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

Taste changes, not rate changes... damnit!!!

Wow that is small Leslie I thought they were a couple of inches big. I didn't think of them coming off and sticking to other people either

TQ I'm keeping everything firmly crossed for you on Monday, keep in mind you were expecting bad news at your last scan and it turned out fine. The slobbing about I'm doing is getting ridiculous, I don't think I've been out of my pyjamas for a week. Have all the gin you need, I can't drink with my antibiotics and I've got a bottle of rhubarb gin staring at me every time I walk in the kitchen

Fuzzy I hope you enjoy the breast cancer meet up (if enjoy is the right word) it's good to talk to others in the same boat. There doesn't seem to be much round where I live where any meet ups happen

Thank you everyone! Clinic was actually fine in the end. He asked how I was feeling after the last appointment and that was a good in to say I was good and just focussing on getting to the next scan and not thinking too much about the bigger picture. Hint was taken and appointment painless, so ready for chemo on Tuesday. Was lovely to know you were all thinking of me. You are the most thoughtful bunch.

Leslie I’m sorry but this is amazing And I mustn't lose them because they might stick to someone else and kill them I don’t know I could have kept a straight face through that advice tbh.

Who has the most exciting weekend plans?

Glad today went well namechange - oncologists seem to be switched on to what people want to talk about and I think that helps

Glad your killer patches are working their magic leslie

to everyone dealing with Chemo side effects

I am on my way back from the party! I was quite tired after a couple of drinks, and didn't manage a nap earlier, but glad I could go and see people - hoping for some sleep tonight before my train in the morning.

to all you lacies! (Even those of you with untainted belly buttons ) and night night!!

noodles I have thought about the best ways to get rid of stuff and think I must be a terrible control freak but have needed to do all the sorting - once I started I realised I didn't have time to properly organise/sell things so it's all going to charity. I just hope it really does help someone!

purple I hope you're feeling more energetic soon and the iron levels improve - I do love a good slob about though! Of course it's always best when you feel well, but as long as you have comfy skinning about clothes that's good too!

Can I join the CBBBBB too? My surgical scar goes right through mine so very odd looking now. Leslie can use her patches to knock any evil villains off for us.
to everyone. I've had too much rhubarb gin to type much more - it is Friday after all and helps dull the foot neuropathy which is really playing up today.

Erm knock off should be.....

Oops! I wrote skinning about - meant slobbing about! Bloody autocorrect and tequila!!!

Snap tayto - i thought they normally went round it but mine is straight through too!

addle ah, I thought that was some sort of regional expression! I'm glad you made it to the party and I hope you slept well.

Tayto sorry the neuropathy is playing up

Namechange I'm glad it went well. Enjoy your weekend before Monday's chemo :)

Fuzzy I hope you're not feeling too rough. The event sounds good. I've been to a few Shine events and also a bowel cancer one a few years ago. It's really helpful to meet others in a similar boat :)

TQ I hope you have some nice distractions over the weekend

purple how long are you on the antibiotics for? Hopefully you can enjoy your gin soon!

No exciting weekend plans here. I'm still coughing and spluttering lots so will probably stay home and knit! :)

My scar also goes next to my bb so if it wasn't for the second one it would look pretty normal. The good news is that the surgeon told me he will redo the scar when he operates on the hernia and make it look nice and tidy
Bad news is that he wants to wait until the new year because he believes my body is weak due to chemo.
This neuropathy is annoying me as well, it's worse on the left foot for some odd reason but at least it has gone from my hands.

Addle I decluttered a lot during chemo and made a ton of money selling stuff. Mainly baby things which I was keeping in case I had another one and that helped me make my peace with the fact that it will never happen now. I do feel a lot better now although I still have stuff to get rid of and dh is a horrible hoarder so I get rid of his stuff without telling him but it's a good feeling.

Hope you're all ok and have a good weekend.

Ah dulce I need your right foot and you need my left one then! It's worse on my right one! Also not sure if typing on the iPhone is worse because it's a new phone I'm not used to yet, or if my fingers are more crap than before
How long did the consultant say you'd be 'weak' for after the chemo?! A whole year?! Bloody cancer

Just on the train now to see my uni buddies for my birthday weekend! Thank goodness I got LOADS of rest before this random weekend of socialising (after nothing all summer ) and am therefore not at all exhausted!! Ha ha! Anyway, I shall raise a glass to you lovely Lacies - especially those who can't have a drink. You're all brilliant

Yeah he said he wants to wait until we're coming up to a year . Said there will be too much scaring tissue at this point and as he will need to open me up again and put a mesh in he wants to make sure I can stand a week in hospital with less risk of infection. I don't mind waiting to be honest and now I'm excited with the prospect of a new shiny tidy scar! Life goals eh?
Enjoy your bday weekend. I'm also out on the piss tonight and I'm sure I'll regret it tomorrow!

