Cancer support thread 63 for a handhold or advice and anything in between

[purpleunicorns]

Continuation of the lovely Leslie's thread here as it was nearly full

If you're worried about symptoms, waiting for test results or just need a safe place to vent then pull up a seat, we're a friendly bunch and we don't bite too much

There's quite a variety of cancers on this thread so hopefully one of us will have some advice and hopefully you don't need to stay for long.

I'll start with my story:
Diagnosed with stage 2b cervical cancer in October 2017, 25 lots of radiotherapy, 4 internal radiotherapy and 5 lots of chemo. Was told last week that it's spread and is incurable, palliative chemo starts on 16th July

This happened to me quite often but if you're up to date with your smear then it's probably not the same as me.

Fibroids can cause heaving bleeding so as you have one it's likely to be that. If it happens again go and see your doctor as you might become anaemic and you'll need iron tablets

And wear a pad at all times until you get sorted speaking from experience

Thank you. Luckily I bought four packs of pads the other day as dd on this week too so I've plenty in. I've had what felt like flooding before but this was something else. Just been and changed again.

If it doesn't ease up get an emergency appointment with your doctor or ring 111 for advice, there's been a couple of posters on other threads who've needed a blood transfusion if it gets too bad.

I don't want to worry you but better to be safe than sorry

Indeed. I'm just stressing a bit as I have to go out for two hours and I'm changing pads every 30-45 minutes at the moment. Luckily it's DS' appointment and there is a loo there but then I'll have half an hour waiting in the car then a 15 minute drive home if the traffic is clear. This is new for me. Could it be a reaction to the biopsy? They said I'd bleed after but as I had a period it wouldn't be different.

Sorry I'm really not with it so won't reply properly but Year do you have a number for any sort of aftercare after yesterday's biopsy? That amount of bleeding is not normal and could be a reaction to the biopsy so I think you really need to get checked. You could need a transfusion. Please call the hospital or phone 111. I'm not trying to scare you but you need to take that level of blood loss seriously. You could collapse or even die. Please get help

KT excellent news annoying about the op but at least it's not cancer!

Dulce glad your bum is healing up :)

Tayto are you keeping a food/symptom diary? It's boring I know, but might help. That's do as I say not as I do, because I didn't bother much with mine it felt so restrictive and I didn't like writing down embarrassing symptoms but I expect it would've helped me narrow down problem foods more quickly.

Chemo brain + iPad issues + heat not the best combination but trying to catch up with everyone's posts now :)

Just had a quick google and the advice is if you need to change your pad every hour then you need to see a doctor. It could have something to do with the biopsy, could you ring the hospital where you had it done to ask for some advice? They may be able to prescribe you tranexamic acid to stop the bleeding.

If you start feeling weak or dizzy you really need to ring 111 as you'll be in danger of passing out

Cross post with Leslie, but basically get yourself checked out ASAP Year

addle enjoy the wedding and weekend away!

noodles as others have said you're very unlikely to get all the side effects, but it's horrible walking into the unknown after the first cycle I think you'll feel a bit more in control. Sleeping tablets sound like a good idea.

Chemo yesterday went alright thanks. I slept most of the day. Just as well really as it was very hot and there were no annoying or interesting fellow patients to amuse me pain is less today so between reduced morphine and the steroids I'm not so drowsy!

Even managed half a slice of toast and cream cheese for lunch today and then an ice lolly :) I realised I haven't had a proper meal since dinner last Friday.

Oddly the steroids don't seem to affect my sleep too badly so I haven't needed sleeping tablets. But I wouldn't hesitate to take them if needed, having had them in hospital.

I'll leave it there as I'll never catch up properly, but waving to you all

Thank you purple and WWLKD. The loss has slowed right down so I think I'm okay but I'll keep an eye on myself. Typically dh hasn't rung today as working through lunch so he has no idea what's been going on.

That's good Year but if it does start again give them a ring to be on the safe side

I've very jealous that you manage to sleep while having chemo Leslie. I'm a snoring dribbling mess when I'm asleep so I daren't even risk it

I will purple and thank you. Dh is home now so I've told him what happened and hat to do if he wakes up to a chainsaw massacre scene .

