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

Thanks Leslie and purple - I am rather woozy and useless now but the anti sickness worked like a dream (so far!) so that is a massive bonus and it is done!!

I kept in mind what you said about the bell being a bit but it is away from the waiting room and I promised my usual chemo buddy (away on hols) I would do a tiny not-too-loud ring and take a photo. They have a lovely poem by the bell too and the nurses were all very kind so it was quite a nice ending to this chapter. Apart from 2 weeks of tablets!

to everyone as I am falling asleep.... !

TQ if only I were that serene enjoy the spaniel! I hope he's better behaved than the rat...

purple how are you doing?

addle yippee for last oxi and the antisickness working. I didn't mean to rain on your parade with the bell :) I hope you sleep well tonight

I've had a better day today. Still having the coughing fits with exertion, but getting it under control more quickly and haven't thrown up :)

Hi there,
Sorry I've not had the time to read the full thread but I will when I get time.
I want to ask a question.
Where do we turn or who do we turn to with a terminal cancer diagnosis in the family?
I feel we've been given the news( the family member who has been diagnosed is relatively young) and that's it, we've been sent away with this news to cope on our own, we are all in shock, tearful, scared.
Any advice welcome thanks x

Year fingers crossed for your DDs appointment tomorrow, I can't imagine how tough it is looking after others when you aren't well yourself

Addled I don't think there is a bell at my hospital, I thought for some reason they were kept in the actual chemo ward which is why I was a bit but if it's away from the others then you ring you that bell! Look after yourself and get plenty of rest, will you have a scan to see how things are in a few weeks?

Sorry to hear your news Top, Macmillan are really helpful. If you give them a ring they should be able to put you in touch with someone local to where you live

I have spent the entire day dozing and doing absolutely nothing else luckily I fell asleep before eating the haribos. I'm just sooo bloody tired and feeling sicky. Hopefully tomorrow will be a bit better, I'm not quite sure how long into this chemo that I start feeling normalish. If at all

Top has your relative been referred to the hospital's palliative care team? They'd be my first port of call, I think. I've never found Macmillan very useful, but others have. Otherwise... local hospice, charities for their specific cancer type, if they're under 50 then Shine Cancer Support is great for talking to others in the same boat - mostly about peer support rather than practical help, so it depends what you are looking for really. I'm sorry you are in this situation there are a couple of threads in the Life-limiting illnesses topic for those supporting a relative with a cancer diagnosis so they might be helpful to you too.

purple it sounds like you needed the rest! :) hopefully tomorrow you will feel a little better.

Thank you so much, I will look into those options tomorrow. X

Hi,

Nora sorry you find yourself here, but welcome. I know it is easier said than done, but trust what your consultant has said regarding the treatment. They wouldn't leave it this long to start the next stage of treatment if it made any real difference.

Addle well done on the last poxy oxy

TQ the spaniel and peace and quiet sound perfect. Enjoy.

I hope your DD's appointment goes well 2mo year that is tough to deal with on top of your own health issues.

Glad the vomit has not revisited you today Leslie hopefully the coughing will ease 2mo too...

purple a day of dozing sounds great. I have had a really hectic day before my first chemo 2mo. I have packed my bag and my phone is on charge. All set, annoyingly I cannot get a picc line put in before my first one as the person who does them was fully booked up before my chemo sesh.

Anyway, am off to bed to attempt some sleep. I have run around so much today that I am hoping I have worn myself out & manage to drop off quickly. I will mention sleeping tablets if any issues 2mo. My Mum & Dad are staying, so I can take them & not worry if they knock me out as they can sort the kids.

Night everyone (& sorry if I have missed anyone)

Good luck tomorrow Noodles hope it goes as well as it can

Hope you feel better today/tomorrow purple and Leslie. Good luck with chemo noodles and hope all goes well for your DD tomorrow Year

I cannot sleep! Managed about 3 hours with lots of tossing and turning. Have been reading for over an hour and cursing myself for not taking a sleeping tablet! Thought I was so tired and forgot the steroids do their own thing . Very annoyed as there were a couple of manageable things I had planned for today while my youngest is in nursery and which might be impossible with virtually no sleep! Grrr!

Hope others have had a more restful night

I'm wide awake too Addle. Although I am refusing to get out of bed until at least 8:00, serves me right for dozing all day yesterday. I took sleeping tablets too but I always seem to wake up between 4/5 every bloody morning

Your jobs can wait, if you need to sleep while they're at nursery then you get some sleep

Good luck today Noodles, let us know how you get on

Thank you everyone for your lovely messages re DD. I'm concerned but at least she's seeing the GP this morning.

Thinking of everyone even if i am rubbish at posting. Don't have anything knowledgable to say .

purple I managed another doze for about an hour or so but so tired today. It was nice things I had planned rather than jobs actually. Will have to see one by one if I can do them - going for coffee etc I mean...

