CANCER SUPPORT THREAD 66 for those with cancer or awaiting cancer test results. Rant, rave, laugh, cry, joke, scream - whatever gets you through the day.

[TwitterQueen1]

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 have a loved one with cancer you can get support on a different thread here

For old and new posters it's very helpful if you (re)introduce yourself in your first post with a summary of your diagnosis (chemo brain is a real thing and my memory isn't what it used to be!).

Yes, it really goes in the fridge. As you say Aimlessly I think it's because it's easy to find and pretty much everyone has one.

I wasn't too sure about the lorazepam, but I then had a long nap. That seems to have helped. And I feel a bit calmer in general.

ranout thankfully we have lots of real life support. The hospice has offered counselling if they need it too.

addle I'm glad today's work went better. Try and have a relaxing evening

Tahiti I hope this nasty phase passes quickly for you

Ooh tayto hi!! Yes the book is quite good but might have been better for me a few months ago before chemo! She is pretty amazing...

Leslie - see they are great aren't they?! I had one before chemo (after the great and awesome vomfest that was my 2nd cycle) and it really helped as I was really anxious...

I was also given lorazepam after my first chemo to take on an as needed basis for anxiety or nausea. Luckily I haven’t had any nausea but I’ve had a lot of anxiety so I’ve been taking 1-2 half tablets most days. It does help space me out a bit.
Physically I haven’t been too bad on the chemo - just tired the first week and my breast cancer symptoms (swelling, thickened skin, inverted nipple, mild pain) have all been gradually reversing and the tumour has practically disappeared - which is great - the chemo is working- but at back of my head is always the fear that the cancer will come back and get me.

I’m so sorry Leslie and Aimlessly about the discussions you’ve been having xx
Hope everyone has a restful night xx

It’s been quite funny watching my poor little inverted nipple slowly starting to poke back out

Simm

That’s great news about your lump disappearing . Mine also seems to be going in the right direction since cycle 4. Up to cycle 3 there had been no change.

Xx

I’m awake again due to the steroids and dreaded injections start today for 7 days but I really need to have them due to white cell count being so low yesterday. At least I have the prescription strength co-codamol now to help cope with the joint pain.

My last chemo is scheduled for 19/12 and I desperately don’t want it to be delayed as I want to get the surgery over as soon as possible.

Found out yesterday they can’t do the Radiotherapy at my local hospital as they don’t have the equipment so I will need to do a trip to the Christie every day for 15 days. It’s ridiculous as my biggest stress about that is currently parking!

Wondered whether anyone else has had radiotherapy and did you feel ok to drive afterwards?
Xx

Mrst I dove to my radiotherapy every day and other than being a bit tired from getting stuck in rush hour most day it was totally fine. In saw your other post, if you think you are septic again ring your chemo ward or if not ring 111. If you need an ambulance then you need to accept one as it can go downhill pretty fast. But it is better if you can a neighbour or your DH can take you as you'll be waiting a lot longer fro an ambulance to turn up. I hope your feeling better

Leslie I've just checked and I'm on Lorazepam too but that's just for my sickness although I do feel better for taking them even if it difficult to try and cut in quarters. I didn't know they put the DNR forms in the fridge although I guess it's a good place to keep it. I'm dreading that bit, i worry when I get to that point and even if everyone agrees with it that if anything should happen while my family are they they would forget about the DNR and would want be to be saved even though I've said not to

Tahiti hope you start feeling better soon

Simmi that's brilliant news! I know there were people on here whose tumours hadn't shrunk after the first couple of rounds but it just shows it can be done

Thanks Purple - I have less common type of cancer - it’s hormone negative and HER 2 positive. This type is pretty aggressive but the upside is it’s more responsive to chemo so my oncologist was expecting it to “melt away beautifully”. I’m not actually sure a good response to chemo means it’s less likely to recur but fingers crossed!

Does anyone else feel there must be some big cancer treatment breakthrough on the horizon? So many years of research and billions of dollars invested but it still eludes us

MrsTraveller I did all my radiotherapy driving. It wasn’t a super long way. I think maybe 8 miles in and 15 miles out? Mine was pelvic so had wee breaks to factor in, but other than that no bother at all. I wouldn’t have been able to think of anyone who fancied getting in the car at 6.30 every morning for 25 days in a row to be honest, and I prefer to rely on myself.

I found radiotherapy the easiest bit altogether. Lovely people at the unit, all super organised, no side effects and easy once you’re in your routine.

