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

Morning,

Glad you got the bed sorted so quickly Leslie and had a good night of sleep. A shame about this bloody cough returning this am with a vengeance though. I hope you shift it soon.

purple good to be back in the comfort of your own bed (& out of hospital) I hope you got a better sleep for being back at home again last night.

keepcalm I feel your pain re the visitors. I have had house guests since mid Dec until yesterday. My brother and his wife flew off yesterday lunch time and the house feels very quiet (despite having had an extra child for a sleepover last night) my visitors were great & all there to help me mainly, but it does feel nice to get my house back &. some independence too. My dog went to my Mum & Dads when they left as I wasn't confident to not have him pull my arm after the op, so it feels extra quiet/calm for him not being here too. How long is your dog in France for namechange? The kids have requested a trip to the big soft play later as we don't go very often as we walk the dog over soft play usually.... Luckily meeting a friend there & the coffee is reasonable

I saw the surgeon last week and they got it all in the op with clear margins. Apparently I win a prize for longest drain too! He said there was evidence the chemo had worked in all the nodes and cancer cells detected in one node (20 removed) not sure if that means there had been cancer in the others (due to the evidence of the chemo working) or if it was only ever in one node (I didn't think to ask until I had left the appointment) but I am seeing my Oncologist to go through the next stage of radiotherapy with me, so will ask her. Not that it makes any difference, I am just curious.

Toofar sorry to hear your diagnosis & widget sorry you find yourself here. It is a good place to be, I think I would have not coped half as well without this thread...

dulce I will pm you my FB info, I haven't used my FB account since leaving my ex, but do intend to go back on, so it may as well be this that gives me the nudge!

ranout & TQ I hope your side effects calm down a bit soon.
Waves & happy Saturday to all X

Thank you all. I feel so tired and weak because I’ve stopped eating, can’t sleep and am exhausted from crying. I’ve tried drinking water this morning but even threw that up. I know no ones good with this sort of thing but I’m a little annoyed with how badly I’m taking this. My body won’t stop shaking and every time I think of something else my mind just chucks in there ‘tumour on your kidney!’ And I just snowball again. I’m so so sorry you are all going through this

Just seen it is 2 weeks your pup is in France namechange (sorry must have skimmed the posts a bit as so many since I was last on!) are there lots of non dog activities you can do that you wouldn't normally?! Cinema or theatre maybe?

Also try not to visit doctor Google widget that is destined to give you nightmares and sleepless nights. Macmillan is usually a good website for info if needed. It may be worth visiting your doctor too and seeing if you can get some sleeping tablets to help whilst you are waiting to find out what comes next...

Widget. It's a really hard time. Do you have a GP at your practice who you like/get on with? It could be worth making an appointment just to talk about how you are feeling? Sometimes I think making a small to do list (even though it might feel like the last thing you want to do at the moment) can help you feel like you are regaining a little bit of control at a time when your emotions are all over the place.

Noodles. That's fantastic news that they have got it all out with a clear margin. I must confess I have been totally confused by the whole lymph node thing as well in terms of how many were malignant (and how many lymph nodes there actually are!) but all mine are coming out on the left side so I suppose it's a bit irrelevant now.

Fantastic news noodles

Widget I second Mrstraveller's advice to contact your GP. There are medications that might help.

Fab news @noodles44 do you mind me asking how long the Op took? My DH claims he's staying close but ffs I'll be asleep

Brilliant news noodles.

Widget definitely go and see your GP. I found it really difficult to cope when first diagnosed, so my GP gave me mirtazapine. It's an anti-depressent but it also makes you drowsy, so you take it before bed and it helps you sleep. It doesn't take it all away but it has helped me to feel more stable and able to cope better.

I think I'm starting to have tamoxifen side effects. Feel really nauseous today and found it very difficult getting out of bed. Hopefully it will settle down, just waiting for the hot flushes and night sweats to start!

Keep I think I was down for about 3 hours for my mastectomy, and then in recovery for about 3 hours but that was mainly because my wound was weeping still and they kept me longer than usual.

Caz sorry to hear you're suffering on the Tamoxifen

Oops posted too soon!

Caz I hope the side effects bigger off soon.

Admittedly I am having a wobbly day too and have barely made it out of bed, I can hear DH catching up on the last Luther without me! DD2 has been cooking bacon and eggs so I'm staying well clear until the smell has gone...

Happy New Year, everyone. I'm in a ridiculous amount of pain atm, hoping the morphine will kick in soon, as I can barely move. Otherwise ok though, and thinking of you all x

A very gentle hug to you, BitOfFun. Or maybe just a hand squeeze. I hope the morphine gets to work quickly. Otherwise I can highly recommend fentanyl patches. Have you been referred to the palliative care team? They are amazing at pain relief.

