It's not summer yet, but we are on cancer support thread 69. Join us if you've got cancer or are having cancer-related tests.

[WhatWouldLeslieKnopeDo]

Good evening lacies and welcome to another thread. We filled the previous one rather quickly with dog stories

Hello to any new posters. Feel free to join us if you've got any sort of cancer, or if you're waiting to find out if you have it. We are always happy to share our experience and hold hands, and even happier when we get to wave goodbye to people who have had the all clear :) (please do come back and let us know either way - sometimes people just disappear into the sunset, leaving us wondering whether they were OK or not!)

It's helpful if you can post a quick (re)introduction, even if you're a regular on the thread, to save people having to remember or to refer back to previous threads. There's no need to "catch up" - just join in whenever you want to.

Thanks toofar xx
Keep what do you mean by scarlet face?

KBG yay for freedom! :)

noodles did your parents take your dog in the end? It's good they're able to help out a bit. Cancer is enough of a pain in the bum without all the extra stuff you're juggling.

KeepCalm I hope you enjoyed it :) that's one we haven't tried yet. When I think pasta bake I think Homepride it's about the closest we are ever allowed to ready meals. It seems like a lot of effort to give to cook the pasta first! I don't mind cancer storylines, but the ER hallucination was about resuscitation, which they do a lot! I decided to just avoid all medical drama. My nurse today also recommended New Amsterdam though so I'll definitely have a look when I've finished black-ish :)

sunday I hope your toddler has kept you distracted today

purple I hope you start to feel better soon I am still on the fentanyl patches but now that I have the pump they might as well adjust that as it's easier.

Waving to everyone. I hope you're all OK. I seem to have an ingrown eyelash gross and annoying. Hopefully it'll work its own way out. I'll ask the nurse about it tomorrow. Some of them would probably be quite keen to perform a minor procedure to remove it!

@KnickerBockerGlooooory my youngest told me I looked like Baby Jack Jack from the incredible when he turned into the devil baby I was literally fluorescent red but mainly in the face .....

Quick check on lacies! Sorry it's half term here and my beasts have been very good and it's flown by!
I had Docetaxel and my face went a bit red but that was it.
I'll catch up on the thread properly tomorrow. Have as good an evening as you can.

KBG. Glad you’ve made it out!

I had dry, red itchy patches on the backs of my hands. Nothing on my face though. They’ve mainly gone now although one is still there if you look closely. I do still get dry hands xx

KBG I’m currently on taxol which I think is similar to docetaxal and the skin on my face is also red and dry. I have to moisturise several times a day. My oncologist said it’s normal and to use Avene (sp?) moisturiser. I’m using it now and it’s helping but still quite red and dry

Hello @ranoutofquinoaandprosecco 👋🏻
@Mrstraveller I've been putting that bio oil gel on my hands (as well as so many hand creams that I've been so kindly given) and it's been working well

Morning all else. My puppies are gits.

My eyes are also a little sore too - I think it’s quite normal with this chemo unfortunately

Morning @Simmi1 , although evening for you!! Are you able to get hold of some of that bio oil gel I was talking about? That'll sort you right out! That or aloe Vera.

Hello everyone. I haven’t commented on this thread for a while but I’ve just caught up with it.
Big (but gentle) hugs to leslie. Your parents sound lovely. I’ve had a look on Amazon at the green roasting tin book and I’m going to go out later and buy a copy. I was so keen to get it I was tempted by the kindle version but I prefer an actual book when it’s a cook book.
My active treatment is finished now. Last radiotherapy a few weeks ago. My DH was away throughout my radiotherapy. Had to go and look after his Mum. I found that really hard as I was coming home to an empty house each day. For those who have just started or about to start radiotherapy I used Aveeno cream at least twice usually three times a day - don’t forget armpits! I also bought some aloe vera gel which I found with the after sun creams in Boots. That was really soothing especially towards the end of treatment. My skin is very fair and I did get quite burnt especially under the boobs and armpits. Really noticeable after about session 12.
Have any of you with breast or ovarian cancer had genetic screening? I went last week. Waiting for results. I have 2 DDs in their 20s. So really hoping for their sakes that I do not have the BRACA mutation but I feel I need to know.
Best wishes to you all. Sorry can’t name check. No idea how others manage to do that. Would take me forever.

