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

Ellie

Welcome

I have no experience of being pregnant post cancer but I hope someone will come along who can help.

Please stay, this thread is invaluable.

Hello everybody, not read through the thread but thought I would post. Turns out my numerous chest infections over the last years are caused by a small probably cancerous tumour in the airway that's made a part of my lung go funny.
Not expecting it at all and only found out it might be the case yesterday, and today had the biopsy and the consultant says that's likely what it is... Results are next week.
Likely treatment is an operation to take out the tumour and the funny bit of lung.
Yikes!
Feeling fine at the moment but thought I would check in. Worst thing is I have two little ones under two so will need to leave them to have the operation 
Love to all on here as well

Brownies

I can't help you with lung cancer, head and neck (check) early breast cancer four years later (check) but not anything lung connected.

Sadly there will be someone on here who can.

Please stay the support is invaluable.

@Naomi oh no I'm sorry you know about all those.
Had a read of some of the posts here and definitely sending love all around the thread! You're (sadly) a very knowledgeable group!

In the interest of balance the ABs have kicked in, I feel human and hope to go to work on Monday.

I have just had my first painkillers of the day, , which is a massive improvement.

I got a mug of 50% soup and 50% pure adulterated cream down yesterday, albeit with a straw.

And today I did two mugs, granted they are small but hey ho.

If the chemo doesn't flatten me the cholesterol will kill me.

Thanks for listening to me moan this week.

BrowniesAreSuper welcome to the thread though sorry you find yourself here. We are all familiar with some form of cancer and know all too well the dreadful fear that comes in the early days waiting for confirmation, test results and diagnosis. If that's what it turns out to be then actually getting a plan of treatment is the first step to feeling better and helps to process it. I hope you have family and friends close by to help should you need it.

elliemcx I don't know if anyone on this thread has been in your position. Check out Younger Breast Cancer Network on FB and Twitter, a group for younger women with BC. Maybe you would find sme support there?
Also could this be helpful?

Naomi I reckon you would be superhuman to consider going to work after the time you've had!

catnidge Glad to hear all is healing well, I have no idea what a vault smear is. No doubt something even more unpleasant than a regular one.

WTF99 I think the counselling might be a good idea. Did you have a conversation with the oncologist about the future and what ifs? No one has mentioned anything to me about recurrence or spread and yet I suspect it will become a fear forever once treatment is over.

Brassica How many sessions of radio do you have? I'm supposed to see the radio oncologist (who knew there was such a thing) soon to discuss mine.

Hoping Trumpton's first chemo was not too unpleasant today.

I saw the GP today about my nosebleeds. I've had them every day since chemo started and the onc nurses aren't interested because my plateelets are ok and I'm not bleeding buckets. But my nose has been awful and I can't breathe through blood clots (sorry TMI). Anyway I now have some AB cream and a spray so hopefully that will help.

Naomi glad to gear that the AB's have started to work and that you are feeling a bit better. Your soup sounds a good idea. When it is difficult to eat it is important to get some nourishment and calories in however you can manage it.

Skap the nosebleeds are a pain. My chemo finished at the end of June but the skin inside my nose is still very delicate and gets sore every couple of days. It is getting better but it is a very slow job. I used Vaseline to keep it from drying out too much as that seemed to make it worse.

I have a humidifier in the bedroom which helps with the dry nose, and the nosebleeds, not all the time, or I wouldn't be moaning about them.

Skap

I texted work today and said that I will be in but I will be the Naomi Lite version. The first hour on a Monday involves driving to another site about fifteen minutes from home, ostensibly to collect paperwork, but it is more of a check the troops are happy.

Back to the office, we discuss our relative weekends, then morale and life at the other site,(this is not as trite as it sounds, they have been badly managed until recently and we nearly lost that arm of the business) and by then it is generally 11.00 ish.

Normally I would leave at 2.00, but will have no compunction in leaving at 1.00.

Mondays are always gentle so a good testing ground, if I don't get out of this house soon I will go mad.

In other news I bought surgical masks to wear everywhere except the house and the office. My best friend say she will be seen in public with me, albeit on the other side of the road.

I was fervently wishing for a surgical mask in the GP surgery today. I have some but am not brave enough to wear in public. Though frankly with my wig and blotchy red face it could only be an improvement.......

