CANCER SUPPORT THREAD 65 - for anyone with cancer or waiting for cancer tests (pets welcome!)

[WhatWouldLeslieKnopeDo]

Good morning everyone,

Welcome to the new thread, and the club that nobody wants to join. Our previous thread is here.

Anyone with any type of cancer is welcome. And we will hold your hand if you're waiting to find out whether or not you have cancer at all.

If you've got a loved one with cancer then you can get support here.

Please feel free to reintroduce yourself so we don't all have to remember from the previous thread!

There you all are!!

aimless I had to have a different anti sickness drug with the oxaliplatin - it's in the same family as aprepitant and it's amazing! For the first two I had ondansetron and the second cycle I was sick as a dog but the third and 4th I was fine with nausea! It stays in your system for 5 days or so! Amazing!! Speak to them about it if you are struggling...

Now am going to go back and look at everyone's pets and catch up!

I didn't do my age or anything.
I just turned 35. I have two kids, one is 13 and the other is 4. My 13 year old has Asperger's /ASD quite mildly. He doesn't know about the c word, but I don't know how we will keep it from him much longer so I may need to have a chat soon. My youngest is more severely autistic and just started special school. He won't know or understand anything about it so that's a relief. Also a 4-5 month old pup and DH who is being great about all this. I worry about how this is affecting him.

Morning. I haven't read full thread as only just found you and running out the door to work but I'll join you if I may?

I'm a 42yr old mother of three who had a lump investigated last Mon 17th Sept. mammogram & biopsy straight away and knew something was wrong due to amount of people suddenly in the room asking if I was 'there on my own'.

Consultation with Plastics consultant Mon 24th and Oncologist on 27th. I have an urgent referral to genetics on Tuesday coming as well as an urgent CT scan booked in on same day. MRI to be confirmed too.

Got to love the NHS!

I have my pre chemo thing on Thurs 4th and supposed to be starting chemo on Fri 5th but we're booked to go on holiday for 10days and the consultant actively encouraging us to still go.....

All so confusing and a total whirlwind.

From reading your messages I can see relevant parts include the fact it's an invasive grade 3 breast cancer with a lump approx 4cm and at least 5 lymph nodes on LHS and something showing up in my neck that needs further investigated.

I have a lot of reading to do and thank f*ck it's been a REALLY busy week at work.

Sorry if this is one big blurt. Am not really sure where to go or what to do tbh and am normally a fairly organised/in control person

Oh and I don't have a cat sorry. Just one gorgeous pup who is 16.5yrs old and bless her not long for us

KeepCalm blurt is good! It sounds like you’re doing a whole lot of keeping it together- you don’t have to here unless you want to!

Personally I don’t read much (medically- I mean, I read a LOT of magazines!) and rely on oncologists to tell me what I need to know when I need to know it, but I know other people find a lot of info empowering. You’ll work out what works for you soon though.

Holiday sounds fab!

PS just seen what time you’re leaving for work on a Saturday! Crazy lady!

@Namechangeforthiscancershit lol am self employed so it's a no choice kinda thing! I also have 16 brilliant staff to look out for in this mad equation so trying to keep it as normal as possible.

Thank you for the welcome. I really should have name changed

Me too! Well there are two of us who run it luckily but the pressure to keep everything going and everyone’s jobs safe is intense for sure! But busy brain work is a good thing.

I agree! We had a massive job on this week and it kept me so busy. And, more importantly, DH busy....

Oh yes, managing employees is one thing, keeping the family sane and out from under your feet is a whole other thing!

KeepCalm I am in your exact position more or less - 42yr old Mum of 2 - just got dx with grade 3 invasive breast cancer - HER+ and hormone negative, also spread to a couple of lymph nodes . I need 6 months chemo starting this week , mastectomy, radiotherapy, herceptin all lasting about 15 months. I’m terrified, and really dreading the chemo in particular

Good morning

KeepCalm welcome, but sorry you're here I hope you have a lovely holiday. I went away before I started treatment and I'm so glad I did :) good luck at work today

Tahiti the impact on our loved ones is one of the hardest bits, I've found

Aimlessly glad to have helped :)

iVampire very brave to post in AIBU. That's almost scarier than cancer how are your feet?

Mrsemcgregor another hand to hold here. Hopefully it will turn out to be something harmless and easily treatable

I didn't put my age either. I'm 27. Single and no children. I moved back in with my parents. They have been amazing and I really don't know how I'd have coped without them.

