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.

Forgot to say sorry Aimlessly about your stoma causing trouble over Christmas. That must've been uncomfortable. I'm glad you still got your presents :) I hope it has calmed down now.

Thank you - no shitting puppies but two crapping puking Maine coons x

Waves to all x

Meeting my oncologist tomorrow, after first chemo in December, hoping the buggers taking the hint that it needs to sod off!

Leslie I am a lurker and have no right to be here. But just had to say that I will never forget you. I’m shocked to learn that you are only 27! You’re always so balanced and wise and give such supportive advice. Your cancer is a fucker and life is so fucking unfair sometimes. Throwing things on your behalf. Hoping for peace and no pain.

I hope everyone gets a decent night’s sleep.

I was surprised when I first heard how young Leslie is - young enough to be my DD (and there are a fair few others who could say that too). It’s all so fucking unfair

I heard from the family member who had been having tests. The likeliest cancer had been ruled out, but the symptoms remain unexplained and there will be more tests ahead (timing tbc). So she’s not exactly in the clear, but it’s not worst case. So especially doothingvthpughts to those awaiting tests and results

Tired fingers - I meant ‘soothing thoughts’ (not utter garbage!)

So much love to you Leslie.

Aimless so sorry you've ha a crappy Christmas, I've had s blocked stoma too and it's awful

Good luck togay Fuffy

Leslie could it be the chemo tablets making you feel like this?

Thankyou everyone for all your messages. It really does make a difference to know people care

@Leslie you helped me last year during a scare. You made the whole time less stressful . Am sending you love ❤❤

Waiting in clinic currently to be fitted for my prosthetic boob. Am very interested to see how this works. Think I will need to find a new name for this one ( my softie is Bobo )

Well that was fun - they're obviously not used to catering for anyone bigger than a D cup
Despite a stock cupboard full of boxes lol

That's ridiculous KBG! Did they not have anything suitable then? Even if they don't keep all the sizes in stock, they surely ought to check beforehand to save you a wasted journey

Fluffy I hope your appointment with your oncologist went/goes well

Thank you Shednik. I am indeed 27 for another month. I had hoped I might make it to my next birthday.

iVampire good that it's not the worst case scenario, but I hope she gets some answers and a good outcome ASAP

purple no, I stopped the tablets a few days ago and they don't really have any major side effects anyway. How are you today? I hope your pain is being managed better this time

@Purple, so sorry to read your latest update. Everything crossed for a trial.

@Leslie, sending you very much love. I want to say thank you for all of your support, keeping this thread going and for your wise words. But I don't want that to sound like a goodbye note either, because it's not! I hope you're doing ok today.

Did anyone listen to Lauren Laverne on 6 Music this morning? I caught the section where she was playing music by comedians. Fair cheered me up to hear Victoria Wood's Ballad of Barry and Freda, although I might have had a bit of a lump in my throat at the same time. I'll listen to the whole programme again later. If anyone else is into audio, I can recommend Johnny Vegas' autobiography, read by him, and I also loved a recent R4 drama, www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0001qvl - about the monkey hanged as a spy in Hartlepool - there's no proof if this actually happened or not, but it's a great story! It's on iPlayer for another couple of weeks.

Good news - my annual mammogram, back in Nov, was clear - finally got the letter today. Off for a CT scan this afternoon and bone scan on Tues. Ugh.

So there's jars of tumours all over the place and rooms of boobs. What other weird things have we come across on our NHS travels I wonder? The only thing I ever felt compelled to photograph was a festive decoration of a reindeer made from male bed pans. Sadly, I don't seem to have the pic any more.

They keep the tumour samples because there might (will) be new genetic tests and targeted treatments available in the future. It's fascinating stuff.

Fliffy great news about your mammogram :) good luck with the scans. Do you know when you'll get the results?

I have a bit more energy today so I am knitting and watching my murdery Swedish drama.

Obviously that was meant to be Flippy not Fliffy

Leslie I'd love to be able to knit!! I crochet but knitting is so much more difficult (to me)! What are you knitting?

