitting in the garden...non stop drizzle here in west london

leslie I'm Pleased to hear you're feeling a little better despite being hooked up.

tq I'm sorry your daughter has this ongoing question mark hanging over her and of course you too as dm.

genie how is the radiotherapy going?

I've finally got my pre op appt through for next Thursday. As I have medication for high bp I've decided to monitor it myself for the next week to get a true reading. I did the first measurement a little while ago and it was 201/102, that's with medication. I've called my gp surgery and the first appt they can give me is Wednesday to see a doctor. I'm going to fail the pre op aren't I? I can call Monday at 8 for an emergency appt if I'm quick. I can't believe it, after all the pain of getting this operation sorted out. I know I'm stressed, I have pains in my chest at times, like now. I have no idea how long a new medication might take to bring my bp down. I can't bear the thought that my op might be cancelled. Does anyone know anything about bp treatment?

To add insult to injury I developed a uti yesterday, I've never had one in my life. Fortunately I was able to get antibiotics from the out of hours dr last night and they're working. I'm so fed up.

MrsRhod I'm so sorry. The world is conspiring against you. on your behalf. My BP is a trouble too, though nothing like as bad as yours. I was always marginal for chemo last year. Luckily they don't take it now.

Leslie YOU ARE NOT A WIMP. glad to hear things are improving.

Freddie Thank you for your lovely words

Most annoying things said to me:

• I'm sure you'll be up and about again in no time
• Eat broccoli! It's a fantastic superfood and has proven cancer prevention properties
• You look so well! You're obviously doing really well.
• You must have delicate veins (this from my DSis, after 19 chemos, 2 ops, 5 scans, many, many blood tests, etc etc, when I mentioned bruising on my hand....

MrsRhod - no experience with BP stuff but wanted to wish you well and hope that surgery goes ahead after every hurdle you've leapt so far. Maybe they can give some anxiety meds which together with the BP drugs might calm things enough to get through the pre-med?
TQ congrats on the anniversary (although that's a bizarre sentiment); it's my 3 year one on Mother's Day. I'm glad they think all going well - good luck with the scan on the 19th. Mine is at the end of the month, reporting on the 4th. All my bloods were good apart from Hgb, so I had a big long transfusion with the chemo yesterday, which the onc hopes will make me feel a bit more sprightly. Ascites will be drained next Fri, which again, ought to help; as you know, there's nothing like 11 litres of fluid hanging off your mid-section to make you feel a bit sluggish! Sending lots of good wishes to your daughter and hope it's a routine call back - maybe some kind of post-viral thing showing up in her bloods?
Leslie - pleased that the hospice managed to sort you a home visit and the morphine is doing the biz (and that wombat's instructions to your bladder have come good!). Maybe you could work your decorative magic on the pump bag and get it to match your awesome footwear, to make it feel more a part of you?! And you are the absolute opposite of a wimp. You are a superhero.
ggirl - awesome news for you. So happy for you.
tayto - hope you're feeling a bit better. I puked for England after my hyster/oophorectomy fest, for about 2 weeks solid. I had an ng for a few days and hated it. Then after a little while I think my body got over the shock and everything started working more normally. I hope the same for you.
In response to some of the most 'helpful' comments from friends list:
"I don't know anything about how hard chemo is, but the weight loss suits you"
"She refused a blood transfusion because the blood is so mucky"
"Big pharma are killing you; you need Kale and cannabis"
"Having no body hair must be a bonus; I should get me some chemo"
"You won't die, you're such a positive person"
I'm sure they meant well ...

I'm torn between rolling my eyes and laughing out loud at these bizarre comments. What on Earth are people thinking?! well done TQ and nicky for not walloping them!

mrsrhod I hope the UTI clears up quickly and that they can sort your blood pressure too. You must be so frustrated after your efforts to get the op scheduled. Hopefully today's reading was just a fluke...

freddie that sounds interesting. I always wonder if these people are real, but obviously they are as you've met them! To be fair I haven't been outside much today, but earlier in the week. It started drizzling this afternoon sadly.

nicky good they're planning to drain you again soon, and I hope the transfusion gives you a boost too

I'm hoping the pump will come off on Monday or Tuesday but if not might have to customise a little bag for it. It's currently in a shopping bag.

Any exciting weekend plans anyone? Thinking of everyone waiting for results and appointments and whatnot. I hope you have good distractions :)

What about this one leslie?

TQ congratulations on the anniversary - if that is the right thing to say.

Nicky and TQ at the things people have said to you - what were they thinking?! Personally at this stage I'm very grateful for big pharma and modern medicine in general.

Leslie really glad you are up and about.

