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.

I haven’t posted on this thread yet I don’t think but I’m reading regularly. I’m almost five years post bc diagnosis and will have my final ( hopefully) mammogram next month. tightwad I’m sorry you didn’t feel able to contribute last summer. I had a similar treatment course but have also had tamoxifen and anastrozole. It’s very true that cancer leaves a long shadow, what a great way of expressing it and the fear initially is the same for us all I think. I believe it’s something that will never go away. Please do post when you have worries, I still do from time to time.

addled some cancer centres offer free acupuncture, my local Maggies do and also my local hospital offer it as a complimentary treatment.

dolly you sound lovely and your concern for your dd makes me a little envious. My parents haven’t visited me once in five years, I’m so confused by their behaviour. We haven’t spoken since August, I don’t know if I’ll ever see them again.

purlpe I have been so sad to read the bad news you’ve had recently and that you are struggling so much now. This disease is so unbelievably cruel, the way it ravages lives and families.

Tq I just wanted to say hi, we’ve both been around for a while and had daughters going through university at the same time. How are they doing now?

royalmama I saw you were back again recently with another problem, have you been to the hospital yet? I hope it turned out to be harmless.

And finally leslie I look for your posts on here every day and every time I’m amazed at your strength and concern for everyone else. I’m pleased your sister has been to visit again and I hope not for the last time. It sounds like you’re having wonderful care, I hope whatever is to come is as calm and peaceful as possible. You have had the most incredible presence on this thread, you’re the most amazing person I have ever come across on Mumsnet.

To everyone else here, I’m wishing you all well and keep posting. It’s obviously reaching out to not just the names on here but to many others lurking and finding some comfort from our experiences.

Sorry, that was far too long, apologies.

Tx Fuzzy

Hello MrsRhod Nice to hear from you. DD1 is employed and living with boyfriend - all good there. DD2 also has a good job and is living at home. DD3 still at uni... 2nd year now, and looking for internships relating to ancient history . I'm doing the trek to pick her up next week. How are yours doing? Hopefully your mammo will just be routine. Good luck.

Purple how are you holding up?

Leslie Your shining beacon stretches far and wide and deep and high. And it will continue to do so.

That all sounds positive tq, it’s what we hope for isn’t it, gaining their independence and doing well? We’ve got dd1 back at home as her bf has moved to London with work. It’s not what any of us had hoped for and frustrating for her, maybe she will decide to move down too. Dd2 is completing her masters and will be back home in summer too so we’ll have a full house again.

Hello Addle I haven't had acupuncture but my hospital does free treatments so might be worth asking at your hospital. I've spoken to people who have had it and it's all been positive so it's definitely worth a try if you can

Thanks Dolly. I do hope she'll be ok as well as all the other mothers going through this

Fingers crossed MrsEd that your appointment comes through soon and you can put your mind at rest

We decided to go for lunch instead of the cinema mainly because there's not much worth going to watch and I'm regretting it now. Uncomfortable wooden chairs and I'm aching all over so it was straight home for pain relief. The food was lovely though so not all bad

Hi everyone, I had my last radiotherapy session yesterday and I'm so glad that it's over. I rang the bell, but as it was after 5pm there was no-one left in the main reception area so no-one witnessed me, but I just did it anyway! It felt like a good way to mark the end of my rads. My skin is quite red and itchy in places, but nowhere near as bad as I thought it would be.
Love and best wishes to everyone

Well done caz I burst into tears after my last rads DH was completely thrown!
Just popping in to cheer everyone going through tough times.
leslie I hope your breathing has eased, and I'm glad you were able to enjoy your sister's company, I'm sure it means as much to her as it does to you
One of my friends said to me yesterday " but I only had dcis and rads.." as if her cancer didn't count . It's not a competition! When someone has sat there across the desk, and heard those words "I'm afraid you have cancer" it counts... the fear is the same.

Just wanted to say thank you. Thank you for not resenting my cancer recovery. People talk about survivor's guilt and I think with cancer it's utterly true, you SO want to hear your Onologist say you're clear but I feel awful that it didn't happen for other people, it didn't happen for so many of you here.I try to read your posts but they make me cry, I don't want anyone to go through this, it's crap, just utterly wrong.

I just wholeheartedly want there to come a time when the Dr;s get the better of this horrible disease and kick it's arse for good and I hope it's soon, in the mean time be strong and live well

Oh user no resentment at all! Happy endings are why we love! Lots of people on the thread are in line for them and we are all so excited for that. The fear is the fear unfortunately whatever the prognosis. So seeing someone come out of that is pretty much the best thing ever

What we love not why we love! No idea where the why came from!

On the survivor's guilt though- I get it! I had a brain tumour as a child and was given the all clear from that. Very, very few of the children I was treated alongside got to hear those words. I think of them and their parents all the time, and I struggled for a really long time with the fact that I got my life back and they didn't. I have always pushed myself very hard and I think that is a big part of why. It's very difficult to explain when you haven't been there, but the guilt is very real. illogical, but it's there and it's really distressing.