KBG grr at MrKBG for watching Luther without you! I'm still on episode one. And yuck to bacon smells. My dad insists on eating vegetarian bacon. It smells (and looks and tastes...) horrid.

Caz I hope the side effects settle down soon

I'm also on mirtazapine and it has settled my mood out a bit. Though sadly it doesn't make me very sleepy!

My cough has improved. But I just seem to be getting weaker and weaker. Unsurprising really, I suppose. I just didn't think it would happen quite so quickly. It's noticeable from day to day.

Mirtazapine worked really well for me too. It did make me sleep loads better, and eat too when I really didn’t feel like it. I’d say definitely worth a try.

Leslie I bought vege bacon for DD2 who was on a self imposed vegetarian diet until recently. It was hideous and promptly went into the food bin!

Sad to hear you're struggling still - January is such a miserable month too, I really hope we get a nice early spring which might help things feel a bit more manageable x

My dad recommends the Quorn one. But he's tried some that were awful. I think it's all gross. But I've been vegetarian all my life so I have no desire to eat bacon! Though if she's no longer vegetarian then of course the real thing is probably much nicer

They do say bacon is the real test for those that are borderline! She apparently went vege to be healthy but has lived on pizza, toast and mash so really no better off (plus the odd bowl of homemade soup). after much nagging I think she's seen the light of just eating better even if occasionally it's meat.

On another note my new bandanas have arrived and I'm feeling a bit brighter. I find the sensation of no hair really quite odd!

Thanks KBG and Leslie. I was we're all entitled to wobbly days. Most veggie bacon is not worth bothering with in my opinion. DH is making me veggie sausage and mash for dinner, which I may be able to eat.

But even the thought of that is making my stomach turn a bit...!

keepcalm I think my op took a couple of hours plus recovery. My op was booked @ 2pm, I didn't go down bang on time for it, probably about 20 mins late and I left the hospital at 7pm after being in the recovery area and then the day surgical ward too once I came round enough.

Lesley sorry you are feeling so weak. Is getting out in the chair a possibility for you for some fresh air? It is very chilly by me though so it would certainly be fresh. Not sure if that would help your lungs or not though

bitoffun sorry you are in so much pain. I hope your team can get on top of the pain meds ASAP for you & you feel more comfortable.

noodles I think it would just be too exhausting, to be honest. I was wondering about trying to get into the garden for a bit of fresh air. I think it would take me about 20 minutes just to get to the back door as I'd have to sit down to recover along the way (not because I live in a giant mansion!) but it would be nice to get outside :)

Caz I love veggie sausage and mash. I hope you're able to eat it :) if you're not eating much at the moment then make sure he puts plenty of butter in the mash (and grated cheese if you fancy it) to up the calories

KBG yay for the bandanas. I hope they're comfortable. It's weird being bald. I kept running my hand over my head all the time.

Evening lacies.
I'm sorry to hear so many of you have had a horrid time over the last day or so. I'm really hoping everyone's side effects are easing and everyone gets a good nights sleep tonight.
All the info on ops is very useful and being mentally filled away.
I've been into Leeds with the family today. Kids had xmas money burning holes in their pockets!
I started off in the car with my wig on, promptly got too hot so took it off. Yes I wandered around Leeds with a fuzzy head! It was actually ok.
Poor DH has been sent to the pub as we've spent all his money!

It was lovely Leslie, he did half and half sweet potato and normal potato mashed with milk and butter, with carrots and peas. So quite a healthy meal. But I have the horrible taste in my mouth again now, it's a bit like when I was pregnant and I suppose the tamoxifen is messing with my hormones so it may be quite similar.

ranout, I’ve been in Leeds today too. I’m impressed you managed it with a fuzzy head, it was freezing. I didn’t spot you!

I’m heading out to the pub with a friend tonight and want to do low sugar, no sweeteners and no alcohol. I have a feeling that means sparkling water. This particular pub serves Becks Blue but that is not pleasant at all.
Love to you all xx

Just home from Mary Poppins and have given in to them having pizza for tea.

@BitOfFun so sorry to hear you're so sore

@mrsrhodgilbert I was all over Leeds! From about 11-5pm! Ate at a great Thai called Zaap, near the grand theatre.
We did everything from Trinity to Harvey Nics!
I'm too hot with a wig or hat, I can't look at myself so I basically don't care anymore!
Are you leeds based?