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

Leslie I'm really sorry you are in the hospital. I hope you will feel better soon and they'll let you go home. Sending hugs.
Happy I just went through loads of diagnostic tests (I am actually waiting for the results of the very last one) previous to and along with my lumpectomy, and believe me I was literally prostrate on the floor and nearly unable to speak the night before the appointment for my MRI results. So don't be fooled - we all go through the terrors. How could we not? But lovely freddiemercury shared that she had gone to her GP for help, and (like hers) my wonderful GP had no hesitation writing prescriptions to help me with sleep and with the anxiety. So don't be afraid to ask.

leslie I'm so sorry to hear that you're back in hospital, I hope get get you out for the weekend.

happy we all know the feelings you're describing and there is no shame in getting some help for it. It's horrific but as someone said even if you get a positive result you will cope somehow. We all do and when you heed to have a major wobble this is the place to scream, shout swear, whatever gets you through. Sometimes friends and family just don't get it however much they care.

genie where are you up there now with your diagnosis? Also how are you feeling after your operation?

Happy I'm in a similar position to you (awaiting tests) and I'm so glad I found this thread. What jumped out at me was the fact that I don't need to put a brave face on it when I post on here. At home I'm being Mrs Brave & Positive for the sake of my husband and grown up daughter, but on here I can admit how utterly terrified I am and it's okay because I'm not going to upset anyone! If that makes sense?

Leslie Hope you are better and back home.

Just had cystoscopy and good news is they couldn't see anything that looked like it could be cancerous. They don't know what causing the issues so I have a million and one tests but that was my main concern. Got hysterscopy and biopsy for uterine cancer later but they are expecting that to be negative so looking very hopeful its not cancer.

Hope everyone else is as well as can be and good luck to all those going through tests.

Haggis Impressed your house is so clean, mine has become a bomb site but I guess you either go one way or the other when anxious, its like eating, I always don't eat.

happy panic away here, but the thing that helped me before and after diagnosis was the fact I couldn’t do anything. I’m a control freak - so I know this sounds weird - but there wasnt any way I could fuck it up. All I could do was try and have fun, eat well and do as I was told. There’s something about not having pressure on me which made me calmer.

Probably a load of bollocks but as an impatient control freak, I’ve managed! I found a new lump the other week, on a Friday night (typical), and I said to DP ‘there’s fuck all to be done about this til Monday, so let’s go for a nice tea tomorrow and I promise I won’t touch the lump again!’

PenguinsandPandas that sounds like good news, you must be so relieved

Thanks Mars Hope you get the all clear soon. It's quite a relief to hear them say its almost certainly not cancer but frustrating they don't know what it is and I feel ill all the time and have since September. They were implying yesterday maybe worth getting tested for MS, urgh. Still that's better than cancer.

mrsrhodg thank you for asking. I'm on holiday at the moment and really enjoying it, though spending more time than I'd like thinking about everything. I go back on Monday for the results of the third lymph node test. At that appointment, I intend to ask for the EndoPredict test to be done. I am expecting a bit of push-back, as both the surgeon and the radiation oncologist believe that the test would be unnecessary and that I don't need chemo, but I know that I would feel better dotting every i and crossing every t. Any advice on making a good argument for the test and standing up for myself in the consultant's office?
And how are you? Where do things stand with you and the consultants communicating with one another about your medication?
Leslie have they let you go home yet?

Hi genie I'm afraid I don't know anything about that test so can't offer any advice I'm afraid. I expect their resistance will be financially based though.

I had another call from bupa today to say they are looking at my case again having received the letter from the oncologist. I had to explain the whole thing again to a call centre operator rather than a medic so I'm not hopeful. She also asked if I realised our cover has been cancelled. Dh left his company at Christmas but they guaranteed to continue our policy for six months so I could get this surgery done. An admin mistake has obviously occurred and we now have to go through the hassle of getting it reinstated. Somehow I just know that's not going to be as straightforward as it sounds. I can't even be bothered to get annoyed now.

How are you doing leslie?

Hello all.
Leslie I hope you are at home and feeling a bit better
MyDarlings about 15 years ago I was referred to the hospital after finding a lump in my breast. Like you, I had ultrasound and then a fine needle aspiration (biopsy). I got my results a week later and it was nothing. That was the consultant's word - nothing. Fingers crossed it will be the same with you

mrsrhod It has all been so crap for you. I hope you get it resolved without too much more hassle

mrsrhod I’m sorry you’re still fighting the system. It’s ridiculous.

