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

Sulk away - is she often like that?

I’m fundamentally OK (AFAIK - continuing stable, next tests towards end of this month, next results in May)

But I know just what you mean about brain fog. I’m tired all the bloody time (asleep at 8:30 yesterday). It doesn’t help harmonious family relationships that I’m often tetchy when tired - especially as it’s still school hols, house is a tip and DS’s room sometimes smells peculiar. I am trying valiantly to ignore it all until next week

Hope everyone else is calm and as well as they can be

Hi TQ I'm sorry to hear you had such a disappointing evening. I had kind of the opposite last week when dh and I went out for the day for my birthday, first day out since my operation three weeks ago and dd2 came with us as she was home from university for the holidays. She hardly spoke all day, made lunch really awkward and completely ignored/misunderstood what a big deal it was for me to just have a nice day. When you don't feel well and don't get to go out that often you really look forward to it and just want it to be nice and for people to behave. Sulk away, you've been upset by someone who should know better and it sometimes takes a while to get over it.

Twitterqueen1 it sure does suck when people who should make going out enjoyable, do just the opposite. Makes you want to just scream!
I can definitely relate.

mrsrhod belated birthday and anniversary wishes, and sorry about the mammogram scare I think they just don't realise how worrying it is. I suppose because they do them all day every day. When will you get the results? I expect it was just a bit blurry as a finger would surely look quite distinctive against breast tissue

Tayto ah yes I don't miss oxaliplatin. I had special touchscreen gloves to use my phone as the screen was too cold. The worst bit was having to have all drinks at room temperature. I'm assuming the tablets are capecitabine? The side effects are generally much more tolerable than the oxaliplatin - just some nausea, dry skin etc. Keep your hands well moisturised and if you start to feel even the tiniest bit queasy start taking the antisickness medications!

penguins that sounds promising :) good luck for the full colonoscopy!

nicky sorry you're feeling so grim

Best wishes to everyone.

Busy day here - started off with an A&E trip as my temperature just will not behave. All tests clear and I was released just in time to see my oncologist at a different hospital. He was very reassuring. I have a new medication plan so fingers crossed :) I had to have injections from the district nurses during the night as I was just throwing up constantly and in lots of pain. I think it's partly the antibiotics for my UTI so I'll be glad when I have finished those! Thank heavens for the NHS

to iVampire and TQ

So sorry you've been so ill Leslie - hope things start to improve soon.

Thank you. I'm already feeling much better for having see my oncologist and not been measured up for a coffin right then and there. And the pain has eased too.

Did DS enjoy the red pandas? It's a shame DD didn't want to go. Did you get a good rest?

In my eagerness to catch up I missed the bit about the too-high couch did he lower it or did you manage to jump up in the end?!

During my colonoscopy I was asked if my parents were related to each other the condition I have is genetic but only needs one dodgy gene so it wouldn't make any difference if they were!

at them asking if your parents are related! Glad you're feeling a bit better

at are your parents related!

Glad you are feeling much better and hope you will be here for as long as possible. DS loved the red pandas thank you and at 8pm last night his best friends Mum sent a message saying he could come and they had only just noticed, he was ecstatic. I just stayed home, but was last day of antibiotics. DH reckons I will be on them again in 2 days and says I'm too ill to go to my office in London on Friday but I may try and just come back early if I can't do whole day. Just hoping London isn't on the missile route between Russia and US.

They did lower the couch for me though was still above waist height I got new flat shoes as my only trips out seem to be for hospitals but I may need high heels for my colonoscopy.

Thank you everyone
I'm feeling better now. The DDs were out today so I've had a lovely day resting on my own. I do like my own company

Leslie sorry to hear of your pain and troubles. That middle of the night stuff must be grim but hopefully your new plan will ease things.

MrsRhod thankfully my DDs are brilliant - unfortunately they've had practice with their father's illness. They don't fuss but they do make me feel cared for.

iVamp my DSis is NEVER wrong. She cannot be wrong because she is so considerate and caring and always takes everyone else's opinions into account before deciding of course that hers is absolutely the best path...... sorry, now I'm being bitchy.

penguins I'm glad DS enjoyed the red pandas and that his friend was able to go :) have your symptoms improved? Keep nagging, if not - better to get on top of it sooner than later. How long will it take you to get to/from London? Can you avoid rush hour? It's a bit ambitious but I suppose if you don't try you won't know :)

Stilettos and the special Velcro colonoscopy pants will be a stylish combination!

TQ ah, bliss. I love a day to myself sometimes too. Other humans are annoying! Especially your sister by the sound of it my mum is driving me mad trying to be the most helpful. Maybe we can lock her and your sister away together somewhere for a few days so we can have some peace :)

I am feeling much better with my new medication regime, but a bit peckish. I am on fluids only for three days. I didn't have much appetite yesterday or the day anyway, but today I'm starting to feel hungry. I imagine that's a sign that my body is recovering. I might try some gentle soup later.

