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

Keepcalm can you ring the hospital? Even if they have no news I find I feel better knowing that I've rang and there's nothing else I can do yet

Ranout that blanket looks soo cosy. I'm not surprised the cat has stolen it

Good luck with the bloods Namechange. They come up surprisingly quickly so hopefully you'll get your chemo

Leslie unless they ring me I won't find out until 3:00 as I can only get results from the doctors between 9-11 or 3-5. I was meant to do it this morning but I've spent it sleeping I'm feeling pretty sick at the minute despite having super strong antisickness which are usually used for psychosis and schizophrenia. I probably shouldn't google my tablets
How are you? It's super windy here so I'm not even getting dressed today

purple is that levomepromazine? That's my favourite antisickness lots of them seem to have other uses tbh. Do you have any other medications you can take? I hope you feel better soon you obviously needed the sleep, but it's a shame you missed the results. Fingers crossed for 3pm (or a call before then would be nice).

I'm alright thanks. I'm setting a timer for 30 minutes and going for a walk through the house or something, just to try and build up my strength. The 30 minutes goes surprisingly quickly though! I'm having a cosy crocheting day today as I've got quite a busy week ahead.

Leslie hospital time is exactly right. Shockingly no one has taken any blood yet!

I hope they hurry up! Do you have a port/PICC? Sorry, can't remember everyone's details now

I've just climbed five stairs as my half hourly exercise I know that sounds pathetic. But I usually only do the stairs once a day at bedtime and it is genuinely a huge struggle.

Oh yes I have a PICC so taking blood takes about 15 seconds

pathetic Is absolutely the word for it Leslie

Honestly if you are pathetic where on earth does that leave the rest of us?

Well, the rest of you are going out and about by yourselves and doing "normal" stuff so I feel like a bit of a weakling I know it's ridiculous and I'd never think that about anyone else! I am trying to be kind to myself. I have stage IV cancer, various other lung issues and I'm (still!) recovering from pneumonia so it is not surprising I am struggling.

Ah phew. At least when they finally see you they won't spend ages trying to get a needle in!

Yes those are the tablets Leslie, I do have some weaker ones which I think I'll try instead. I have to cut the levomepromazine into quarters which is a bit of a faff. If you're pathetic I think the rest of us might as well give up now but I get what you mean about stairs, my legs feel like they're going to snap if I walk upstairs and try and carry anything heavy at the same time. Stair lifts are looking very tempting at the minute

Oops cross post. For what you've been through I think you're doing bloody amazing! And yes, be kind to yourself

It's so annoying having to cut up tablets. I had to halve them when I was reducing my dose, but never quarters thankfully! What a faff.

I don't think I'd get a stair lift. The nurses have just talked about getting me a hospital bed downstairs when the stairs get too much. But the bathroom is upstairs so then I guess I'd be stuck with bed baths! I'm trying to hold it off for as long as possible. I like my bedroom.

Namechange - yes you've described my bowel situation exactly for the last 3-4 days. However, I took the maximum does of Loperamide yesterday with about 6 party bags of haribo so maybe it's starting to take effect finally. I managed a trip to the hospital to get bloods done and a shop at Sainsbury's without any er accidents.

Met an old neighbour outside the supermarket who said "yes I'd heard you are ill. Is it curable?" Nothing like being direct I suppose.

Leslie - don't blame you for wanting to keep to your bedroom. I find mine a sanctuary now. I can go up there if I start feeling a bit tired/weepy and just read or listen to the radio. I quite like the World Service - there are some interesting documentary programmes.

Keep Calm I like to think/assume the hospital staff are scurrying about behind the scenes to sort out a new schedule for you. Hope you hear soon.

Good that you managed your outing without incident Mrstraveller I hope you feel much better soon people can be so blunt!

I hope you manage to get through for your results quickly purple keeping my fingers crossed for you!

Public Service Announcement: chocolate Lindt Father Christmases are fast running out. I've just had to go to three supermarkets before I found them.... Reindeers and teddy bears are OK.

ON other subjects... keepcalm if this particular chemo is working for you then it's absolutely right that they've stopped it because of course it's so debilitating. Hopefully your body will have a chance to recover a little before they find the right treatment.

Purple have you heard anything yet?
Leslie you are not in the least bit pathetic! You're stronger than you were a week ago I think? that's progress. How are you tolerating the Lonserf?
Namechange how are you getting on?

Waving to everyone else

Thank you TQ are they gifts or for you to eat? I'm trying to cut back on chocolate because it seems to give me a cough. Though I have a cough anyway, so won't be completely abstaining. Life really is too short for that well, I haven't started my second cycle yet - I'll start on 27th. I have slightly tingly/cold feet, and I think they affected my appetite a bit, but otherwise no major side effects so far. I only did one week of two last cycle because of the UTI so hopefully next cycle will be more successful! We can be chemo buddies again, though I'll just be taking some tablets while you're getting the IV stuff.

