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 Two, Namechange and Dulce. I'm feeling a bit better today, the in-laws are here and cooking lunch. Getting waited on hand and foot is always a good thing

Oh Keepcalm what a shame after all the work you've put into the business. Is it up for sale at the minute? Hopefully you'll get sorted soon and can concentrate on getting better

Pandora how are your shingles doing? I hope you're feeling a bit more comfortable

Thanks again for all responses, I was at work last night and have been asleep so I have just seen them.
Thank you all for taking the time to reassure me and thank you dollykitten for telling me what tests you have had done. It's really helpful and I guess that's what I should expect. I'm so glad for you that your tests came back clear!
All the very best to everyone here and wishing you strength on your journeys.
Xxx

purple I'm glad you're being well looked after. You've been through so much. I know exactly what you mean about the bed, and it's why I was so resistant too. But it has made such a difference. I used to spend every evening from dinner onwards dreading having to get upstairs. Then after I dragged myself up there, I'd spend at least 15 minutes recovering. I don't know if you have that too. But if you do, it is so reassuring to have the bed downstairs instead. You could always have it as a back up and only use it on really bad days.

pandora

KeepCalm that's shit. I'm so sorry. I hope you can work out a plan soon to ease the pressure

Namechange luckily I don't seem to get many of the mental side effects. If I'm awake then I'm "normal". Though I have been having more vivid dreams and sometimes sort of wake up during them e.g. saying something or reaching out to shake someone's hand it's a bit weird!

twoseven I actually really don't like Steve Carell! But I'm enjoying the Office despite that. I suppose he's not meant to be likeable anyway :)

That's good to know TQ. Well, good that it wasn't just me being incompetent! It's working for me now :) I wanted to tell everyone I was still alive without having to reply to each message individually.

Waving to everyone.

Every tiny action leaves me breathless now. I take oramorph beforehand to preempt it, but even then I often have a coughing fit or vomit from the strain. I get very panicky when I can't catch my breath. But in between that I am OK. I'm just sleeping or watching telly :)

leslie Really glad you still find the energy to wave your fingers over the keyboard from time to time.

Or do you have voice enabled? I’ve never dared do that, just I case my phone starts transcribing conversations around it, and sending them to random people or sites

pandora shingles is just grim, so sorry that it’s taking so long

purple hope it was a good lunch!

That's my fear with the dictation too iVampire! plus I have a funny voice so it always takes machines ages to understand me. It's probably quicker to type. Typing is one of the things I can still do, so my friends are probably quite fed up of me texting them and stuff!

Leslie I bet nobody is bored of your messages I certainly love them and I'm glad typing is manageable for you. Long may it last. How are you feeling today?

Purple how is it going?

Name change I'm glad you're back from the darkness of shingles. I've never had it but I heard it's one of the most painful things one can have. How long until it goes away completely?

Hope everyone else is ok. Sorry I continue to be crap at name checking!

I do struggle after I've gotten upstairs and have to sit down for a bit before doing anything. I'm feeling better today, the oxycodone definitely helps but then I worry about taking too much and having to constantly take more for it to be effective I'm comfortable sitting down and my nurse has even brought me a chair to sit on to use in the kitchen while I'm cooking or washing up which helps. They tried to deliver my wheelchair while I was on hospital so they're going to try again on the 26th. Fingers crossed I can stay out of hospital that long

Leslie I'm so pleased you aren't in pain, that's my biggest worry. Mainly because I don't want others seeing me in pain and worrying. And I'm absolutely positive that nobody minds you messaging them, I love seeing your face pop up on Facebook and those PJs are awesome! I've just bought yet another pair as I practically live in them now and don't really have much else to spend my money on other than more crochet stuf

Keep Calm

Glad they have sorted out your radiotherapy to restart. I think it is quite technical isn't it to do with the area they target? I suspect that's why mine was postponed at the beginning. I have quite a largish pink area now but I am moisturising at least twice a day and so far no broken skin. I've got 7 more to go. Sorry to hear about the financial difficulties with the business.

Leslie - Glad you are not in pain and are enjoying some TV.

Pandora - Hope the shingles and fatigue goes away soon!