Fascinating but I just wish those treatments were coming down the line a bit quicker. I was asked to donate my 'surplus' tissue after my mx. As I didn't have a tinsel lined bucket at the ready, I agreed, I've often wondered where it's ended up.

I don't mind if you call me Fliffy @Leslie ;) I should get the results fairly quickly - from memory, previous ones have been within a week. Glad you're feeling a bit more energetic today.

Thanks for the recommendation re Johnny Vegas' autobiography. Think he had quite an interesting background didn't he - went to a seminary to become a priest I think?!

Good news re the mammogram results.

Leslie so you've stopped the chemo tablets completely?

Flippy that's brilliant news about your mammogram, what a relief that must be. Although it's ridiculous that you've had to wait so long

I've had the tubes put in and I have drains on them at the minute, one is pretty much clear and the other one has lots of blood in it
I've been moved to an isolation room as I have an infection called VRE in my bowel.

leslie I just want to add to the outpouring of love and support for you. This thread has got me out of some dark places over the last 4 years and you have been a huge help and you’re still offering help to us all even now, you’re remarkable. I have a daughter just 2 years younger than you, I can’t imagine how your parents are coping. They have done a very fine job raising you. I hope you are comfortable and pain free.

flippy great news about your mammogram, that was a long time to wait for results though. I have always phoned my breast nurse about a week after the scan to get results because I couldn’t wait for the letter.

purple sorry for your continued trials, you must be so fed up

I hope people don't mind me posting.

Namechangeforthiscancershit

I saw your post about being seen by peads oncology for a benign tumour and not understanding why. As a child I had a (huge) benign mass and was also seen by paediatric oncology, the doctor was very clear that:

1. I didn't have cancer
2. They hadn't been sure until after it was removed that the lump was benign
3. Oncologists know more about big lumps that don't belong than most other doctors
4. Sometimes a lump can turn naughty and if that happened I was already seeing the correct doctor

He had those points typed on a card and he gave a copy to every patient he saw who was in a similar situation, or at these those old enough to see/hear 'oncology' and panic. I don't know if it was/is the case in all hospitals, but the idea was that by oncology managing care from the start, all bases were covered for a rapid response if one was needed.

Ah, thanks Andro that is really interesting. Obviously it is quite a normal question then! Just one I never thought to ask at the time...
I hope you have no ongoing ill effects at. I have a bit of scar tissue which causes some mini problems but nothing to write home about and I got discharged from MRIs etc after about 13 years, then had a bit of a break and now get to have millions of scans for my actual non-brain-related cancer!

Hi all. Just a post to selfishly complain about my morning and the fact that I have done nothing I had planned at all

Got phone call from hospital about an appointment (made today and which I didn't know about) for me for next week (made by consultant).

Naturally I completely panic and end up calling his mobile to find out what the f is going on. He calmly explains that either I have a bit of post op inflammation in my abdo OR recurrence of my tumour, and I will need a repeat scan in 6 MONTHS! I will literally die of anxiety if every day is like this for 6 months.

That is all

Leslie I just also wanted to delurk to add to the outpouring of love and gratitude. I am sure that you have helped so many over the years. This thread has certainly kept me (relatively) sane after I was diagnosed with breast cancer in Feb 2018, hot on the heels of my DF passing away from pancreatic cancer in 2017. Hoping that you are enjoying your film and the knitting today.

Sending love and best wishes to all on this thread and also to purple - hoping that you manage to get sorted and out of hospital as soon as is practical, and fingers crossed for a suitable trial.
If I can be of use to anyone in terms of Tamoxifen and radiotherapy side effects, and also haematoma after surgery then also very happy to chip in. I think it might have been Caz who was asking about radiotherapy. I had 15 sessions and felt fine after the first couple of sessions, but did have some further swelling and tiredness some 4 months or so after finishing - I guess everyone reacts to these things differently, and to be honest with this and the Tamoxifen I am never sure how much of it is the treatment and how much the normal effects of being 52 year old and having been accelerated into the menopause.
Love to all.