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Original poster

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

986 replies

WhatWouldLeslieKnopeDo · 03/05/2018 19:14

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 :)

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Original poster
WhatWouldLeslieKnopeDo · 04/06/2018 08:25

pepper I'm glad you managed to go out anyway :) I usually find I feel better if I force myself to make the effort but it's tempting not to sometimes! I hope you're feeling better today Flowers

Year are you keeping a diary of your symptoms? Good luck with the GP today :)

Jchocchip that's quick. Good that you don't have to wait long. Good luck Flowers

Miracle of miracles, I've managed to get a GP appointment for today. I had to phone about twenty times to get through but she asked what my symptoms were and then gave me an appointment straight away :) I had a big asthma attack yesterday when I was out by myself.

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purpleunicorns · 04/06/2018 08:59

Move I normally end up waiting about 2 weeks for results but there's no harm in giving them a ring to see if your results are back yet

Hope you get sorted at the docs Leslie and feel better soon Thanks

TwitterQueen1 · 04/06/2018 09:07

Gosh Leslie that must have been so scary. I hope they manage to give you something to help. You must be exhausted too.

The rat (teacup Yorkie) had me up at 5.10 today. Not impressed. I shoved her outside for 5 mins then went back to bed for 3 hours. Feeling post chemo bleurgh and I need my rest...

dontknowwasmadetoknow · 04/06/2018 10:05

Fourella
Good luck today

Original poster
WhatWouldLeslieKnopeDo · 04/06/2018 11:58

It was a bit TQ but afterwards I feel less nervous as I know if it happens again I can cope :)

GP was very nice and has given me some Montelukast tablets to try. If they work they will hopefully treat the asthma and also hayfever symptoms so fingers crossed. Apparently they work amazingly for some people and not at all for others, which I suppose is the same for all drugs! I'll report back in case they might be of use to the other hayfever sufferers.

I hope everyone is having a good day so far :)

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Move12345 · 04/06/2018 12:54

What would. I'm currently under the care of GP and Surgeon. I'm assuming the Surgeon referred me.

I called the up the Surgeon office just to see how I'll get the results. Apparently they haven't received my CT scan yet so they're awaiting that. I'll be getting a letter through the post saying whether a follow up appointment is required. She said it could be another 2-3 weeks yet

Original poster
WhatWouldLeslieKnopeDo · 04/06/2018 13:14

Ah, I was going to suggest contacting your consultant's secretary if you hadn't already :) that is a while to wait! Hopefully you will hear sooner rather than later.

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Move12345 · 04/06/2018 14:00

I'm just thinking no news is good news. Surely if it was something sinister they'd hurry it up. Not sure if it works that way, but thinking this makes the wait more bearable Smile

YearOfYouRemember · 04/06/2018 16:53

WWLKD - I've got asthma too and I've had two serious attacks. Mumsnetters saved me as I had no idea I needed help. How are you now?

I've seen my GP. She's not impressed with the jump up and down comment. Checked back through all my gynaecology history and has referred me again with the new symptoms and marked it urgent. She said I should hear in two weeks which ironically will probably be the same time as the first referral comes through.

Now worried about DD so have phoned and lovely receptionist has broken all the rules and got her in tomorrow morning.

flourella · 04/06/2018 17:14

Leslie and dontknow, thanks for wishing me good luck for today. I went to the clinic and the lump is just a fluid-filled cyst. I am so relieved and a bit surprised, as it really is rock hard, like a marble.

I had a mammogram and ultrasound; no biopsy, obviously, and I decided to not have the cyst drained because I like to avoid needles. I have a terrible fear of contamination, and the staff let me watch them clean the surfaces I had to touch, wash their own hands and put on clean gloves, etc. The mammogram was awkward and uncomfortable but that was the worst of it.

Thank you so much for being so welcoming and supportive of me and everyone else who comes here with "just" a worry that they might have cancer. This is a special place and I wish all the best to everyone here SmileFlowers

Original poster
WhatWouldLeslieKnopeDo · 04/06/2018 17:20

Year I'm fine now thanks :) sorry you've got asthma too. It's a real pain.

I'm glad your GP has hurried things up a bit - hopefully it'll come through before the two weeks. And yay for the lovely receptionist. I hope your duaghter's appointment goes well tomorrow Flowers

flourella that's wonderful news. What a relief :) will it drain by itself eventually? I hope so. All the best to you too Flowers

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flourella · 04/06/2018 17:54

Leslie they said it might disappear, get bigger or stay as it is. If I change my mind about having it drained, I can just ask my GP to re-refer me. Also said to always get any future lumps checked out, even if they feel exactly the same as this one.

I hope this new medication brings your asthma under control.

Good luck to everyone waiting for tests or results, especially AhJaysus, dontknow and Move, who came to this thread around the same time I did. I really hope you all get good news like I have.

Move12345 · 04/06/2018 18:14

flourella that's fabulous news! So glad it's all over for you now and it's nothing sinister.

Mine may be a cyst too, will find out this month Smile

YearOfYouRemember · 04/06/2018 18:23

I'm really pleased for you, flourella.

dontknowwasmadetoknow · 04/06/2018 21:39

So pleased to hear your news flourella you must be so relieved.I am really so happy for you.
Wishing good news for everyone waiting Thanks

Back from holiday today,had a nice week and was able to sort of forget for some of the time.I have my appointment at the breast clinic on Thursday so just a couple more days to get through and exactly two weeks since I saw the GP.

