Cancer support 67. Waiting for tests, just diagnosed or needing a handhold through treatment

[purpleunicorns]

Welcome to the 67th cancer support thread, the previous one can be found here.

If you're looking for advice, have any questions or just need some support while you're waiting for test results or treatment to start then pull up a seat and make yourself comfortable. You can rant, cry or scream if you need to but we do have some laughs along the way

No questions are silly so please don't feel embarrassed about anything you want to post. The chances are at least one of us has been there at some point!

There's a whole variety of people with different cancers at different stages and nobody goes unanswered, the people on here are amazing (even if I do say so myself ) and they have been a massive support to me over the last year.

If you have a friend or family member with cancer then there's a support thread for you here with lots of practical advice to help you support your loved ones

At the beginning of each thread we give a brief summary of who we are and what we have to save us trailing back through old threads

Here's mine: Im 35 and was diagnosed last October with cervical cancer, despite chemo and radiotherapy I found out in June that it had spread and I'm now having palliative chemo to keep me stable. A scan a few weeks ago showed that there was no new growth after 4 lots of chemo. 2 more chemos to go for me so I'm hoping it stays that way

That's fantastic TQ! Although not before time, I still can't believe they made you wait so long. I'm so pleased it's finally all sorted

That's good news TQ, those bastards at DWP will try their hardest not to give you what you're entitled too.

Yippee TQ that's great! I'm glad they've finally seen sense. And selfishly it gives me hope they might approve mine soon too.

I managed a little outing, but I'm feeling quite melancholy today. Sorry, I don't really have the brainpower to reply to everyone so I'll just send hugs to all who need them

Hugs back for Leslie. Nice Saturday night takeaway planned for tonight?

Not today. We are having (vegetarian) toad in the hole. Nice winter comfort food.

But tomorrow we hopefully have guests coming for lunch and we are getting a Pizza Express takeaway I'm looking forward to trying their Christmas special - mushroom and truffle. And maybe some polenta chips too. Yum.

Food is a good distraction

Are you having a takeaway?

It's a two-blanket sofa day. One round the shoulders, one on my front...

It's also the final! yay! DD3 arrives home halfway through but luckily we are only 2 mins from the station so I reckon we can do it all in under 10.. Stacey or Faye for me.

Sadly not Leslie. My appetite is so rubbish at the moment that being on my own even with the least amount of food they’ll deliver most of it ends up in dog/bin. So I’m stuck with a ready meal curry.

Pizza Express sounds awesome!

TQ I’m also under a blanket mountain. I had a heated throw on but the puppy has taken that from me. No respect! Have a lovely time with DD3.

Brilliant news re PIP TQ although echoing everyone else in that I cannot believe it has taken so long to realise they should pay you!
Enjoy the bubbly, your DDs & Strictly. Stacey to win for me!

I agree bitoffun regarding being sick of it always being on your mind. Also I hate people (who are not in touch much) asking for info. I don't always feel like telling people what is going on and it feels like if I didn't give them chapter & verse, I am the rude one!

I am sore and me and my hot water bottle will not stray far from the sofa tonight.... I hope everyone has a good evening x

I know exactly what you mean noodles. A now ex-friend who hasn't bothered with me all year kept turning up on my doorstep (until I told her not to) and then emailing saying - literally - "I want to know what your consultant has said. Are you having any more treatment" FUCK OFF. It's none of your effing business if you CBA to keep in touch with the odd FB message or email or invitation to coffee... I'm not a bloody specimen.

Hope your feeling better today Leslie and you enjoy your takeaway tonight. I'm not keen on mushrooms when they're cooked but I do like them raw Hopefully Macmillan will get back to you next week and you get all your PIP backdated too

It's definitely blanket weather here so I'm in the middle of making one. I've been trying to find a pattern for a 12 point star shaped one but it's all too complicated so I'm sticking to a massive granny square for now

I hope you're feeling a little less sore today Noodles. Did they say how long recovery would take?

How are you doing Pandora?

