New year, new thread - cancer support thread 68 - join us if you have cancer, or are waiting for cancer-related tests

[WhatWouldLeslieKnopeDo]

Hello everyone,

Welcome to the new thread. Our previous one is here.

Anyone with any cancer is welcome, or anyone waiting for tests because they might have cancer. If you're new, just jump in wherever. Don't feel you need to catch up with previous posts. We talk a lot! Ask any questions you need to. Someone will hopefully have an answer. And feel free to post photos of cute pets too.

Whether you're new or not, it's helpful to post a little introduction on the new thread to save people trying to remember everyone's different diagnosis and treatment.

That's great news for you Puffle. Did they manage to put a name to your cancer in the end? I hope you continue to be well.

Purple I think hands and feet are bearing up though I'm still on watch and wait. My fingers permanently look as though I've been in the bath for 3 hours... prune-like is an apt description!

Tahiti I know what you mean about being unable to concentrate. I hope the time is passing reasonably quickly.

I think it's too warm for snow down here (south) . Though we may still get some on Thursday. I love it - I find it magical and soothing (from indoors!). My ddog used to love it too - she couldn't get enough of playing in it...

Hi TQ, I agree no snow for us today, it's been a beautiful day.
It is a CUP but they never decided upon a type, maybe gynae or colorectal. They treated it as a gynae though.
Hope you are gearing up. Shout if you ever need lifts or anything, I'm just around the corner and have plenty of free time now.

That should say bearing up...

Wow puffle that's impressive. I've managed to increase my intake of turmeric but not much else... I'm not sure how you fast through chemo?! I find I need to eat little and often. So glad to hear you're through and out the other side though; well done 👍🏻

That's great news @Pufflemum I hope you continue to stay well

That's me signed off from the surgical dept. They seem pleased with the wound and no, no I haven't been bloody massaging it!!!!! Bleurgh

Tx Puffle It's snowing here now

Hello all, new poster here - seeing a consultant tomorrow as have symptoms consistent with bowel cancer. Like so many here, I have been lurking for a little while and have felt moved by Leslie’s courage and care for others. Leslie- I think of you every day. I think more highly of the word now that I know someone like you can be in it. (Is that soppy enough? )

Hugs to everyone.

Good luck babbayagga

Hello @babayagga sorry you find yourself here but welcome 

@WhatWouldLeslieKnopeDo A lovely parcel arrived today that I believe you're responsible for. Am so touched thank you. Please let me know where I can thank the woolly huggers properly in the meantime big unMNly slobbery kisses to you xxx

ooh,, show us a pic KeepCalm ! I'm a crocheter soI'd love to see it!

Good evening everyone

My adhesions have been playing up today so I've been writhing around with my hot water bottle all day. My pupils are tiny pinpricks thanks to all the morphine - I haven't eaten today so I think all of my nutrition has come from oramorph! it's easing up a bit now thankfully.

My iPad is also being a bit uncooperative so I'll do shorter posts so I don't lose them.

KeepCalm yay! :) I'm snuggled under mine at the moment. They're fantastic, aren't they?! Woolly Hugs are on Facebook if you want to contact them. Also yay for being signed off by the surgical team.

Tahiti I'm glad it's going alright. It is interesting how different people react so differently to the different drugs (just seeing how many times I can use the word different in one sentence ). Do you have your own room?

KBG my food recommendations are gazpacho, black bean sauce and jalapeños in brine (probably not all together!)

purple silver linings indeed. I'm glad I have my stoma as it makes it much easier. How are you getting on with the nephrostomies? How often does the nurse have to change them? Yes, I finished all the scarves for my family :) then, after all the fuss I'd made about not making any more, I decided to make one for my district nurse. I hope she will like it!

Yay! I'm looking forward to seeing the finished unicorn. Is it relatively easy to make? I haven't used those kits, but my cousin is trying to learn to crochet so I wonder if they would be any good. I gave her a Toft kit that someone had given me, but she is finding it difficult, even with the videos for the instructions on their website.

TQ are you still making squares for Candy's Hugs? I hope you get an isolated heavy snowfall just around your area, so it doesn't stop my auntie from visiting me tomorrow :)

Puffle that's extraordinary I'm so pleased for you. It must be frustrating not knowing what it is. Do you have any side effects from all of your treatment? I hope you've been able to get back to relative "normal". Feeling in control makes such a difference. I'm glad you were able to do that.

Just a note to anyone considering taking turmeric supplements - it can interact with some chemo drugs and stop them working, so it's really important to check with your medical team first (same for all supplements, of course, but especially that one). When I had XELOX my oncologist warned me against it.

Toofar how is it going? Are you getting lots of visitors?

Hi Leslie yes, I'm doing another blanket. This one is much quicker because I'm doing 12" squares and no fiddly patterns. The last one looked amazing (even if I do say so myself ) but took forever.

I don't think the snow will be too bad - it's all gone now anyway. DD2 was sent home with her laptop today in case she can't get in tomorrow (she only has a 5 minute walk!!!). Having spent a few months in the wilds of British Columbia and 4 years in Newcastle I'm afraid I do tend to laugh at the mad snowflake panics.. I hope your aunt makes it.

Sorry to hear you've been in pain today. And no food either. I'm glad things are easing - I hope that continues.

Purple sewing is my worst nightmare! I knew unicorns were real...

babayagga good luck tomorrow hopefully the consultant will be able to reasure you. That is indeed very soppy. I really am just a normal person. I'm actually quite annoying and boring and I have a hideous squeaky voice.

Waving to everyone else. You're all wonderful

Sorry to hear your adhesions have been a pain Leslie - I hope you manage a comfortable night. I’m impressed you decided to knit another scarf.... you must be almost able to knit in your sleep!

and and to all this evening...

I saw my BCN who had a feel of my armpit - she says she can’t feel anything dodgy... so maybe what I’m feeling is some tension/scaring/nerve pain associated with the mastectomy. My head is a mess at the moment - I should feel relieved (I do!) ... but mainly I feel exhausted, so I’m going to bed!

Love to everyone, and wishing you all a peaceful night.

Hi all. Most of you won't remember me as I was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer in both breasts just over five years ago. I just wanted to pop in to say hi and wish you all strength.
I've been thinking more about cancer in the last couple of days because of the bbc stuff on what not to say to cancer patients!
Mine was always "but you look so well!".
As always, thinking of all on this thread, especially lovely Leslie ❤️

I'm sure a simpler one will still look great TQ and they're full of love, which is the most important thing :) a few weeks ago I found a crochet-along I'd put away and half forgotten about. So I finished that and sent it off to be a Billie's Blanket. I'm glad I only had a few rounds left though as it took so much concentration! Have you tried a crochet-along? They're quite good fun :)

Hopefully it might snow again overnight.

weebarra Mine was always "but you look so well!" aghhh mine too. I get this all the time! Like ok yeah I’m probably fine then!

Fuzzy it's good that your BCN isn't concerned. But no wonder you're exhausted. All the emotions beforehand can't just disappear when you get good news. And it's just so tiring being on edge. Hopefully you'll feel much better after a good night's sleep

I do sometimes fall asleep while knitting you know when your eyelids just droop and you have a tiny micro-nap. Sometimes I do that between stitches when I'm being too stubborn to admit I need to go to bed!

weebarra lovely to see you. How are you? Is your littlest at school now?