This chemo had better be doing what’s it’s supposed to

Have just heard a friend with possible stage 4 bowel cancer and a lung nodule has had both areas surgically removed (after chemo) and both were tumour - free which is incredible news. One always wishes it could be the same for all of us and hopes that some hope and positivity can be gained by hearing these stories, though normally I get annoyed when people tell me other anonymous people have survived things that bear no resemblance to my situation - hopefully I won’t have irritated anyone

I hope DMum is OK too - still waiting for appt, but DBro might chase if nothing is in the post today.

DMum is a nonagenarian, and I am absolutely sure she would refuse extensive treatment. But there are still a number of non-malignant possibilities, so my levels of fretful uncertainty are high!

Top there are cancer support centres dotted round the place, which can offer brilliant support. Your hospital should know if there are any within striking distance if you. Macmillannoffices will also know, but they can be a bit erratic about signposting so you need to ask.

PS addle - no, you’ve not irritated me. Then again, my plan to be the annoying person running a (half) marathon with cancer is way more irritating! So I won’t bang on about it extensively here (but I’m now on proper plan, as it’s only about 12 weeks to go and I need to up both mileage and fundraising)

Addled congratulations on the last poxy oxy! . Good luck with the tablets. The end is in sight. I'm finally starting to feel a bit better. Have been able to go a few days without dire rear tabs (touch wood!) and actually able to go to bed slightly later than 8pm - woo hoo!. Baby steps......

iVampire hope your mum is ok. Good luck with the half training.

Noodles good luck with your first chemo. Hope it goes well.

to everyone else!

Hi everyone sorry for radio silence. Have been trying to stay away from cancer things!

Addle glad you're nearly over. My last one was my worst by a mile. Hope yours isn't.

I'm still very tired and have a sore bum although it is better. Had end of year assembly where we said goodbye to year 6 kids and I broke into tears scared I won't see dd through primary school as she's only just finished reception. I just hate this new life we've been given. It's so unfair on us and especially our little ones.
Sorry for being miserable.
Hello to everyone and hope you're all doing ok

iVampire....I would love to sponsor you...do PM me details if you don't feel vulnerable/outed doing so....find it distinctly unirritating and v inspiring...xx

Thank you Ivampire x

Dulce no need to apologise. This is the place to be miserable if you need to. I hope you start to feel better soon.

Tayto onwards and upwards! :)

addle I hope you manage to do some nice things today

iVampire good luck with the training!

Year I hope the appointment went well. Have you had any news about your tests/results yet?

purple sorry you had a rubbish night's sleep. I hope you got some rest today. How are the other side effects?

noodles I hope chemo went alright

Year you don't need to have anything knowledgeable to say, we're all just muddling through this the best we can. How did your DD get on at the doctors?

That's definitely not irritating Addle, I love good news stories. It shows there's always hope

Aw Dulce I remember my sons assembly a few years ago and I was a sobbing mess and that was before my diagnosis. It's so tough, I honestly don't know how people with young children manage

How are you Leslie? Hope you're managing to enjoy your holiday. It's pouring down here

I feel so bloody poorly today really sicky and tired but sleeping doesn't help. I'm really hoping the side effects ease up as I honestly don't think I can manage another 5 rounds of this chemo

Hi can I tentatively wait here whilst I find out if the 'thickening' in my mutant boob is Cancer? It's made my nipple go on holiday inside my boob and both drs have felt something behind my nipple. I went to the gp this morning and literally just missed the phone call for the appointment next week. Now they're closed so that's a shitty wait over the weekend!

I'm 27 today.. happy birthday me..

I read your other thread, I didn't comment as I saw everyone else advising you to go to the doctor. Honestly this waiting around is the worst bit and finding out either today or Monday when your appointment is won't make the slightest bit of difference

Have you told anyone in real life about it? There's some lovely ladies on here who'll be able to give you some advice. Happy birthday! I know it's tough but try to enjoy the weekend and put it out of your mind until Monday

@purpleunicorns yeah I told my husband over the phone after the drs as I couldn't keep it in any longer. He's going to take the day off to come with me.

Also have my mum on standby incase he can't make it due to a trial he has next week as I don't know the dates.

I feel like such a miserable bitch right now, but we're going out tonight to a vair posh Italian in the village we live in so that'll be lovely! ❤️

Pahaha sorry for the very woe is me dramatic first post

Happy birthday Fatty :) hopefully you'll only need to be here a little while, but make yourself comfortable. I hope you enjoy your dinner. I love Italian!

purple I'm sorry you feel so shit. I remember in the early cycles wondering how I could possibly cope with another. It has got better. I used to just lie there waiting for time to pass as nothing really seemed to help. I kept reminding myself that I wouldn't feel that way forever, though at times it seemed like I would. Listening to classical music used to help a bit as I couldn't concentrate on books or telly or anything, but I needed something other than all the gloom in my head! If the antisickness tablets aren't working don't be afraid to ask for more. I know it's tempting to just soldier on but if there is anything that might help then it's worth a try just to feel a bit better I'm really sorry you are suffering so much

It is raining here too. What a relief. It helped my breathing to begin with but now I have a different cough, which I think is caused by the cold/damp air. Can't bloody win we went on a boat trip this morning and I've just been for a swim in the hotel pool, so I'm still managing to enjoy myself just verrrrry slowly!