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 :)

Thanks yes it is shit this whole cancer malarkey. Not sure if it's a laparoscopy, she said she needed to take more biopsies but the rest is just a blur of her talking and me crying

Hope you get sorted Leslie, it's stressful enough without people cocking things up

I had lots (10+) of EUAs when I was having issues with my ileoanal pouch. It would just involve them putting a camera up my bum. The GA was to relax everything so they could do a more thorough examination, and to avoid any pain. There were no incisions or anything, just occasional biopsies. Obviously I don't know for certain but I think they were planning a laparoscopy they would say that rather than EUA, as it's more invasive.

Either way hopefully you'll soon have a better idea of what's going on

Scan went fine today - thanks for the good wishes. Let's hope that carries on to the results... The trouble is, I have no idea what's going on inside at all.

Purple I hope you're managing to rest. Will be thinking of you...

TQ fingers firmly crossed that your insides are behaving

Any news from the posters who had breast clinic appointments last week? I hope no news is good news...

Just about to have my blood test. Good job as I kept nearly nodding off in the waiting area!

Sorry been really distracted since my appointment. No news is indeed good news. Lumpy bits were just normal glandular tissue. I'm glad I went to get checked out though, I have been anxting about them, and now I don't need to. I had an ultrasound and saw my surgeon from 2011, feel a lot better for going and getting checked out, a friend went with me which was good. Have decided against telling boyfriend at the moment, he had a difficult weekend with one thing and another, I'm glad I didn't add to his worries by telling him about the appointment. Always good to stay one step ahead I think. Thank you for your support ladies, I don't really do mumsnet these days, I find I get to caught up in it. It is shit this cancer, even if you think you have left it behind, like I have, it is still there in the back of your mind.

Brilliant news jchocchip

So pleased your scan went well TQ, fingers crossed for your results

I've managed to pull myself together a bit, the best case scenario if it hasn't spread further is a exenteration which sounds brutal after googling it. The hospital rang to say the pet scanner is broken so they're going to ring me tomorrow to rearrange so it's back to waiting around for now. They've also increased my morphine dose

Really sorry to hear your news purple. Just looked up exenteration and that does sound a major operation - amazing what they can do now though surgically. Hope they sort out the pet scanner soon. Glad they have upped your pain relief. Thinking of you .

TQ glad your scan went well. Fantastic news chocchip.

No cancer news from me but the wheel sheared off our car on the motorway today. All ok thankfully but will make getting to oncology appointment tomorrow challenging. Hoping they will do a phone consult as really just check up before next chemo.

Also thinking of you purple - agree it is amazing what they do these days and I shall be keeping fingers firmly crossed that this is a small bump before you get into the right path again

(Pressed send too soon!) Argh tayto that must have been a shock! Glad you’re ok but that’s scary and I hope all gets fixed soon

Purple how are you this morning? Hope you managed to get some sleep. Yes I agree the exenteration does sound a bit brutal but if they believe it will save your life then I see it as a good thing. Good luck with the scan.

Adle are you starting again next week? Is it your third? Hope you make it ok to the appointment. On my last one all they did was give me my cea results (which I had to google as I had no idea what they meant!)

I feel a bit shit still after that bronchoscopy. Coughing constantly and painfully, and very sore throat. The doctor said they had to restrain me as I kept taking their hands off! . He also said initial look of lymph nodes indicates they are not contaminated but he can't tell for sure until pathology is done.
On the plus side I finish my third cycle on Monday. Only one more to go after that. Yay.

Leslie do you have to wait for bloods? Chemo patients should be jumped to the top of the queue....

Dulce sorry you had a rough time - I'm surprised they didn't knock you out a bit more if you were obviously distressed.

Addle hope you're doing OK

Purple I've had to google exenteration too. That is brutal indeed but we do whatever it takes to cut the cancer out. I hope the pain is under control.

I'm not too bad today, I'm normally really positive about things so when it is bad news it's a bit of a shock to the system. My pet scan has been rearranged for 12:45 tomorrow so at least I don't have long too wait

Tayto that sounds so scary! Hope your ok

Hope you're feeling better soon Dulce, and yay for one more chemo! It took me about 3 weeks to get my tastebuds back when I finished mine

It's not too painful TQ, the pain is mainly in my hip so I'm paranoid that's where it's spread to although I've been reading up on it and it could just be that the radiotherapy have altered the amount of lubricant around the joint and it could just fix itself

Leslie I've had 3 EUA already, I quite enjoy waking up like I've had a really good sleep

have been reading but hoping not to post but here i am. Had my colposcopy 3 weeks ago results today - another appointment at colposcopy for friday. I spoke to the dr who said there are some suspicious cells probable cancerand want to do another treatment which im assuming is happening on friday!! Any words of wisdom??

