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.

Glad you had a good weekend Bit and your scan went fine

Ben crying is most definitely fine, I've cried through countless appointments and they see it all the time

Oh that sounds scary London. I hope you're feeling better now

It's such a help getting a critical illness payout Noodles. I remember nearly cancelling mine thinking that I'll never need it, thank god I didn't or I would have had to work longer than I did. I hope the holidays you have planned with the kids help you feel better

Red even though you were expecting it it's still a massive shock to the system so be kind to yourself

I hope telling the kids goes as well as it can do TQ and that Tuesday brings you good news

WRT steroids I had to take 4 a day and took 2 at 7:00am and the other 2 at 11:00am which helped with sleeping on a night

The doctor came round this morning as they finally managed to track down my oncologist who has said that I can't have any operations to help with the fistula so it's something I'm going to have to live with. I still have a blood clot and I'm on blood thinning injections daily to try any get the swelling down.

They think I'll be able to go home at the end of next week depending on if I can get about ok but my mams moving in with me to look after me while my husbands at work which will be nice. They still can't decide on which hospice I'll be going to as I'm right at the catchment area for most of them

TQ good luck telling the girls. As hard as it will be I'm sure they will be glad you're being honest with them. And things don't look so scary when there is a plan in place.

Purple I do hope you can go home soon and I'm delighted your mum will be with you. As you know, mine wouldn't be much help so make the most of it!! It annoys me a little that you seem to be moved from pillar to post and your oncologist sounds like a right knob!

Noodles yeah I agree. Critical illness payout is life changing. Both myself and my husband have had one for different conditions - apparently the odds of that are less than 0.1%! So we too moved house last year and are having a 3 week holiday of a lifetime this summer. Gotta make the most of it.

I hope everyone has a good weekend. I need to wait for the letter from the psychologist before I see the doctor or they will never give me anything so it won't be till late next week until I can do something. In the meantime illl also go to the cinema to see rocket man and Aladim!

Im so sorry to ready such rubbish news on here. tq i really hope it goes smoothly, i cant imagine how hard it must be having to tell your children.
Purple ive not had any experience with oncologist but i agree with the peevious poster he sounds rubbish! I hope you are home soon, your mum sounds lovely.
Wombat thank you for the reassurance, im none of the wiser, will have to wait for my app now at the end of june.

Its been hald term this week and i must admit a rubbish one, thankfully the kids have enjoyed just relaxing at home and crafts and baking, my anxiety has taken a huge leap and spiralled resulting in many panic attacks, no matter how much i try i cant get a grip on it.
I also go away Sunday early morning with dh for our first time without children in 17 years i hope i domt ruin it

Where is the holiday of a lifetime to dulce? We are off to Greece for 10 days in the summer and then plan to go to Oz for a month next year all being well.

Glad your Mam is able to stay purple that will be good for both of you I am sure. I hope they sort this clot soon. Have the hospital given you any barrier stuff for the fistula at all? I only say as I had intrasite (sp?) gel after radio and that really does leave a layer and not rub on at all. Hopefully they have something that is more effective for you if they are not doing any ops.

Good luck TQ with telling your daughters. I know I would want to know if it was my Mum, so am sure they will prefer to know the info and updated plan options.

Meant to say too to enjoy Rocketman and Aladdin over the weekend dulce I think the girls fancy going to Aladdin as we saw the posters up yesterday, so would be interested to know how it was. Also we saw an advert for the queens corgi's that looked quite good too.

@noodles44 I've answered privately. It's a bit outing. Somewhere awesome 😘😘

noodles I saw Aladdin the other day and really recommend it. I thought it was great! Caveat: I never saw the original animation but wasn’t a fan of Robin Williams so if you were, you might find Will Smith a bit less funny but for me, spot on!

By all accounts I am on about the most gentle chemo regime, paclitaxel once a week, Herceptin every three weeks. Today I have absolutely crashed. My arthritis has flared in every joint and I can't find the energy to do anything at all. How those of you on the tougher regimes cope I don't know. Respect.

Um ... no
Weekly Pac is not gentle. Don't know who told you that. I've had it myself. Weekly anything is not gentle - cannulation.... flushes... steroids...

