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Original poster

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

999 replies

WhatWouldLeslieKnopeDo · 07/01/2019 13:33

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.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
19
Idonotlikeyoudonaldtrump · 01/02/2019 22:15

Leslie, that is the most beautiful poem and I will think of you when I read it in future.
I’m glad you can feel confident that your family have support when you are gone. They must feel so proud of the person that you are.

mrsrhodgilbert · 01/02/2019 22:19

leslie I wish you a peaceful night. What a lot of people you have thinking of you across the country. It’s quite incredible really that you have helped so many of us, always ready with kind and calming words.

Tonsilss · 01/02/2019 22:28

.

LeonoraFlorence · 01/02/2019 22:35

Leslie, my gran had cancer and I have lurked on this thread often, with the hopes that she could join such a welcoming community with you at the heart. Alas, it was never to be and we lost her.
You are a true inspiration and your warmth and courage will live on in the hearts of all those you have touched with your support on here. Please know you have left such a mark on this world. Truly, thank you and I wish you comfort.

MyGuideJools · 01/02/2019 23:01

What a lovely poem, I'm in tears here reading it. I hope, after you've gone, that your parents are able to read this thread and see what an amazing lady you are. They must be so proud of you. 🦋

Simmi1 · 01/02/2019 23:13

Beautiful poem Leslie - you have helped me immensely since my diagnosis last September.

I’m so glad you and your parents have a lovely community around you. Sending lots of love from Australia xx

Tahitiitsamagicalplace · 01/02/2019 23:13

Leslie that is a lovely poem. You have helped me so much on these threads. I wish I was good with words and could articulate just how much you've made a difference to my experience with cancer, with your gentle words of encouragement, sage advice, reassurance and just all round leslie-ness. It feels like you're the host/mum/ nay... queen of the lacies, always remembering what we've been dealing with and asking us for updates or offering us specific advice with a namecheck. (How you remember so much or don't get us mixed up with each other, I will never know!) It makes me feel so cared for and understood. It means a lot.

At the start of all my treatments/tests/surgery I was so scared all the time, but it honestly was you, and these other wonderful lacies as well, who made that fear go away. When I was actually going under general anaesthetic that I was previously so terrified of, I thought of how you said you enjoyed them, and was even grumpy to be woken up after! So it wasn't a scary experience at all, and it would have been otherwise. I know it seems like a small thing, but it was a huge comfort to me and I'll always be grateful.

I hope you can feel all the love, peace and warmth so many of us have for you xxxx

PenguinPandas · 01/02/2019 23:25

Leslie So sorry to hear your news. I think you are amazing and inspirational and people will remember you for years to come. Sending you lots of love.

Sending lots of love to Purple too and thinking of you both.

weebarra · 02/02/2019 01:10

Leslie, please can I ask your real name?
I want to shout it loud.

iVampire · 02/02/2019 08:26

tahiti how’s it going?

Are you allowed out and about now?

Idonotlikeyoudonaldtrump · 02/02/2019 08:34

I’m reading through this thread and sending so much love to purple and family. You sound so lovely and have been through so much.

PomDeNlume · 02/02/2019 08:42

Delurking to say I’m another who has found Leslie’s support, and that of everyone else on this thread, invaluable when my mum was going through treatment. Leslie, you’re a wee legend, thank you Star

HerculePoirotsGreyCells · 02/02/2019 09:26

I hope you don't mind me posting. Im a bit of a lurker, I had a cancer scare last year. Thankfully it turned out to be benign. I just wanted to say that I think you are all wonderful and I am in awe of the support and love on this thread.

My reason for posting is that there is a charity called Jen's friends who send out free mastectomy pillows. They have a Facebook page and I learnt about them as I'm trying to learn to sew. I thought it might be worth passing this on to you as someone mentioned upthread that they bought one from Etsy for £20?

