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 mean post-menopausal!

mrsed we’re here to get you through this wait. It’s bloody rough, and with a teeny tiny baby too I can’t imagine. Have you had much RL support today?

Thanks for the new thread Leslie. I'm glad you managed a trip to the kitchen and thinks it's wonderful for you to have your sister home

Congrats on the new baby mrsEd

I'm wombat. Previously diagnosed with lung cancer (non small cell adenocarcinoma) I had surgery (right lobectomy) in Jan 2018 together with some node removal, and thankfully the cancer hadn't spread. I mainly lurk on the thread but I am happy to answer questions.

Good wishes to all

twitter I LOVED Bohemian Rhapsody soooooooo much...agree Rami AMAZING....his whole body became Freddie....love queen...as you may have guessed!! Do pleased you enjoyed. Actually I'll come clean here... pre cancer I was a complete workaholic. Post cancer.... not so much!! On Mondays Vue do 4.99 tickets... I go with my best friend to watch anything and everything... rather than slaving at My desk. twitter I could be wrong... but I suspect you'd love the last one we saw.... Can You Ever Forgive Me....go go go....!! Xxxxx

I am catheter free! So much more comfortable.

The meeting with the oncologist was a bit of a surprise. It seems the cancer wasn’t as advanced as they expected- They’ve assessed it as stage 2b melanoma. This means that it’s marginal as to whether the benefit of immune therapy outweighs the possibility of side effects. I don’t need to decide yet- they want me to heal more as the op may have left some pre-cancerous cells behind. It’s all good news really but I think it was just a lot to take in - I’m in a grey area, which I always struggle with mentally.

Aaaand on other news I now have the runs. Ffs. How hard is it to find the right balance?

Oh Dulce! That’s not fair! Hope things settle down soon.

@Rosiesmummy17 - any news on your biopsy?

Hi all. I've just received my prep (Plenvu) for next week. As my colonoscopy is in the afternoon, it's saying I don't start taking it until 6pm the day before, then I take the second half at 6am. Does that mean I'll literally be up all night? If so, I should probably stay at mine rather than my boyfriend's, which also means I'll be on my own. What advice do you have for that eventuality?

I'm stupidly really anxious about it all now. I read all the small print, and the things that can happen and I'm worried I'll be one of those. Both of my children have disabilities so I've obviously kept this from them, but I'm worried about their care if something does happen. Silly, I know. Perhaps I'm just scared of being stuck on the toilet in the small hours feeling crap with nobody to hold my hand.

namechangeforthiscancershit - My husband is supportive to a certain extent, but he is always very positive so doesn't think it is anything to worry about. He did say we will just deal with whatever happens though and he checks i'm ok. My problem is I just start to cry as soon as he asks if I'm ok, even if i was up to that point!

wombat22 thank you, its amazing but does mean im up with only my thoughts at 4am

Although I only got my diagnosis on Monday, it was the beginning of December when my Dr told me I was on the fastrack pathway, therefore is over 2 months since I've had a decent nights sleep. Getting off to sleep isn't a problem, however I usually /always wake for the loo anytime from 3am onwards and I'm unable to get back of to sleep then as my mind is in overdrive.
I've tried Kalms, Valerian tablets, Lavender spray and in desperation, a quickie with DH 😌
Nothing has worked. Can anyone suggest something I can take to ensure I sleep longer?
Im struggling a great deal and would welcome any thoughts x x

Hi I'm 45 with 2 DDs age 12&14 dx with breast cancer April 2018 followed by lumpectomy and 20 sessions of radio, then tamoxifen. Found a lump in August 18 in the other breast so back through the system; had left side mastectomy in November biopsy showed it was HER+ and one lymph node affected so I'm now 4 sessions in of 6 of chemo. Wanting a second mx in the summer, no reconstruction.
Unfortunately DH (47) was dx with rectal cancer last weekend and is looking at chemo/radio then surgery - waiting for results of biopsies and mri next week. So we're going through the mill a bit at the mo!

Knicker it's not fair is it?
I'm 56 though retired. So my diagnosis doesn't affect our finances. It must be doubly hard for you.
Sending love and prayers x x

Born are you open to anti depressants? When I was first diagnosed I was prescribed mirtazapine specially to deal with the sleep issues and it worked a treat

Glad you finally have your catheter out Toofar and that's great news about it not being as advanced as they thought. Have they said how long you need to wait to heal before making any decisions?

Hug it's not stupid being anxious. I have no idea about bowel prep but hopefully someone will be along soon to answer your questions

Born it might be worth speaking to a doctor about short term sleeping tablets, I take zopiclone which help and as it's only a small dose I feel fine the next day

Hope you're comfortable Leslie and that your collarbone isn't giving you too much trouble

name and Purple I'm open to anything!
After the 'Meeting' tomorrow, I've been told to expect a phone call informing me whether it has spread or not.
Maybe if that's positive I'll sleep better?
I had blood taken on Monday to check my iron levels and the iron infusion is no longer needed as my levels are good. I'm taking that as positive too.
I feel as if I've joined a forum about birth, and I've just had a positive pregnancy test - in all honesty, I know nothing yet 🤦‍♀️

In that case I would make an appointment with your GP and say that the sleeping is an issue, they’ll give you something. Mirtazapine worked really fast for me

Hug I had bowel prep again a couple of weeks ago, mine was Moviprep and the timings were the same as yours. I was going until about 11pm and once asleep I was disturbed however went again as soon as I woke. Don't drink it too quickly! I did as wanted a good sleep however all that happened was I felt more and more under pressure like my stomach/bowel was going to burst however last time I spaced the timing to the max and was fine.

Found out I'll be possibly having it again in a couple of weeks for a small bowel MRI although my symptoms are gone while my bowel is completely empty - every cloud and it's silver lining! Good luck

Wasn't disturbed that should say!

Thank you likeazebra. I was planning on just downing it, so I should rethink that. My lovely partner rang me to reassure me I can still stay at his, and he's booking the colonoscopy day off work so he's around (even though my mum is taking me because he doesn't drive). That's made me feel a bit better because even if I'm feeling crappy I won't be on my own.

The letter said I would be talked through their findings on the same day, so at least there won't be an agonizing wait to hear "found nothing".

Thanks purple - I’m seeing her again in 4 weeks. Is your pain more under control now?

Born mirtazapine has worked quite well for me too, though I wake up more now that I'm taking tamoxifen as well, but I don't lay there awake afterwards anymore as it does make me quite drowsy. I did feel groggy in the mornings to start with but that has improved. I've had crap sleep for 4 years due to having a child that didn't sleep through the night until she was 3, and I must have messed up my sleep patterns so much that I still couldn't sleep, and then cancer as well, which made it worse. But mirtazapine has been a big help for me. Hope you find something that works for you.

also, my mum has stage 4 ovarian cancer, diagnosed in August 2016 so if anyone is going through that, i may be able to answer some questions. She is off to the Royal Marston tomorrow as has been accepted on a trial, which will be 3rd line treatment.

The letter said I would be talked through their findings on the same day, so at least there won't be an agonizing wait to hear "found nothing"

Yes they did that for me (minus the “found nothing” bit!). I don’t remember loads of it because of the sedation (and hunger) so I’m glad I had people with me to help take it all in.