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

@Allnightlong2016 Macmillan have great literature for helping speak to kids etc

It certainly helped us as we had DC aged 15,12 & 10 so it's like talking to adults whilst trying to remember they're not.......

Morning everyone, just checking in quickly.
Hi @LondonHuffyPuffy I've got BC and had a picc line fitted in August, fingers crossed last chemo on the 27th. No problems with it. You get into a rhythm with getting it cleaned and I think I like the reassurance of seeing the nurses once a week as well. I go to either our local hospital or to our chemo bus to have it cleaned.

@Allnightlong2016 I've got a 5 year old and nearly 8 year old. I got a book from a breast cancer charity called mummy's lump. I've been upfront with them about the cancer, the chemo and we're now talking about my op. They seem to be pretty resilient.
Waves to everyone else. I've just sent DH and DD off to get the turkey while I sort the ham!

Welcome LondonHuffyPuffy, but sorry you've had to join our rather shitty club! I'd definitely get the PICC as otherwise your veins will get harder and harder to use.

Good luck today Fluffy

purple the prongs are annoying. I hope you can stop using them soon

TQ enjoy the tofu cheesecake... I'm very wary of tofu, unless it's from the Chinese takeaway!

Waving to everyone

Hi Huffy and welcome. I had my first chemo on December 12: 3 lots of EC and then 3 lots of Docetaxal. Hope you're feeling ok x I've had a portacath fitted and it did seem like it was a doddle for the nurse to use.

Fluffy good luck today. I felt pretty grim for the first week but now am doing ok so fingers crossed for you. My main problem was nausea (and mentally accepting that this is happening to me!)

Keep your story sounds so sad - what miserable creatures your aunts are! At a time when you no doubt needed their support desperately.

Purple you naughty unicorn, sounds like you're keeping those nurses on their toes!

Lovely Lacies, I just wanted to pop in to wish each and every one of you a very happy Xmas and a new year of hope, peace of mind and, of course above all, good health ahead.

No singing needed TQ although I will be stocking up on eye masks. The doctors have been round (the nice one this time) and said as long as I manage tonight without the IV pain relief then I can go home in the morning. Just waiting for the physio to come round and walk me up and down stairs

Welcome Huffy I had a PICC line put in on Friday and it's much easier to get bloods out of so definitely worth doing if you can

Oh Keepcalm they sound awful. I think some people just like the drama. I'm pretty lucky as I have a small family and we all get on ok

Hi to All

Welcome Huffy - sorry you have to be here but you will find great support on this thread.

I am trying to do without the co-codamol today because it does result in constipation. Still feeling a bit crap. On the daily injections until Boxing Day. I've been given an appointment already for "results" after the surgery. On the form it says "some people find it helps to have a relative or friend with them" - i.e. in case of bad news have someone with you! I am trying not to think about that appointment and stick to my one step at a time mantra....difficult though it is at times.

I find sometimes between appointments I can almost go into a bit of denial and pretend I don't have cancer but then there is always something else in the diary which means I can't bury my head in the sand for too long!

xx

Hi Lacies. Popping in to say Happy Christmas. Hope everyone has as relaxing and enjoyable time as possible - given the circumstances. Mine are the purple hazelnut caramel ones!
Purple sorry to hear you are in hospital.
addled did you find out about your liver pain?
Huffy welcome. I had a PICC line for my chemo after having it for tpn then absconding from hospital without letting them remove it. On balance I would recommend it - I heard so many people with vein and arm pain issues who didn't have one. Plus nice not to be poked with needles all the time. However I did manage to get an infection in mine and a DVT. Also the dressing changes are more admin.
All-night I have dt who were 5 when I was diagnosed. I was really straight with them about what was happening - apart from I told them I had naughty cells rather than cancer. Mainly because they learn about Terry Fox at school who lost his leg to cancer then ran across Canada (some annoying runner inspired for you there iVamprire !) and I didn't want them to think I was going to lose a leg or run across Canada. In hindsight though seeing they grasped the concept of cells they probably could have understood different types of cancer!

Thought I'd brave Guildford for a bit of a mooch with my girls and get into the Xmas spirit... we are yet to leave Top Shop wish me luck!!

sending a care package to KBG you will get out of there one day. Keep the faith.

Thank you for all your good wishes, resting at home now, no major issues only struggle was finding a good vein (managed eventually) but trying to get Picc line brought forward or they will delay the treatment for a week as they don't want to risk further issues.

Wishing everyone well xx

Well done fluffy hope you get looked after for the next few days

Name I made it out alive! And no poorer!

KBG it’s a Christmas miracle!