I'm back in hospital. Couldn't stop throwing up (I think about 13/14 times in the end). There is a blockage but they think will clear on own. Had dreaded Ng tube but this nurse was much better and tried different ways rather than just jabbing. Also used anaesthetic gel which helped. Throat sore from tube but otherwise comfortable. Being in here did mean I got my results. It is a cancerous tumour (forget exact term) and had worked into outer layer of gut but not further so T3. Only one lymph node out of 47 was infected (they said it might be a false positive) and no Mets as far as they can see. Not sure if I will need chemo or not. They didn't give me a stage but looking at the Macmillan chart might be a 3 (?).

Hehe that looks good!

Oh bum Tayto sorry to hear that. (And obviously I cross posted so my previous comment was about the bag!)

I think if there's lymph node involvement then it's always stage 3, but it's good there was only one. So that's relatively good news by the sound of it, in cancerland anyway! they're generally over cautious so I'd reckon on having chemo if there's any doubt, then it'll be a pleasant surprise if they say not needed

I'm glad you had a nicer nurse but sorry you need the NG tube. I hope they can remove it soon

Sorry - another one. I need to vent tonight.

"But I wouldn't feel right if I didn't come in with you." this again was from DSis when I'd asked her 3 times to just drop me off at the hospital, not park and walk me in. Parking is a total nightmare at my hospital. I didn't want her to come in with me. She wasn't listening to me. What I wanted to say was:

It's not about you! I don't fucking care whether you feel right or not! Can you please just do as I've asked, NOT WHAT YOU DECIDE YOU'RE GOING TO DO REGARDLESS OF THE FACT I'VE ASKED YOU NOT TO DO IT.

She then went back and complained to family about me being prickly and defensive. She is always someone who will decide what to do on your behalf, because obviously she knows better - not do what you've asked her to do.

Sorry, ranting again.

Tayto I hope you're feeling more comfortable now. How long are you likely to be in for?

Glad it's not just my family being bonkers TQ. My mum had a go at me the day after surgery for not telling her as much as my father in law . This was despite me explaining to her that the reason we hadn't told anyone anything was that we didn't know as surgeon hadn't done rounds. She also got in a strop as I didn't call her that week (I wasn't calling anyone as didn't feel up to it). I know us because she is worried but as you say - it is not about them!

Feeling much more comfortable apart from throat thanks . I don't know how long I'll be in for - just a few days until they get blockage cleared again.

Thanks Leslie as you say best to plan for worst and then be pleasantly surprised. At least I might get to speak to people about it while in here.

Hey everyone.
Leslie I am so glad that your bladder heard my stern words

I want to admit that tonight I have been out celebrating. As I reported - my lung cancer has been removed (I'm aware that it is likely to return). I had an ultrasound today for the swelling in my neck (this is so outing to anybody who knows me because I have made the same joke about 8 times today) It has been diagnosed as "fatty tissue" and not sinister. I have reported that it is no surprise as I have fat in my stomach, arse,thighs etc. (I am overweight)
All good news but I feel really flat. I can't describe it.. When I was first diagnosed with the cancer, I drank 2 bottles of wine in one night, listened to sad music and cried my eyes out. That was that. Not a tear shed since, but here I am again listening to sad tunes and feeling really emotional. Why when the news is good? I think I am just overwhelmed by it all.
I go next week for the results of the MRI on the tumour in my pelvis and I also see the consultant for the hyperparathyroidism.
One step at a time.
Sorry for the pity party.

Hey Wombat I'm all in favour of a large glass or two of . Whatever gets you through has got to be a good thing IMHO. A good friend of mine wants to cut down her 90 year old father's whisky consumption - I told her I couldn't see why!

I'm not surprised you're tearful tbh. It's probably a mix of relief, sadness at still being in such a shitty situation, the horrors you've been through already... and an uncertain future.

I hope you're feeling better this morning. And don't worry about those fatty lumps! I've got a fair few too - all combined into one big one on my stomach! I've got good legs though . Good luck with the MRI.

I think overwhelmed is probably right wombat. You spend a long time being strong, pushing positive thoughts ahead of the negative ones and just holding firm, I think it's inevitable that there's a rush of emotion when you get a reprieve and it doesn't always come in the way you expect it to ... particularly when you have more results to come. No need to apologise either - particularly when you can still make jokes about fatty tissue. I have plenty of fatty tissue and sadly not even TQ's good legs! Wishing you the best for the MRI.
Tayto - sorry to hear of your diagnosis. As Leslie says it's good in the scheme of things that only one lymph is involved and it seems to be confined to the abdominal area. I hope they can give you some greater clarity while you're in hospital about the plan forward. Good luck with the NG - I found it very uncomfortable but it does give your guts a bit of a rest to let everything calm down I guess.