Hi all, and hugs to anyone who needs them.

www.scas.nhs.uk/news/campaigns/message-in-a-bottle/ -this is similar to what Leslie has, also kept in the fridge - as paramedics should be able to find a fridge (however when in my last house, I had a full paralysis attack and couldn't move anything or speak, I kept trying to roll my eyes to look at the back of the front door (it opened into my living room) I was on the sofa, for them to see the sticker, nope they didn't. Also another time, no speech either but could move a bit was in the bedroom and trying to describe with notes where the fridge was in the kitchen was fun, it was all integrated and they found the dishwasher but not the fridge

to refresh, I have suspected adrenal tumour which could possibly be cancerous, before seeing endocrinology and scans etc, need a 24-hour urine collection so its currently underway, district nursing will call around 11 am to remove the catheter which currently is in place Then 3-4 week wait for results while waiting to see an endocrinologist

Morning all, and thank you for the warm welcome to the group and i hope the day treats you all kindly

Well the additional tests prior to meeting the oncologists have commenced, my family were relieved that i did in fact have a heart rather than a block of ice after my echo cardiogram!

I did find that there was a degree of anxiety that something else would be found, i suppose this is something i will face over the coming days with other tests?

Namechanged

Yes that’s how I feel about asking for lifts. Just seems a favour too far for people to change their routines that much although their are a few different family members I could ask. My husband always takes time off work for chemo appointments and consultant ones but couldn’t ask him to take this much time off if it’s something I can do myself.

Fluffy feeling like that is completely normal. I think the technical term is called scanxiety we all get it, but mostly things things never turn out to be as bad as you're expecting

Fluffy

Sorry I posted to say much the same as purple but lost my post! I have to have regular ECG’s because I’m on Herceptin. I find scans ok to deal with when they are precautionary as a normal part of the treatment.

Xx

Leslie I hope you had a better night and that the Loz (sorry, can't remember the name) is working and reducing your anxiety.

Simmi1 I know what you mean but the trouble is those bastard cells keep finding ways to mutate around all the new drugs.

Yes thanks TQ :)

I feel a bit better today I think. Very tired. But a tiny bit less gloomy.

Thinking of everyone

Hey ladies I'm so sorry your all going through this. I've been lurking on this thread for the past few months whilst I've been through diagnostic investigations. The strength you all have is inspiring.

I found a lump in my breast in June. Left it a few months as i had my period, was ovulating and had numerous infections which i thought might be contrubuting to it. In septemeber i went to the docs to be told they thought it was probably a cyst and they would refer me to the bc and that I would be seen within 2 weeks. Well that never happened got a letter through that stated 26 weeks due to scottish guidelines of being under 35. By that point I couldn't take the not knowing anymore and went private.
The consultant was lovely and keen to find out what my lump was as I was self funding he transferred me back to nhs for diagnostics and treatment. So I had an ultrasound and a core biopsie which has came back as they can't find the lump on the ultrasound radiographer said it was tissue. The biopsie has came back as inconclusive , he can feel the lump, see the rash, nipple is actually going to the side aswell but can't find it on the scans so far. I got a mammogram today but cause I've dense breasts that never picked up anything. So I've to get a mri before Xmas.
My head is a mess the not knowing is driving me Insane. I'm actually scared to be positive about it not because every time I am it feels like I've been kicked in the gut.

I was just wondering if any of you ladies have been through the same?
Sorry for waffling on.

Hi Mrs I had 20 radio sessions all pm times and drove there from work, (45 mins) then a 40 min drive home. The worst part was the bloody parking! You should be ok certainly for the first couple of weeks and then it does start to catch up with you. Do drink lots and lots of water

Lacies

I am in a panic. Just had bath and think I can feel lump in right breast. Same kind of place as the left one. Just left a voicemail on Breast Care nurse teams voicemail. Wtf do I do now? Go to the GP again?

I've not shared this on the forum before because I didn't want to trigger or upset anyone. My husband's first wife died of breast cancer at 34. This was 18 years ago. Obviously treatments have improved massively since then but I can't help feeling this bastarding disease is out to get me and my poor husband is going to be widowed twice by his early 50's.

Shit, shit, shit.

That's without thinking of my step-son who lost his mum at 7. I met his dad when he was 10 and I've been in his life for 14 years. He doesn't call me mum but he refers to me and my DH as his parents so obviously thinks of me in that parental role. Sometimes I don't believe this can be happening.

Sorry I’ve been pulled straight back into the hole of catastrophic thinking I had when first diagnosed

Mrstraveller - I'm delurking as this happened to me a few weeks ago. I had a mastectomy and reconstruction a couple of years ago. I found a lump near my scar. I phoned my breast nurse and was told it would be quicker to go down the 2 week GP referral route. I got a GP appointment on the same day and was at the clinic within 10 days. Biopsy was negative thankfully. I'm in Sheffield so referral process may be different where you are. Please pm me if you need any more info. I'm sending love and hugs to you all. I'm so sorry that you are all dealing with this hideous shit. You are always in my thoughts xxxx

Mrs I have had cancer diagnosed in both breasts this year (May and August) apparently both primaries. I went to my breast care team with the second lump and was seen for a scan and biopsy within 10 days. They should help you quickly - fingers crossed xxx

another hand to hold here Mrstraveller of course you're panicking and catastrophising. I hope your nurse gets back to you quickly.

Welcome Indiemum88 but sorry you're here, and still in limbo with all your tests etc. I hope you get the MRI quickly and finally get an answer