Hope this is ok to post this given it’s probably nothing compared to what you guys are going through.

I’ve been referred to breast clinic as I’ve found lots of pea size lumps in both breasts and a couple of bigger ones too - I’m 33. I did have a fibroadenoma removed 4 years ago and am ashamed to say I haven’t been checking regularly since. GP didn’t give any indication of if she was worried or not, or her thoughts on what could be causing them - just said I should be seen within 2 weeks & that I may be too young for a mammogram so will probably be an ultrasound I get.

I have a 1 year old and stopped breast feeding nearly 4 months ago, so my initial thought was maybe clogged milk ducts? But google seems to think they would be gone after a couple of weeks.

Has anyone had this before? I’m thinking the chance of it being sinister when there’s so many lumps in slim - but there’s that niggle at the back of my mind that won’t go away...and of course I googled it (I know I know!) and did read about multiple malignant tumor in both breasts.

LAAA Sorry you find yourself here, hopefully they are clogged milk ducts or cysts. 9 out of 10 lumps are not sinister, so try to keep that in mind whilst you wait.

Freddie thanks for the info. I relaxed a bit yesterday as was busy/distracted and am trying not to look too far ahead and just deal with what is happening. As chase says, I could have the weight loss symptom

I got my hair chopped off in a close crop. My youngest was quite upset & says I look like a boy now, so had to slap on a lot of makeup last night when I went out. It is the shortest I have ever had it. My hairdresser had a wig business too years ago and was very involved with cancer patients. She has cut it really short around the ears & neck so a wig will stay on better. Also, she recommended as I will be wearing a wig in Autumn/winter to go for a shorter wig - approx a chin length bob or shorter as when wearing coats/woolly scarves etc you can knock the wig more easily if it is long. She also recommended to have a wig trimmed to my head so it sits more naturally. A few tips purple if you are trying on wigs next week. My friend thinks my hair looks like Pinks style or a shorter version of Emma Willis. I wish it was an inch or so longer really as do feel scalped, but am so glad if it falls out that I will not be finding long hair everywhere. I have decided to try the cold cap on the first sesh. My hairdresser said she wouldn't try it as knows of people who had awful migraines and alopecia type hair loss in patches. But I think I will regret it potentially if I do not try it at least.

I hope you are ok today year
Glad you managed a nap yesterday Leslie I hope your appetite picks up too as you sound to be existing on thin air, ice chips and chocolate milk right now!

Morning to everyone

Hi noodles I used the cold cap very successfully and never wore my wig in the end. It is uncomfortable, and there's a minute at the beginning, maybe 15 minutes in, where you think its unbearable and you can't tolerate it, then it sort of settles down. A lot of people say that it won't work, it's too horrid, takes too long etc, and even when I put it on for my first session they were negative. I'm so glad I've always been stubborn and refused to bow to the peer pressure!
I lost broadly 1/3 of my hair and you have to be a bit precious with it, but for me, it was a success.

Hello LAAA. I'm pleased you've found this thread as the posters are all so knowledgable and friendly. I thought I found a breast lump years ago and was shocked when the GP agreed. I thought I'd imagined it. I had a mammogram and it turned out, iirc, that it was to do with my breast feeding my first child and I think I was pregnant with baby number two. I hope yours are nothing too and you don't have to wait too long.

noodles - thank you. The loss seems to have slowed down so maybe it was a reaction to the biopsy?

My DS1 is taking dh and I out for lunch today to thank us for all our support. He's 17, just finishing his last but one year at school and is my favourite child awesome.

Leslie I know keeping a food symptom diary would be a very sensible thing to do. I think will leave it a while before bothering though - as you say not particularly glamorous stuff to write down and a bit organised for me to actually do it! In the mean-time sticking my fingers in my ears and going lalalalala hoping it's all magically going to go away will work just as well won't it!? .

Noodles your hairdresser sounds great and really helpful on the wig front.
LAAA welcome and hoping it's something non sinister. We're all here for a hand hold though - waiting is the worst.