Purple - Good that you have the right painkillers to help now.

I'm not doing a lot at the moment. Days are tied to radiotherapy appointments. I have mainly asked for mid to late afternoon appointments but some of them have been evening. Tonight's is at 18.00. I don't mind really as it's easier to get a parking space and at least I don't have to rush about in the mornings.

xx

Keepcalm I hate to sound like a MacMillan advert but the financial impact of cancer is something that people just don't understand or expect is it? Yes of course money is not the biggest priority right now but we still have mortgages to pay and food to buy

I hope people are not struggling too much today

Anyone else settling in to binge-watch the Six Nations?

purple that's a long wait for your wheelchair are you still able to get out and about at all without one? The seat sounds good.

Mrstraveller I'm glad your skin is holding up OK. Not too long to go now

I'm feeling more tired each day. Even the tiniest movement leaves me slightly out of breath. I have to plan in advance to roll over in bed

My sister is home for the weekend, which is lovely :) I wish I had the energy to do more than lie here and listen to everyone else talking. Also had two sets of (nice!) visitors today.

I'm waving to everyone. I hope you've had a good day.

Waving at @WhatWouldLeslieKnopeDo . Have a lovely time with your sister. The sun is out down here today and the daffs are very yellow. I hope you get to see a bit of sunshine through your window.

I've just found out that I'm not on the system for annual mammo so that is boring phone calls tomorrow. Fatigue is creeping back. Got that fuzzy bobbly feeling yesterday. Work is nuts as my TA is off and so I'm spreading myself VERY thinly atm and getting a bit stressed. I have started saying no to things. It's cancerversary time this month plus just had anniversary of Pa dying too so think mood hasn't been great.

Lazy day today, I think. Eleventy billion tons of washing and roast dinner. Lots of tv - started watching New Amsterdam yesterday and The Umbrella Academy too - one of my Year 11s said that was brill.

Much hilarity in the staffroom this week as the youngies ( in mid 20s) were discussing tattoos when a a very straight laced, portly manager ( into opera) and me (both in our 50s but hopefully don't look it) announced we had tatts. It was worth seeing their faces. Both of our ones result from radiotherapy but still..... 

Flyingarcher I have radiotherapy tattoos AND an internal one. Waiting for people to figure that out is always amusing! feel so badass!

I'm hoping to go for a walk today - the sun is out though no idea how long that will last.

I hope you're enjoying listening to the conversations Leslie even if you can't join in. Nice to have your sister around.

I've had the breathlessness again (nothing like yours, fortunately) at night (resting heartbeat of 84+), which makes it very difficult to fall asleep.

Have you watched all the Line of Duty series Flying? We're watching them all again in anticipation of the new series.

Thinking of you too Purple. Hope you're having a good day.

Hope you had s good walk TQ

I went for one today too - and was hailed on!

Leslie you probably won’t remember me, but we used to chat on various threads and we met last year ‘with wool’ 😉. I sat at your table for quite a while chatting & later on you explained to me who LK was after I said I kept meaning to look it up. I was so pleased you’d made it that day and it was lovely to finally meet you in person.

Each time I saw one of your posts you seemed to be doing quite well, then I read a thread and with a heavy heart just knew it was you, but I didn’t want to believe it.

I haven’t posted because I really just don’t know what to say, but hopefully something is better than nothing and hopefully I haven’t put my foot in it. You’re only 28, this should not be happening. It just shouldn’t. Cancer is a bastard.

Your threads have been so valuable to so many people. So much help, understanding & care. So many peoples lives are so much better for having you in them, mine included.

I’m glad your sister is there, I hope she can visit again soon.

Big, but gentle, hugs x

It's been a pretty full-on week here, with my darling dad dying on Tuesday, and then my wedding on Friday. I wrapped my dad's lucky green tie around the stem of my bouquet (at Dulce's suggestion- thank you!) so it felt like he was with me. It was a really wonderful day.

It was a lot to cope with though, and my body is protesting a bit now.

BOF 😘

I’m really sorry you’re in the position of joining the lovelies over here too. Fucking bastard cancer.

I’m really very sorry to hear about your Dad, had you anticipated him being well enough to go to your wedding? What you did with his tie was a lovely idea.