Basher sorry you find yourself here. I've googled colposcopy and see that it relates to the cervix so I'm assuming the worry here is cervical cancer (which is what Purple has). (I have ovarian.)

Everyone will tell you that this is the worst time - the testing, the not knowing, the fear, the uncertainty. If cancer should be confirmed you will feel better when you know what the treatment plan is.

This is a safe space to vent, scream, rage, cry and ask anything. I know you don't want to be here but you will find support and lots of virtual hand-holding.

Hi Basha I have cervical cancer and when I went for my colposcopy the doctors could clearly see that there was something wrong with my cervix, the fact that you have suspicious cells would probably mean they've caught it in the early stages.

I know that doesn't make things any easier for you but the earlier it's caught the easier it's treated, feel free to ask me anything you want. There's a website dedicated to cervical cancer called Jos Trust which has lots of advice and people who are going through what you are now.

As TQ says the waiting around and not knowing is definitely the worst part

thanks very much ladies, re assuring that hopefully its in the early stages.Thankfully not a long wait till friday xx

Hi Basher we've all done the same I think - lurked and eventually posted. I'm fairly new here but these ladies are awesome and a fountain of knowledge (and strength) so it's a good place to be.
For me personally (I have colon cancer, was taken to A&E with suspected gallstone and the next minute was rushed into surgery for tumour removal) the stage you're at is the worst. The shock, anger, panic, uncertainty are killers. Once you know you have cancer (and hopefully you won't), you sort of feel more in control and start to deal with it. I'm still new in this awful game, was only diagnosed in March.
Purple how are you feeling today?
Anyone else waiting for test results?
I'm hopefully getting mine next Thursday to see if there's anything in my lungs that needs dealing with. I'm bricking it.
Feel a bit better today if still very sore. But no sickness. 4 days left in this cycle and counting.

Waving pathetically from my bed as I'm not well today (nothing exciting, just adhesions).

for purple that's a huge surgery

I can't remember what everyone else said so just sending love.

Hope you feel better soon Leslie

I've got an awful pain around my left kidney area and the doctors here are shut for the day not sure if it's a kidney infection. Trying to space out ibuprofen, paracetamol and morphine to keep on top of the pain but not having much luck.

I've just found my hot water bottle at the bottom of my wardrobe, it seems to be helping slightly. I think he's quite cute

Purple my DD would fight you for that bottle! She loves all things unicorn. It is indeed very cute.

Morning folks hope everyone is doing as well as they can xxx

I am a week post mastectomy and am getting my drain out today! Yay! Still very sore and have slept a lot.

The morning after my surgery my surgeon came to see me and said he'd had a quick look at my staging scan and it was clear, so the first good news since Easter!

I don't know if I said, but in the first week of waiting for biopsy results I couldn't say the word cancer so I called it Voldemort so in continuation I have called my first prosthesis Hermoine! But I went to sports day yesterday without her! I felt a bit self conscious at first but was proud of myself!

I know I don't post too often, and when I do I can never remember anyone's details, but knowing we are all here together really helps, so thank you ladies xxx

Glad you're making good progress MrsP

Sorry to hear those adhesions are playing up again Leslie. I hope they've settled down now and are under control?

Good luck with the PET scan today Purple - that is one amazing hot water bottle! I hope you get your pain sorted too.

Good to hear from you Mrsp, excellent news about your scan being clear! Are you home yet or still in hospital?

Thanks TQ, trying to get a doctors appointment for this morning but having no luck. Any idea if I could get antibiotics from the hospital? I have no idea where abouts I would go to get checked to see if this is a kidney infection

Had two nights in hospital then home - just had drain out, it was soooo long but am free now!

Thanks TQ it'll take a few days to settle down, but I've started the treatment plan and definitely improving :)

purple good luck with the PET scan and I hope you're feeling better now your surgery should have given you an emergency appointment but I guess it's going to be tricky now you're radioactive... I don't think the hospital would just give you antibiotics without any tests. And it would usually be GP for that, I think. You could call your nurse and ask for advice though. She might take pity on you and arrange a prescription :)

Mrspotter that's great news about your scan :) and well done on making it to sports day so soon after surgery!

I'm feeling much better today, but still a bit pathetic so I'm glad I've postponed chemo.