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

Thanks for the tip noodles I've bought myself a voucher too. Hopefully I'll be well enough to use it! Not even sure who I will take. But I love cheese and couldn't resist

Gosh Leslie I am glad to hear you avoided exploding and so pleased you got out and had a good dinner - sounds fabulous

Hi to everyone - I am just back home from London and exhausted! So heading off to bed... wishing everyone a peaceful night and sweet dreams

Hi everyone, just read through the thread. Excellent that you didn’t explode Leslie

I’ve been sleeping a fair bit today so of course I’m awake now. I was asleep but OH, who’d had a couple of beers watching football, decided to come to bed whilst eating boiled sweets and woke me. It was like being in bed with a bloody camel!

I had my 6th round of Taxol/Herceptin/Perjeta on Weds, one more round to go. The Snr Reg had changed the dose so I don’t feel as bad so far this time. At least I’ve managed to stay out of A&E over the weekend. If I’m badly sick later in the week I know I can go into the Supportive Care Unit at Mount Vernon and get fluids etc. I’m hoping I continue to feel ok though as I’m keen to go into work on Friday afternoon for Secret Santa. I really miss my lovely colleagues so I’m desperate to see them, I don’t care what the SS gift is!

Morning all.

It’s been a bit of a wkend. We had family visiting which was actually lovely and a christmas show followed by dinner with a friend yesterday too.

But one of DH'’s colleagues died yesterday so they’re all in bits. Lovely lad, same age as us (early 40s). We knew him since Uni and DH worked very closely with him.

2018 certainly is throwing us some peaks and troughs 😞

No word from hospital yet. Waiting with no plan is the worst bit....

Will try to catch up with thread once DC away to school.

Have some puppy love to kick off your Monday

Fuzzy I hope that you enjoyed your trip.

Symphony fingers crossed you stay well this week so you can enjoy Secret Santa and see your colleagues

Good morning lacies. I hope everyone slept well.

purple good luck this morning

Pandora thinking of you too. I hope the medication is helping.

The complementary therapist from the hospice is coming to my house today. They do home visits for pathetic people like me so that will be a lovely treat.

Cross-posted with you KeepCalm. The waiting sucks. Do you have any good distractions? I'm glad you managed to have a nice weekend with the family, but I'm sorry about your friend

Thank you for the puppy pics namechange and keepcalm much appreciated!

Thinking of you both today purple and keepcalm - what a sad weekend.

Leslie enjoy your treatment! What luxury having someone come round to the house.

Enjoyed the party very much though I can't stand up in kitchens any more - had to sit down.

I wrote a post, but clearly I forgot to press post

I had a lovely hand massage. I can't have aromatherapy oils because of my oxygen, which does seem a bit health and safety gone mad but it was very relaxing anyway. She also taught me a relaxation technique - you clench different muscles and then release them. It was such a nice treat. I highly recommend any other stage IVers look into what services your local hospice provides.

Thinking especially of KeepCalm, purple and Pandora and sending you all some of my relaxed vibes

TQ I'm glad you enjoyed the party it's always a bit of a bummer when you find something else "normal" you can't do.

Glad you enjoyed the massage Leslie

My dire rear continues so I’m thinking now it could be a bug rather than side effect of chemo as last chemo was nearly 3 weeks ago.

Start steroids again tomorrow and off to hospital to have bloods done ready for Wednesday.

to everyone

Namechange put an ear thermometer on your Xmas list, yes it's sad but they're honestly so much easier and more accurate. Last year I asked for a toaster for Xmas so it's not much worse really

I hope you slept well last night Noodles and aren't quite as sore today

Oh Keepcalm you really are having a rubbish time at the minute. Hopefully the hospital will ring soon and tell you what the plan is. That puppy is adorable 😍

That sounds lovely Leslie. I must look into what my hospice does, I'm not even sure which hospice I would use do the nurses tell you or do I need to google my closest one?

MrsT get stocked up on hairbo and marshmallows, they're good for dire rear. Hope you feel better soon

Still no word from the hospital about how my bloods are. Not sure if that's a good thing or if they still aren't back yet

purple are you under the palliative care team at your hospital? If so, they should be able to advise you. Otherwise yes probably Google.