AhJaysusHowaya · 04/06/2018 22:01

Evening all

Delighted you got good news flourella :)

I'm still waiting for my appt, its been over 2 weeks now! I called the secretary at my gps today and she tried chasing it up for me. But all they told her was there are currently no appointments available because they have so many people to see at the moment. Apparently there are a lot on the list that have gone past the 2 weeks aswell, and all they can do is try get through them all.

I had previously told them that I'm going away on Sunday for 2 weeks, so would be keen to get it done asap. The secretary said if I don't have an appt by this Friday then she will have to re-refer me when I get back.

So it looks like it will be another 3-5 week wait 😔

mrsrhodgilbert · 04/06/2018 23:17

pepper the recovery wasn't too bad and I'd say the air they fill you with was the cause of most of the pain which lasted 4-5 days. The incision in my tummy button was painful for 3-4 weeks and the two other incisions were completely pain free. I'd say I was back to normal in a month to be on the safe side, but I was pretty much ok after three weeks. It depends what your job is I suppose and the journey. I'm happy to be off the zoladex. I did worry that I might get a rush of menopausal symptoms but I haven't. Still the odd hot flush but nothing new, I must have been almost there. Good luck, I'm sure you won't have the trouble I had and going private was very convenient in the end.

Jchocchip · 05/06/2018 08:34

Brilliant news flourella I'm hoping for the same result Thursday and refusing to worry about the alternative unless that happens . I know I may be emotional going into the clinic though as last time I went I needed a biopsy and the breast surgeon was pretty sure it was cancer after seeing my lump on the ultrasound and told me to go home and have a stiff drink. Of course this is the first time I've been back there since my husband died in 2014, and I think it will bring back memories, so that is an added complication.

Dulcedelecherocks · 05/06/2018 10:31

Hello. I wonder if I may join you?
Have been lurking and reading lots and feel it's time to stop stalking and start talking Grin

From what I can gather I am on a very similar journey to Adle and Toyo (sp?) so this is my story.

Taken into A&E on 3/3 with suspected gallstones. Turned out I had a tumour blocking the right side of my bowels and this was removed on 4/3 in an emergency surgery.

10 days in hospital, confirmed diagnosis of adenocarcinoma. Was first told it was a stage 4 and spent 10 days feeling like I had been issued with a death sentence but this has now been changed to stage 3 as I don't seem to have any further tumours.

On my third cycle of capox out of a total 4. Hasn't been as bad as I expected.

The emotional part has been much harder. I'm 44 and my DD turns 5 soon. The fear of dying and leaving her haunts me daily. Found myself planning my funeral so asked for psychologist support which has helped massively so I'm in a better place now.

Anyway sorry for the massive post. Off to read some more and get to know you better.

TwitterQueen1 · 05/06/2018 10:55

Hello Dulce pleased to meet you, though not pleased you find yourself here. That must have been a huge shock to you. It's a whole scary, new way of life unfortunately, but you do adjust. I have ovarian cancer, dx March 2017.

Can I ask you what psychologist support you have received? I'm wondering whether I would benefit from some...

flourella · 05/06/2018 11:01

Hi Jchocchip, I hadn't noticed any of your posts, but I'd not been on here much in the last few days before my appointment. I'm sorry you're going through this a second time, and about your husband. You might prefer to go on your own, but if not I hope there's someone you can ask to go with you, as it might help you feel calmer during the waiting around. I hope you can get through it all right and that you get the all-clear on Thursday as easily as I did.

Sorry, I know I don't need to be here anymore, but it seems rude to not acknowledge people's comments on my good news, so: Thanks Everyone! So much. And good luck & goodbye, again.

YearOfYouRemember · 05/06/2018 12:56

Dulce hello and welcome. So sorry you have to join in. Hope your treatment isn't too long and difficult. I can't advise re your dd other than to ask for help when needed.

Original poster
WhatWouldLeslieKnopeDo · 05/06/2018 13:57

Hello everyone!

dontknow I'm glad you were able to enjoy your holiday :)

Jaysus sorry you've got such a long wait - I hope they get the backlog cleared quickly!

Dulce welcome, but sorry you need to be here Flowers I'm glad you've got some support and that it is helping.

I'm thinking of everyone who is waiting for tests/results Flowers hopefully you'll all get good news like flourella and can leave this club that nobody wants to be in.

I took my first tablet last night and I already feel so much better. I can breathe again! Grin I walked through the same park that triggered my asthma attack the other day and I was absolute fine. I am so grateful that it really was the asthma making me feel so awful and not the cancer, and that the tablets work for me :)

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YearOfYouRemember · 05/06/2018 14:26

That is good news, WWLKD.

Dulcedelecherocks · 05/06/2018 17:30

Thank you for the welcomes.
Twitter when I saw the oncologist for the first time I said I wasn't coping and he asked if I wanted to see a psychologist and I said yes. The Macmillan nurse referred me and I've started by seeing her once a week and I now go every other week. It has been really good to be able to talk and she has given me some coping techniques which have helped as well.

Can I ask if you all know about the look good feel better workshops? I've just been to one and it's just wonderful. You haven't been to one make sure you get yourself booked on it. I left with a goodie bag worth about 250 quid and some very handy tips on skin care and make up. Well worth it.