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.

WhatWould Honestly, you didn't make me feel bad, you're all lovely. I just really don't want to even have a hint of complaint about this when you're all going through so much. I very much appreciate the responses though.

Hug hiya.
I've recently had the colonoscopy and also a CT Colonography and had to take the prep twice. No sickness from me at all. I spent quite a while in the loo, and bought Andrex toilet wipes which made the whole shenanigans slightly more pleasant.
X

SouthwarkSkaters sorry, I don't know much about thyroids etc. but I'll gladly hold your hand. I'm sorry this is happening what rubbish timing with your new job. I don't think you're under any obligation to tell your employer, but I'm not entirely sure. The Macmillan website has a good employment section and you can also phone their helpline.

HugAndRoll it's not Top Trumps. Feel free to complain if you need to. We still complain about non-cancery things too. Colonoscopies aren't anyone's idea of fun! Well, they probably are for a few people...

Good advice from Borntobeamum (though whatever you do, don't flush the wipes!). You might also want some Sudocrem or similar - some people get sore skin.

Goodnight lacies sleep well.

Thank you. I have wet wipes because DS2 has his own gastro issues linked to his disabilities and is still in pull ups. I also have a big bathroom bin, which is where they'll go.

Colonoscopies aren't anyone's idea of fun! Well, they probably are for a few people... hmm

Leslie behave please! Laughing makes my cough worse!

Leslie.

Hug I was dreading the prep but it was actually ok. Do you know which one you're having? I was on picolax. I didn't have to camp out in the bathroom as I had plenty of warning and episodes not that frequent. No sickness. Make sure to keep well hydrated (sports drinks or similar but no red or purple). As said above vaseline or sudocream would be good to have on hand. Plus wet wipes. Good luck!

Hello Southwark . I don't think you need to tell your job straight away. Should be fine when you have surgery date. Cancer (if it does turn out to be cancer) is a protected condition so your employer has to make adjustments www.macmillan.org.uk/information-and-support/organising/work-and-cancer/information-for-employees/your-rights.html.

Thank you for the links I’ll have a proper read in the morning.

You're not a fraud for posting here Hug, that's what we're here for! I don't know much about gastro issues so I'm not much use to you I'm afraid

Rosie let us know how you get on if you manage to get any answers today when you ring them

Leslie I ordered the 8kg one as they tell you to order a 10th of your body weight. I didn't get to test it last night as my DH went out and I forget to ask him to carry it upstairs. I still struggle with stairs so I couldn't manage it myself

The doctor upped my fentanyl patches yesterday too as I'm still getting quite a lot of abdominal pain so I'm now on 37.5mg patches. I'm also on liquid oxycodone which tastes vile. How are you feeling generally? I find I wake up feeling awful and start to pick up by the afternoon a bit

Thank you. I have no idea which prep I'm having. They're sending it in the post, so I'm thinking Movicol, or something like that.

Hello Southwark I've had thyroid cancer and I'm fine now. There are some really great groups on Facebook who can hold your hand through it all. I've been where you are now and it's scary but it helps to share with others x

Hi Lacies. Surgery went well and I'm now recovering. Thanks for the good wishes x

dulce glad to hear it went well

A very gentle hug for Dulce

purple I hope you get to try it out tonight. Mine is only 4kg and I don't think I'd be able to move at all if it were any heavier! I hope the increased patches are helping so you don't need the yucky liquid. I don't understand why they still make medicines that taste disgusting

My shoulder/collarbone is bothering me a bit today. Luckily I have my heated cape and a hot water bottle to ease it. I've started yet another scarf. This one is for my hospice nurse. It seemed like a nice idea until I had to actually start knitting

Leslie aren’t you roasting under all those heated devices?!

I am having a bit of a torrid time here... managed a bare one day back at work on Tuesday, went to bed, and when I woke up my implant had turned itself upside down and my boob is the shape of one of those artisan loaves you get for £6 in a poncy market! 😱 So the rest of my week was spent sorting out what the hell has happened (implant rotation; no leak) and what needs to happen next (surgery, again, damnit)... So much for getting back to work - that has been abandoned for the next few weeks, and I have finally gone and asked for antidepressants from my GP because I just ran all out of rope! Am feeling a bit better now... but just trying to be very gentle with myself and remind myself that it’s a relatively straightforward complication... but ]%|^€~+* it’s a good job I’ve been living alone this week because there has been some serious swearing going on!

Love to all lacies.... it’s quiet on here tonight... I hope you are having peaceful evenings and staying warm and comfortable

Ladies as usual - your kindness and bravery blows me away.

Today I went in to have "Terry the tumour removed" The pinning was relatively painfree, the radioactive injection ok.

at 9:45 I was told I could drink water until 10 - so sprinted to the cooler!!!