Our guests cancelled due to illness though I'm grateful they didn't go ahead and bring me their germs! So we are going out for Sunday lunch instead. Just to the local carvery. They do a meat-free one where you still get all the sides, which are my favourite bit anyway. I'm a bit nervous as I haven't been out for a meal for ages, but I just need to power through and I'll get my Yorkshire pudding

purple enjoy your crochet [fsmile[ I did a five or six point star once, for a baby gift, but I've never done a twelve point one. At the moment I'm joining my sister's blanket so that's keeping me cosy!

noodles I hope you are less sore today keep resting!

Namechange ah, that's a shame. We always end up with a fridge full of leftovers because I am greedy order too much I hope that your curry was nice.

TQ I hope you all enjoyed the final and that you were happy with the result!

Leslie

Jealous of your Sunday lunch. I was supposed to be going out too but have had dire rear yesterday and today so had to ask husband to cancel. We were both disappointed as I’m scheduled to have chemo on Wednesday so won’t be up to going out next weekend either.

Husband has gone out as he’s decided our Christmas Tree needs more baubles and I’m on the sofa feeling just a teensy bit sorry for myself.

Hope you get good news on your PIP this week too.

Keep Calm. Been thinking about you this weekend. Sounds like they have been doing some organising behind the scenes to make sure to are dealt with urgently this week.

Leslie enjoy your meal out. Sides are definitely the best part. I have a party to go to later! It's just a 10 minute walk away so I can manage that and it's in the road we lived in for 15 years or so, so lots of old friends to chat to.

Glad Stacey and Kevin won

Purple raw mushrooms? ew... are you allowed?

NameChange we must be due for another puppy photo?

Oh that's a shame Leslie but better them cancelling than you getting poorly again. I proper fancy some roast parsnips and Yorkshire puddings now
I was sick last night so DH has gone to a carvery with his parents while I stayed at home. Wishing I'd gone now

Raw mushrooms are lovely on salads although it's definitely not the weather for a salad

Enjoy your party TQ

TW ah well if you insist

Been feeling a bit rubbish here, high temp and lots of coughing but I have finished my wrapping and am having some friends round for tea. Trying to make the blow torch work as I have it in my head to make baked Alaska for pudding

Love to everyone so impressed by all this blanket making

Hi everyone,

That pooch is so cute namechange has he been helping with your wrapping?! Good luck with the blowtorch, baked Alaska sounds very ambitious to me (I am from the school of vienetta for puddings tho!!)

I am ok, still sore but I think I am on less painkillers now. I over reached earlier to get something which I realised pretty quickly I shouldn't have done. All my pain is what is expected although I am filling my drain like a demon and it is already in a day longer than anticipated as I am still draining 300mls of fluid every 24hours... Not sure how long I will be tender for. It is the armpit/lymph node but that is sore, the boob bit isn't bothering me at all. My tubi grip corset thing is also a right pain as keeps rolling up and down simultaneously! I am shattered though and have been sleeping or lolling about in bed watching Netflix between naps!

How was the takeaway mushroom & truffle pizza express pizza Leslie? I love polenta chips (Hugh Fearnley W has a good recipe for them with rosemary & chilli in if you decided to have a bash at making them ever)

I hope your stents have behaved over the weekend purple good luck for 2mo I hope they are allowed to stay and that you feel better now...
I hope you are feeling better too mrsT

Sorry if I have missed anyone, am off to have smoked haddock fish cakes with baked tomatoes & broccoli. Suddenly ravenous after not eating since breakfast (mince pies don't count!)
Have a good Sunday night, I am fairly sure I will be in bed sleeping again soon. I cannot get over how badly the tiredness has hit me at times since my op!

X

Namechange are you still having chemo at the minute? Might be worth giving the chemo ward a ring if you have a high temperature. I don't want to worry you but the last time mine was high it turned out to be sepsis and I didn't have a clue as I had no other symptoms at the time

Room for one more for dinner Noodles? it sounds lovely. Sleep as much as you can, apparently we heal better while we're sleeping

I'm getting my bloods done at 11:20 tomorrow and should get the results before 5:30 to let me know if I need to go back into hospital. My bag is packed and kindle is charged, I'm hoping being prepared means I won't need to go in.

Thanks purple yes I am on chemo so I was very stupid for not ringing yesterday when it was high (esp with the coughing and chest pain) but I am scheduled for Tuesday and I was desperate for that not to be cancelled. I’m also terrified of being admitted to the acute oncology ward (to the point that I’ve discharged myself against medical advice a few times). Temperature has gone down now but I still feel very guilty for ignoring the instructions. If it was someone else on here I would be giving them a telling off and a half.

