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

I couldn’t agree more but I wonder if you have the right thread

Also you’re making me miss the NE!

That sounds like no fun at all Leslie .Another bl**dy thing on the long list of things to be put up with .

But hamsters can be very cute .

Morpeth sounds great actually. I must make the effort to go North one day for my hols, rather than SW. I visit Harrogate twice a year due to work and absolutely love it there. Spent my first 4 years in Rochdale and never been back

I'm quite liking the random post from Lulu

Lacies day out to Morpeth I reckon! We can call in at Seaham, Durham, Harrogate, York. Maybe a quick whizz around Fenwicks too.

Gosh @LuluJakey1 what a Corking post and as a small business owner it's one with which I agree completely! Lulu for Prime Minister!

In other news. Scan went fine. Done and dusted in under half an hour. Joyous metallic mouth and 'wet myself' sensation.....

New bras bought in M&S sale. Just soft cup, non wired ones as post op don't go to my size because people with giant norks don't get cancer apparently

Jammies were god awful and a step too far. Back to the couch to collapse under a puppy with me!

@Namechangeforthiscancershit I'm even more NORTH north east than that but always happy go on a road trip !

I love the NE. Would move up there in a shot if husband would agree. Never been to Morpeth though but it sounds nice.

Just back from having pre-op at the hospital.

How did it go @Mrstraveller? You doing okay?

I totally agree with Peridito and I bet you look even more lovely than usual Leslie

A lacies day out in the NE sounds fab as I live in County Durham so not too far to go although I've never been to Morpeth

That's one more thing done and dusted MrsT and Keepcalm, I like to tick things off once they're done to see how far I've come.

I've had the palliative symptom control nurse out (I don't think that's her official title but I can't remember how she introduced herself) and she's getting me a fentanyl syringe for now to see if that helps and then hopefully on to patches when I go home. I was on fentanyl after the operation and it seemed to help so fingers crossed it works. It's also the less problematic for my kidneys so that's a bonus

Glad you're feeling better TQ

That's good purple I hope the fentanyl helps and it's good you've got her on the case now

I've never been to the North East, and won't get the chance now, but it sounds lovely!

Mrstraveller I hope your pre-op went well

I'm coughing/breathless a bit less today so hopefully the steroids are helping. I'll keep them up over the weekend. It was the worst I've ever been yesterday - I really thought I might have to sleep downstairs! And the coughing is putting a strain on my poor bladder cancer is so fucking undignified. In films they always look beautiful and just drift away. But in real life our bodies are being completely decimated and everything is just falling apart

Glad your feeling a bit better today. I certainly won't be drifting away gracefully. Last Wednesday when I came through to hospital after throwing up all night I wet myself in DHs car and it wasn't just a little wee but I was so poorly I just didn't care and even if I did I couldn't do anything about. Dignity has well and truly gone out of the window

And to make things even worse after he got back from the hospital after dropping me off he cleaned my sick up. Luckily I managed to make it to outside the back door for that

Bless him, I bet he didn't think that less than 18 months ago when we got married that he'd have to be putting up with all this cancer shit

My sister's boyfriend came down with a virus (cold, sore throat type thing) while he was here. They've left now. I'm a bit snuffly, but otherwise OK so far. I'm worried I'll catch it and it'll go to my chest. I was told I probably wouldn't survive another chest infection. My immune system has been fine in all the blood tests so hopefully I can fight it off before it gets that far. It's scary suddenly being so vulnerable

Cross-posted purple I'm sure he doesn't mind, but it's embarrassing having to let other people help isn't it.

Yes pre-op was fine. Just the usual tests and lists of instructions given out. I have to be there at 7.30 am for the op.

I too went to M&S today to pick up an order. I’m bought a couple of their non wired post surgery bras too Keepcalm. They are not a great fit for me but they will do for now. The M&S pyjamas didn’t fit me so they will have to go back.

Leslie hoping you don’t come down with anything virally

Purple glad you’ve seen someone about your pain and hope it’s under control soon.

@purpleunicorns glad the nurse has been and managed to help.

@WhatWouldLeslieKnopeDo am keeping everything crossed that you don't get this chest infection 

@Mrstraveller I find myself online shopping now too. Have you a Tesco near you as I managed to get a button down nightshift there? When is your Op again?

@BitOfFun I hope you're doing ok

KeepCalm not sure of the etiquette of mentioning something from another thread, but saw you on the thread about cancer adverts and that you'd been told to ask for a DS1500.

It doesn't mean you only have six months to live. Or at least the oncologists are quite generous with it. Basically it makes applying for disability benefits a lot easier. They will apparently complete them for most people with a stage IV diagnosis, regardless of prognosis, with the excuse that cancer is unpredictable. I wish I'd asked for one sooner.

Anyone with a stage IV diagnosis it's worth at least asking your team about a DS1500 so you can get PIP without the awful assessment process.

@WhatWouldLeslieKnopeDo it wasn't the oncologist, it was Macmillan advisors who had already told me I was entitled to nothing so I 'might as well try that'. Just left me with no confidence in anything they said

The hospital welfare officer has been in touch asking me to call him back which I will do next week.

Oh that's a shame. I found them very helpful - they applied for the DS1500 (my specialist nurse completed it) and PIP for me. Hopefully the welfare officer will be more helpful

Hi keepcalm there is a Tesco near me so I can go and have a look. I need something that I don’t have to get over my head. My problem with pyjamas is that I am small on top with bigger hips. Who knew buying a nightie for a day or potential night in hospital could be so complicated? I think when I had my hysterectomy I just used the hospital ones with my own dressing gown over the top.

So sorry! I was reading about how awful our high streets are and, as you can tell, it is a subject close to my heart. Not sure how it ended up on your thread. I do follow your thread sometimes after I had a scare a while ago and reading you all kept me sane while investigations were happening and I was very fortunate.
Glad you seem to like the North -East as much as I do It drives me mad how neglected it is by the government and then the stupid decisions our councils make. It is an amazing place to live.
Sorry again for stuffing my rant into your thread. Wishing you all the very best in 2019- the best it can be for everyone of us x

Don't worry Lulu you gave us a laugh

Hi all👋
I have an urgent referral to the Colorectal clinic on Monday after a health check at my new drs discovered I was anaemic, have possible Left Bundle Branch Block and after a stool sample, blood was found 😓
I'm obviously scared - before the health check, I was totally unaware of any problems, and now I feel if I was a horse, they'd be reaching for the Ketamine!
I appreciate you cannot put my mind at rest but just wanted to say Hi after Twitter Queen invited me over x x