Home . Had marmite on toast .
Cold cap was interesting . The nurse said if I could do first 10 mins then it would get easier and it did . No other problems just a bit of nausea towards the end possibly because I had a croissant at about 10.30 and no lunch . My nurse ( a friend ) told me off and gave me anti sickness drugs.
Heart scan was fascinating .
DD2 stuck at airport as flight cancelled ! We wait to hear .

I was advised to use “First Defence “ when I go out .

Trumpton Well done. First one over and at least you now know what to expect. The cold cap isn't nice but the nurse is right. I found that taking a couple of painkillers half an hour before the cap went on helped a lot and after the first shock it got bearable.

Morning all!
Sorry to see more newbies here although you are very welcome, @elliemcx and @BrowniesAreSuper. ellie I hope you can find some other women who have become pregnant post cancer treatment - congratulations on your pregnancy! I wonder if someone at Macmillan could talk to you about it, their helpline is 0808 808 0000. Have you had a midwife appointment yet? They may well have had experience of looking after women in your situation. Wishing you a healthy pregnancy.

Brownies it must be very hard having small children and facing surgery and whatever treatment follows. Do you have a DP or family nearby? I wonder if Homestart could help, if you needed it? Please do stay on the thread and share anxieties and news.
@Clogsaregreat any updates? Are you still in hospital? Sending warm wishes.
@Trumpton congrats on getting through first chemo and cold cap. Hope your DD gets to you today. I never had nausea during chemo, apart from one reaction to a drug early on, and I did eat small amounts frequently during the process, so I recommend that! Hope the next few days aren't too taxing for you. Try and keep your bowels working!
@meercat23 I still have neuropathy in my feet from chemo, not sure it will get any better. Sending you a hug for the tearful spells.
@Brassica glad to hear the seroma is behaving better, hope you have a couple of reasonably healthy weeks before the rads start.
@WTF99 have you had your last rads now? Counselling sounds like a good idea. Will you see a specialist cancer counsellor?
Which also goes for @catnidge - I hadn't picked up that your DM died this year, I'm very sorry. But that is great news that there's no spread! A vault smear does sound peculiarly unpleasant, I'm getting an image of someone in Victorian dress going down dank, cobwebby steps holding a lantern.
@NaomiFromMilkShake oh dear, you are going through it! Glad to hear your throat is a bit better. Nosebleeds seem to be very common, like @Skap and @meercat23 I'm leaving a trail of bloody tissues, it never seems to quite heal.
Waving to everyone else including @SnowsInWater, how are you doing?
DP and I got back from a little jaunt yesterday, had an overnight stay near Bury St Edmunds and spent time at the Christmas fair there, which was great! Very cold though, I'm struggling to keep warm atm, I think I need one of those trapper hats with the furry earflaps, but DP might not want to be seen with me wearing it.
Wishing everyone a good weekend.

I will be having surgery for invasive ductal carcinoma on 11th December, it's been delayed from diagnosis, through my choice as it's stage 1, slow growing and I felt the risk was minimal to delay a month so I could finish some work. But as I read the leaflets I'm getting a bit anxious about the aftermath, side effects of tamaxofen, scaring/ cording/ lymphoedema and menopausal symptoms of course!
I've got such a lot going on in my life, and I'm feeling quite down tonight, so if anyone is around that would be great. Good and bad, I don't mind, but some post surgery advice would be great, like how long did wound take to heal, how do you feel the next day...when are you up and about, like shopping, the gym etc ...thanks

Hi @sparkysalmon, my cancer is ovarian so I don't have any experience of what you're facing, but just wanted to say hello, welcome, and sorry you are having to face this. Other women here have lots of experience of breast cancer treatment and I'm sure someone will be along soon. Sending you very good wishes in the meantime.

Hi sparky. Sorry you are here. Quite a few of us have had surgery for invasive ductal carcinoma. Mine was in August. Wide local excision (lumpectomy) and sentinel lymph node biopsy. As to recovery, much depends on your operation and overall health. I was out of action completely for a week and gradually improved after that. I couldn't drive for I think a week. The most uncomfortable part was the SNB. It affects the nerves in your arm and your armpit. Not everyone gets cording but I did despite religiously doing the exercises. I'm now mid way through chemotherapy and would say the surgery was much the most manageable part of treatment. You are well looked after and just need to be kind to yourself afterwards. My wounds healed well, some people have problems.
I have two scars, one in the armpit and one on the side of the breast. Least of my concerns tbh but they look fine to me. You would normally get the results about 10 to 14 days after the surgery which will decide what happens next.