Sorry, I'm rambling away! My timer has just gone off again so I'm off for an amble...

Well, motivated by you lot and your encouraging words, I just did eight stairs bloody hell it was hard work. But I did it! That's about halfway up.

I am using an egg timer that my aunt gave me. It has a little china rabbit on so I know as he turns round to face me that it's nearly time to get up and go again!

Sorry, I've been rambling away on here all day. I'm a bit bored and I'm procrastinating about finishing my sister's blanket. It's always the same when I get to the last row of any project. It takes about ten times as long as any other row!

FC peeps out the top of each of the girls' stockings. I had to buy one for me too because I also get a stocking...

So you take the tablets for two weeks out of four Leslie? I'm hoping I'll be taking tablets as well as the IV but yes, definitely chemo buddies! I've had a private room when I've gone up for the screening and then the tests but I'm hoping I'll be in the chemo room with everyone else when I start. It'll be a bit lonely otherwise.

Bored is also a good sign , as is climbing 8 stairs. It means you have surplus energy.

Well done on the stair climbing Leslie. You are fab . Glad that you and TQ can be chemo buddies.

I’m enjoying the fact my stomach seems to have calmed down today and just had yet more white toast with butter and a weak instant coffee. Very enjoyable.

Hopefully all will be ok tomorrow for chemo. Not envisaging much sleep tonight as I’m on steroids now today and another 2 days.

Xx

Not sure about surplus energy, but definitely more I'm mostly fuelled by cheese and chocolate at the moment!

I'm glad you'll get one too after all your efforts to find them.

Yes, well, not even two weeks - just five days, then two days break, then another five days, then the rest of the four weeks off.

My friend had a private room for all her chemo as she was treated privately. Like you, I think that would be lonely! I liked the camaraderie of the chemo unit, and I was quite sad to be missing that when they switched me to this regime. I'm sure you could ask to be in the main room if they try and put you in a private one - they'd probably be glad to free up a room.

Mrstraveller I'm glad you seem to be on the mend fingers firmly crossed for your chemo. Will they phone you today or do you have to wait until tomorrow to find out?

Steroids are a pain. Though I find they don't really affect me as much anymore. I used to be absolutely wired, but I've been on them for nearly a month (to see if they help my breathing) without much effect at all. I guess we adapt to these things eventually!

They don’t normally call. Last time my blood count was very low and think it was a bit borderline whether they did It or not. I sit in the main chemo room and have seen them tell people the odd time it can’t be done today. Perhaps they like to explain face to face and provide that reassurance about what will happen next.

I’m just keeping everything crossed it will be done tomorrow because even though I will probably feel a bit crap over Christmas (have to have the injections for 7 days), all else being equal my surgery should then be done mid January. Looking forward in a way to getting rid of all the dodgy lymph nodes.

That's a pain if people have to travel all the way there to be sent home. I really hope you can go ahead tomorrow so you can get the surgery ASAP

Hi everyone,

Glad you booked the afternoon cheese tea Leslie it looks lush doesn't it? I am going to take my friend who did a lot of running around for me for my op with lifts and stayed at hospital most of the day.
Well done with managing the stairs when your bunny timer goes! You are most definitely not at all pathetic btw.
Thank you for the flapjack recipe, I have put condensed milk on my delivery 2mo aft, so will have a bash at making them with the kids later in the week.

Thanks purple I seem to have turned a slight corner today and am not quite as sore. I think I did myself no favours when I reached for a light switch without thinking and my armpit was very unhappy! I have postponed my herceptin injection from Thursday for a week as I still have my drain in & am likely yo until Friday as I seem to be making lots of excess fluid still. The drain site is uncomfortable, so I thought I would deal with one sore thing at a time as my leg was painful for 24hrs after the last injection.

I hope it all goes ahead as planned mrsT I have found it definitely makes a psychological difference to have lost my 2 unwanted guests after having them removed in my op

keepcalm your puppy is gorgeous, I hope a new treatment plan comes through soon for you.

Have you been seen yet namechange?

I have been wrapping stuff for stockings today too TQ I have put a couple of mini Lindt santa's and snowmen in each.

My youngest is off today as she has chicken pox, just what was needed! I managed to walk to a local church (5 mins away) yest as my first outing since my op. It was very uncomfortable, I think my attractive tubi corset keeping everything in place is a bit big and is ok when sitting around, but when walking everything moved a bit. If I hadn't promised my eldest I would see her being a star in the school performance there, I wouldn't have gone!

I hope everyone is feeling as well as possible X