Hi Gin I had BRCA screening - I have 3 DDs so was obviously worried. Fortunately I'm negative. The gene can be passed down through the male line as well, as you probably know, so I made sure I told the whole family.

Knickerbocker - I was allergic to docetaxol, and besides having immediate reactions to it - hard to breathe, red skin and burning feeling - a week after the infusion I got horrendous welts all over me, so bad I was hospitalised. They started on my hands.
After 2 docetaxols and the allergic reactions they changed it to pacletaxol.
Maybe ask if it's an allergic reaction?

Morning. Thanks to those replying re red skin - sounds like another thrilling side effect than rather than something to really panic about.

Gin good to hear from you. I had BRCA testing (I have 2 DDs) and it was negative. However, my gran had BC in her 40's, my mum died from BC at 46 and I am in my 40's. So I think what I'm trying to say is - even if you're negative for BRCA it's still definitely worth your DC being very hot on self checks once they reach adulthood.

Keep your puppies are adorable our lab ate the doorframes when he was young....!

Mother that sounds pretty miserable. Ok I shall keep an eye on it!

It was totally misery making. I laugh now that I'm such a mess I'm even allergic to chemo ffs.
Yes, keep an eye on it.
I used to put rolled oats in a stocking and put that in the bath and that soothed itches from chemo, worth a try.
I hope it eases. X

Thanks TQ I know I’m much more likely to be negative than positive so I’m fairly relaxed about it.
Only a couple of people know I’ve had the test. I know they think it’s only the women who might be affected. I’ll wait until I have the results before saying any more about it. No point in unnecessarily worrying anyone as it’s a 6-8 week wait for results.

Hi KBG. Sorry I didn’t see your post. Yes I agree. Self checking and early screening. The genetic counsellor said mammograms from 30 if I am positive and from 40 anyway.
They both live a few hours away so we don’t see one another that often. Once I have the results I’ll have a face to face chat with them. It’s not something I really want to talk about on the phone.

Gin absolutely not a phone convo I agree. Good to hear they'll go in the system early either way; I had to seriously fight for early mammograms but glad I did as that's how my cancer was found last year - deep enough that I couldn't feel it.

15 years ago at my very first breast clinic appt, the consultant (an old, grumpy, man) told me women don't get breast cancer because it's hereditary, they get it because they happen to have breasts. He made it clear I was wasting his time. Well look what we all know now - how things will change agaiin 15 years who knows?

KBG When my surgeon was talking initially about my DDs having early screening she talked about how these things do change all the time. The genetic counsellor I saw told me should send me a letter with my results and recommend early screening on that. So she said just give the girls a copy of that for them to show their GP.
My SIL is American and she says routine mammograms start at 30 over there and are every year. Assuming, of course, that you have decent insurance. Without insurance there is probably nothing affordable.
I managed to get a copy of the green roasting tin book. Yay! I’m looking forward to some of those recipes.

My cancer is bowel and I've been told there is a high chance I have a genetic condition which caused it. I'm waiting for tests results. I was panicking even more because my dd is 5 and they said - chances are they will come up with a vaccine before she's 20!
Things do change incredibly fast thankfully so we should not panic. Much easier said than done.

Enjoy your book Gin :)

We had the escalivada for lunch today. I think it's page 88. It was delicious.

Hi
Not me, but exDH has cancer of the tonsils. I think it was fairly advanced because he had surgery and will be having chemoradiation therapy as soon as he's had his teeth removed and a PEG fitted. He is 54.
I've done alot of reading on the internet but I don't really understand what we're dealing with here or, more to the point, what he is dealing with. Our daughter is supporting him, he is really in a bad place. I'm supporting her.
Just wanted to say it because I know we're all fearing the worst but no one is saying it IYSWIM. I've told DD we should be able to talk about her Dad and that we need to actually; but it's very difficult.

BikeTart I'm sorry about your ex husband's diagnosis and for your daughter having to deal with it. How old is she? If she's at school/university then she may be able to get some support from their pastoral care team. I don't think there's anyone on this thread with that type of cancer. You might have more luck posting a new thread in the General Health topic, or Life-limiting illnesses, with the cancer type in the title so that someone with experience might spot it. You could also try Macmillan, either their website, which has different sections for different cancer types, or the helpline. Depending how old your duaghter is she might also find it helpful to phone them and talk about what she's going through. I hope that his treatment goes well

Thank you. I'll try there. Our DD is early 20s, I will definitely suggest that she phones Macmillan.