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

Good morning

I slept well without any drugs at all. Maybe I just needed to break the cycle.

purple I'm glad you got to go home, but sorry you're in so much pain. Is there anyone you can contact today to get something stronger? I'd seriously recommend these fentanyl patches, especially as your digestive system has been messed around with too. I take 3.75mg zopiclone. I wake in the night usually for the loo anyway. But now I can't always get back to sleep. I hope you can get some decent pain relief and a better sleeping tablet sorted ASAP I wish you had a hospice nurse as that is exactly the sort of thing mine helps with and she always sorts it out really quickly.

Mrstraveller yes, that's the one. Although I found these melatonin gummies available in the UK. Someone mentioned them on another thread here. (Partly I just like the idea of eating strawberry flavoured sweeties ) I hope your sale bargains are still in stock this morning. Did you get anything exciting?

ranout thank you. I haven't really been sleeping at all the last few nights so even a short sleep and early morning would be better!

Does anyone have any Boxing Day plans? We are hopefully visiting family this afternoon.

Morning @WhatWouldLeslieKnopeDo hurrah for some sleep!

@purpleunicorns welcome home. Am so sorry that you're so sore though

Have a puppy to help.......

Am exhausted today but imagine, nobody else is up with these guys so I guess that'll be me then?!?

MrsT I got absolutely spoilt this year although the only thing I didn't get is pyjamas so I think that's all I'll be looking for in the sales. I've just come downstairs and my house is an absolute tip with all the presents and wrapping paper everywhere. It'll have to wait as I can hardly move. I'd much rather be snuggled up to Keepcalms puppy

I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas. I've got the in-laws coming at dinnertime and then we're all going to my parents for teatime so nothing too energetic. I'm actually looking forward to going back into hospital tomorrow for some decent pain relief. If I manage to get myself in a comfy position and don't move it's not too bad so hopefully I'll make it through today

@purpleunicorns THIS is my home today. My brother and niece are coming later but sod it, the house is what it is glad you were spoilt and I'm the same re no jammies. I'm doing a little online sale shopping now......

I hope you both have a lovely time with your relatives

purple I hope you've found a comfy position. Someone else can tidy up!

I got lots of socks, slipper socks, an electric foot warmer... I'm going to have the cosiest feet in the world!

@WhatWouldLeslieKnopeDo an electric foot warmer?!? What is this magic you speak of???

I'm sitting on my arse doing some online sale shopping. DH can tidy up seeing as he got a lie in!

Foot warmer

It's basically a heated furry bag you put your feet in. Very cosy.

Off to google electric foot warmer. Sounds bliss.

So far I’ve looked at a coat from John Lewis. I’m also looking at post surgery bras (not really sale stuff) but am going to have a good look this morning. Had a much better night’s sleep so feel like I have a bit more energy today.

For those who’ve had breast surgery what were the easiest clothes to get off and on? I usually wear jeans or jeggings and some sort of top/t shirt that goes over my head. Would I be better with shirts that button up the front or would those get in the way of the drains?

Keepcalm it's not just the living room, somehow my kitchen is covered in empty boxes and wrapping paper too. My in laws are lovely and like to feel useful so I'm sort of hoping they'll make a start when they come round

Ooh a foot warmer sounds brilliant Leslie. I got a heated neck massager but I currently have a hole in my neck where they took the PICC line, feeding tube and all the cannulas out the other day so I think I'll wait until that's healed up. I also got a million pairs of socks so I don't think I'll ever need to buy a pair again

Very pertinent questions @Mrstraveller. I meanwhile am not googling anything useful 

@purpleunicorns whole house is a shit tip but DH up now so he can get on with it after having a long lie.....

@WhatWouldLeslieKnopeDo I'm away to look at that now too lol

Hi Mrs, I found shirts and PJ tops that buttoned up in front were easiest. I had a sentinel node removed so didn't really like lifting my arm on that side in the first week or so; that tiny incision seemed to hurt a lot more as it was more superficial than the ones on the breast. Still, it was a fairly short time I needed them. Exactly two weeks after the mastectomy/DIEP I was wearing a normal top and walking about the WB Harry Potter studios with my family.

