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

for Fatty
*
Mam* for me it was around 3 weeks but mine wasn't breast so it may be different. Keep in mind that a couple of weeks either way won't make any difference. Feel free to ask any more questions, one of us should have an answer

Oh fatty I am so sorry to hear that you have all that to deal with . That's crap . Xx

I'm sorry Fatty that's really shit.

We're visiting my DF and he's not mentioned my diagnosis once. I shouldn't been surprised by him but it's sad that he's literally only said 2 words about the whole thing.

Mam I've been told 4 weeks from confirming to operation.

Sorry, misread Mam but I think it's the same again.

Fatty so sorry that's shit x

Mam I think it depends on the hospital tbh. Had my op for breast cancer at the end of May and still waiting for my start date for radiotherapy hope to hear something this week

fatty that is awful news a double whammy for you to deal with.

I feel a bit better now thanks TQ well no better all day until this evening when the sickness seems to have calmed down a bit. The heat is definitely not helping one bit.

The self injecting was a bit easier too (thanks for the tips Leslie) the not being timid one really helped

purple You are a bloody superstar getting in to work too during this harsh chemo. My work has potential for infections, so am just getting myself signed off when my annual leave runs out, so my full pay lasts longer before SSP. Not sure what I will do then, but will cross that bridge when I get there.

Dulce that is rubbish that you still have a dire rear. Hopefully it will sort itself out soon. Have you looked at your food intake as to anything that may be a culprit too? The hot weather is showing no signs of letting up by me, so hopefully it isn't the cause to you or you will be like it for weeks...

Waves to everyone.

Noodles hopefully you'll keep feeling a bit better day by day until you have the next lot, keep drinking as much as you can to flush it out** of your system

I feel anything but a superstar. I'm having to work as long as I can as I only have about 5 weeks sick pay left from work before ssp and we can't afford to live on that

I now have a fistula thanks to all the radiotherapy so I'm going to ring them this morning to see what they say, it may need surgery which will delay my treatment

On the plus side it's raining here so it's a lot cooler than yesterday ☔️

Fatty I'm really sorry. Can you wait for the biopsy results before the termination or will it take too long?

Oh purple you poor thing have you checked what benefits you're entitled to? I hope the fistula can be treated without surgery. Enjoy the rain!

Year your husband hurt you?! No wonder you're anxious. It seems like you've gone through an awful lot over the last few years. I wonder if it would help to post about it somewhere. Maybe Mental Health or Relationships. There are some very wise posters who might be able to help you work through everything ignore me if that's not helpful. I hope things improve for you soon.

It seems like everyone's suffering in the heat so I'm sending you all cooling vibes. I hope you have fans and ice lollies!

I'm home from my holiday and my breathing is improving, thank goodness.

Oh my goodness fatty - huge hugs what an awful situation sending strength to you

minnie it is amazing how many people just don’t say anything because they don’t know what to say! My PIL were at my house when I came out after my bowel op and my MIL couldn’t even look at me let alone say the word ‘cancer’ - it is hard...

purple I also can’t believe you’re in work, though I understand from a money point of view. I wouldn’t manage at all, but I am always 10 yds from a loo at the moment as the capecitabine has hit big time this time! Hope you feel better soon and less sick

And sympathy to you dulce as I am having same problem. Heat def doesn’t help

to everyone - you wonderful strong lacies!

Minnie it's not that your DF doesn't care, people just don't know what to say for the best. I've found talking about things practically makes it easier for people. A lot of people just assume you don't want to talk about it so they're scared to bring it up

Addle speak to your doctor, I'm sure you can take a lot more anti dire rear tablets than is recommend on the pack

Glad you're feeling better Leslie although I'm jealous of how cool and wet your holiday was

I've checked on entitledto and apparently I can't claim any benefits despite my DH only working in a supermarket he's not exactly making millions

Only one cool wet day purple but it was glorious other days were back to low twenties, which is at least cooler than here. 27 at the moment is it still raining?

Hm that doesn't seem right. Does that include disability benefits? I think you should be entitled to PIP. There's a bit about it here.

addle I hope you're managing to stay hydrated. Remember to up your salt intake a little bit too.

Thank you WWLKD.

Very hot here. Should be doing jobs but can't face moving. Currently 27 degrees.

Has the call today. My radiotherapy starts this Thursday. The amount of sessions may change again from 23 to just 20.