Hi Spatkysalmon....I rarely post these days as I'm nearly three years on.
I was v v lucky... but lots of women are. Post op I was absolutely fine...had a lumpectomy and two days later was cooking for friends. I was back at work in under a week (desk job). The next bit was the hardest... waiting for results of oncotype test to see if I needed chemo....thankfully I didnt. The next step was radiotherapy... I had five weeks and kept working in the office for first three then from home for last two as was knackered. Tamoxifen has been fine too....a few night sweats but otherwise no issues...still get periods. I've found the trickiest part is mental...the anxiety it will come back... I should have counselling..there is plenty of help out there...I just never seem to find the time.
I've had no lymphedema or cording....my scars are tiny. I'm.not particularly hardy (cry having my eyebrows threaded!!)... I just want to let you know that it can be ok... not exactly fun...but fine!! Feel free to PM me if you have any other questions...and good luck.

And while I'm here flowers and cake to all...the earlier editions of this thread were amazing for me when I was in a spin when I was first diagnosed and in the following months...the support and care for each other is just amazing...

Another one here with invasive DCIS . I had a lumpectomy and then another with sentinel lymph node removal .
That was the worst bit , But I have had no cording or lymphoedema which is good .
Started 12 weeks of paclitaxel last Friday and will also have Herceptin for a year.
I am having a mastectomy and reconstruction as soon as I pick up from chemo .
Should be April .
I was due to have mastectomy next week but the oncologist from Clatterbridge recommended chemo first so that got bumped very close to due date . That bent my mind a bit .
I delayed my first op as DH and I were working at a festival in France for two weeks !

bloodybridget have only joined thread recently, I have ovarian cancer, which Ive been told is inoperable. Wondering where you are in your "journey". I am under surveillance and dont know what next step will be. Have had 6 chemos which I thought were working as markers came down from 750 to 39 but obviously not. Will I be offered treatment of some sort ? Dreading the future, live alone with no relatives at all so dealing with all this is frightening

Thanks for those replies everyone, it's helpful to read, especially as I'm working in Russia right now, so very far away from home! I get back and attend for surgery almost immediately, so not a lot of down time!
Thx for the offer of pm'ing...I probably will message you guys!

Strep throat begone, I feel bloody great today.

Not a boast, more of a there are good times and bad times on this shitty journey.

Naomi That is really good to hear.

@Bloodybridget yes I have my husband here but other family is far away so no other childcare nearby unless arranged well in advance as the grandparents still work.
Likely to have results this Weds and some sort of plan I suppose, but it sounds like they would want to remove the dodgy bit of lung (damaged by loads of infections due to this tumour thingy) even if it wasn't cancerous, so in that sense it doesn't really "matter".
Not sure if they'd let me wait a while as the youngest is still very little and breastfeeding.
Not sure what Homestart is so will need to look it up.
Hugs to those feeling crappy!

@elspeth18 I had "everything out" surgery in May, then six chemo treatments (paclitaxel and carboplatin) which finished at the end of October. I'm not expecting to have further treatment unless I have a recurrence. Having a CT scan on Wednesday and seeing the oncologist a week later. My tumour was stage 2, luckily detected early, but stage 3 as it was a carcinosarcoma, rare and aggressive.
Did they not explain to you why your tumour is inoperable? Have you got an appointment coming up with a consultant or nurse? They really need to give you more information. Really so sorry you are in this situation, of course it is frightening.

@BrowniesAreSuper Homestart volunteers provide one-to-one help and support to families in their homes, who may be struggling for any reason. I hope you can find some help, you won't be the first parent in this situation.

bloodybridget I am stage 3C, and Consultant said it had spread so that a major op would not help. i have another appointment in 3 weeks.
Beside myself with worry, as although I dreaded chemo and a subsequent operation, at least I felt it would be giving me a chance,now I feel there is no hope. Glad you have had a successful op.