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

Hugs Dulce.. My friend had breast cancer in her 20's and her aim was to see her children go to primary, then finish, then start secondary school then finish. Her kids are now 18 and 17 and she's still with us. You will be okay .

WWLKD - DD on more antibiotics. May need an operation . Still 5-7 weeks to wait for results potentially.

purple DD has to keep on her antibiotics and has been given another dose and has to go back to the GP next week.

Fattygettingthin - sorry to hear your news. My Nana had a nipple that was inverted. I understand your worry. Do try and enjoy your meal out.

Purple you can - and you will - manage the other 5 rounds because you have to. also, the 1st one is always by far the worst.

iVampire even though you are clearly incredibly irritating please post a link to your fundraising page if you have one. You will help me feel so much better knowing that you are doing all the hardwork....

Tayto are you sure you're old enough to stay up past the watershed?

Fatty sorry you find yourself here - hopefully it will be a very temporary visit. Oh, and Happy Birthday btw! . Have a lovely evening.

My house guest has arrived. She is so like my beloved, beautiful Lucky that I feel I have stepped back in time. OTOH it's lovely, on the other it's making me feel so sad again. I lost my dog and most of my life in 3 short months and neither will ever come back..

TQ

TQ it must be very bittersweet to have a dog staying again and a reminder of how crap it is to have cancer and how life changing it can be. I really feel for you and don't know what to say. I am thinking of you though, be kind to yourself & don't overdo the walks and end up feeling rotten as a result.

My first chemo was ok. I did cold cap, it was about 5 minutes of indescribable cold where I thought there is no way I am keeping this on my head for 3 hours, then my head went numb so I kept it on. My friend was a good distraction too.
I feel quite sick now (as I did with morning sickness for my youngest) I had tonight's anti sickness tablet a couple of hours ago but still feel queasy. They apparently gave me a large dose of the nausea stuff as I had morning sickness before. My parents did a roast for them & the girls, so I have just had a roast chicken bagel as it smelt delicious!
Having a lie down as just feel a bit weird now.

I don't feel up to going through the thread to remind myself of the posts I have read and don't recall very well (sorry) but hello to everyone & hope everyone feels ok, no dire rear and everyone has a great nights sleep.

Don't worry about the dramatic post Fatty, we've all done it

Thanks TQ and Leslie, I've been googling this chemo and next week SHOULD be a bit easier, I sailed through cisplatin chemo so this chemo has totally floored me

Year 5-7 weeks is a ridiculous time to wait for results! Hope she gets sorted much sooner than that

TQ my dogs gone to stay with a friend as with working and feeling so crappy I just don't have the energy. Luckily she's just up the road so I still see her loads, it is rubbish though. They are like family

Glad it went ok Noodles, if they've given you steroids for the next few days take them as early in the day as you can otherwise you won't sleep

purple - it was 6-8!

Hello
I got diagnosed with early stage breast cancer today.
I'm going to have a lumpectomy then radiotherapy to start.

What's radiotherapy like?

And hospitals really should not offer telephone appointments for biopsy results. Because when they ask you to come in instead, you know you're buggered.

Hello Minnie I'm sorry you find yourself here but you're in a good place. Loads of people can and will help you with advice and reassurance. They'll be along very soon. I'm no good to you though as I have ovarian cancer and have no experience of radiotherapy.

Hi Minnie but sorry you have to be here I had 25 lots of radiotherapy to my pelvis and had no side effects at all, the only issue I had was tiredness from having to drive through to the hospital every day.
There's a couple of ladies on here with breast cancer who can answer any questions you have

And I know it's scary but as it's been caught so early the chances are in your odds, feel free to ask any questions or just have a rant

Hello Minnie sorry you find yourself here too. I had a lumpectomy and sentinel lymph node biopsy for early stage breast cancer in May. Physically it wasn't too bad for me but the amount of information you get can be overwhelming sometimes and the waiting is frustrating and numbing.

Am still waiting for a date to start my radiotherapy hopefully it will be in the next week or so. Will let you know what it's like.

Hope everyone can have a restful weekend. You all seem to be amazingly strong women x

Glad it went OK today Noodles!

Hi Minnie...sorry you're here...I had lumpectomy and radiotherapy for grade 2 er/pr positive breast cancer.
Radiotherapy...honestly it was fine...worked thru it...first two weeks and half in the office...then did get tired so worked from home for last week and a half...mostly because the commute was exhausting.
Boob did blister but not horribly...they gave me dressings and on someone's recommendation I used udder cream.... think you can get on prescription but I bought from Whole Foods.
Honestly physically it was fine...
I had uv tattoos...if they're on offer I'd take that...the planning meeting was quite amusing...like something out of playschool..with sticky bits of plastic and rulers.
Also the actual.sessions are v quick...putting you in position takes the most time...
Any other questions feel.free to ask...I've probably forgotten loads!!
TQ...thinking of you and your dog...it's like having a hand grenade lobbed into your life...bloody awful
Leslie...hope you are having a lovely holiday
Noodles...glad chemo not too horrible tho sorry about queasyness....
Hugs and cake to all..xx

Btw Chase... have you um chased up.the hospital? I had lumpectomy at end of March..my radiotherapy was delayed as they screwed up sending off lump for oncotype...but I still started mid May....
And think planning meeting was week or so before...
It might just be worth a little nudge if you haven't heard anything at all about timings...no harm in a quick call

Hi Freddie. Had my planning session on 9th July they said I was 'likely' to start on 26th July but there could be 'slippage' so just waiting for the call - could be any day so planning anything at the moment is a bit of a pain now the school holidays have started.