Sorry for the interrogation there penguins

Interrogate away Leslie , its lovely to have someone to chat to.

Glad to hear you are starting to feel better. I am not feeling that great but I'm not sure if its just the after effects of meds / surgery / trying to work or the ongoing things aren't any better. Work are really hassling me and I'm quite borderline on just going off sick, my colleague has at least taken over some of my work but I need him to understand it before it will ease. We are about an hour out of London and my husband will drop me at the station, the train is easy as you get a seat, there's a 10 minute walk from the station to work which is slightly manic but I think I can do and if not someone will help. Office is just sitting down then same back and I can get a taxi from station home. I am a bit wobbly and don't want anyone to send me to hospital but work have agreed I can leave early if ill so should be OK. There's an office move and I need to sign my contract otherwise I would stay home.

It's only two inch heels, definitely can't do stilettos

Hi everyone. I'm new on this thread and up till today wouldn't dream of posting as I was convinced there wasn't anything to post about. But today I've felt really tired and started to feel scared so here I am!

I found a puckering under my left breast on Thursday last week so went to see my gp on Monday. He found a small lump in the lymph node of my left armpit. He has referred me to the breast team at my local hospital as an "urgent" referral.

I've spoken to the hospital and I should be seen within three weeks. I have waited till today to google these symptoms and now I've scared myself silly.

My paternal aunt has had breast cancer and a paternal uncle died of an unknown (to me) cancer in his early twenties.

I could get an appointment on Monday and have all the tests privately and get all the results probably even before my nhs appointment comes through.

I just don't know, it seems statistically very few breast changes are cancer so if it's not it's an awful waste if money, but if it is something ......

We could afford to pay it I can just think of better uses for the money .....

(Sorry for the length of post )

Welcome MrsPotter!

I hope this is only a brief stay for you, but it’s the right place. Though I hope to be waving you goodbye soon.

The not knowing what’s up part of early testing is one of the most difficult bits.

I can see why you might want to get to knowledge more quickly. Could you sleep on the decision?

Mrs Potter - delurking to say that I was in the same position as you regarding a v large ovarian cyst (22cm). I needed a CT scan and didn't want to wait so rang my GP to ask her to refer me privately. She talked me out of it. I could afford the scan but not surgery or chemo. She said waiting a few more days wouldn't be clinically harmful and it's better not to chop and change. 'Things get lost', she said. 'Save your money and have a lovely holiday when this is over.'

In the event, the NHS hospital wanted me to have an MRI as well as the CT scan, and arranged both on the same day within the 2 week pathway. MRIs are ££. So I'm glad I followed her advice. (And my cyst wasn't malignant.)

But waiting is the pits. Stay away from google. That lymph node under your arm could well be just an infection.

The NHS are supposed to see you in 2 weeks - I've gone private for my latest checks but just as I have insurance via work. With my private I started on Wed GPs appointment on Fri, initial consultation on Tues and then 2 week wait for actual test. So not much quicker if the 3 weeks is the test but maybe check if its the test or initial consultation. I've found the NHS can be slow if you are not put through on the 2ww, the bladder one took 6 months. I presume urgent is the 2 week wait. Hope its nothing.

Basically I wouldn't bother going private if you are through on the 2ww but when you've been put non-urgent I would.

Hi Mrspotter hopefully you won't need to be here long :) firstly step away from Google! Did they definitely say three weeks? The urgent referral is usually two weeks, but they may have a bit of a backlog. Try not to panic too much as pretty much all breast referrals are urgent. If private appointments are available at that short notice then I'd wait a bit and see if you get an NHS appointment in the next few days. It's easier not to be in two systems, and the NHS breast clinics are very efficient - you will often get results, or at least some indication, on the same day too. Then you can spend your money on something more fun :)

penguins that does sound quite doable. And I find being a "real human" for a bit is such a mood boost so I reckon go for it. As long as you're sensible and leave early/take a taxi etc as needed.

I am in wales so we don't have the two week turnaround.

Feeling brighter this afternoon though, went out and then actually managed to cook tea for the family!!!

Oh that's a pain! Sorry I didn't realise the rules were different in different areas hopefully you'll be seen before the three weeks. The waiting to find out is the worst bit. But it's nice you've managed some "normality" :) it does help.

DH also brought me a couple of beers!!! Don't really know what got into me this morning, just felt so meh! Feeling a bit brighter tonight though!
Thanks for letting me join in guys ❤️

Cheers! :)

DS just told me that I am not well enough to do a whole day at work and I won't be able to stay awake for 5 hours 😂 He does have a point 😳 so I have told work I will just come in for 2 hours and do rest from home.

That seems like a good compromise :) out of the mouths of babes... good luck today!

I'm having a follow up blood test today after my brief A&E visit the other morning.