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 :)

There are notices everywhere to say results take 7-10 days so I knew I wouldn't get told anything today. Just concerned that she had problems seeing the bits she wanted too and also that she wants me to see my doctor for the results rather than just ring the surgery.

Hope you get more answers tomorrow, purple.

I tend to avoid all stories as it's so much down to luck (un)fortunately. But definitely stick to cheery ones and avoid any gloom. You just don't need that :)

I don't think it particularly means anything to need to see doctors for results. If nothing else, you were referred due to specific symptoms so if this test hasn't found answers then that needs to be discussed. Then they can work out what to do next :)

Good luck for tomorrow purple and Dulce

Mrspotter maybe we need to do a batch order with all our lost bits and bobs! I'm afraid all I can contribute is a colon and a rectum, which don't seem very exciting now

I threw up after my lunch which was annoying, but I've managed a chocolate milkshake this afternoon. I think my appetite has just shrunk a lot from all the restrictions. Plus usual chemo bleurghness. The toddler diet continues.

Waving to all.

Dulce yes she said it was to discuss chemo options, I'll take whatever they offer me. Good luck with your results, is the doctor appointment to discuss the chemo?

Year I'm not sure it's the same for you but I was told not to drink anything fizzy before my scans as the bubbles can distort things so they might just need a bit of extra time to figure things out if you've had fizzy water

Ugh I'm not looking forward to chemo sickness Leslie, that's one thing I don't miss. Hope you feel better soon

purple some of the new regimes have really minimal side effects, so hopefully you'll end up on one of those :) sorry you're having to go through it all again though

purple I had had normal water as the shop didn't have fizzy so that's better.

What might be why she couldn't see my ovaries ? Apologies as I know I'm being stupid.

Just seen on the Woolly Hugs Facebook page that it's four years since knittingnovice died. I don't know if anyone still posting here remembers her. She posted on here a little, and also on her own thread. So tonight I'm thinking of her

Good luck tomorrow purple and Dulce. Hope the blergh goes soon Leslie. to everyone else!

In hospital today due to dire rear. Tests to rule infection out, and IV fluids. Back home now and feel much better (think hospital overkill really when I just wanted to know if I could take more meds but they are very thorough). Very excited that cold now tolerable so am taking chemo tabs with cold cider - that is what they mean by clear fluids isn't it?!

Lol tayto - yes that’s what I understood by clear fluids too!!

Good luck to all today with appointments!

I am not sleeping well! Mornings too light, maybe bit anxious about next chemo, insomniac children, and bad hay fever all conspiring against me! Tried to call chemo people for some sleeping tablets but constantly engaged

I am thinking if everyone today who has appointments.

Exam negative. Lungs clear. I feel so relieved I'm even too dumfounded to celebrate at the moment. He even said I can go on holiday.

How's everyone?

Fantastic news Dulce ! .
Hope you manage to get your sleeping tablets sorted Addled. I've certainly found them helpful.

Best wishes today dulce & purple for your appointments

tayto I think a cold cider is perfectly acceptable.. 🍎

Hello to everyone.
I had a compliment on my hair yesterday (unusual to get a compliment nowadays as feel like I went partially silver over night when dealing with a messy separation and in the last couple of weeks it feels like the rest of my hair has joined in. Stress does weird & wonderful things eh?)
Later on it hit me that I had better take all the hair compliments I could now as I may not have any soon. I really cannot wait for these biopsy results so I know what I am dealing with and I can (hopefully) keep my thoughts in ch ck a wee bit.

Lesley have you managed anything more solid than milkshake yet?
I watched some of the first series of Parks & Recreation last night. It was recommended to me by a friend a while ago and then I re-remembered his recommendation when seeing your user name & reading the support threads when I was lurking. I look forward to watching more episodes 😄

noodles glad you've started Parks and Recs if you do lose your hair you can look forward to all sorts of weird comments... people never know what to say! I've had a slice of baguette and two pieces of tinned apricot today, so definite progress.

Dulce that's very good news indeed but sometimes it's hard to feel like celebrating after all the anxiety

Tayto it feels like overkill definitely, but better that than the other way! I hope you're more comfortable soon

addle I hope you can get some sleeping tablets. I didn't sleep well last night (steroids) I don't know people manage like that long term

Thinking of you purple

Ah Dulce I am so soooo pleased for you, take it easy for a couple of days as you'll probably be in a bit of shock. Your mind does strange things when you're expecting terrible news and you find out it's the complete opposite. What happens now? Any more tests or is that it?

Thanks everyone. Sat in the waiting room waiting to be called through

Good luck for tomorrow cafe

Fingers cross you get the biopsy results soon Noodles, not everybody's hair falls out. It all depends on which chemo you have, my hair and nails were on the best condition ever after my last chemo

I hope you don't have a long wait purple waiting rooms aren't very cheerful places to hang out!

