Cancer support thread 62 - here comes the sun (hopefully)

[WhatWouldLeslieKnopeDo]

Good evening

Our previous thread is here

If you've got cancer, this is the thread for you. Introduce yourself and feel free to ask any questions. We also welcome anyone who is waiting for cancer tests. We know how scary it can be. So don't be shy. We will happily hold your hand and hopefully wave goodbye when you get good news :)

Hope you’re doing ok zebra - that sounds very unpleasant and a bit scary

Hi all,

What does WLE stand for?

Thanks!

Hi Gin. I think it stands for Wide Local Excision, which is another term for a lumpectomy. It means taking the entire lump out.

Gin wide local excision

addled I used to take it like that too, but I have had lots of bowel removed. I think it's OK as long as you're careful not to take too much :) but worth discussing with them anyway

flourella the link worked, thank you. But sorry that was very lazy of me. I could've googled it myself they're lovely though. Do you wear other forties style clothes too or just the knitwear? You sound very stylish.

I can do intricate patterns but I hate anything with colour changes. Especially Fair Isle. All those different balls of wool getting tangled up!

This is the blanket pattern I am knitting. Thankfully it's very simple so I don't need to use too much brainpower.

Ooh Leslie I love the look of that blanket! I am all thumbs sadly so no knitting for me! But I can appreciate a good pearl stitch from afar

Forgot to say yay to Tayto for only 4 cycles of yukkiness! And snap

Leslie what a nice shade of blue! What is that, moss stitch and stocking stitch? It probably is quite simple to do but it just looks so good!

My current project has four colours Don't know why I thought that was a good idea at this early stage in my knitting adventures! I don't need to use more than one colour in any particular row, though (and I'm not entirely sure how that works), and I haven't tangled anything up beyond repair.

Gin have you been led to believe that you'll be needing a WLE, before you've even been seen at the clinic? If you don't mind me asking.

Oh, and I love almost all 40s fashion. Especially the skirt suits. They knew about tailoring back then.

Mine isn't blue, but a creamy colour. That's just the picture from the pattern. Yes it's moss stitch so nice and straightforward. I hope your jumper is going well.

I've just got home from chemo. It's so tiring even though I've done nothing much.

leslie so very pleased to read you're stable...yay!
love to everyone else...xxx

Thank you penguins.

Hello AhJaysusHowaya. Sorry you need to be here.

Thank you purple. I don't post much but think of you all often.

WWLKD - I've been told the GP didn't mark my referral as urgent so I am taking that as a good thing while being more scared. Hope your day wasn't too long. Your blanket is amazing!

I've been thinking about my Nana. She has cancer twice. The doctor said I'd saved her life the first time as she showed me a freckle on her breast she was worried about but that made it possible for me to see the inverted nipple. I knew this was a bad sign. She had long enough to see me married, meet my eldest, see photos of my second and knew what we were going to call our third baby. She died days before he was born.

Leslie I'm sure it's going to look fantastic in cream.

I don't know what to say to anyone here who is posting about their treatment, while I am still just waiting on an appointment at the breast clinic. But I have been thinking of you. This is clearly a very welcoming and supportive group.

Just out of curiosity, how accurate are the surgeons when talking about post surgery treatment? My surgeon initially said I'd probably have 6 rounds of chemo - then two or three appointments later he started saying he didn't know wait for the oncologist but to cancel our holiday.
I suppose I'm asking if what he said can be relied on or do they tend to hand you over and not think about you again?

I hope this makes sense - I'm having a tough day emotionally today 😿😿

Mrspotter have a very unmumsnetty hug I think everyone on here has had a day like you're having, it's an emotional rollercoaster isn't it? You'll feel better once a proper treatment plan is in place.

I'm not sure about how accurate surgeons are about treatment but I would say your oncologist would be more knowledgeable about the chemo side of things

Thanks for the hug xxxx

I didn't realise for a few weeks that there was even a different doctor for different stages of treatment! Bit daft really!

I think I'm really upset today 'cause I realised that I look stupid in headscarf's!!!!
Told you I'm a bit daft. Might not even loose my hair and here am I getting upset cause they look stupid on me........

Gin good luck tomorrow

Mrspotter I didn't suit headscarves either. I had some very comfortable hats from Anna Bandana that I wore instead.

Your oncologist will probably know best about the chemo. Do you have an appointment with her/him yet? Or do you have a breast nurse? They might be able to tell you. Sometimes if it's borderline whether you need it they will let you decide.

flourella don't worry about needing to say anything about treatment :)

Love to everyone else. I'm going to bed!

