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!

Thank you for all the hand holds, much appreciated

I am 37, 2 DC 9+6.

Symptoms seem twice as bad since the dr yesterday, which has to be psychological. Not much fun though!

@Mrsemcgregor you probably won't believe me, but this is the worst bit, the waiting.

Leslie - Nutella ice-cream!!

I bet that’s gorgeous! Ooh, extra gorgeous on warm crêpes. I’m now thinking about all the things that would be nice with. It’s a good job I feel nauseas most of the time or DP and I would be off out to buy an ice cream maker this afternoon!

Thank you Addled and NameChange for the heads up on Aprepritant. If it lasts for 5 days that would be fantastic. Do you know if it helps stop teeth brushing induced gagging? I sounds like a cross old Moose gagging away evening morning and night when I’m in the bathroom. I’ve bought a folder now to keep all the ‘Cancer Correspondence’ in (Who is this new organised woman?) and will take it to every appointment so will jot down the name, pop it in the folder and ask at the Marsden next Tuesday when I go for pre-chemo check up.

Actually I have a question for those that have had chemo for a while...
My chemo should have been last Thursday but infection in port site meant it was delayed for a week while I take antibiotics. Appointment card arrived today with check up for next Tuesday and chemo for next Friday. Problem is Friday is DS2s 22nd birthday and DS3 has an inset day.
Do you think it’s ok for me to ask if the chemo could be delayed ‘til one day the week after? Having messed up their schedules with the infection, would it be rude to now ask them to move the chemo session again? Or would that be too long a gap between my last chemo session and this one so not viable anyway?

Hello to Simmi and KeepCalm

Hope everyone’s having a good Saturday Is anyone doing anything exciting? Or not exciting, doesn’t matter? Just wondering what everyone’s up to

Have added a photo of one of the dogs looking extra silly

Oh meant to add that you’re right Ranout - The waiting is the worst bit!

MrsMc - We all dread the bad news but actually you’re given a plan of action and somehow that really helps. Plus everyone is wonderful and kind and you’ll be stronger than you thought you could be. But in the meantime try not to panic as you’ve had cysts before there’s a good chance they’re being a nuisance again. Just be kind to yourself and try to keep busy as that helps.

Aimlessly I've rescheduled chemo around my social life. They're normally very obliging :) you might as well ask. They can always say no if it's too much of a delay. I take aprepitant too.

Hey Simmi, yours sounds identical to mine. Stage 3 invasive, her+,hormone neg.
I'm a bit further along the path than you so if I can help then I will.

Ask for a portacath or a picc line as the chemo will ruin your veins.

Ive had varying side effects. After the first one I was fine for a few days and then I was hit with dizziness for 3 or 4 days so he gp prescribed a different medication which helped a little and now my consultant has added that to my permanent drugs.

If you have a side effect then the team will have multiple drugs to help you. My consultant has said that I should never put up with side effects as there are so many drugs out there.

I'm just about to have my third round of FEC chemo next week. I lost handfuls of hair just after my second round so I shaved the lot off.

I'm really getting tired of being at home. Missing work so much but consultant believes that I will be back at work in 18 months or so and that I need to be patient but us nurses make the worst patients.

Thank you ranout and aimlessly

Thank you guys. I'm feeling a little behind with all the understanding and terminology but now this big work job is done I can try to focus.

@Simmi1 42 not quite working out so far?!? Nice to 'meet' you, we'll rock this.

Anyone have any suggestions how to keep the MIL at bay?!?! She lives in a different country but it's all about her already and I don't mean to sound ungrateful but No. just no.

@KeepCalm re your MIL I know the feeling I thought mine would also be like that. I banned all negativity and also said she wasn't to speak to the children about it until we had and then she had to follow what we had told them.
She was quite negative when I had my consent meeting however each time she was I called her out on it. For example, oh you'll just be getting over your chemo and it will be time for another one- I said well things aren't how they were and they'll sort my meds out. She did say I needed to get a bigger freezer so that my DH would come home to a cooked meal
Anyway she has totally done an about turn. I'm hoping it's my positivity wearing off on her. She's been really supportive and I think it will last.
In relation to your Mil it's time to be selfish, you get to call the shots. Get your DH onside and just tell her what you want her to know and then block any negativity. If she makes it all about her, try and laugh about it. Good luck.

