Cancer Support #70. Please post on this thread, not #69, If you have cancer or are undergoing tests for cancer. Rant, rave, scream, cry – whatever helps. Supportive lurkers for Leslie welcome on #69.

[TwitterQueen1]

Thread #69 is filling up with messages of support for one of our own who is very seriously ill. Leslie told me a few weeks ago that she didn’t want any such messages to get in the way of those who need support through their cancer treatment so we are starting a new thread just for those who do have cancer or who are having tests. Could we respectfully ask lurkers and supportive posters to confine their comments to thread #69? Thank you.

We normally start with a brief introduction to our cancers – I’ll kick off. Ovarian cancer dx March 2017. Now on third-line treatment with a trial providing targeted and chemo drugs taken orally.

hello lovely people. I started a thread because I could not find you all but thankfully TQ pointed me here instead. Here's my post from earlier today:

no, here is my post. My hands are shaking:

I found a lump two weeks ago. Had moved so needed to find a new doctor, took a couple of days but found someone local who looked fine. I was so very reassured when she examined the lump I'd found high on the side of my breast! She said - and I quote: I see why you were worried but no need. Nothing to worry about there. Not in the breast. It is a lipoma - fatty tissue. Since it is is quite large we shall set up an ultrasound, but don't worry.

So I stopped worrying. Yesterday was my appointment. I got on the table and within 60 seconds the tech stopped and said "Oh. That is in the breast. I need to talk to my colleague. Came back and told me to go right to the Breast Department upstairs. I got there and gave my name, and I heard them say 'Routine or Diagnostic" - reply was Diagnostic. They skipped me through the line and did a mammogram, then to another room for a full ultrasound. The the person said "let me get the doctor to explain the findings.

Doctor came in (just lovely) and said the needed to take a closer look at this lump, it is definitely something, and that they were going to biopsy right now. They did. And inserted a tracker (!) just in case. She promised to call me with results within 2-3 days. Of course, I am a wreck and in shock, because I believed the stupid first doctor! But we shall wait.

Got to work this morning and see two emails: medical team emailed me results. Both mammogram and ultrasound summary say "Highly likely to indicate malignancy” – and now I wait for the call to confirm that.

This is just shit. Shit. I have to be at work and cheerful and listen to other people’s problems, and I just want to howl.

Do you know when you're likely to get the call 2018? I'm assuming they will call you in if and when they have confirmation?

Hello to everyone else new here too, and thanks for the info Shiny.

TQ The doctor said she will call me herself no earlier than Wednesday nor later than Friday this week. I just want to hide until she does.

Actually, I just want to know, then act, then be done with it. But that's easy to say. I'm going to read this thread now, so that I know I am so not alone. Thank you for letting me in.

That really is a shock 2018, hope you get the call soon.

I had a totally out of the blue diagnosis so understand how scary it all is. One of my team is trying to get me to see a psychologist to talk it all though, but she has no spaces until mid-June.

Take care and keep us updated xx

I'm on day 12 after surgery and being unable to drive/ work/ look after my family for weeks is really hard

Ugh it must be, on top of the waiting. My liver resection was about 2/3 (massive scar, so attractive) and they knew what they were taking out, but my surgeon was fine about me driving on day 6 or 7, but only because I specifically asked. So if you feel ok to drive then definitely push him or her to say yes. Mine was remarkably chilled about it!

Love to everyone

@Namechangeforthiscancershit thank you, I'll ask, it's good to find ppl who understand. I feel a lot less alone x

@Namechangeforthiscancershit actually, practical question, did you put anything on the scar or just leave it totally alone? Assuming you were sewn & glued... I don't really know what to do it is very hard and itches

Oh the itching... aghhhh

I was indeed stitched and glued. Scar goes from middle of boobs across tummy and is long. I'll be honest I had the shower in a vest top for a few days as looking at it made me cry!

I bought all the stuff but never bothered as the scar was part of me once I got my head round it. I still have some numb bits though and that's a year on.

Definitely the worst bit about recovery though. Mobility and stuff I was really pleased with.

Thx, I was worried about the numb bits, good to know that's normal x mine is same place I have a few drain holes too but they seem to be easier healing.

Oh the drain holes went pretty fast. I wish the same could be said for the numbness because that's weird! Ugh.

How are you feeling after the anaesthetic?

Felt rubbish till we sorted the right combination of meds.coming off the iv anaesthetic was unpleasant.
Hospital was best it could be but just wanted to be home

Not too bad Miles. All my treatment has stopped now so although physically I'm getting worse and having to use a wheelchair all the time it's so nice to get all the chemo out of my system and not have chemo brain. I didn't realise how bad it can make you feel until I started feeling better

London I'm angry on your behalf how dare she tell you to exercise. I was that fatigued through treatment that some days I had to get my DH to put my socks on

I hope the cold cap works Brassica. I never bothered trying it as I hate the cold

Welcome Blue and 2018. Lots of good advice on here, I think between us we've had most of the cancers so we'll hold your hands and kick you up the bum if needed The waiting really is the hardest part as it's like being in limbo. Once you get answers you'll honestly feel better

So after stressing all weekend went for my histoscopy yesterday only to be told it’s next Tuesday arrghhh so another week of waiting :(

Hello to blueeyed and 2018 and sorry you find yourselves here but I think you will find it as good a place as anywhere to hang out while you are in the waiting game.