Really hope they don’t have to keep you in tomorrow. Not what you need this close to Christmas.

Noodles sounds like you need a very easy restful evening. No creature living or dead has ever been less helpful with wrapping than this puppy. Chewing sellotape, running off with everything, sitting on the paper. The friends coming round tonight have very kindly taken him for the afternoon to give me a break (and I think because they were worried they’d get here and find him sellotaped to the floor). He’s had a really lovely long walk with them so I’m super grateful. People are lovely.

Mmm I like raw mushrooms too purple. I'm not really meant to eat mushrooms with my stoma, but I have them sometimes and chew carefully! I had some cheesy mushrooms as a starter today. Not that I really needed one. Sorry you were sick and couldn't go out I have everything crossed for you for tomorrow

Mrstraveller sorry you are poorly too and had to cancel your plans. I hope you're feeling a bit better now and hopefully Mrtraveller chose tasteful baubles

TQ have fun at the party! It sounds like it'll be lovely

Namechange I completely understand. I hope you're feeling a bit better now, but please get medical attention if it gets worse/you feel you need it. I hope you have a fun evening. Did you get your blowtorch working?! Is Namechangepuppy fully recovered now? Give him a cuddle from me.

noodles I hope the drain slows down soon. Enjoy your dinner and keep sleeping. Your body obviously needs it we didn't have the Pizza Express takeaway in the end as our guests cancelled, so we went out to the carvery. But we are definitely getting it another day as I'm determined to have the mushroom pizza and it's only on for Christmas. I hate cooking polenta. I've had several disasters but thanks, I might give it a try when I'm able to cook again. Me and my mum baked some flapjacks together yesterday, but she did all the hard work as I'm too weak. I just weighed stuff and licked the bowl. It was actually really lovely as we used to make them together when I was little.

I made it to the carvery my mum had to ask some smokers to move so I could walk past with my oxygen, which was a bit embarrassing, but they were very kind about it. (It's an explosion risk!) then I was a bit wobbly walking about the restaurant and my dad had to go up and get my food for me. But overall I think it was a huge success I totally pigged out!

Oh and I walked the whole time - no wheelchair!

It's an explosion risk!

You were embarrassed about asking them to move so they didn’t blow you up? amazing walking all that way.

I promise I’m monitoring very carefully. Thermometer is on to go constantly. Had a moment of regret for not asking for one of those in ear ones for Christmas but how sad would that be?

I second what namechange said Leslie explosion risk!! Well done on getting out and walking too. Apologies as I did read that you were having a carvery but got muddled as I typed (& liked the sound of the pizza & polenta chips!)

Those friends sound great namechange always nice when someone wears your dog out for you if you are not able. A neighbour has been taking mine out each evening with hers which has been just fantastic.
My old dog used to be as helpful as yours when I wrapped presents and my cat is a nightmare, she pounces on the paper as you are midway through (& usually at a crucial sellotaping point!)
Make sure you keep an eye on your temperature though

You are welcome over anytime purple it was delicious actually. My cook from frozen sort of emergency tea for if I cannot be bothered to cook. They also do Thai style prawn fish cakes that I like with stir fried veg & noodles.

Well I am back in bed & hoping for an extra few hours sleep. unlikely, but it is lovely & quiet upstairs, my dog is already asleep on my feet/hot water bottle and I have a small bottle under my armpit too which feels quite nice.

Night x

Meant to add... The flapjacks sound lovely Leslie I love really syrupy ones, but I just never manage to make them correctly, despite the recipe looking simple enough, plus if I was successful I would eat them all which would also be a disaster! I tend to cook savoury things.

I have bought a Groupon deal to take my friend for an afternoon cheese tea at Cafe rouge in the new year at some point. It looks delicious (currently on offer for £29 for 2 people too) will report back once sampled

Sleep well noodles. You need SoupDragon's famous recipe. They have condensed milk in and they are absolutely delicious. Afternoon cheese tea?! sounds amazing. I shall have to investigate!

Namechange glad to hear it

I just feel a bit melodramatic but obviously better than exploding!