The hospital gave me a prescription for some cream for sore skin so hope that works if not how do you get hold of udder cream?? And what is it??

moogooskincare.co.uk/skin-milk-udder-cream.html

I think someone on here recommended it and certainly I didn't blister badly...
Great that it will be soon...bugger that you don't know exactly when..life does seem to go on pause a bit...hope it goes well...if there's anything else you want info wise please do ask....

Thank you everyone.
It's reassuring to have people who are going through it to speak to.
I know I'm fortunate that it was caught early.

Just spotted that there's an AMA thread with a breast cancer surgeon, so that might be of interest to some of you :)

chase they always seem to forget that anyone has a life outside of the hospital bit frustrating, but I hope they'll get you started very soon

Welcome Minnie

freddie I am having a lovely holiday thank you :) how are you doing?

noodles I'm glad chemo went OK and I hope you're feeling less sick this morning

Year hopefully she won't need an op. 6-8 weeks is a ridiculous wait to find out if you have cancer

TQ hopefully your furry guest is giving you lots of cuddles

Waving to everyone

Maisie is very good at cuddles though they weren't particularly appreciated at 5.15 am..... I caved in at 7am and gave her her breakfast and of course she's now slept for 2 hours.... unlike me.

Noodles I hope you don't feel so sick this am. Unfortunately it's always something sweet that eases the nausea..

Chase Moo Goo has worked for my skin irritations - I haven't had radio - and I get it from my local health food / care shop. I think it was Freddie who put me on to it . tx F.

I felt rotten with nausea yesterday. My Mum thought I looked green yesterday evening. It has been a bit better today, but still getting it in waves and have managed a doze or two as my parents took the girls out for a bit. My head still feels peculiar, I presume from the cold cap as it all defrosts. Not a headache, more a throb as the feeling returns fully.

My sister in law and brother sent a queasy drops and hand & foot care package through the notanotherbunchof flowers website today, so tried a couple of those sweeties (plus half a pack of Jaffa cakes - you were right TQ re sweet stuff helping the nausea)

I was also sent a fruit basket that looks like a pot of flowers yesterday, it contained pineapple, strawberries, grapes, melon and chocolate covered strawberries. It looks delicious and really original. I didn't even know it was a thing you could get/send. My kids have demolished most of it, but I managed a few chocolate strawberries...

purple how long is your chemo cycle? Is it fortnightly or 3 weekly? I hope you start feeling more human as this week goes on. Thanks for the tip re the steroids, I had my 2nd one before midday today as couldn't sleep last night & ended up coming back downstairs for a bit.
I am supposed to be camping next week, but not sure on practicalities yet as now as my picc line is being fitted on Wed. If I get dire rear too, I will not go as not sure I can face the campsite loo with that!

Welcome minnie, sorry you find yourself here. I have breast cancer too, but mine is being treated the opposite way round as am doing chemo 1st, so no radiotherapy experience yet, I had my first chemo yesterday and will have a lumpectomy after so the op is not as invasive, followed by radiotherapy. No advice, but the breast cancer team I am under have been fantastic.

Thank you to everyone who wished me well for the 1st chemo sesh. One down and (I think) six more to go. 2 more of the same one (fortnightly) then 4 on a 3 weekly cycle of docetaxel & the hormone treatment too. The operation feels a long way off...
X

Hello noodles. Reading what you and others are going through puts my situation in perspective a bit, shitty as it is.

We're off to stay with DF tomorrow. His DP lost her DD to leukaemia 10 years ago, so I'm worried how much it will bring it back for her. Guilt about how my illness affects others is a theme today.

So I found a lump in my breast 2 weeks ago and had my hospital appointment yesterday. 2 biopsies later and I was told I have breast cancer. I think they said early but it's 5cm in size and they have said surgery and chemo. Possibly radiotherapy. To be honest I haven't taken it all in.
I'm 42, no history in family. Kids are 4 and 7. V supportive family and friends.
I have an appointment on the 31st which will give me my results and to go through my treatment plan.
I'll keep reading the thread and update when I get any news.

TQ hopefully she will sleep in a bit later tomorrow!

noodle sorry you feel so rotten

ranout I'm sorry to hear about your diagnosis

Minnie ah yes, cancer guilt! I hope you enjoy your stay with them and that it is not too difficult for her :)

Minnie easier said than done, but try not to worry too much. It sounds like they have a good plan in place. The waiting is the worst bit unfortunately. I kept myself as busy as possible leading up to diagnosis which helped I think & my lounge is nearly decorated as a result

Quinoa I am similar to you, although I am a wee bit older at 46, 2 young kids (4&7) and my cancer is grade 3 type & is an aggressive hormone positive one. I have a tumour in my breast and one lymph node also affected. There is no family history and my lifestyle is not too horrendous diet, drink and excersise wise. It is a lot of info to take in initially. Is your tumour 5cm or is it the margin that they need to remove which is that size? I believe mine is approx 2.5cm but with margins of 4.5cm. They are doing chemo 1st on me as hope it will shrink it to make the op less invasive. I had titanium wire markers put in to the node & lump so if when they come to do the op, if they cannot see the tumour then they know where to have a good scrape. The surgeon thinks I will end up with my boob being a cup size smaller in the end.
Take someone with you if possible on 31st as it definitely helps. Sorry you find yourself here too, but I must admit this thread has really helped me from becoming a panicked mess.

Thanks Leslie it seems to be getting better again. Lots of water, fruit tea (which I never normally drink) and Jaffa cakes are the way forward