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

How can something so titchy have attitude about sharing? love it!

Leslie buff is a great idea, thank you. Also an excuse to do some browsing and shopping! Will look now

purple my auntie's dog hurt her leg and she can't jump into the bed anymore so they've got a little step stool for her!

Loving the dog photos!

Sorry for causing a little doggy tangent! People think I’m a bit nuts I think having pets to care for at the moment but honestly I find them so comforting and they have a great life (well the cat wouldn’t agree but then cats are not known for being very appreciative!) The walks are so good for me and the puppy loves it too.

Completely agree NameChange!

I can’t do the long walks I used to with the dogs (DS3 does most of the doggy walks now) but I try to have a little amble down the road with one or two them as often as I can. I go when it’s dark so I don’t scare the birds or small children with my face sans maquillage. If I didn’t have the dogs then I wouldn’t make the effort to do those little walks.

Also they’re lovely company and it’s very soothing having a sleepy dog cuddling with you when you don’t feel well enough to face the world.

I know this sounds odd but I think Doris the DDB knew something was wrong with me as she kept smelling my ahem, derrière when I was standing up. I kept shooing her away! Then sure enough when they operated the cancer was in my rectum, bowel etc.
She didn’t do it for a while after op but started again and I said to DP that it could be back and then found out it was.

Re having to help dogs get on beds etc - Betty, the little brown Chihuahua use to stand next to the sofa wimperering to be picked up. I always assumed that being so tiny she couldn’t do the jump. After my op when I couldn’t bend to pick her up she just jumped up herself! Two years I’d pandered to her and she could get up herself all the time!

Love the doggy photos! Aimlessly that's amazing that your dog seemed to know there was something wrong. I think dogs are just brilliant. We have a cockapoo puppy stand down mn mixed breed haters, we just knew someone who had a litter from their pets, I don't do designer anything and she's great. She always climbs up and nuzzles my neck. Doesn't do it with anyone else - I wonder if she knew about my abnormal tennis ball lymph nodes!

I get my results on Thurs. I've found the waiting to be very very difficult. If it is cancer (and that's very much what we are expecting) are there any questions I should ask?

TQ sorry to hear your news. I read your first thread the whole way through the other night. I hope you're okay .

And everyone else.

If it is cancer (and that's very much what we are expecting) are there any questions I should ask?

Everyone is different, but for me all I wanted to know is what is the first step and when does it start. Bite size all the way for me.

I love cockapoos!

Tahiti - It’s very sensible to think ahead as to what to ask and if you do think of anything then write it down beforehand as you may find that all sensible thoughts go out of your head as you come to terms with the news. Don’t worry though if you have other questions after the appointment as you’ll be appointed an oncology Nurse/Nurses and they’re fabulous! You’ll have a phone mumber for them and can ring at anytime and leave a message and they’ll call you back.

You’ll probably find that you’re given a lot of information all at one time and I found that after the Dr had explained what was wrong he gave the answers to the questions forming in my brain before I could ask them. He then asked if I had any questions but I didn’t. You’ll also be given some literature to take home to read regarding what’s happening and any treatment the Dr has suggested.

I dreaded that appointment and wondered how I’d get through it if it was the news I didn’t want to hear but everyone was so supportive and I was fine. Once you know for sure you just get on with it and somehow find emotional strength you didn’t know you have.

Hopefully you won’t get bad news tomorrow but if you do there’s lots of support available and all the hospital staff are wonderful. I honestly don’t know how they manage to find so many lovely people! You will never feel like you’re going through this alone. x

Absolutely second that. You are not on your own. There is lots of support which it’s entirely up to you whether to take, and you also have the massive bonus () of us!

I’m loving the doggy stuff too . I foster for cats protection and they wanted to take my latest girl and send her to homing centre (as our branch of cp are not moving many cats at the moment and homing centres in other areas are )but I said no as I was about to have the op and didn’t want to come back to an empty pet free home. Lottie is so loving even though I’ve only had her for a few weeks she’s been at my side constantly since I came home from hospital.

