We're not that old but we're losing our hair... Do you still need us, now we're sixty four?! - CANCER SUPPORT THREAD 64

[WhatWouldLeslieKnopeDo]

Me again. Even attempted a vaguely witty title. Hopefully not in poor taste

If you have cancer, or you're waiting for test results to see if you do, then please pull up a chair and introduce yourself!

Some of us have been here for ages and others are just going through the testing process now, so there's bound to be someone who understands what you are going through.

Whether you are a newbie or an oldie it can be helpful to post a quick recap of your diagnosis/treatment to date just so that other posters can keep track without having to search previous threads :)

If you have a relative who have cancer then there is a thread just for you in the Life limiting illness topic, with lots of others who are sadly in a similar boat and able to support each other. Other threads in that topic might also be of interest. We wish you and your loved one all the best

Below are some links that might be useful. But feel free to ask any questions at all. Nothing is off limits here.

Cancer patients are eligible for a medical exemption card for prescription charges - there is some information on the NHS Business Authority website or you should be able to get the form from your pharmacy or GP surgery

You can find information about the individual chemo drugs or regimes on the Macmillan website here

See if there is a Look Good, Feel Better workshop near you - they are especially useful for advice on disguising missing eyebrows and eyelashes

Ellie's Friends
Something to look forward to
Cancer Research UK
CRUK science blog - this is interesting and very useful for getting the facts behind any big cancer headlines
Breast cancer care
Shine cancer support (for people in their 20s, 30s or 40s with cancer)
NHS What do cancer stages and grades mean?
Macmillan staging and grading (this is in the breast cancer section but applicable to many other cancers too)
CRUK stages of cancer
CRUK cancer grading
Don't forget the kids

Ah my bag doesn't have knickers in it my grandmother will be turning in her grave!!

My OH took them out for half an hour to Sainsburys and they all came back in a worse mood. I often ask him to take them out to the park just to give me some headspace but as he does all the housework etc at the moment it's not always met with um...positivity.

Oh dear. Sounds like a rubbish day all round! I hope the mood improves this evening.

And pack some knickers

Ooh I do crochet too!

I have been trying to keep up but dont have the energy to check who said what and reply

Still in hospital and waiting to be transferred to my usual hospital to have stents put in to stop my kidneys getting damaged

Oh no you really are having a rough old time of it purple don't worry about keeping up. We've mostly been gossiping about shoes anyway! How's the crochet going? I hope that you get transferred quickly and good luck with the procedure. Will that be under general anaesthetic?

Addle as you know I asked for help and was referred to a psychologist. It has been amazing and very helpful for me.

Purple I hope you're on the mend soon.

As for buying stuff I've recently bought myself a pair of designer shoes and a handbag, and also a few charms for my Pandora bracelet.

Oh. And this week we bought a house

I think Dulce wins the shopping spree

No idea if it's general anaesthetic, I'm really really hoping it is. I'm sick of everything hurting

I haven't been crocheting long so I'm still having to google everything and I can't read a pattern for shit but I enjoy it. This is the only thing I've actually managed to complete so far, I love crocheting but not too keen on joining all the bits together so I do have a couple more bunnies lying around the house in pieces

What does everyone else crochet? I've bought an amigurumi book which doesn't look too difficult

You definitely win Dulce!

purple that's adorable! :) I'm sorry you're in pain though. Have you asked for more pain relief? And are you under the palliative care team? I know the P word is off-putting, to put it mildly, but they are so brilliant at pain management. Not sure if there's likely to be anyone around on a Sunday evening, but you should definitely be able to see them tomorrow.

I don't like joining bits together either. I have a knitted unicorn in pieces waiting to achieve his little unicorny destiny. He's been waiting about a year

I mostly crochet squares for Woolly Hugs and other blankets. I also knit so I'm making scarves for various relatives at the moment. And I'm crocheting a blanket for my sister, but that's going to take a while as it's a bit of an elaborate pattern. I always have a few things on the go as then I can do easier ones when chemo brain strikes :)

Loving all the spending ladies @Dulcedelecherocks you definitely win!
@purpleunicorns I really hope they get your pain sorted soon. Your crochet is fab.
So, to totally lower the tone, how about we all crochet knickers for our hospital bags! Couldn't resist that suggestion. I'll ask the tutor on Saturday if he has a pattern!

OMG Ranout ROFL but it's a 'no' from me - my fanny is a hive of itching hives just thinking about it!

purple that is so sweet! I have never learned how to crochet before.

ranout I’m sorry but I’m with TQ on this one!