We had some friends round for pizza yesterday. It was really lovely, but I am quite tired now! I had a bit of a coughing fit at the end of the evening and everyone took that as a cue to leave I finally got a chance to try out my new ice cream machine though. I made Nutella flavour and it was absolutely delicious. I've been resisting ice cream as I think dairy makes my cough worse.

I hope everyone has a nice Saturday whatever you have planned

Leslie Nutella ice cream? this sounds incredible!

Hi Simmi sorry I cross posted with you. Welcome. What type of chemo are you having? Some of the other posters are having chemo for breast cancer at the moment, so hopefully they can reassure you a bit :)

Namechange it really is!

Good morning lacies

Hi @Simmi1 thought I'd quickly reply and I'll catch up with everyone else soon.

I'm also 42, 2 kids and was diagnosed in July with breast cancer. I'm very lucky it's stage one but measures 5cm x 5cm and so far hasn't spread.

I started chemo in August and was, like yourself understandably very anxious but, I kid you not, it's been ok. I've had 2 rounds, next one is Tuesday and the main thing I've learnt is not to think your superwoman for the week after. I can still take my kids to school and pick them up and potter but I've also learnt to rest. If this time is as good as the last 2 I'll rest all of Tuesday, take the kids to school Wednesday if I feel like a bit of work I can do a bit from home, potter and rest and the same on Thursday and Friday.
Hope that helps a bit.
Ps my chemo unit are really good in trying to make sure you have the correct anti sickness and actively encourage you to work if you want, exercise etc

Thanks for the lovely welcome Leslie - actually I don’t know what type of chemo just that I have 3 months on one type and then 3 months of another. I see my oncologist on Wednesday so will find out. Glad you enjoyed your ice cream

Ooh just popped in and found nice new thread thread and lovely pet pics. I have 2 greyhounds both daft as a brush. Quick recap I am 51 had invasive ductal cancer stage 2b Jan 16, lumpectomy chemo, radiotherapy. I have finally restarted my dissertation (Msc), got back to the gym and now back on the investigation route as I have a randomly swelling knee and cant bend my fingers properly both on cancer side which is sending my brain off on a drama frolic (gp thinks it's the exemestane). Sorry to see new people joining the thread although it's a very supportive place to be and a big wave to mama elephant Leslie xxx

It's not until November Aimlessley but I'm a planner. There will be lots of lemon cake involved.

Thank you ranoutof that’s reassuring. Did your hair fall out? I’m going to try the cold cap but know it doesn’t always work. Thinking of looking for a wig beforehand. I haven’t really told people yet (other than DH and couple of others) as I’m finding it hard to come to terms with myself but I guess it will be obvious soon enough when I turn up to school drop offs etc looking massively different

Hello helly. Lovely to hear from you. Fantastic about your MSc. Hopefully the swelling will indeed be from the exemestane, but sorry you've got that to worry about

Here's a lovely elephant photo, just because :)

Simmi good luck for Wednesday's appointment

@Simmi1 I've cold capped for my 3 sessions so far. I had shoulder length hair before treatment, chopped it to a shaggy pixie cut before I started. I have still lost a lot of hair and after the last session I lost a lot more so had it cut into a pixie cut. It's quite thin on top but people who don't know just say "nice hair"! I'm going to do it again on Tuesday as it wasn't that bad. It definitely lengthens your time in the chemo lounge but I take that as time out!
I think you need to make sure that the nurses know what their doing and that the machine is working properly! I think my cap was possibly a little too big first time round so second time they popped a smaller one on. Although that time they weren't convinced the machine was as cold as it could be! Good luck for your appointment I know it's loads to take in.
Ps I got a wig before and headscarves and a beanie hat just in case.

Ps lacies I've developed very weepy eyes the last few days any hints?

Thanks ranoutof, that’s really helpful. Hope your eye gets better. Did you find the wig uncomfortable?

Waves to Keepcalm and Simmi but sorry you need to be here.

I was terrified of chemo when I was told I'd have to have it but it's honestly not as bad as I was expecting, I have it once every 3 weeks now and other than 2/3 days of feeling rubbish the rest of the time is fine

@Simmi1 I haven't actually worn the wig yet as I've still got enough hair that I think looks ok without.
You can buy a little cap that goes underneath the wig, I think that's to stop it being itchy. The hospital should give you an appointment, my hospital has a "beauty room" where the wig lady lives! I was quite excited when I saw it as I thought I may be able to get a mani pedi while I was there!
One thing I did when I got into a routine was book myself into the look good feel great session. Had to travel for an hour and a bit (got lost finding the hospital) but you get a good bag of swag to take away! Might as well take the good bits