Fingers crossed that no news is good news

Mrstraveller have you phoned your chemo unit/BCN about it? Might be worth asking. Though chemo effects can last quite a while. They might want to do a stool sample when they do your bloods. Sorry you're still unwell, whatever's causing it

I have worn myself out a bit helping prepare dinner. My mum won't let me near the oven/hob, but I chopped all the vegetables and grated cheese and stuff. Nothing very exciting, but it still feels like a bit of an achievement I'm celebrating any little tiny thing at the moment!

Hi Leslie

I’ll be in for chemo on Wednesday so can mention it then. I have Loperamide but it doesn’t seem to be making any difference.

Feeling a bit low at the moment. Just tired of the general feeling of unwellness and upset stomach over the last few days hasn’t helped. I think it’s partly because there’s another chemo looming and dark winter days/nights don’t help.

MrsT I had awful dire rear from chemo. I ended up taking lomotil and loperimide together which made it manageable not not stop completely. If you only have the lomotil might be worth seeing if they can give you something stronger. As Leslie says they'll probably do a stool sample as well to rule out any infection. My sympathies. It's rubbish.

That does sound mad about the oils Leslie. Wouldn't have thought in those quantities they are much of a fire risk!

to everyone.

@Mrstraveller this is for you as a virtual hug

No news from hospital yet other than my ultrasound/mammogram/ pre chemo assessment and chemo have all been cancelled for this week....

I'm not the most patient of people and hate not having a plan.

Considering how much I still have to do before Christmas you'd think I'd have managed something other than being miserable on my couch all day yesterday

KeepCalm I hope you get some news today. Can you delegate any of the Christmas stuff?

I hope everyone slept well. I woke up about half 3 and couldn't get back to sleep, but I just lay there for a couple of hours so hopefully I'm well enough rested. Not that I have any plans for today anyway!

Keep Calm

Thanks for the virtual hug from the gorgeous puppy.

I’m just trying to make myself get out of bed. I need to go out today to pick up a prescription, get bloods done and buy some food. Think I’m just going to buy some white bread and try surviving on toast.

Hope I can manage it all without any stomach problems.

I need to carry on eating something as have to take the steroids with food.

I will mention it at the hospital tomorrow. Kind of hoping I don’t have to give a stool sample but guess this is the least of my problems

Xx

Morning all

I've been reading the thread but haven't had chance to comment. Sorry to hear so many of you are having a hard time at the moment. @Mrstraveller hope your dire rear sorts itself out soon, I never understood the phrase slave to your bowels till I had chemo!
@KeepCalm I would be the same as you. Having a plan keeps me sane. Can you call your cancer nurse and see if they can help at all? Even if it's a plan for when you next meet with them, at least it's a plan.
@WhatWouldLeslieKnopeDo sounds as if you are armed and lethal at the moment with your oxygen! I bet it's been nice to get out and about a bit.
I've attached a photo of one of my cats who has claimed the crochet blanket that was supposed to be for my DD. The question is do I have time to make another one for the cat!
I've been scurrying around all weekend as I feel ok and wanted to get all done for Christmas! I think I'm about there! Well I'd better be as my DH will be having a coronary when he looks at the bank account!
Have a restful afternoon ladies.

Lovely blanket ranout I can see why the cat wants it. It looks very cosy! I'm just doing the edging on the blanket for my sister. I'm hoping to finish it today so need to crack on... good luck with yours at least when you're crocheting a blanket you can snuggle underneath it to stay cosy!

purple have you heard anything from the hospital yet? Sorry to pester you I hope you're OK.

Kind of hoping I don’t have to give a stool sample but guess this is the least of my problems

The only time I have been asked for a stool sample I went from 4 days of basically pooing water every 10-20 minutes to nothing immediately. Sat in hospital for 4 hours and nothing. So I think we know how to panic my bowels into submission! Sorry for the TMI. But yes stool sample freaks me out too.

I’m meant to be in today for chemo but both platelets and neutrophils are rubbish, so unlikely. They’re going to retest but I don’t hold out much hope. Aghh.

KeepCalm I am really hoping some news appears for you today. You need a plan then you will feel so much better.

Oh no Namechange that sucks when will you find out the retest results?

Agreed on the indignity of stool samples. They are somehow much worse than anything else hopefully you won't need one Mrstraveller. I didn't mean to worry you

I’m going in at 12.30 and apparently they will have the results in 10 minutes. I didn’t want to laugh but they won’t have found me a chair or a wristband in 10 minutes

Envy? Wow I was aiming for a smile! Well that sums the day up!

That's 10 minutes hospital time though remember. So ummmm an hour?