Thanks @ranoutofquinoaandprosecco

DH is pulling an absolute blinder and has cut her right off.

They only visit once a year but all of a sudden am going to need her to practically move in. Eh? No

She's not even a support for the kids as they hardly know her/them.

She's been told NO text messages, in case kids intercept. She's been told NO bloody forwarded messages of angels and how they're watching over me and NOTHING on FB.

Naturally she's told the SIL and her whole prayer group and woman's group and they are ALL putting me on the prayer schedules.

I swear to god my breast haven't been thought about this much since they were in their prime at Uni.

I'm not going to lie, I'll take all the positive thoughts going right now. But from afar......

I swear to god my breasts haven't been thought about this much since they were in their prime at Uni.

quote of the week/month. ROFLPMSL.

Leslie - a bit has flaked off the side of the troublesome toenail, and it seems rather better for it. I’m a little worried that it’s now at all the wrong angle that it might start to dig in when it grows, but I’ve decided to put that out of my mind for now. Two weeks to the half marathon, and an unexpected Personal Best at Parkrun today, so it’s pretty good here today.

BTW - forgot to mention in the intros that I’m in my 50s, with teenage DC. And we’re having spaghetti carbonara (as I’m in a 10k event tomorrow), plus prosecco (as I’m not expecting a good time as it’s a hilly course)

Oh, and Nutella ice cream sounds lush. I expect that a nut milk/yoghurt might sub in OK if you want to reduce the dairy (and the tastes should go together brilliantly)

Hi everyone!
Mrs the waiting is the absolute worst of the worst. Honestly, I don't even feel half as doom-y now compared to when I was waiting to find out. And everyone on here has really made me feel at ease about getting surgery - I'm sure I'll have a wobble on the day, but right now I'm almost curious to see what an anaesthetic is like! I was terrified before.

My mum lives in a different country and she's coming over tomorrow. My other family want to come over too. One of them called me an inspiration because I walked the dog earlier and I did have to hold in a laugh because I didn't want to seem mean or ungrateful for their kindness.
It's very strange. My family are all worried about me and upset and I'm just worried about them being worried and upset, and keep telling them I'm fine! Though I do know I won't always feel okay, but I'll cross that bridge later.

Keep calm your "from afar" bit made me LOL. I feel ya

Can I ask, what is "lacies"?

Ivampire I didn't realise you were in your 50s bloody hell I could t have done a marathon in my 20s. Well done on your PB you superwoman you!

Tahiti I'm always worrying about people more than worrying about myself. It's so time consuming, I did used to tell them things were a lot better than they actually were just to stop them worrying so much. Lacies was a spelling mistake that stuck
General anaesthetic is brilliant I'm always happy when they tell me I need one, lovely sleep and a cup of tea when you wake up

Hi everyone,

Thanks for setting up the new thread Lesley

Happy Birthday purple I hope you are having a lovely weekend.

Just to introduce myself as it is a new thread, I am 46 with 2 children aged 4 & 7. I have breast cancer which has gone to at least one lymph node under my arm (that is the lump I felt that I went to the docs with in June)
I have just currently completed round 5 of 7 lots of chemo. EC for the first 3 & docetaxel & herceptin for the last 2. My cancer type is grade 3 hormone & HER positive.

Hi to keepcalm and simmi you are definitely at the worst stage now where you are waiting for everything to kick in. Once you have a plan in place and start treatment, you just kind of get on with it. Try not to worry about the chemo, I had bad nausea with the EC, but was given a variety of tablets to combat this. The drug I am on now gave me a few side effects the first time, but less last time. They were doable though, my main side effects this time have been tiredness and achey flu feelings, but I have just kept on top of cocodamol which stops the aches and slept loads.