Long term, sports bras that opened in front (eventually also comfy bras without underwire), jeggings, leggings and going no zip/buttons, eg dresses and skirts (all the latter choices due to the huge DIEP incision) definitely helped, but it was more of a preference thing I think.

I wouldn't necessarily go out and buy loads of clothes in anticipation of surgery. A couple of nice PJs and some warm non-slip socks to make me feel more human in the hospital, that was it.

Oh, I did buy silicone scar sheets, long ones for the DIEP scar and small ones for the reconstructed breast; still use them. I think they helped flatten the scars (my scars tend to be thick).

Happy Boxing Day everyone!

... more superficial than the ones on the breast .

That's great advise @javabean36 thank you 😊

KeepCalm, hope all goes well with the planned surgery!

They took out all my drains in hospital, so luckily I didn't need to consider those with my clothing choices. Also I have very small boobs, so normal sports bras worked out fine for me post op.

Am the opposite have massive norks so had hoped they'd take off both of reduce the remaining..... alas no

Keep Calm

I have small breasts and I also asked if they would remove the other one at the same time. Answer was no for me too!

javabean. Good suggestion about some nice pyjamas and perhaps some new leggings. I think I've seen a post surgery sports bra on M&S website.

I ended up buying a shiatsu neck massager from Amazon rather than the electric foot warmer! I did buy a hot water bottle thing that you can put your feet in which was cheaper (given that I had spent a bit on the neck massager!).

I've also bought pyjamas (my current pyjama bottoms all look a bit past their best and don't have matching tops) so I will have something "respectable" to wear in hospital , a pair of leggings and some "post surgery" underwear from M&S.

I do have one button up shirt but not the kind of thing I wear normally as can't be bothered with the ironing. If I need more I can get some after the surgery.

Mrs I can't remember if you're having surgery on one side only or both? My tip would be to wear things that you can work your arms out of the sleeves first before taking off; if you still have one good arm then you can pull things over your head that way. It took me probably 5 weeks to be able to take jumpers etc off 'normally'. So basically don't wear anything tight! I was fine on my bottom half - just wore my usual jeans (unless I was slobbing around the house) you might also find it sore putting socks on, if your knees touch your chest. I bought 2 Sugar Candy soft bras - soooo comfy and lots of extra hooks at the back to expand for the first couple of weeks whilst still swollen.
Oh and your drain tube will be long enough to hang below any tops, and the bottle will tuck into your drain bag.
I was sent home with a jug that I emptied the drain into every day, so I could measure output every 24h.

Hi KBG

I’m having surgery on left side only. Mastectomy and removal of all lymph nodes.

I’ve just come back into the lounge and husband has asked if I’ve stopped spending money now. Ha ha. No chance!

@Mrstraveller I'm left side and nodes too!

@KnickerBockerGlooooory great tips thank you! I need to find post surgery bras for giant norks

Keep good luck! I'm an H cup and have found it near on impossible...

Oh bloody hell me too @KnickerBockerGlooooory. Do you have any tips/hints as to where to start?

Well I bought a couple in 34G which M&S does recognise as a size... one of which has a pocket which is handy for keeping the softie replacement boob in place otherwise it moves up and out of the cup during the day!! And I live in my two Sugar Candy bras I bought from Bravissimo as I still find my usual underwired bras uncomfortable now with just one boob; they seem to really dig in to my breastbone in the middle and I have to use a folded cotton wool pad for extra padding. Tbh nothing quite fits perfectly but they're good enough for a few months until I get the other breast taken off!

Dear all,
I know this is a thread for those with cancer and I completely respect that. But please could you stop referring people to the "Those supporting people with life limiting illnesses" as had happened a couple of times on this thread. There's no activity on there ( I am the last poster on 7th December) and it is awful when you need help and wait for weeks, only for the vastness of nothing to happen?
Thanks.

A slight pause now to wish you all whatever you might wish for yourselves. And then I'm off! (since it is my DH who has cancer).

Fuzzycustard I’m sorry to hear that. I wonder why it is so quiet at the moment. Presumably it has been more active in the past?

I suppose the alternative is to suggest that people start their own thread- do you think people get a faster/better response that way?

Are you waiting for a treatment plan for your DH? I hope you get some news soon if so. The waiting is absolutely the worst.