Cancer support thread #72 - come in, we're here for you

[Bloodybridget]

Welcome to the new support thread for anyone who has cancer, at whatever stage of treatment, is worried about symptoms, or is waiting for tests or results.

This is the place to worry, moan, ask questions, share experiences and good and bad news, and celebrate milestones!

If you've got a loved one with cancer then your best place for support is probably on the Life-Limiting Illness board.

Our previous thread is here

Current members, please do introduce yourselves

BitOfFun would you not go to A&E straight away? If you phone the oncology hotline now they will tell the A&E department that you are coming in, at least that's what happened for me. I'm so sorry, hope you get to see medics very quickly.

When was the last time one of your team had a look at it?

I don't know enough about breast cancer to feel like I'm giving you any useful support

if it needs to be looked at ASAP then getting to A&E earlier may be better. I can totally understand that hospital is probably the last place you'd like to be

Can definitely give you a handhold though.

Morning bridget, pleased to see you have arrived with sensible advice.

It doesn't hurt, I don't have a temperature, and I loathe A&E to the end of my very soul .

I managed to contact my aunt in Oz who is a retired nurse, and she said to contact my team and show them the photo, but Monday is probably ok.

You know what it's like in the middle of the night when you start panicking though, eh?

Ok, completely understand loathing A&E (although last time I went in, my cancer card got me into a cubicle and a nurse alongside immediately) but maybe call the oncology hotline anyway? Not meaning to be bossy!

I think it's a justified middle of the night worry.

Wil your team be able to look at the photo this morning?

I think calling the hotline and seeing if they can be ready for you at A&E is a good idea.

I've got really good family friends arriving for a rare visit shortly, so I'll bin it until tomorrow, but I promise to go if my temperature goes up.

Ok Bit as long as you do.
Don't make me put a blue siren on my head and coming running with my Early Learning Centre Dr's kit.
Take care

I mean a blue flashing light and siren

Oh catnidge, that's a wonderful image!
BitOfFun take care of yourself!

Morning all!
I've been absent for a bit just trying to get on with things.
Lots going on here!
I have my first radiotherapy session today so that'll be interesting.
I've also had my hair cut so it's one length all over. It's very short but definite signs of regrowth in the thin bits. Will be wearing hat/wig for a while yet though I think. It's 4 weeks today since my last chemo.

Hi from me too

Bitoffun I hope you’ve managed to get hold of someone in your team and that the alarming appearance of your tit is easily dealt with. Keep us posted on what they say.

Good luck for radio today WTF. Are your side effects subsiding now? It would be nice to think you will get a bit of time off from all side effects and don’t seamlessly segue into something new from rads. It sounds positive that you’re seeing regrowth on your scalp. I’m 5 weeks+ on from final chemo I think and I’ve got patches of fine wispy hair growing through but no signs of life on eyelashes or brows. Indeed, brows are still in departure mode at this point.

My underarm wound feels a bit tight today but all seems to be healing ok. I think he’s done quite a neat job on the boob as there doesn’t seem to be a noticeable indentation or anything where the lump was taken.

What has this week got in store for everyone in terms of treatment and otherwise? For me, seeing the surgeon on Thursday to get results and also having physio for my vertigo on Friday. Children are back to school today and I’ve got a list of admin stuff I want to get through.

Shout out for @redspook. Not sure why but I’ve been thinking about you over the weekend and wondering how you’re getting on. Is being back at work a positive on the whole? Hope you are feeling a bit better as the memory of treatment recedes.

Hello all

bit of fun hope you have managed to see someone and things are getting sorted.

Good luck with the radiotherapy WTF I think I was quite lucky when I had it a few years ago as I didn’t have any real problems with soreness etc. My boob just went quite red and I had a big supply of cotton handkerchiefs to put in my bra to help “cushion “ it. Here’s hoping it’s not too bad for you either.

Brassica I’m also getting my results this week. My appointment is tomorrow. Have been trying to have as normal a weekend as possible and not think about it too much. My wound and under my arm have been quite sore but don’t think it’s anything unusual.

