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.

Thank you for the advice re FB and other threads. I will also look into the book you suggest MidtoLon.
Thank you also for your good wishes.
Positive vibes to you all

Dolly if she doesn't already see one ring Macmillan as she should have a Macmillan nurse, mine is absolutely worth his weight in gold and your daughter will be able to speak to them about anything at all that's worrying her.
Would she consider anti depressants if the doctor suggest them?
I wish I had more suggestions, I can't imagine how tough it must be when your daughter has cancer

Bitoffun please do not google! The stuff online can be anywhere up to 5 years out of date and everybody is different. Think of the people who DO survive rather than the ones who don't

Fedup those sleeves are so cool!

And I second Midtolon, With The End In Mind is an amazing book and really helped me with the fear of dying

Dolly Mumsnet might not be the best place to get support. I recommend the Macmillan online forums which have support groups for carers. The following Facebook groups can also help YBCN for your daughter only, no carers. Secondary breast cancer support group which accepts both patients and carers joining. These are just the groups I know about, I suspect if you start a discussion on the Macmillan board then more knowledge people will reply.

Thanks. She is on anti depressants and does have a Macmillan nurse but doesn’t have any contact with her. I’ve been in touch with her though and she is very helpful.

Aw Dolly you sound like an amazing mum
I've done a quick google and hopefully one of these sites will help you get some advice:

https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancerexperiences/beinggarelativee/

https://forum.breastcancercare.org.uk/t5/Supporting-someone-with-breast/ct-p/supportingsomeoneewithbreasttcancer

community.breastcancer.org/forum/16

11 rads done and only 4 more to go! Am starting to look a bit pink now and seeing as I have a perpetual red face and an awards ceremony on Thursday that's not ideal.

The sun is shining but one of the puppies ate my fucking lunch. The little git.

@Dollykitten sorry to hear about your daughter. I have TNBC too and am flirting with the idea of going to the Maggies centre this week. Do you have one near to you at all

Hello all else

Nearly there KeepCalm!

I’m starting immunotherapy tomorrow. Pretty scared to be honest- they tell you 80% get through with minor side effects and then spend the rest of the time telling you about what can happen to the 20%!

Thanks for the links purple- will definitely check them out. Yes, there is a Maggies centre here KeepCalm-I’ve found them helpful too

Ah super @Dollykitten hopefully she can be encouraged to go. Good luck to you both 

@Toofaroutallmylife that's exciting. How did you find out about it? My Onc hasn't mentioned it at all so I don't know if I should ask

So. Today I got the letter and the pack for my first colonoscopy. Please tell me it's not as bad as it looks. I get the impression I'll be shitting myself for 36 hours to then have the pleasure of having a large camera up my bum. And what happens if they find any polyps? Do they remove them straight away?
My poor bum has gone though so much.

Ha KeepCalm! I’m not sure “exciting” is the word I’d use, but I know what you mean! I have melanoma, so that’s why I’m on immunotherapy- I think they use it to treat some other types of cancer too, but it’s a fairly short list at the moment. I don’t think it’s the wonder cure some people hoped it might be, but I’m told it has made a big difference in treating melanoma.

Thanks for the patterned sleeve ideas- will have a look into them- although I don't want to look like I have a tattooed arm .

Dulce don't worry it really isn't bad at all. The bowel prep is a bit of a pain in the arse (sorry)
Also, get sedation. I hardly remember a thing and then when it all went tits up and I was being rushed to theatre, I was totally zen (and high as a kite) which helped

@KeepCalm and @Toofaroutallmylife - the friend I mentioned in one of my posts above had immunotherapy for a very aggressive melanoma. He was on various trials but they finally found one that really worked and he had minimal side effects.

7 years ago he was given a very poor prognosis. He was told to expect the worst and feared he might not see his son grow up. He now has another son, has no evidence of active cancer anywhere in his body and looks and feels healthy and well.

I hope immunotherapy works as well for both of you xx

@LondonHuffyPuffy that's fantastic!! I haven't even had it mentioned to me but am working up the courage to ask at my next appointment. I think I'm worried I might not be eligible as my wonderful Onc hasn't mentioned it at all! @Toofaroutallmylife is starting on hers so let's throw all that positivity at her for now x

It is fantastic! We are all so, so happy for him. His 40th was quite emotional as you can imagine! We never thought we would get to celebrate it with him.

I have everything crossed 🤞 that you get onto it. Xx

I wrote a post a little while ago, thought I’d posted it, and oh dear here it isn’t

Dulchedeleche I got my colonoscopy appointment dorted out on the phone today. The info and sachets are in the post.

My sense of achievement that I’d finally got a date, rapidly evaporated as soon as I thought about what needs to be done! Esp as consultants are still deciding if I can have one of the drugs in the routine sedative/analgesic cocktail (other opiates are available, I hope!)

peapod - has your date come through?

Thanks for asking iVamp. No I also need to chase it up. I was sent home with all the prep 🤢 from my last appointment and told the date would be sent through imminently but nothing yet.

Last chemo under way! Can't decide how I feel - excited and a little bit lost all at the same time. One more shit week to endure...
Ongoing Herceptin injections and my second mastectomy op later in the summer should - SHOULD - see me right by the end of the year (although I'm not holding my breath 😆)

We're also back at a different hospital this afternoon for another appt with DHs surgeon - fingers crossed just routine to get a date for his op.

DH had a colonoscopy and the prep wasn't overly pleasant but it was bearable. He also had mild sedation for the procedure.

I just wanted to say a big thank you to you all, and especially to @Toofaroutallmylife.

I read the threads from time-to-time, sadly because there are people I 'know' (or knew ) on them. And it was a post from @Toofaroutallmylife that made me realise something I thought was a minor irritation could actually be something rather more sinister.

So I went to have it checked out, and thankfully it is an irritation and nothing more serious, but it would never have occurred to me to get it checked out as swiftly otherwise. I'm very grateful to you all. xxx

Got the date through for my scan, April 4th, my first thought? It's a Sunday, there will be parking available!!!
😹😹😹😹
Can I ask, when did people start to feel better / more energetic when invasive treatment finished? My radiotherapy finished on jan 4th but I still get soooooo tired ....

Sorry, 7th April!!!

Hi fedup. Great that you have a scan date to aim for and also that it's a 'good' parking day! I have to admit I was tired in waves for quite a few months after radiotherapy finished. In particular a spell of significant tiredness which coincided with further swelling appearing in the affected breast maybe 3 months after finishing. I do think it takes the body a while to recover from the various invasive treatments.

Thanks peapod, it's hard to know what is "normal"!!!!

@BIWI - so pleased to hear it was nothing serious but glad you got it checked out x