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

Purple’ I’m so sorry to hear you already have one diagnosis and now the worry of another 2 week wait. I hope you’re not worrying too much, although I know it’s almost impossible to not have fleeting moments of worry. I hope it’s good news in 2 weeks!

How’s your treatment going with the cc?

Leslie I do have specialist nurses at the unit I can contact but only in the week. At the weekend I am meant to go to a+e with any issues but couldn't be bothered with this (especially as no temperature). I did find a lopemeride dosage protocol for chemo patients (from a reputable source!) online so followed that and it did the trick - well either that or the medicinal haribo!

Hello Twoo sorry you find yourself here but welcome anyway. I have ovarian cancer so can't help you with anything I'm afraid - but plenty of others will.

Swaying how's it going? I hope you're tucked up in a lovely recliner with your headphones on and browsing MN! The 1st time is always exhausting as you never know quite what's going to happen next.

Tayto, Purple and iVamp the waiting is the very worst time of all isn't it.

Leslie and Nicky how are you both doing?

I've just got back from my monthly consultant appt. All my side effects (pins & needles, mottled hands, exhaustion, irritated skin, mouth ulcers etc) are normal, which I knew, so it didn't take long. The next scan will be beginning of July I think, and then dependent on what that shows they will leave me alone for a while. That's the scary bit - since I didn't pick up on the cancer the first time around, how will I know when it starts growing again? Bloods I guess...

Thanks twoo I finished my treatment a couple of months ago, just waiting for the results. I should have had them last week but the hospital still haven't got round to sending them to my consultant so I have to wait until 8th May.

Have you told anyone about your referral?

Sorry you've got me back

Doctors wants me on 2ww for bladder / kidney cancer checks due to bleeing / clots and no uti. I'm going to try and get this privately - I did have a clear cystoscopy in February so not overly concerned though would prefer to get bleeing checked out as there was about 5 teaspooons of red blood - bit wierd. Work are being lovely but trying to get me signed off for a couple of months. I'm trying to resist as I will be bored plus not sure what I would be paid as I've no idea what sick pay is - thankfully we can manage without and I've paid for our summer holiday but still like to squirrel it away esp with my current health

Swaying Good luck for the chemo and so sorry about the worsening of prognosis.

TQ Impressed you are still managing to cook for dinner parties. My 12 year old is like that, everything will be done "in a second", four hours later it's still not done - argh.

Purple Hope you get your results soon and it's all clear.

Twoo Hope you get the all clear soon.

Leslie Hope you are feeling OK today and the breathless is improving.

Love to everyone else.

Aw penguins I would say it's nice to have you back but that's not quite the right thing to say on this thread** work kept trying to get me to go on the sick but I didn't feel too bad and I like to keep busy. I can have up to 8 weeks on full pay but I'm trying not to take them until I really need to.

Would you get in much quicker by going private? If you can afford it and it gives you peace of mind I think I would

Thanks Purple I have private medical insurance via work so its free, well last last of checks cost me £1. For cancer if you go through on 2ww not sure its much faster but anything not cancer is massively faster. The NHS hospital I am under for urology aren't very good and very slow - referred in August, appointment with consultant talking on his mobile end Sept, first test Nov, follow up start Jan with different doctor who disagreed with first one, next test with third doctor end Feb, follow up June so big gaps and they all disagree with each other. They've said they will just re-run all existing tests but haven't done anything to improve things so I've had to wfh since October (which I love) but not ideal symptom wise. Doctor said I should call them but they never answer the phone - I've tried but it was the ansaphone to someone on holiday. Previous attempt no one answered hospital switchboard all day, got through at 6pm and they said why didn't you try in the day everything is closed now - argh. Complaints line also doesn't answer.

Gynae I see a private hospital on NHS and that's much better, its about 100 metres from my house too.

How are you getting on? I'm going to resist being signed off as long ad possible but I may lose

Thank you TQ1. I wish you a speedy recovery!

Purple’ fingers crossed you get the all clear! It’s a worry isn’t it.

Thank you ‘Panda, sounds like you’re in the wars yourself

I would just like to say what a fantastic supportive thread this is! You are an awesome bunch of ladies and I very much appreciate your support. I’ve not told anyone in rl except dp; as I don’t want to worry anyone when hopefully it will be nothing significant. Doesn’t stop me worrying though.

One thought I picked up on this thread was about ‘going with the facts, rather than listen to the fear’, or something similar.

One tip I’ve used is to down load the Calm App. It’s very good and I think worth the cost.

Thank you all again and I’m sending positive vibes to all you lovely ladies in treatment.

Twoo unfortunately recovery is not an option. We talk about 'management' instead

Twoo good luck for 14th. I'm glad you've found the thread helpful :)

Tayto I'm glad you're feeling better. Thank goodness for the internet eh!