All done. Waiting for Trish (my nurse) to call me after clinic. The nurses on the Clatterbridge line are emailing my consultant, but they don’t think it sounds infected/urgent, so advised I call Trish.

My mum has been to 10am Mass- this is obviously where prayer gets you: de-escalated

Morning all.
BOF your breast/nipple sounds alarming but clearly the experts aren't too concerned.
@Brassica how is the numbness? I found that the nerves started to spring back to life after 4 or 5 days and were extremely tender for a while. I still have no sensation in some spots. Will you have radiotherapy?
Waves to WTF and catnidge

I have my first review since starting chemo today but apparently I don't get to see the oncologist just the specialist nurse. Don't know which one as there is a team and some are more inspiring than others. Also having PICC fitted this afternoon and have to have blood tests before the PICC. Fatigue and general total, utter weariness have set in. I would much rather go to bed than drive to hospital and sit in 3 waiting rooms for 4 hours. Also my GP has rung and wants to see me about the abdominal scan I had done a couple of weeks ago.

Fingers crossed for those getting results this week.

Hi all, and thanks for asking after me brassica.
Good wishes to all - so much has happened since I last posted that I can't namecheck everyone.
I have been awol for some time as my lovely MIL died three weeks ago. She was 93 and ready to go (she told me that herself), so it is sad but not tragic. One of the reasons we kept my diagnosis and treatment as secret as possible was that we didn't want to burden her with it. Her funeral was last week and was a quite lovely occasion - a true celebration of a life well lived with all the family there. She was carried in and out of the church by her four grandsons, which would have made her so proud.
I have now been back at work full time for a month, and am doing fine. It's quite hard to combine work with my walking regime (which I believe contributed greatly to my recovery) but I am taking my full lunch hour and getting out for a good walk whatever the weather.
I had an appointment with my oncologist on Friday, and he has ordered CT and MRI scans for the end of this month. I don't know what will follow, so I'm a bit anxious about it. it would be good to have some definite news from it, but i think it will just be another step on the road. I think my main fear is that I may be short on options for treatment now, having been through the full combined radio/chemo brachytherapy route in one go.

Hello!
First to redspook, very much sympathy on the loss of your MIL. I'm glad she had a good funeral, that's so important. Were you expecting the oncologist to order new scans at this point? Will be sending you a handhold for results and further treatment options.
WTF hope the first radiotherapy went ok and that you get off lightly with side effects, having had such a grim time with chemo! Do you like your short hair?
Brassica hope results from surgery are good, please do update us.
MrsL17 good luck for results today.
BitOfFun what did your nurse say yesterday?
Skap how did it go at your review meeting? Was the PICC fitted successfully? Sorry you are feeling so worn out - and I can't remember why you had the abdominal scan, hope there is no serious cause for concern.
Also waving at others, Snows how are you?
I'm gradually getting to enjoy food again, tea is sort of ok too. Just had some toast. Really I'm making a good recovery from chemo, and I did the last Zarzio injection yesterday, glad they're done with!
Ok am going back to bed now.

Back from an amazing festival in Cornwall. Where I danced too much , drank too much , talked too much and generally treated my poor battered body to a really good time .
Oncologist on 11th for treatment plans . Invasive elements in what was DICS and HER+ so Herceptin and chemo . But op is 26th so presumably after that . 2 nd op 3 months (?) later to lift reduce and match healthy breast .
Ringing gp now as chest still tight .

So glad you had a good time, Trumpton, I was going to say, the calm before the storm, but obviously Cornwall was anything but calm! Did you get wild weather too? Anyway, great that you had a few days of enjoying your body before you get back into appointments and treatments.

2nd of 15 rads done. It's all very straightforward and easy and feels like nothing is actually happening! Its obviously very strong magic with all the measuring and buzzing machines . Hope my skin's not dropping off by next week!

Other chemo related side effects are subsiding ...taste buds still a bit weird but much better, innards finally settling down, skin dry and itchy in places, and fatigue still very much in evidence. Trying to walk regularly to build up my stamina. Hair like a loo brush but definitely growing. All good really.