Enjoy yourselves Dulce and addle

I don't really miss alcohol, but I'm grumpy because I can't eat ice cream at the moment due to my cough. My new ice cream machine is waiting

Oh and happy birthday addle

TQ enjoy the gin!

Because my appointments are fairly infrequent now, I find I get more tense before each (more time for things to have wandered, I suppose)

Gin is good - but I have lost my tolerance to red wine, rats!

Have they ever considered taking off the toenail completely? As they might do for an I growing one. I currently have cotton wool soaked in apple cider vinegar wrapped round one big toe - the nail isn’t ingrown but it’s definitely pressing in and I need to head it off.

I think the most exciting part of my weekend may have already been and gone (look away now if you don’t want to see energetic update).

I ran a 10k in my second best time!

Happy birthday Addle! I hope you have a fabulous weekend it's mine next Sunday but I don't think I'll be out partying

Ivampire I'm tired just reading about you doing 10k. Well done on your best time

Happy Birthday Addled!

Hope you have a wonderful Birthday weekend!

Happy birthday Addled

Hooe everyone is having a good weekend

iVamp - Wow! That’s a fantastic achievement You could be the poster girl for the “This Girl Can” campaign that was running a while ago. I remember the advert - I was exhausted just watching it

Actually re exercise - I do miss using my mini trampoline. When the cancer was diagnosed at the beginning of this year I asked the surgical oncologist if I could use it and he advised against it. He advised weight gain and walking to strengthen heart and lungs before op. I like walking - I have five dogs! It’s not the same as a good bounce though.

Namechanged - So pleased to hear your appointment went ok and that the Dr took the hint and didn’t bombard you with info. Like you say, sometimes it’s easier to process and accept news in bite sized chunks.

Leslie - It’s amazing that something so small could be so deadly! Glad to hear the patches are helping. No exciting weekend plans here either - rain forecast all weekend for us (South London). What are you knitting?

Purple - Pleased to hear you’re slobbing at home. After last week you should be doing as little as possible and in your PJs

Can I ask what Neuropathy is? Is it the pins and needles/Can’t touch anything cold you get after the IV chemo? If so I have a little heat pad that I bought in Argos and find wrapping my hands up in it helped lessen the pins and needles for the five or six days they were painful after chemo. That might be helpful for you too.

Also, another question- Have any of you got a face full of freckles after chemo? When I had the HIPEC my DS noticed the freckles. They faded a bit but now having just started six months of IV and oral chemo I have bazillions if them smattered across my cheeks and forehead. Anyone else have the same?

Aimlessly I don't have any freckles, but I barely go in the sun as I was told chemo would make my skin sensitive to the sun. It's rainy here too. I am knitting a scarf for my aunt :) I used to have a mini trampoline too. Not that I think I'd be able to use it now. But it was good fun!

iVampire that is amazing! Well done I hope your toenail improves soon. Otherwise go to the podiatrist and get it snipped. The relief is immense

Waving to everyone else

Happy Birthday @addlebrained have a fab evening.
@iVampire well done you. I love hearing about any form of normality or the new normal in peoples lives.
I've been to a crochet class today which was fab but my picc line arm is now aching, don't think it's so bad I can't raise it to a glass of vino though!
@WhatWouldLeslieKnopeDo those pads sound interesting. They could be the murder weapon of choice in a murder mystery, I can see poirot trying to figure it out now!

And many happies !

Happy Birthday Addled

I'm poking my head round the door cautiously round the door as I've had nothing to discuss for a while. But I've got radiotherapy planning on Monday. It's just stickers and dots and things isn't it?

This talk of weird belly buttons almost makes me jealous. I can offer a deformed rib cage due to DS being massive.

Hello Minnie. My radiotherapy planning was lots of measuring, dots and a quick Ct scan. Lots of lying around tbh everyone else does the moving which is nice. And you get tattooed - I had 1 dot under each arm then a third in the middle of my chest. It didn't hurt just felt a scratch. Took about 1/2 hour that's all

STBX stick his fingers in his ears and went ‘la la la’ when his DMun was diagnosed with breast cancer some 25 years ago. He was mildly horrified earlier this year when he overheard me and she talking about our concerns experiences. And that was the first he knew that she had (medical) tattoos.

Apparently they don’t show, but they glow (or did I totally misunderstand her?)

How do I find a good foot therapist? DC needed orthotics for a while a few years ago - enquire there, or just go for a proper pedicure?

I don’t want to muck it up - 22 days to half marathon