They kept trying to wake me afterwards in the recovery room, but I didn't want to, So they wheeled back to the ward, when the first sight was my DH,

I and he was scared to look at my breast but we had a peek, some lovely drawing, but not as bad as I imagined!! Tumour on middle on the edge and the surgeon went up from the bottom.

Lied about how nauseous I was just to get home and threw up several times on my way out of the hospital and then went home and slept.

now contemplating bed - more treatment to follow = but first scary step out of the way.

Take care everyone - you are all so amazing

Good to know you got through op fine Madrose.

Try to just think about the next treatment and not forward project otherwise it is insanely overwhelming.

fuzzy sorry you’ve had such a tough week - I’m not surprised you were swearing! At least you’ve got a plan sorted. Hope you have a chilled weekend planned.

madrose glad the op went well and that you’re home

purple hope the increased pain relief is working and that your kidneys are behaving

I made it home on Wednesday evening. It’s so good to be home! They’ve left my catheter in on a leg bag - it’s probably for the best as the thought of peeing through what’s left of my vulva is quite terrifying, but it’s a right faff. I’ve been trying to walk a bit more every day - made it to the end of the road yesterday only to realise that I hadn’t secured the catheter straps properly, so I had to limp home holding onto the strap so the tubes didn’t pull. Gah! Lesson learnt !

Toofaroutallmylife you are truly amazing and an inspiration.

Fuzzy - here's to a relaxed weekend - thinking of you

Purple - hope you feel better today

Dulcedelecherocks - good luck with your recovery

Leslie - you are simply amazing

This is just awful - waiting til Monday to see my consultant to see what my diagnosis is Tuesday is my CT Thoracic scan and I will be discussed at 'The' meeting on Friday.
Will I feel easier if I actually get a 'C' diagnosis? Is the waiting for results as bad?
Sorry to be a snivveling wreck - I'm o. Such a roller coaster this week end

Will I feel easier if I actually get a 'C' diagnosis? Is the waiting for results as bad?

I can’t tell you how you’ll feel lovely, but for me the waiting is absolutely the worst. Once you have a diagnosis (whatever it is) you have a plan, and that’s much much easier to focus on than the uncertainty.

Leslie My blanket is so heavy I wish I bought a lighter one now, hopefully I'll get used to it although I'm connected to nephrostomy tubes during the night to drain my bags so I'm not able to move too much anyway. I hope your collarbone is behaving itself today.

I've ordered a couple of crochet kits from a website called Hobbii without realising it's coming from Denmark so god knows when they'll turn up

Oh Fuzzy I didn't even realise that could happen! I hope you're not in pain with it and it gets sorted quickly

Madrose I hope you've stopped throwing up and got some sleep last night

Toofar so pleased you managed to get home. I hate having a catheter in but if it gives you chance to heal then needs must. Have they said how long you'll have to have it in for?

Born for me being told I had cancer wasn't as bad as the waiting, but I was pretty sure I did anyway so being told for certain and getting a plan in place helped me feel much more in control. Although hopefully you'll be fine and we'll be able to wave you on your way

I hope you're not feeling too bad TQ

Borntobe I’m so sorry you’re going through this. Can you do something to take your mind off it - go for a walk, or retail therapy, or go out tonight? My worst waiting period coincided with Christmas, New Year and two family birthdays - all the wise lacies on here told me I was really lucky because of the distraction. I thought they were mad, but it turns out they were right

Thank you everyone.
I'm pretty sure the diagnosis will be nasty, I just don't know how nasty and won't even on Monday when I see the consultant because my Thoracic CT scan isn't til Tuesday.
What's breaking my heart is having to tell my parents. In Their 80's. And no idea anything is wrong with me. How do I tell them not only do I have a blocked heart. I have cancer too?!
Bloody hell, Im So emotional 😓

Toofar great that you're home, but the catheter sounds like a nuisance. Well done for getting out for a walk :) that will help your recovery no end, as long as you don't overdo it.

madrose glad the op went smoothly and wishing you a speedy recovery

Oops Fuzzy how unnerving! And frustrating that it means more surgery and delaying your work plans.

Borntobe waiting sucks. You'll probably feel some relief to know what it is, even if it is cancer

My collarbone/neck lumps have joined up into one big lump. It feels like it's squashing my throat if I lean the wrong way so I need to position my pillows carefully when I nap. I just need to make it until Monday when my sister will be visiting :)

Sorry I cross-posted Borntobe. Try to take it one step at a time. Depending what the diagnosis is and what treatment you need, you may find that you don't actually need to tell them if you think they'd find it too difficult to cope with. Or you could just give them a vague outline without any of the details. But that's all hypothetical for now. Hopefully Monday's appointment will at least give you some reassurance