Sorry if you already said blueeyed but is the liver doubt coming on the back of previous cancer or is it completely new and out of nowhere? It must be dreadfully worrying, and of course pain and immobility doesn’t really allow you to occupy yourself in other ways. I hope the doc will give you the ok to drive again.

2018 my story is pretty similar to yours. I found a lump a year ago and went to my GP who was completely and utterly reassuring and confident that it was normal fibrous tissue. I am not sure at all whether my lump now appeared after that (so I failed to spot it/take it seriously for a while) or if it is the same one (so got fobbed off with false confidence). I noticed my breasts were both quite lumpy and bumpy as 2018 wore on and all but this one would come and go with the time of the month. Eventually I was due a medical and I asked for a referral for a mammogram.

On that day I had a very similar episode to you - unexpected biopsy and ultrasound, talk with the consultant who said they were concerned and would have the results the next week. It was about 5 days later when we got the results by which time I had processed it a bit and so was able to ask a lot of questions on the day. There’s quite a flurry of other tests to have if it comes to it, in order to check other things, but for now don’t second guess if you can help it. But I did take it that in my case they said ‘concerned’ because they were preparing me, and it sounds like that for you too. Do you absolutely have to be at work today, and can you confide in your boss to take some time off if you’re struggling to process this?

I don’t know if any of the above is helpful but just wanted you to know in case the parallel gives you some feeling of being less alone.

Large that is rotten. As others have said I am finding the constant waiting for appointments, results, treatment to start etc hard to cope with. Having geared yourself up only to find you have another week is doubly awful. I hoipe there is something lovely you can do to take your mind off it.

My waiting is over for the moment and I am sitting with the drip in my port for my first Herceptin treatment. So far the worst thing I have to worry about is the irritation caused by the dressings they used around the port but they should be gone by the end of tomorrow.

Good luck with the treatment meercat

Hope your treatment was straightforward meerkat

LargeGlassofRed sorry you have to wait. It's nasty when you're all geared up for something, especially when it's something unpleasant!

Purple it's good to hear your chemo-brain is receding. It's such a relief, isn't it? How are you finding life in a wheel-chair? Are you strong enough to get yourself around, or do you have to rely on other people to push you about?

2018 we are here for you. It is shit.

First treatment today was fine. Just waiting to be allowed to leave but no reaction so far. Tomorrow is first Paclitaxel so hopefully that will be easy too.

I love my wheelchair. My Macmillan nurse got me one and I had the option of one I could push myself or one where I need to be pushed. I went for the option of one I can push as I feel guilty having to have someone always pushing me, my mam thought it would be as easy as pushing a pram with a small baby in it but didn't realise how difficult it would be going uphill when there's an 11 stone adult in it
I've been to a shopping centre today and I fell asleep in it I'm so tired lately I could probably fall asleep standing up

I'm glad today went well Meercat, I hope tomorrow does too

Oh Largeglass that's annoying. I once turned up at the wrong hospital for an appointment. Try and keep busy and keep your mind off it although I know it's easier said than done

Any word on your scan results TQ?

No! I'm so pissed off. I've been on this trial since end of December and I have no idea whether or not it's working. I've rung and left a message but they're really bad at returning calls.

thanks all for being so welcoming.

Brassica I am the boss! I've decided to stick it out at work this week; logic being twofold: I may have enough time off in the near future if this is what it looks like, AND I can't sit at home with my DH petting me and looking tragic. He is a darling, and I totally get he is freaked out, but I want to pretend to be normal until I know I can't. Does that make sense? Today I have money raffles, every hour on the hour, and will make such a big fuss as each one approaches/is won. The staff love it. It will be fun - for them. Ah well.

So my lump is 2.7 cm. That's pretty large, right? I have done as warned upthread, and not googled this - okay, started to but then deleted my search. I'm finding my arm hurts so much from the stinking biopsy, so can't imagine what it will feel like once surgery is done.

TQ keep calling them. It is really unfair to give you no news. Tell them that!

Hope all are as okay as can be today. I'm waiting for the phone call.

🌺🌺for everyone who is stuck by the phone waiting for results. Oh and🍷

So far

If it helps I do not think In terms of grading that 2.7cm would be considered “large”. My lump was between 3 and 4 cm and I am only an A cup and at no point was I told it was large.

You are doing the right thing not or google.

Xx

Mrstraveller good to know. Good. My imagination is all over the shop, so good to have comparisons.