Tahitiitsamagicalplace · 02/02/2019 09:51

Hi ivampire. No I'm still stuck in my hospital room. Neuts are 0 and I've needed platelet transfusions and it looks like today I'll need a blood transfusion too. CRP levels are high too, so there's possibly an infection somewhere. I'm hoping so much that they'll let me have a few hours leave at least sometime soon, but while I'm neutropenic, they won't. I'm doing okay though, despite the blood stuff, I don't actually feel as bad as I have before. How are you? X

peridito · 02/02/2019 10:07

Oh Tahiti that sounds horrible ,physical side bad enough without being a prisoner ! ( in solitary ? sorry can't remember )

There are so many on here at the moment with rubbish "manageable" only dx .And I see a few are to me ( in my late 60s ) so young. And with children .It's so shit ,I'm so sorry .

I can't imagine how hard all this is .I hope you all have access to Cake cheese ( hopefully MN will soon introduce a new sign for us cheese lovers )and tipple of choice .And that SE aren't stopping your enjoyment .

Much love to all .

peridito · 02/02/2019 10:10

PS I joined about same time as Leslie ,oesphageal cancer ,pre and post chemo ,transhiatial oesphagectomy .
Any lurkers with that type of cancer feel free to ask away .
I'm v well now with minimal after effects .

purpleunicorns · 02/02/2019 10:53

Thankyou Penguins and Idontlike although my family don't know quite how bad things are as I hate the thought of them worrying. I find out on Tuesday if I can get on a trial or not so I'll tell them everything after that.

Noodles I've just received my package from you, Thankyou so much! I used to love jigsaws and I haven't done one for ages. And yes the eye mask fits Grin

Oh Tahiti I bet your sick of the sight of the hospital. I hope you're better soon Thanks

KeepCalm · 02/02/2019 11:21

@purpleunicorns lovely to 'see' you. Thanks

babayagga · 02/02/2019 11:22

In response to the poem posted by Leslie - here’s one that’s been on my mind a lot lately.

Sending love to all.

New year, new thread - cancer support thread 68 - join us if you have cancer, or are waiting for cancer-related tests
likeazebra · 02/02/2019 12:40

Hi all

I want to say thank you Leslie for all your tremendous support since my diagnosis in 2016. I too hope your parents will have the chance to read these threads to see what a wonderful support you have been to everyone. Sending you lots of love.

I may be an infrequent poster but I do read and follow all your stories however normally I'm too behind to catch up if that makes sense.

Sending good wishes to you all.

Tahitiitsamagicalplace · 02/02/2019 12:50

purple I'm keeping everything crossed for you for Tuesday, and sending you lots of love.

I just seen the doc, and my bloods have improved and I can go home tomorrow!! Grin So chuffed!

The not so good news is, I'm going to get 4 cycles of this chemo, instead of 2, as originally planned. So I'll be in and out of hospital for a good while yet. But they said I might not have to have these 2 week long stretches as an inpatient, just a couple of days here and there on the worst days if I continue to tolerate it fairly well. So that's a plus!

iVampire · 02/02/2019 13:09

Good news on your impending jail break, tahiti and may the incarcerations never be as enduring again!

I’m fine, btw

FuzzyWhiteLegs · 02/02/2019 13:21

That’s great news Tahiti Star

Good luck Purple I’m keeping fingers crossed, and thinking of you Flowers

Original poster
WhatWouldLeslieKnopeDo · 02/02/2019 15:26

Tahiti mixed news but it sounds more good than bad :) yay for escaping tomorrow anyway! Hopefully your future stays will be shorter.

baba that's a lovely poem. Thank you for sharing it.

purple I now have a vision of you trying to do a jigsaw blindfolded Grin everything crossed for Tuesday.

peridito minimal after effects that's what we like to hear Star

Hercule that's very kind of you - several people have found the pillows helpful recently.

iVampire good luck with your run! I'm always in awe. I haven't walked anywhere in a long while, but I did have hopes of being wheeled there. I think even that might be too much now though.

Thank you everyone for your kind words. I feel completely surrounded by love.

I'm more comfortable today and my breathing is easier. My dodgy lymph node is aching, but a heat pad helps that.

OP posts:
dahliaaa · 02/02/2019 18:11

Just popping in to say hello to Leslie - what a bloody wonderful woman you are. I don’t think you quite realise just what an incredible thing you have done here. Your kindness and support for others is a lesson for us all xx