I think I've got enough going on without adding an itchy fanny to the mix

I'm firmly in the "no" camp too!

Have you been transferred yet purple? I hope you're more comfortable today

I saw the GP today for a pain medication review. She spoke to the palliative consultant at the hospice and they've decided to put me on fentanyl patches as hopefully I'll absorb them better than the tablets :)

I hope everyone is having as nice a Monday as possible.

I was supposed to be getting them put in this afternoon but an emergency case came in so I won't be going to theatre until morning. At least I can have something to eat, I'm absolutely starving

Addle you should give it a go, it's really relaxing

I'm glad you finally got the patches Leslie, I've only heard good things about them and fingers crossed you can get on with stuff without pain stopping you

Oh no that's a shame about the delay, but good you'll get some food. I hope you have something tasty! :)

purple yes I think I will look into crocheting - it sounds therapeutic and I need therapy

Glad to hear you're getting the strong stuff Leslie - I don't tolerate opiates well at all but they certainly do the trick if you can keep them in long enough!!

Good luck for tomorrow purple - hope it goes smoothly and you have something yummy to eat tonight!

@purpleunicorns hope you get something yummy to eat.

Can't believe how crafty we all are ladies! Well I say that, let's see if I manage to master crochet on Saturday!

Have a lovely evening lacies.

Forgive the scepticism here, but "something yummy to eat"? in hospital? Good luck with that Purple!

I hope the fentanyl patches are effective Leslie.

The cleaner came round with a terrible cold and cough so I ran away for a walk....

Yes, quite TQ - obvs I am relying on someone to bring something from 'outside' rather than hospital food! Sorry purple if this isn't what is planned!

First weight in at slimming world tonight and I've lost 8lb. I've gotta lose a heck of a lot but it's a start.

Suppose I've got 2 days of the shits and one day of exhaustion to thank for this

I've come out in my head scarf tonight as my wig needs brushing and this is a new sw group so im getting lots of looks and I feel so uncomfortable.

8lbs. Bloody hell you are amazing.

Really sorry about the looks. I’m going nowhere if you want to chat nonsense on the thread to distract yourself I’m all yours.

pandora I’d say congrats (re weight loss) but I’m not sure that’s the appropriate response but it’s encouraging I’m guessing?!
I’m sorry too about the looks. They are probably wanting to speak to you but worried about saying the wrong thing. (or jealous re your impressive weight loss?!?!)

(When I said ‘not appropriate’ pandora I meant because of the shits!!)

I hope it goes well today purple what a crappy time you are having at the mo. Great crochet bunny btw. It makes me feel I would like to learn how to do it, but the reality is I bought a sewing machine and need to do lessons to learn to use that properly 1st. Anything I crochet would probably end up looking like the dog has chewed it (so no good for doing knickers ranout as comfort aside, they would probably be a bit indecent!!)

Well done pandora on getting to SW and the weight loss. I thought I would have lost some weight after spending so much time feeling nauseous & then having such a dodgy tum this cycle. My weight has not altered, which is possibly due to the steroids countering it. So 8lbs in the circumstances is great. As to the people staring, how bloody rude. Maybe they did not realise they were doing it or were trying to think of something to say, but was not what you needed at all. Hopefully they will be more normal at your next weigh in.

I hope the fentanyl patches are a success lesley and you are able to get on top of your pain relief.

We had a great weekend on the boat with my friend, lovely to have a change of scene and a really good catch up. The kids absolutely loved it, we got back at 7pm last night, straight to bed and then an early start yest for hospital appts. I had to wake the kids up to go to breakfast club at school and my youngest didn't want to get dressed, so that was fun being on the last minute and dressing a squirming child who kept removing clothing just as it was on her!
I made it in time for my appts and have a bumper bag of meds for the side effects of next chemo, so hopefully it will not be too bad. Mum is up 2mo & I have chemo again on Thurs.

I hope everyone has a good day

purple good luck today

noodles the boat trip sounds amazing. I hope this morning's school run goes more easily than yesterday's. And glad you're all set with a goody bag for the next round :)

TQ I hope you escaped the cleaner's germs!

Great news Pandora sorry about the staring though

I've come down with a cough/cold. I slept most of the night but just kept randomly waking up and coughing then falling back to sleep. Every time they test me my immune system is fine but I still seem to pick up every bug around I feel like a huge wimp!

I hope everyone has a good Tuesday