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.

borntobe sorry you've had to join the club that no one wants to be a part of. These ladies help a lot and are the most wonderful people, so hopefully this thread will be some help.

Purple crossing everything for your trial.

Hey to everyone else. I have a numb arse from this chemo chair.

Borntobe so sorry to hear your news. But as you say, once there's a plan in place things don't seem quite so gloomy. Cushions plumped and we've all shifted over to make space. I'm afraid I can't help you with the op or anything specific because I have ovarian cancer but sadly there are others on here who will have useful advice.

Thank you everyone 💕🎂💐
Not telling my parents til I feel a little stronger.
The team are lovely. The guy who spoke to me is the Colorectal Lead apparently. He was quite reassuring to both my husband and I.
My nurse is also lovely.
I'd rather not be here though x x

Borntobe - I'm so sorry - it is just shit.

Borntobe - Sorry you have to be here - but we help each other get by day-to-day so welcome

borntobe my mum is a rather "sensitive" drama queen who thinks disaster is around every corner soul, and I was so nervous about telling her. She did fall apart, as expected. But she was in a different country. She flew over the next day and once she saw me, she was instantly okay! I think she was imagining all sorts, but when she saw me cooking, doing kids bedtimes and just generally being fairly "normal", it made her feel better. Of course she's seen me upset and ill since then, but she's coped much better than I gave her credit for. So please don't be too afraid to tell your parents. They'll rally and they'll be okay because they have to support their daughter!

Coming out of a half lurk to say: Born I'm sorry you've had a diagnosis. Was it expected before you had your investigations, or were the findings a shock? I'm sure you'll go through a range of emotions, but the ladies here are clearly wonderful to talk to.

borntobe Sorry to hear your diagnosis, but as others have said, at least you will have a plan for moving forward
Leslie I hope you have had a wonderful day with your sister
purple I hope it went ok today

I'm not much further forward with knowing what's happening as although my kidney function has improved he's concerned that I'm so weak and have no energy, I had to use a wheelchair to get me back to the car as I thought I was going to pass out.

I've got another appointment in 3 weeks but if I'm still this weak then I can't do the trial

I'm really sorry to hear that purple hopefully the three weeks will give you a chance to build your strength up. Have they given you any advice about it?!

Borntobe welcome to the club, but I'm sorry you've got your official membership if you can bear it, I've found it's easier to wait and tell people once you have all the results and a treatment plan so you can answer their questions.

I've been sleeping most of the day. My dad got me one of those travel neck pillows and it really helps with my collarbone lump :)

purple that’s frustrating. Is there anything they think will help to get your strength up?

Leslie your dad sounds so wonderful! All your family do. Has your sister been round?

Purple get someone to buy an iron skillet and cook everything in that - you'll absorb iron.
I'm a bit weird (I'm told) because I love liver and peas and gravy...
Eat peanut butter out of the jar (with a clean teaspoon obvs!)
Cheesy broccoli
Full fat milkshakes...

purple it’s good that your kidney function has improved - might that result in you feeling stronger given a few days? I hope so. It must be stressful not knowing what is going to happen. I hope your pain isn’t as bad tonight.

Leslie glad the neck pillow is helping. I hope you are comfortable and had a nice day with your sister.

thanks for the handholding you are all such an amazing and strong bunch. The waiting is so hard and I find the mental and emotional effort of it all quite exhausting.

@borntobe I hope you’re doing ok given the news.

My oncologist didn't give me any tips to help to me feel stronger, he actually told me not to push myself and see what happens
TQ cheesy broccoli, peanut butter and full fat milkshakes are fine but I don't think I can stomach liver. My appetite is fine thanks to the steroids and I'm actually overweight so I don't need to put any on. I've started taking iron tablets so hopefully they'll help

Purple I wish the doctor gave you a bit more of a clue on what to do! Of course you won't start training for a marathon but still. Iron sounds like a good start.

Afm I've been ok, pretty much spending the day on the sofa in pain but it's definitely less than the last surgery. Only problem is I can't poo - apologies. I haven't been to the toilet since Thursday so I am literally full of shit 😂. Been taking Sena tablets with no luck. As I can't strain it's all a bit complicated. Any ideas?

Oh Dulce I sympathise! It was over a week after my op before I “opened my bowels”. They tried me with lactulose, movicol and senna but they didn’t work- is it worth adding one of those other two into the mix? In the end (pardon the pun) I resorted to a suppository which did the trick

Strawberries always do it for me Dulce.

Dulche I was over a week after my liver op with no bowel action- surgeon was furious! I was taking lots of constipation stuff with no success. He gave me an enema in a bottle to take home which did the job!

Thank you. I'll try prunes, strawberries and maybe a stronger laxative. I'm just baffled as to where it's all been stored. I've lost half my bowels so storage space is rather reduced

The scar is not sore and it looks a lot better than before but the hole where the drain was is very achy. It was horrible to have the tube pulled out!

Hope everyone is feeling ok. Lots of love

dulce huge sympathy .Constipation after surgery is the pits .

Can you talk to a nurse or GP ? You need to be careful about what measures you are taking .

I'm not an expert but what's left of your bowels may have gone to sleep in which case a stimulant laxative like senna might be good .But eating lots of high fibre food and not having enough liquid can make things worse and things like senna won't work .
Lactulose will hold water in the bowel and make things softer .

Ask a HCP for advice if you can .

www.nhs.uk/conditions/laxatives/

Thanks peri I've only had hernia surgery this time so I don't think my bowels have gone to sleep like they did last year!
Update. I've managed to go
So I'll carry on with the senna for a few more days. Thank you for your help and ideas.

Well done Dulche

Good news Dulce. I was just coming on here to suggest Laxido sachets which taste awful but did work for me when I was on chemo and steroids.

xx

Just asking on here for those who've had mastectomy with lymph nodes removed, what were your pain levels like about 6 weeks after the op?

I had my op on Jan 14 but still have a lot of pain under my arm and shoulder. I'm doing all the exercises. Just wondering whether it's normal or whether I should go and see one of the BCN's.

The scar under my arm feels really thick and uncomfortable against my body but when you look at it, it doesn't look that bad.