TQ I'm glad your appointment went OK. Fingers crossed for July!

penguins welcome back! I hope you can get an appointment very soon

Good luck to everyone waiting for results etc.

I went to the GP about my breathlessness this morning and she sent me to A&E. They couldn't find anything wrong, but have given me some precautionary antibiotics. It's a bit frustrating as I suspect I need to alter my asthma medication but I didn't actually get to discuss that with the GP as she immediately went into panic mode. I'll have to try again later in the week!

TQ1 I’m so very sorry to hear that How very awful for you and your family.

Please don’t think me flippant, in my ignorance I just didn’t realise as I’ve not read all posts.

Sending hugs.

Thank you Leslie, it cant come soon enough. Everyday I’m seeing changes, or think I am. For example my flesh around my side, back and arm pit seem to be filling with fluid. And an ache in blood where lung and thickening is is there more than it isn’t now.

I’ve everything crossed it’s an infection or such like. Or a complication of my spinal injury I sustained nearly two years ago ... only just thought of that.

Thank you again Leslie and I hope you’re feeling as good as can be expected.

‘Blood where lung’ Lol. Silly spell check. Should read ‘an ache where lump is’.

If you have private insurance through work I'd definitely take it Penguins, fingers crossed they'll get you in a bit quicker than 2 weeks.

I have nothing to report until I get my results on the 8th May, I'm just lurking around on here checking up to make sure everyone's as ok as they can be on this thread

Twoo it's good that you've told someone, I only told my husband until I got my results back and a treatment plan in place otherwise I would have had people asking me questions I didn't have the answers to. Don't worry about figuring out who has what cancer, when this thread gets close to 1000 the lovely Leslie will start a new one where everyone starts the thread with a bit of info about themselves

Glad it went OK at A&E Leslie and hope you get your meds sorted soon.

I think most cancer referrals turn out negative Twoo, maybe about 9/10 so hopefully it will be nothing.

Got my private GP appointment for Thursday.

Hello all
Welcome Twoo but sorry you find yourself here. Waiting is the pits

TQ How did the meal go with all your guests? The mini pies sounded delicious.

penguins welcome back. Hopefully it's not for long

Leslie How frustrating that you got to the dr but she didn't give you chance to discus the asthma. The breathlessness must be quite bad if she sent you to A&E. I hope the antibiotics bring some relief

I've had the biopsy and CT scan and will be getting the results and a plan on Thursday. I know that the news is not going to be good and it feels like Thursday is a lifetime away. I know that it's not really but I'm torn between just wanting to know and not wanting to know. It is crap.

Thank you Wombat22 ... your name seems familiar. Do you frequent the low carb boot camp threads?

Crumbs Wombat22 , sounds like you’ve had a crappy time of it. I hope the news isn’t too bad Thursday

Twoo yes, I was am a long time low carber. I excused myself from the threads when I was diagnosed with lung cancer before xmas. I still lurk from time to time, as I had been on the threads for years. You have a good memory as I don't think I have been this version of a wombat for some time.

Wombatt22 I have only been LCHF since Dec2017 and joined bootcamp in jan 2018. I’ve lost nearly one and half stone in four months. It’s since I’ve lost some weight I noticed my breast symptoms.

I might have read about you on previous bootcamp threads as I read a few for motivation.

Sending a hand hold for Thursday.

Leslie that's annoying. Hope you manage to get another appointment to sort meds. Guess better to be safe than sorry but still....

Penguins welcome back - hope not for too long.

Wombat good luck for Thursday. The waiting is awful.

I saw my oncologist today and she won't start me on the second round of chemo until my 'dire rear' clears up. Sent samples to check it's not infection and she's prescribed some scary sounding drugs (classed as a narcotic?!) to help. Will lower chemo drug dose next time too. Plan is to try to start Friday providing symptoms ease. Annoying as I'd planned to start work next week again (allowing for first week of chemo off) and this might mean I can't.

Will be thinking of you on Thursday Wombats can understand the mixed feelings about knowing.

My DD wins today's sensitive comment award. DD keeps saying Mummy you are going to die. She also told me Mummy I've looked up what you've got, its called dementia. Meanwhile DS is going round pretending he's a fish and speaking to everyone as a fish.

Have you got children Twoo?

Thanks Tayto Hope your symptoms manage to improve and you can start treatment again soon.

wombat the breathlessness isn't too bad, but I had a slightly raised temperature and my heart rate was high (it often is though!) so she thought I might have an infection.

I really hope Thursday brings some more hopeful news for you

Tayto the delays are so frustrating. I hope the new medication helps.

penguins I hope DD is less insensitive today!

Waving to everyone. I hope you're all having a reasonable day :)

Thanks for the good wishes everyone.

Twoo that weight loss is massive. Congratulations.

Tayto Fingers crossed you improve soon