Good morning

Excellent dog photos. And no need to apologise! It's nice when we can talk about stuff other than cancer :)

I hope everyone slept well

INeed that sounds really sensible. She has settled with you so fast by the sounds of it. Lovely!

Leslie virtually no sleep here I blame the steroids, though I should probably take some responsibility for having lost my instruction sheet so having no idea what time I’m meant to take them! It sounds like you have the same joy on steroids days.

Here's a pic of my naughty little pup. She eats everything!

💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜 love her!

Tahiti she's so cute! I hope she stops eating everything soon :)

Namechange sorry to hear that I hope you can rest today. It might be worth phoning the chemo unit to check about the steroids. But I've always been told to take them by lunchtime. I take dexamethasone - 4mg twice a day on the first day after chemo, then 2mg twice a day for the next two days.

OMG the doggies are far too cute. I've just told my DH that's what us ladies with cancer get and he's not sure! Better than a no!

@Namechangeforthiscancershit I was told that if your on steroids try and take them all before 11.30 if you can and that really helps with sleeping on a night.

Thank you
Minnie, Purple, Noodles and Name .
I don’t expect pathology results today as too soon since operation.
I should know more about time scales for possible treatment after today’s appt.
I will email my DS ‘s tutor to make sure they know to look out for him, but just joined this school in 6th form after GCSEs so he got a lot on his plate as my DH works abroad.
Yes
Here’s my girl - such a sweetie purring all the time !

Good luck today Ineedabiscuit

It’s lovely seeing all your furry friends! I love a Cockapoo - they always have very soulful eyes. Love their curly wurly fur coats too! I write to a lady that has a Cockapoo (We’ve never actually met. She’s the niece of my Aunties friend. My Auntie showed her some photos of our dogs and emailed me photos of her Cockapoo and we have been emailing each other will our doggy news and photos for a while now) I love seeing her Cockapoos photos and hearing all about him. Again, they’re bright due to their brainy Poodle genes.

Very best of luck today Ineedabiscuit

Sorry to read about your sleepless night NameChange Could you ring your oncology nurses and ask what time you should take the steroids? The nurse told me to take the second daily dose before 6.00pm but I don’t remember what dosage I had.

Currently at Royal Marsden for blood test etc before chemo tomorrow but now not tomorrow as they think port might have an infection as skin around it is red and hot. So a week of strong antibiotics (Already taking broad spectrum one daily forever due to not having a spleen) then chemo next week. Don’t mind as it’s an extra week before the pins and needles again.

Oh bum Aimlessly I hope the infection clears up quickly

I'm loving all the dogs, and the cat. I'm sure they know when we're not feeling too good. Do you still have your bunnies Leslie?

Namechange I always have my first lot of steroids at 7:00am and the second lot at 11:00am. I also have sleeping tablets to take on steroid days which help a bit

My chemos also on hold again Aimless, it's really common to have delays apparently. Although it's nice not having needles shoved in me I'd much rather just get on and have it rather than waiting around doing nothing

Tahiti good luck for tomorrow, and even if it is cancer it's soo treatable these days

Yes I do purple :) do you have any idea when you'll be restarting chemo?

I'm really tempted to get some ginea pigs but I don't know if I could deal with them squeaking all the time. I've got a blood test tomorrow, I'm going to see if they can check my B12 while I'm there as I'm doing nothing but sleeping. I'm sure my poor DH thinks I'm just making up how tired I am. I see people outside going for a run and I'm so jealous of them

Then I've got an appointment with my consultant on Friday and I'm HOPING that my chemo can restart on Monday

Hey lacies maybe we could set up a petting farm for us all lovely lacies who love animals. Obviously with plenty of anti bac gel!
I love animals, 2 cats here. Interestingly the first time I had chemo one of them slept under my bed for a week! I definitely think they can sense thing and smell them too.
Good luck with all the results tomorrow.
@purpleunicorns Hope your only waiting a week for your chemo. I've heard it's chemo for them to slip from time to time.