They're going to check my kidneys and then start me on a chemo mix in about 3 weeks time, he said this ones going to make me pretty ill and I'll definitely lose my hair. Not too bothered about my hair, looking forward to getting some nice scarves

How do you feel purple?

I feel weird. Scared to be happy and be caught again. Need to try and take one day at a time. Booked a summer holiday in Europe so have something to look forward to.

Is it normal to feel like this? It feels like I should be happier than I am!

Thanks everyone for the kind comments.

It's completely normal Dulce, you were expecting a big fight to get you through the chemo and back out on the other side and now you don't need to. You just take it easy and be kind to yourself today, it may take a while to sink in

I feel a lot more positive today, probably because my doctor was one of these super happy confident people and seems to know his stuff, and also because I have a plan in place and I know what's happening and when. I'm just say waiting to go into the cinema to see Hereditary. Eeek it looks scary

My iPad hadn't refreshed so I missed your comment dulce fab news and glad you have a holiday booked. It must feel weird when you are geared up to deal with one thing and then unexpectedly it is better news. I was oddly calm on Friday at the biopsy being required etc as I had thought that would be what happened. My friend who came with me was less together as for her, she thought I would just be dismissed instantly.

I got a text message reminder for an appointment at a more local hospital for next Thursday. I haven't had the letter or a all telling me about this appointment yet, so no idea if they managed to see my biopsy results at this Monday's consultant meeting or if it is benign and so am hearing ahead of next Monday's meeting. Plus it is a different hospital than I attended the breast clinic at, so not sure if that is a good sign or not. I am hoping a letter comes tomorrow and puts me out of my misery slightly & stop attempting to 2nd guess the outcome.

Glad you are feeling positive again today purple it sounds like you have a good consultant there & great there is a plan in place. I hope the film is not too terrifying (I am utterly useless at jumpy films and quite frequently have to leave the room... 24 got so nail bitingly jumpy at times, I had to stop watching it before bed as it got me so anxious! Disclaimer, I am a wuss!!)

Leslie well done on the baguette and apricot. Does chemo affect your appetite much and are you quite restricted with what you eat?
My Dad had bladder cancer when I was pregnant with my youngest. We made a right pair as I was feeling queasy with morning sickness and he was feeling rough from chemo. I don't remember if his diet changed much, I seem to recall he was less hungry and ate some high calorie food. He used to love ginger, but had so much to help with the sickness as it is supposed to settle you, that he cannot touch it now as it takes him straight back to undergoing chemo.

That’s great news dulce to you! I think it’s normal to feel nervous about good news - for a while it feels like every doctor you see has bad news so I think you feel like it must be wrong or something! But it will sink in soon and a holiday sounds amaaazing!!!

Noodles enjoy your hair (and you too purple!) and you may not need chemo - I think that’s what you said before?? My friend who’s having breast cancer chemo has just lost hers and I can’t believe how relaxed and unworried she has been! She’s embracing the headscarves... and glad to hear you’ve got a positive dr purple - that totally helps. My oncologist is calm and chilled and lovely and the surgeon was just how I like them - no nonsense, quietly confident and good at operating!! Lol! It helps... fingers crossed you get lucky with the side effects though

tayto I still haven’t managed to get any sleeping tablets. The phone line was engaged and I have been rushing around for my sons 8th birthday all day today! I’ll call tomorrow as I was woken by an excited birthday boy at 5am and am a zombie right now

Waves for everyone else and good luck for tomorrow cafe

Ps tayto what else did they give you for dire rear? What were you on before? I hope you’re feeling better!

addle I hope your son had a fab 8th birthday with lots of
Hopefully the 5am wake up will mean the sleeping tablets are not required later!

Good luck 2mo cafe

purple I'm glad you've got a cheery doctor. That really does help :) I know I always ramble on about it, but get yourself something to wear at night as it's so unbelievably chilly with no hair, even in the summer! I hope the film was not too scary

Dulce yay for a holiday :) all the fear/anxiety in the build up is the same whether you then get good or bad results

noodles hospital admin is a weird and mysterious thing indeed hopefully you'll get an explanation soon

I'm sorry to hear about your dad's diagnosis/treatment. How is he now? I wouldn't say the chemo itself has had too much of an effect. Most of my restrictions are from my surgery/the resulting adhesions. The chemo steroids used to make me ravenous but I think I'm getting used to them now. Sometimes I get weird and very specific cravings and there's a few foods I now can't eat due to chemo associations, like your dad.

addle happy birthday to your son! I hope you get a better sleep tonight though

Cafedelmar good luck with tomorrow's scan

Happy Midsummer everyone :)

Leslie Dad is great now thanks. He actually got the all clear a couple of days after my youngest DD was born (over 4 years ago) He was never actually ill before diagnosis, he had blood in his urine on one toilet trip and luckily went to the doctors. Due to the location of the tumour, he had his whole bladder removed and now has a stoma. It took a bit of getting used to and is a lasting reminder, but he has adjusted well