Hey Leslie, the breast nurse was there when the six rounds of chemo was mentioned, and when I said "do I need to start hat & wig shopping?" She was the one that said yes. I think I'm just catasrophising , it's something I tend to do :-( so perhaps it's a slap I need not a hug!!!
😹😹😹😹

Everything seems so much worse when you don't know things for sure, I think it's human nature to prepare for the very worst scenario but things are never as bad as you expect them to be.

You don't have to wear a headscarf, there's wigs, hats, bandanas or you might choose to embrace it and you might look amazing just being bald and wearing nothing on your head. Although you might want something to wear in bed as you get really cold apparently. I had chemo but luckily I didn't lose any hair because of the type of chemo I was on so I don't really have much advice on headscarves and such

addled it sounds fine to me to take it like that - most people I've talked to take it preemptively. Someone told me their doctor advised half an hour before meals. Maybe see what your nurses say but I think whatever works for you. I take mine and the lomotil 4 times a day and that seems to work mostly. Glad you were able to eat lunch.

Hi,
Not sure this is the right place but I need somewhere.
I found a breast lump yesterday, went straight to the doctors who could also feel it and has referred me to the breast clinic within two weeks.
This has overwhelmed me.i am usually able to block out worrying about things until I really need to but can't get this out of my mind.
To make things worse I go on holiday on Monday for a week so need to wait until I get back to go to the clinic.The doctor said fine to go on holiday and she has put a note on the referral to state when I'm back.
How do I get through the waiting without going crazy, I just want to curl up in a ball and cry I'm so scarred.
I know I sound pathetic but I just can't pull myself together.
Please someone give me some tips for getting through the waiting
All I can think about is the worst outcome

Morning everyone,

I've read some of the posts and can I say you're all amazing!

I'm more than likely in the wrong section. I'm currently under a surgeon for a lump in my Right Upper Quadrant. I've lost about a stone since the new year, very tired, weak.

The lump is hard, it does move (which I know is a good sign). It's about 4cm by 2cm.

I was referred to a surgeon within 2 weeks. Another doctor then did emergency bloods which came back fine apart from Billirubin which I've had elevated before.

I had a Colonoscopy just over a weak a go that was all fine.

I have a CT Scan on Monday.

Nobody can decide what it is. A doctor said Hernia another said Cyst. The surgeon said it could be something as simple as a floating kidney.

It's been going on for a month now and I'm very ready for answers. I don't think it's anything sinister

Anyone have a clue what it could possibly be?

Also how long do CT results take?

Welcome Move I just had a CT scan and I was told results are 48 hours to 10 days if need a specialist but I won't get mine until next appointment.

Good morning everyone

Mrspotter do you have contact details for the nurse? She should be able to tell you if plans have changed since that appointment :)

dontknow you're in exactly the right place. There's a few others in a similar position at the moment :) hopefully you will all get good news.

A week's delay will make no difference except that it's longer for you to worry. Though they may well not have had any appointments available next week anyway. Are you going abroad? If so you probably need to tell you travel insurance provider that you're awaiting tests.

I hope you manage to relax and enjoy your holiday

Move sorry I have no idea what it might be but I hope that you get some answers soon. The CT images will be available immediately but it takes about a week for the radiologist to write a report. Do you have a follow up appointment yet?

Anyone got nice plans for the Bank Holiday weekend? I'm having my chemo pump taken down tomorrow so we have booked to go away (just in the UK) for a week from Sunday :)

Hi dontknow. I am in the same situation as you, just a couple of days ahead: found a lump on Monday night, saw the GP on Tuesday, was given an urgent referral to the clinic. I haven't heard when my appointment will be yet.

All I can say about the waiting is that....I'm doing it. Waiting. I am not thinking about much else and I really am terribly worried. But knowing that something like 9/10 breast lumps are benign is helping a little. And having some very kind people on here talk to me has helped. I really hope that you will be able to enjoy your holiday; in fact, it could provide a slew of wonderful distractions and won't delay your appointment by much, if at all. Where are you going? I've never been on holiday as an adult; might sound weird, but for several reasons it's just not something I do. But I quite like the idea of it!

Gin I believe you have your appointment later? All the best to you. I hope they can give you good news very soon if not today.

whatwould & Penguin
Thank you for your replies. No follow up appointment through. I've just read my CT letter, apparently I'll have my results within 15 days.

Whatwould that sounds lovely, are you going anywhere nice? I'm working Saturday and Sunday. But going to go for a nice walk before my CT with my husband and girls then a nice meal afterwards. Husband has Booked a Spa night away in The Cotswold next Friday/Saturday can't wait!

I'm only early 20s so the risk of it being anything serious is very very slim.