Can't possibly mention everyone but I'm keeping up with you all and sending positive vibes xxx

Hi all, just checking in again. Sorry I haven't got the hang of everyones names yet, will try to get up to speed!

Many thanks for the good wishes and thank you so much for the advice about the colonoscopy.
Hoping you are all having a good week with as few side effects as possible and any treatments go to plan this week.

I have the first scan on Friday ( a pelvic and transvaginal US), then I have an MRI and another ultrasound but this time for the upper abdomen the week after next, then I'm having a camera down my throat and the colonoscopy. In my consultants words "we might as well do top and tail!"

The MRI sounds a bit odd, I have to go along 45 mins before to drink pineapple juice, it does something to the bile ducts etc apparently to make them more visible on the scan. Who knew!

Still terrified and still trying my best not to google although I did (stupidly) start and then stopped as it wasn't good.
I am literally clinging on to the hope that it might just be "one of those things" and the scans etc are just precaution but the consultant was fairly unambiguous.
I see the consultant again a couple of weeks after the MRI, I presume that's so he will have all the results. He is doing the colonoscopy and the camera down throat (endoscopy?) but I haven't been given any date for that yet. Not sure if I should be chasing it up or not.

My partner has taken the day off for the MRI but I'm not sure I want him there. He is not being entirely truthful about a few things at the moment and I feel like I need someone reliable there or no one at all.

I'll read through properly now and practice this whole namecheck thing, kudos to Bloodybridget who looks to be bloody marvellous at it!

@Bloodybridget
My word . Friday night storm was a good one . Our room was a turret room facing the sea and the whole room shook .
The bed felt like a rocking horse .
Back to GP today as chest still very shallow. Yup still got fluid in right lung so back on antibiotics .

WTF With radiotherapy I found that it was only the last few sessions that caused any real problem. A bit of redness but nothing much and eased quickly with aloe vera and moisturisers I had 18 sessions and the last three were intensive targeted ones and it seemed to be those that caused a bit of itching and weeping. Not very pleasant but it cleared up quickly. I hope your sessions are unproblematic too.

Wotonearth that sounds like a lot of scans and investigations to go through, it sounds very thorough. Of the things you will be having the only one I have experienced is the colonoscopy. I was dreading it but it was much less unpleasant that I expected. I did opt for the sedation though although I know not everyone bothers. I am a coward though and always opt for the maximum on offer!

Trumpton sorry to hear that you are still suffering with the chest infection. Hopefully the new lot of antibiotics will do the trick.

I saw the oncologist today for a routine catch up. Everything seems OK I confirmed I am happy to keep going with the anastrazole if the side effects don't get any worse than they are now. I will have to take it for a minimum of five years but he did say that there is an alternative if I cant tolerate it.

I am kicking myself because I meant to ask him about my weight gain and I forgot. They rang me just before my appointment t query why I wasn't having a heart scan before my Herceptin tomorrow. (The scan is booked for next week) It is only 8 weeks since my last scan and they are supposed to be every 12 weeks so I have no idea what is going on. I now have a scan tomorrow before my Herceptin appointment. I was so confused I forgot half the questions I had for the oncologist. I really should have written them down.

Although I don't feel as down as I did last week I do feel that I have very little of anything left in reserve. There was a minor problem with the car that we have just bought for our grandson and it threw me into a flat spin. All sorted today but my reaction was totally out of proportion. I should probably have talked to the oncologist about that too!

Best wishes to those still recovering from surgery and for those waiting for results.

Bitoffun, pleased to hear the tit isn't too urgent.

Redspook, good to hear from you. So sorry about your mil. It sounds like you gave her an amazing send off and had many happy memories to share.
Well done with the work and the the walking. Walking is my main (only) exercise at the moment. I really enjoy it and feel its doing me good.
Will think of you and the forthcoming scans.

skapp, hope the picc line went in OK and that the tiredness lifts.

fudge how are you doing?

wot, that's a lot going on at once for you. That's intersting re the pineapple juice. You learn something new everyday.

Hello to everyone, have a comfortable and as stress free evening as is possible.

Hi @TenaKween - was it your scan today? Did they say when you’d get results back? Hope you’re feeling OK