Penguins good they couldn’t find any cancer but sorry you’re still without answers I hope they get to the bottom of things soon

Waving to everyone else. Sorry still rather dopey so can’t remember all the posts. Pain was awful yesterday but getting better today. I’ve mostly been asleep :)

Thank you Leslie

So sorry to hear you are still feeling poorly. I hope you start feeling better soon and you have someone looking after you.

mrsrhod I am so indignant on your behalf about all the hoops you are having to (re) jump through. You need this admin stuff like you need a hole in the head, on top of just trying to get treatment. I hope bupa will get their act together without you having to make too many more phone calls or go through a lot more paperwork.

Morning campers.

Been burying my head as discussed, so haven't been posting.

Lesley I'm so sorry to hear that you've been having such a nasty time. I hope it hasn't been too frightening, and that you've got someone to look after you.

Mrsrhodgilbert here are some for you too

I'm having my stitches out tomorrow, then having some bone marrow extracted. Can't wait!

Leslie sorry to hear you've been in so much pain. What are they giving you to ease it? I hope you're recovering further today. I have a full house for the weekend, which is lovely. DD3 almost better - we assume it was some kind of tonsilitis relapse.

for you MrsRhod and everyone else fighting the system.
Miles burying my head works for me too - good luck for tomorrow. I was very scared about having my 50+ staples removed after my hysterectomy but I have to say it was mildly uncomfortable once or twice at worst.

Waving to everyone else on this beautiful morning.

morning all

mrsrhod I am sorry you are struggling with extra crap that you certainly don't need on top of everything else.
leslie I hope you are having a better day today. Best of luck Miles for tomorrow.

I am back from my scan (I had no idea that routine clinics ran on Sundays, but there you go). I have a complex cyst on my right ovary, and instructions to contact my GP not later than Tuesday for next steps. Fuckity-fuck. Obviously the scan is not diagnostic, but the radiographer seemed keen to press upon me that I needed to chase follow-up. Shitting it a bit now, and having to pretend to the DC (10 and 7) that everything is ok. I feel like a need a stiff drink and it's not even lunchtime.

Good luck for tomorrow Miles, hopefully it's not too uncomfortable for you.

Theturnofthescrew hopefully it is just a cyst, the radiographers don't always get it right and the only way to find out is to test it. It's rubbish trying to as act like everything is fine when you have kids get yourself that stiff drink

How are you feeling today Leslie?

Turn - still early days. My ovarian cyst was extremely complex. It even had 'a daughter cyst' on a stalk waving around somewhere in my midriff. (Ahhh! Just like Mummy.) Raised Ca125 and everything. But it was still OK. My motto was it's not over till the fat lady sings.

You'll probably get a CT or an MRI scan. I was really lucky and had a fine needle U/S guided biopsy as well. . All 'inconclusive'. So fingers crossed and for you. The whole process is a real bugger. I had valium and anti-d's to get me through it. Highly recommended.

Leslie - do hope they've managed to find something for the pain so you don't have to go into hospital and it can be sorted at home. Well, mainly that it doesn't happen again, but just in case.You don't want that hanging over you.

Turn sorry it wasn't a simple all clear. I hope that it turns out to be something like Thyme's rather than anything sinister

Miles good luck with your stitches tomorrow

TQ I'm glad DD3 is on the mend and that you've had them all home for the weekend :)

Thank you everyone for your kind wishes. I'm much better. I've been sleeping a lot. I was pain free throughout the night and most of today. I have a syringe driver with morphine. I managed a little wander around the hospital and a trip to the cafe earlier. Now I'm a bit uncomfortable again, presumably from all the activity, but I've had a tramadol so that should do the trick :) if I'm stable today they will remove the syringe driver tomorrow and hopefully let me go home! My hair desperately needs a wash

It is so sunny here today. It looks like summer, though I expect it's very cold. I hope you've all got some sunshine. I find it makes everything feel a bit better :)

Lovely Leslie.. .thinking about you and so hope you can escape tomorrow.. .
Waves to all...

It’s been a beautiful sunny (cold) day here too!

All the best for next week, everyone!

miles bone marrow aspiration isn’t the nicest procedure, but it’s very quick. The less-than-pleasant bits are at the very start (as they infiltrate the local, but it takes effect really quickly) and the last bit as you cannot deaden the inside of s bone cavity. But it’s not that bad - especially if you do the kind of breathing you learn in antenatal classes. Just bone marrow, or bone biopsy too? If both it takes a little longer to heal. Shouldn’t be too bad - you mustne’t get it wet for 25 hours and it’s a bad idea to run during the first few days.

Hi all.
Leslie I hope your pain is under control and you can get home tomorrow

Miles Sending you best wishes for tomorrow