Hello. I hope you don’t mind me popping on this thread. I’m not sure what to think. I had Lletz procedure and cone biopsy in August 2017 following a routine abnormal smear test. My follow up smear six months later was clear. Smear a year later showed abnormalities and was repeated four months later and abnormalities once again showed up. Vaginal ultrasound also showed a fibroid which was news to me. Vaginal ultrasound done at last smear and gynaecologist said it was bigger. Anyhow I had a phone call from my gynaecologist to say she wants me to see a Oncologist. Appointment is next week. I’ve stepped away from Dr Google . I suppose I’m just looking for a handhold until next week. I live overseas in a country that pretty much follows UK procedures. I’m 55 and menopausal.

Hi Allover. I’m really sorry that you find yourself here, but welcome (hope your time here is short)

The waiting and not knowing is one of the most stressful times. Keep away from Google as much as you can (easier said than done)

Do you have family in the country where you live? Or anyone else you can lean on a bit in RL?

Thank you for the welcome. The waiting and not knowing is really rather horrendous. I have a very supportive DH and lovely friends locally who I know would be supportive but I’ve chosen not tell anyone yet. I just need to keep it all together for a few more days.

allover well done for sacking Dr Google! He is not your friend at all!

A lot of people want to keep the news contained during the waiting and panicking stage. I'm over a year and a half in and I have tons of people I still haven't told because I don't have the energy for their reaction!

And you'll find plenty of handholds here!

Morning everyone.
I'm now home after my open hemicholectomy on Monday last week.
I'm still in a lot of discomfort and only allowed ibuprofen 3 times a day and my ALT was raised.
On Friday I may find out the histology report and that will determine any future treatment.
This really is the gift that just keeps on giving isn't it? 😓
Love and healing wishes to you all on this mad journey that we never volunteerd for x x

born that sounds rough my love. Is there anyone who can help you at home while you prop yourself up in front of Netflix?

Name my husband is being an absolute dream. All I need to do is rest and he's doing everything else.
Unfortunately his cooking skills are less than acceptable but he's willing! X

Ha! Well willing is half the battle I guess!

Otherwise there's always Just Eat!

KGB I got the post you tagged me in but it won't let me reply, I've already done a unicorn like that and the egg looks easy enough. Might make my son a unicorn egg instead of getting him an Easter egg. I don't think he'd be too impressed though

Well done Caz on your last radio! It'll be a nice change not having to trek to the hospital every day

Allover have a handhold from me. I have cervical cancer but IF you do have it it's slow growing and is so easy to treat in the early stages but hopefully it is just fibroids

Glad you're home Born, if you are in a lot of discomfort please speak to your doctor as surely they'll be able to give you something other than ibuprofen

User we never resent anyone with good news! In fact it gives a lot of people hope that they can get through this. If anyone else is reading this thread and think they don't deserve to post as they've "only" had radio or an operation then please come and say hi. We welcome everyone from the initial panic at first finding a lump to the other end of the scale where myself and a few others are

Sending you love and hugs Leslie ** I hope you're comfortable and your breathing has eased up a bit

Just a quick hello lacies as I've been awol. I'll catch up with the thread soon.
For whoever was asking about acupuncture I had it for my first 3 sessions of chemo and loved it. I only stopped as I changed an appointment and didn't rebook. I'm looking into restarting as it's supposed to help with the hot flushes etc from tamoxifen. Waves all round.

Thanks everyone for the acupuncture info!
They don't have it my cancer centre any more unfortunately. Good to know it has helped with head fry though!!
Glad you're home born - it's a big op but after the first few days I found the recovery much quicker than expected so will keep my fingers crossed for you (and your histo results!) to all you lovely Lacies!

Evening all

Who wants to give me a quick run down then?!? Everyone doing okay? Have been terrible at posting this week, sorry.

Doing okay here. Am 7/15 rads in. Going fine so far and trying to walk it off during the day with the pups.

I've a major VAT inspection at work next week too so that should be fun

Pups have been enjoying the sunshine at least!

Evening everyone. Apologies I have also been awol lately; lots going on here and in addition I now have a tooth with a hole in that needs drilling 😒 hoping I can cope with the dull ache for 4 weeks until I get out the other side of my last chemo!

Purple I'm sure your boy would love a unicorn egg - every 16 yo lad should have one 😂

Keep I'm glad the roads are back on track - you'll be done before you know it. Noodles I hope your side effects are starting to ease off now?

Name I can't believe you have also seen a brain tumour off in your lifetime - you've had more than your fair share

Waving to all the other lacies, especially newbies and any lurkers

I love everybody on this thread, even though none of us want to be here!

Special mention and hug for Dianne- this bit is so hard, I know