I would def still go on holiday as your consultant suggests too keepcalm

mrsem a handhold here too, hopefully it is the cysts again.

knickerbocker oh my goodness, that is bad luck for a 2nd primary lump after completing treatment for the first one. If you have to delay the mastectomy due to recent radio, will they give chemo at all? I guess it depends on what type it is... Sorry you are having to do it twice though, that is crap.

Totally agree TQ - comment of the month from keepcalm!!

I hope everyone is having a good weekend. My Mum went home today and I visited some friends. Really good to have a change of 4 walls & a good gossip. Shattered now though zzzzz

Hello everyone just popping in to wish everyone well. Loving the pet pictures.

My story, stage 1 BC lumpectomy and sentinel lymph node biopsy. Finished my 25 sessions of radiotherapy at the end of August and will be on tamoxifen for 5 years.

Am 47 single Mom with a brand new 11 year old DD as of today. She had a few friends round for pizza and Dvds. Sounded like about 50 kids but there were only 7 of them .

They went through pizzas and garlic bread like a plague of locusts leaving only a trail of crumbs. I luckily had the foresight to keep a couple of slices back for myself or I would be starving now

Oh very well done on managing to snaffle away some of the pizza ChaseGirl

Happy Birthday Purple!
I hope you’re having a lovely birthday weekend!

Leslie - You’re right, it doesn’t hurt to ask. I shall ring the appointment dept on Monday.

Had a lovely walk with the dogs this evening under the prettiest sky!

Relatives' reactions can be "interesting". MIL is has been really helpful but has no sense of privacy. She told people before I was ready, despite DH asking her not to (she has form). My father has not even hugged me.

We went out for dinner with friends last night. It was lovely.

Thank you all and thank you pandoras for coming on and giving me your insight. My doctor was talking about a port for the chemo. Can I also ask those that have done or are doing chemo for bc - did you put on weight with the steroids? I find it hard to control my weight at the best of times so wondering if I’ll need a whole new wardrobe 😫.

minnie glad you enjoyed your dinner. I’m also not ready for people to know as don’t want the pity parties and to be the one everyone is talking about but I guess it’s going to be hard to keep quiet once treatment starts.

Keep what a great quote 😆 I did comment to a friend towards the end of my Radio, that so many people have had a good look at my breasts I could walk down Guildford high street half naked and just let the rest of the county have an eyeful! I had a really lovely dinner with my SIL last night, she's a great cook and we put the world to rights along with a bottle of red wine. Just what I needed. *
Noodles* I may need chemo depending on the re test of the tumour as currently it's borderline. I am hoping to get back in next year for a mastectomy on the other side and get evened up. I'm an H cup and I don't know if it's totally wrong to be looking forward to the freedom of no more boulder holder bras!

Hope you all have gorgeous sunshine this morning too?

Oh and I do have a question for any of you that have had a mastectomy - any hints and tips on recovery? I am quite nervous about being sent home the same day. I need to get a bag for my drain too...

@KnickerBockerGlooooory double G here too hence 4cm lump going unnoticed

DH was horrified when I told the plastic surgeon I'd been asking his wife (who happens to be my GP) to let me have them cut off for years

I am absolutely shattered this morning. Still wide awake at 7.30 but only progressed to the couch.

I doubt this is BC related however. Probably more to do with PMT & having been full pelt at work recently.

A 'collapsed in a heap' day off will do just fine.

Have so far watched Brave and Harry Potter and now onto fantastic beasts with DD3

Thanks Noodles (I'm sure you have the memory of an elephant like our Leslie ) and Aimless.
No birthday plans as I'm felling rubbish at the minute. Chemo starts again to tomorrow, I can't wait. Hopefully the steroids will pick me up a bit

Simmi I only have steroids for 3 days after each chemo so haven't put weight on, plus chemo does weird things to your taste buds so you probably won't feel like eating what you normally would

Knicker I haven't had a mastectomy but if you haven't already got one then get a hot water bottle, they really help with pain

Hope everyone's having a lovely weekend. Leslie I hope you enjoyed your pizza party 🍕

tahiti general anaesthetic is wonder, it should be offered as a spa treatment! You feel all warm and wonderful just before you drift off. Then you wake up like no time has past, but also like you have had the longest deepest sleep of your life.