Had some good news this week as our critical illness insurance paid off our mortgage. I was incredibly resistant to getting this when we took the mortgage out as it only covered stroke, heart disease and cancer - and who gets those at our age?! Should help kids and DH quite a bit if the worst was to happen - at least I know they'll have a roof over their heads. Also if I have to take time off for more treatment. I would happily give it back if I could not have cancer of course.

Good tips Noodles thanks. I think I'll just go for a short wig anyway, hopefully it'll be more manageable

Fab news on the insurance Tayto, like you I almost didn't bother taking it out. Thank god I did. You never think things like this will happen to you

Hope your feeling a bit better today Leslie. That garlic bread looked amazing

Well, that's been my approach Tayto and you can see how well it had worked for me... I guess it's something to consider if symptoms persist. I did develop a code but I forgot what it meant and was worried others might decipher it though really it would serve them right for snooping

Year I'm glad the bleeding has calmed down. Please get help if it starts again though and enjoy your lunch. Your son sounds lovely :)

LAAA sorry you've had to join us. Hopefully only in the temporary waiting lounge. Make yourself comfy with all the out of date magazines and leaflets about disturbing medical conditions I hope you get some reassurance quickly. I have lumpy breasts on both sides, but none of the lumps really stand out if that makes sense. It's a hormonal thing, apparently. Anyway, whatever's going on you're a step closer to finding out so well done for getting the referral :)

noodles I have been joking about becoming a "breatharian"! Luckily I have plenty of blubber that I can afford to lose, but I can see why the dietitians get so het up about people keeping their calorie intake up. I had pizza for dinner though so hopefully back to normal ish now :) how are you doing? The cold cap sounds worth a try. Sorry for being negative about it before and good you've got an experienced hairdresser for wig advice

purple I may also have been a dribbling, snoring mess but I was too sleepy to care

I hope everyone has some nice weekend plans, especially those with a daunting week ahead for whatever reason

I will WWLKD.. And DS really is. He's just done his work experience in a government building and his feedback included being a credit to himself, his parents and school. I have always known he's brilliant but it's lovely for a stranger to think so.

Leslie don't apologise, I wanted all feedback from people who had tried it or knew people who had so I could decide. I think it boils down to the fact that I feel I have to at least try it. Thanks pepper for your experience too. Good to know it gets nearly unbearable, but that that feeling passes. Thanks

I have critical illness too purple and tayto although there is a sum insured and I get a percentage of it depending on the severity of my condition. The call taker when I enquired seemed to think breast cancer with a lumpectomy warranted the smallest of payments. I didn't bother trying to explain that it was also an extensive chemo program etc and just asked for the claim form instead. I haven't received it yet. Hopefully it will be enough to take the kids somewhere on holiday when I feel up to it though and cover if I go to SSP at work too.

The pizza sounds good Leslie We are going to ASK 2mo on clubcard vouchers with some friends. Am looking forward to it. If I take the kids out on my own they end up colouring when waiting for food etc, so I sort of feel like I have gone on my own and wish I hadn't bothered!

year I hope you had a lovely lunch, your DS sounds marvellous.

That sounds fun noodles and the vouchers make it so much more affordable :) it'll be nice for you to have some adult company too!

I haven't tried the cold cap myself as both times it has been unsuitable for my chemo regime. But I do understand wanting to maintain "normality". Especially when you've got children. And if you hate it you can take it off and never have to wear it again :)

Nearly dinner time. My appetite is returning so need to resist gobbling everything in sight I blame the steroids!

Have a good evening lacies

Hello everyone

How are you all doing?

Lunch was lovely but sadly I couldn't have much as doing wheat free at the moment to see if that's an issue. Was so nice to be out with DS and DH though.

Bit rough today, but usual for this day of chemo cycle :) sorry your diet is restricted at the mo, but I'm glad you had a good time. How are you feeling?

Feeling fed up tbh. Not happy with dh. DS2 away on a school trip and we have to go and get him if he misbehaves. That's a real possibility. I'm tired. No motivation. Still lots of pain. Sorry for being a pathetic moaner. Haven't even got anything serious to moan about.