Leslie the tofu was not a huge success.... the texture was grainy and DD didn't like it . I think we could have got away with it if we could have persuaded ourselves it was ground almonds not grainy tofu. However, we've kept the mix but DD has made another one of 'normal' lactose free cream cheese and lemon instead.

taytotots challenge accepted!

Well, not quite all the way across Canada bit. But I’d like to do more half marathons, and am kick-starting the year with MIND’s RED (ie Run Every Day) January. I’ve entered a CRUK 10k and a half marathon (which I’m just going to run without fundraising, as I did that 3x last year and I think I’d annoy family/friends if I keep at it!)

I shall however not bang on about it here - unless someone else mentions running first - but it is what I do. And I think it has been terrifically good for my mental wellbeing. Not sure if that’s the actual running or just getting outside for a while. I bet the needs of puppies are similarly beneficial!!

@iVampire I'm desperate to be back at the gym. I'm a spinning girl and with my picc line they said no, so for once I've been good! Hopefully I may get a couple of weeks before I have my mastectomy even if I can just go and sit on a bike and chat it will be great! It's the people I miss as much as the exercise.
A firm I used to work for called fat lad at the back is supporting breast cancer prevention this year and they are running a 100m bike ride later on in 2019, I'm tempted!

I’ve seen the Fat Lad (and Far Lass) shirts at events - they look like a friendly bunch!

Just sending best wishes to all. Have done cooking ratatouille and red cabbage ( not in the same dish)! Just picked up youngest from his shift at Waitrose. He was circled by wolves when reducing the turkeys! He said some woman lurked for an hour waiting. We got a turkey for £5 so that is Easter sorted.

Hope everyone manages to have as pain free and peaceful Christmas as is possible when you have a medical unwelcome visitor. To those of us in 'drone land', do pm me regarding a meet up should you so wish or me just doing something useful for you.

It might be worth seeing if your local macmillan set-up has a MoveMore person, as they might be able to advise on what exercise is safe with a PICC line and the treatment you are on. Your local council will also have a Sports and Leisure department (waves to Leslie ) who will be able to signpost, and if necessary help you access, classes for those returning to activity.

Well we have a plan.

Apt with surgeon done this afternoon and Mastectomy to be done as soon after the new year as possible. Some other poor sod being binned off their slot to fit me in

No reconstruction straight away due to my BMI.

BUT WE HAVE A PLAN!!!!

Good luck keepcalm and hooray for plans (even if they mean surgery or other things being done to you!)

Hooray also for prosecco - and other alcoholic beverages...

tayto - Helloo! - no I have no idea what the pain is, but they are bringing my CT scan forward (from March to January) and the surgeon didn't seem too worried but I am studiously pretending nothing is wrong and nothing is happening etc

iVamp I have signed up for a 10k in May and am not any kind of runner so slightly dreading it but will get training after boozefest Christmas... looking forward to hearing your Cross-Canadian run updates tho!!!

Lots of Christmassy 's to all you lovely lacies and wishing you masses of dark-cancer-thought free times over the next few days (does that even make sense?! )

Yeah @KeepCalm we're like the A Team here, I think? We like a plan! I'm having a mastectomy late jan/early Feb and I've requested no reconstruction.
@iVampire the flab team are very inclusive. I think I'll need to put a bike on my birthday list! I did the c25k a couple of years ago, and I'd do it again so maybe that's one for 2019.
I've knew I was doing too well when my DCs we're both asleep by 8! DD has just realised her stocking has been snaffled! Told her the magic is working and go back to sleep! My stocking has the magic working, I've clocked jo malone, peanut butter m&ms and some new earrings going in (obvs I've ordered them all!) good wishes to everyone whether you celebrate Christmas or not. I'm making the most of it, as hopefully last chemo on the 27th! Eek!

Evening all, just popping in to wish everyone as relaxing and pain free Christmas as possible.
DH and I are watching Gremlins while waiting for the DCs to fall asleep.
Could be a loooong evening!

MrsT don't worry about the letter telling you to take someone with you, I've had letters like that and it's been good news. I've also had just a phonecall with with bad news so you can never tell. Fingers crossed it is good news for you though

I'm glad it went well Fluffy, the next one should be quicker as they'll put the chemo through a bit faster so you won't be hanging around as long

Oh you crazy energetic people taking of running and gyms it's taken me nearly 10 minutes to hobble from my hospital bed to the toilet

I think I'm finally starting to come out of my drug/pain haze and feel slightly better.

I just want to wish all you amazing lacies a peaceful and happy Christmas and a healthy as possible new year. I know I've said this before but this thread has been the only thing that's kept me sane at times