That’s a lot to cope with when you’re well, let alone when you’re not x

Can you rest up a bit this week?

Hi, I was hoping I could join in? Iv not yet been diagnosed with anything as such but Iv got an appointment for Thursday at the hospital. My names Diane and 37 years old from Glasgow, mother to 2 DS

I found a dimple on my chest about over a month ago, I didn't really think much of it at the time because I had currently just gone through 2 early miscarriages one after the other so I just thought it might have been something to with that but weeks went past and I don't change so I went to the doctor and she's referred me to the hospital this Thursday. Anyway Iv been trying my best to keep it to the back of my mind but last night when I looked at it I thought it has changed or got bigger? It's absolutely floored me and my emotions are running high, Iv been crying all morning and I can't get it off my mind! Anybody had anything similar? I will post some pictures to see if any of you can see a difference. Any advice would be much appreciated, Thursday can't come quick enough

Hi Diane
This is the worst time - the waiting, the not-knowing. I don't have BC so can't offer much guidance except to say that IF it should prove to be cancer the treatment and outcomes have a VERY high success rate. Putting that aside for a moment, you are in the very best hands. Be kind to yourself this week and don't try to do too much.

BOF So glad everything went well and you had a lovely day. It's not surprising your body is protesting a bit right now. Rest. And I'm glad your dad was there in spirit...

Thank you @TwitterQueen1, I'm so clueless when it comes to cancer as nobody in my family has ever had it except my nana who fought and won bowel cancer when I was only a child, she did have to get her bowel removed but she lived a full happy life afterwards. I think you just think the worst always but it reassuring to hear the success rates are positive

Leslie a local cancer charity have lent me a wheelchair until mine comes so I could get out and about but my husband works 9-6 and to be honest I'm quite happy not going out. I said I'd brave the cinema next week as he has a couple of days off. The problem is I don't know if I'll be able to sit comfortable for 2 hours in the seats so I think I'll end up taking a couple of cushions with me.

Namechange I'm intrigued by an internal tattoo

Hope you enjoyed your walk TQ. I had quite a good day yesterday and managed to clean the oven out and do some decluttering, I woke up in pain at 4:00 this morning though so it's back to slobbing on the couch today making some squares for woolly hugs

Bitoffun you looked absolutely beautiful and did your dad proud

Welcome Diane as TQ says this really is the worst time so try and keep busy to keep your mind off it. Do you have support in real life? I can't help as mine isn't breast cancer but hopefully someone will be along soon to talk to you

@purpleunicorns thank you 💐

No real support as yet, trying my best to keep busy, I'm a full time student in collage doing my HND chef ..Iv been going to the gym etc but it just hit me like a tone of bricks since last night and I called it n sick this morning! Iv been doing so well over the past few weeks but then it all of a sudden hit me!

Anyone receiving PIP/DLA, do you have a CEA card? You get a free cinema ticket for a carer. Most of the big chains participate I think, plus some smaller ones.

purple ah that's a shame. By the time he's home you're probably worn out. I hope you make it to the cinema. You can always leave if it's too much.

Welcome Diane. I hope it's something harmless.

So much love to BOF what a special way to include your dad in our day.

ChippingIn of course I remember you :) you're WH royalty! It was lovely to meet you in September and I'm sorry we won't get a chance to meet again.

TQ I hope you enjoyed your walk. It's so good to get fresh air if you can. Sorry you're having issues with the breathlessness. Are you taking any medication? If you have any oramorph try 10mg as that might ease it and help you get to sleep.

Flyingarcher sorry things are so stressful for you. Saying no is definitely a useful skill to have :)

My sister went home last night. I'm so glad I was able to see her again and I was awake for some of her visit.

I had to call the nurses out for extra Buscopan and midazolam this morning as I was struggling with breathing again. I am absolutely exhausted. Each day I think I can't get more exhausted, but then I do.

Leslie I have lurked on here for a while since my daughter was diagnosed with breast cancer and would just like to say I am in awe like many others of the way you have stayed so positive and helped and continue to advise so many others. You will stay in the hearts and minds of us all reading this thread for a long time