TQ they did suggest it was gentler than other regimes and up until this last week I have coped well but it certainly doesn't feel gentle at all right now. Thanks for the response. I feel a bit less of a wimp

Hello all. Afraid I don't have the brain or concentration to look back several pages and see all the updates, but sending good wishes/ crossed fingers/ commiserations as needed.
So, I'm still in hospital nine days after radical hysterectomy, but hope I can go home today. Drains and tubes all out, to the confusion of one nurse who keeps wanting to give me IV meds.
It's been rough obviously, still is at times; nausea and vomiting have been a real problem, and for the last couple of days I've had quite bad pain in my thighs and knees, don't know why. I have a very long, neat wound which should apparently be de-stapled tomorrow or Tuesday, eek!
Haven't got full results yet although surgeons said they were sure the ovarian cyst was cancerous. They had to take a bit of bowel out, but luckily could reattach it, so no stoma.
I just want to go home and get over the op, not thinking much about afterwards.

Weekly Pac is not gentle. Don't know who told you that. I've had it myself. Weekly anything is not ugentle - cannulation.... flushes... steroids...

Couldn't agree more. I was on weekly pac initially with carbo every third week until I had a reaction to the pac. I think that's really tough regime, I felt absolutely awful on it. They've just changed me to 3 weekly E/C combination and don't feel nearly so bad. Completely washed out, can't sleep and feel like I'm 'not really here' but the pac was much worse for me. You are most certainly not a wimp @meercat23, it's tough.

Will def join the TNBC Facebook group @Brassica, I could do with a hand hold sometimes, so thank you for the heads up.

I wasn't given the option to have chemo first, tumour was a grade 3 (initially they said grade 2). I'm glad it's gone now thought, but I would probably have chosen chemo first rather than have two surgeries in a few months (if I have the gene obvs).

Bloodybridget - so pleased to hear from you - welcome back! Fingers crossed you make it home today x

Thanks so much, Toofarout, I reckon in two or three hours!

Oh bridget - I've been wondering how you've been getting on. So sorry to hear it's more or less been confirmed as ov ca but good news about the stoma - or lack of one. Sounds as if you've had enough to contend with post-op without it.

Am sure TQ will be able to fill you in on the next stage. Best wishes for your convalescence - and congrats on you new great-nephew!

TQ I lurk on here sometimes as I had BC last year and my sister too , and in Aug 17 found out she had Brain mets which was such a shock as the cancer in the Breast was gone after treatment.

She had to have whole brain radiotherapy due to the size of the tumour. The WBRT did help for quite a long time but they grew back however she is still here nearly two years on now on long term steroids which do reduce the swelling but come with a few long term side effects. As NHS couldn't do any more she has been seeing a London private oncologist who specialises in BC with brain mets and he has been very helpful . I know your primary in Ovarian but just wanted to give you some hope that there is life after brain mets diagnosis. I really hope you can have the SRS and they can hopefully zap them into oblivion , Take care

Hello everyone I hope it's ok to post here.
I'm awaiting results of breast core needle biopsies this week, from abnormal mammogram with calcifications on let breast.
I'm hoping result will be in tomorrow and feeling a bit nervous

Hi - sorry you find yourself here, but welcome stayclosetoyourself and to all the other new arrivals.

I’m afraid I don’t know much about breast cancer, but I do know about how terrifyingly stressful it is to be awaiting test results. It really is one of the worst bits.

Hope people enjoyed the sunny weekend in whatever way poss, I was off to the Derby, where I lost on every race.

I hope you get home soon purple and that your weekend with your girls went as well as it could TQ

Thanks I hope I'll hear something next few days

Hello Thymeout, I'm out of hospital now (got home 5pm yesterday and am still so excited I can't sleep!).
Stayclose sorry to see you here! If there is bad news, it's a good place to be, though.
I have been cut from breastbone to pelvis, I reckon there are about 60 staples which have to come out tomorrow or Tuesday. Have been assured it doesn't hurt, but feel v squeamish about it - and don't know if I'll have any sort of dressing over the incision after?

It doesn't hurt Brigdet. We stopped counting around 60 staples too. I had mine done by a nurse and no dressing was required. There is a special little stapler removal tool.

Thank you Aussie

Thank you everyone for your warm welcome, it's so reassuring to read about your journeys as mine begins. After a little wait for the date I start chemo today. They say 6 months every 3 weeks....

Good luck @Maysong, hope it goes well.

My nurse managed to miss 2 staples in my belly button and the following day I woke to a smelly crusty area that I had to bathe to really find why.