Feeling very nervous and anxious as I am not too sure what to expect and worried about all the potential side effects.

Think every hospital call and appointment just ramps up the anxiety.

Not too hot in the Midlands today just about right with a nice breeze. Hope everyone else is doing well with treatments and everything

I sent you a PM WWLKD..

No offence to anyone else.

Chase I was scared of having radiotherapy as I didn't know what to expect but it was honestly absolutely fine. The machine doesn't even touch you, you just lie on a bed and get lasers pointed at you and you don't feel a thing. It only takes a few minutes, they spend more time faffing around trying to get your tattoos lined up properly

Fatty how are you doing?

Apparently PIP is only for those unable to look after themselves (get dressed/take medication etc) so I don't qualify for that

It's raining here but I'm currently stuck in a hospital where it's like a sauna. Although I do have a side room all to myself with free TV

Chase so glad you got a start date. I always feel better when treatment is underway - even if physically I feel worse! I haven't had radiotherapy but I hope it all goes well.

Purple are you having chemo today? Re benefits: my work has told me to apply for the ESA and work related component of universal credit - despite the fact I get a private health insurance annual 'salary'. I would suggest you go through the UC application process, which I did yesterday. Part way through you get the option to tick for them to call you if you have a terminal illness. It might be worthwhile to have a chat just to make sure you're not missing any benefits.

Apparently you should also be contacting the council to sort out a reduction in council tax. They tell you to do this as part of the process too.....

Ah that would be a big help, I'll get in touch with Macmillan. I'm sure I saw that they have a benefits advisor near me. As much as I enjoy work I'm really struggling with it at the minute and it's only going to get worse

No chemo today. I have a fistula so they've told me to come in to get a scan done, not quite sure why they need to keep me in overnight for it though although I do quite enjoy being here and having all the lovely nurses running around after me and bringing me endless cups of tea

Sorry you're feeling crap purple and good luck with the benefits. Stressing about money is the last thing anyone needs while going through this shit.

I've no experience of radio but my experience of chemo tells me that the anxiety before you start and the fear of side effects is worse than the real thing.

Addle hope you're feeling better. I'm better today. Guess I need to watch what I eat and see what is impacting me.

It's all go for dd birthday and I'm getting excited. This illness makes me want to make things extra special for her. Dh says I'm spoiling her and buying too much stuff which I probably am but I don't even care

Hi Chase. Radiotherapy was easy. Takes about 90 seconds for the thing to go across you. You don't see anything. Before that you lie on the bed and there is loads of faffing and numbers being spouted while they line you up. As the sessions progress, you get used to where to lie. Take a nice dressing gown to wear. You kind of get used to being uncovered. Our waiting room was lovely with jigsaw and knitting and tv. Hope yours is too.

After eff3cts. Aveeda cream is very good. They may also give you medihoney. I had very little redness but I took tumeric and looked after the site carefully. The fatigue gets you. I lasted a week working and then had to get signed off. Fatigue is still rumbling on for me but this is probs not radio related.

It was the easiest part of the cancer journey for me. Good luck!

Waves at everyone else. My liver scores are high for some reason which is causing fatigue. Onc has taken me off letrazole for a bit which causes liver fluctuations but in the last couple of days the fatigue has crept back. Has anyone else had this?

Mam - it's normally two weeks after op that someone goes for follow up appointment. What people don't realise (I didn't) is that the paths look at the tumour and there has to be a margin cleance between cancer and non cancer. Because microscopes are now so good, we are talking mm here. I had to have three more operations to clear one margin. It is quite common for one more operation (it's not such a big thing as lymphnodes aren't done) as the surgeon can't see individual cancer cells.

My radio started two months after my fourth op.

The lumpectomy is not that bad but the lymphnodes are a bugger and it is that that causes me the most niggles afterwards. My new boob is decidedly more perky than old boob

Thanks Flying. Think the leaflet I got listing all the possible side effects has been playing on my mind. I keep thinking I will get them all.

The hospital has given me some cream and a top to wear that has a velcro front panel. Tbh that many people have seen my chest I no longer care

Chase count your blessings it's your chest. I feel the same about my bum

Dulce count your blessings it's your bum bum and not your vag

Chase try not to worry too much about the side effects, they have to tell you them all just in case but it's VERY unlikely you'll get them all

Purple touché well played.