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

Tell us about your wig then Skap - is it a new look or a dupe of your real hair?

@Brassica I need to have some more scans, a biopsy and stuff. Then they'll do an MDT meeting to discuss what to do with me. So I'm guessing 2 weeks? I'm used to helping people through it on the other side!

The worst thing is I know exactly what the surgery will look like and my colleagues will be doing it. The thing I'm freaking out most about though is that they'll see my bits! I know they're all professionals but I might have to rescind my notice because of sick pay etc. So I might have to go back afterwards and I'm struggling with the fact that all my colleagues will see me naked..
:/

Yeah my husband is being amazing :)

Thank you Brassica. Yes, you're right, I think some counselling might help. My DH is very supportive but I have three teenagers at home so there's also a lot of trying to put a good spin on things.
I have repeat scans in 3 months and will take it from there. Best case scenario is that no further treatment is required: other options include further surgery and chemo.
Thanks again x

Quick check in
@MustardScreams
. My armpit has finally started to behave Altho very sore by end of day . That operation was 5th September and yes you are right. Frigging sore ! I am keeping it cool and propping my arm up on my cushtie cushion as much as possible .

@Skap I am pleased you are happy with your wig . I think I am to have chemotherapy and Herceptin but am waiting to see oncologist.
HER2+ after a FISH test and showing signs of invasive cells .

@WTF99 . Last chemo .wowsers that must feel good . Or are you just head down and plodding on ?

@YoureAQuizardHarry. I hope you feel better after your blood transfusion. My dad had them and it was lovely to see him pink !
The waiting is so hard.

@Porolli. I am not surprised you are feeling so low. That treatment is so draining . I have not started any chemo yet .that will happen after the mastectomy and I am waiting on referral to liverpool as we don’t do reconstructions here. Try to be gentle on yourself .

@Zorgothslugofdoom. Travelling with you . I did find I felt better when a plan was made .

Will pop back on later but I must get on .
I am taking dgc to school today and then having juice and Pombears with the smallest . Hooray for a bit of normality!
First school run since this all blew up in July !

Well, all my bloods were fine so just wait on referrals to neurology and my surgeon 😟😟😟

How were your bloods WTF? Really hope they are good enough for Monday 🤞🏻

porolli you have had such a hard time, I am sorry. Hope you start to recover from the side effects before too long.
MustardScreams may the ABs kick in quickly and see off the underarm infection, how beastly for you.
likeazebra hello, haven't "met" you before here! Just to say I'm wishing you stay clear at scans for a very long time.
YoureaQuizard that is shocking news for you. Do you know how much of your bowel will have to be removed? I can understand feeling weird about your colleagues doing surgery and treatment; OTOH I bet they go every possible extra mile for you while you're in hospital.

I did have chemo yesterday, reported my cold as soon as I got to the ward and was quickly put in a side room with just one proper bed in it, and a huge upholstered chair for DP to lounge in! So that felt really luxurious. And as usual after the preliminary dose of Piriton I slept most of the next six hours. Funnily enough the cold seems to have pretty much gone now - I didn't make it up, honest! Stye OK too, still a bit itchy, I am NOT scratching it.

Planning a very quiet and lazy few days now. Sending good wishes to everyone.

Morning.
@porolli You have had it tough and putting a good spin on things for your 3 teenagers must be so draining. How old are they?

@Brassica surgery at the end of this months will give you time to get some strength and energy back. Others on here have said that the surgery part was the most manageable.Is it just the lumpectomy or are there lymph nodes involved? Wig is a dupe of my real hair. Tried a few different ones but looked like a drag queen.

@Trumpton can I recommend Tesco's fake Pon Bears as being better than the real thing? They are called "BunnyBites" .

@Bloodybridget Does your DP stay with you for the chemo session? No room for that at my hospital, the room is tiny and patients only. I have been told I'll get pre-loaded with Piriton, Dexamethasone, ranitidine and ondansetron. Even so called non drowsy anti-histamines knock me out.
I get lots of unusual chest infections due to a lung condition and have been on ABs for a week. What a massive difference they have made, I didn't realise quite how bad it had got.

Oh flipping heck I just wrote several lines to @Skap and then did something and lost it, grr. Start again:

Congrats on new wig Skap, and glad to hear you are feeling better on ABs. Yes DP stays with me at least until they have started Paclitaxel, she likes to make sure I don't get a reaction to it because I did the second time! I get the same first three pre-loading drugs as you, haven't hard of the fourth. That's a shame there's no space for a companion where you are.

@Bloodybridget ha, it's Paclitaxel I'm having, plus Herceptin every third week. The nurse did say it's one that's more prone to causing reactions and that it wouldn't necessarily be the first time could equally be the fifth or other time. I think the fourth drug is anti-emetic. As to companions I don't mind, I will take kindle and tablet. At least it means there won't be Other People's Relatives there either . Do you have far to travel? Does your DP work or is she retired?

Got a letter through today calling me to see my surgeon on the 23rd of October - trying not to read too much into it ....

Back home now after a lovely break. Lots to catch up with here and I will do that over the weekend.

I am very tired. My stamina has still not got back to normal and I had to duck out of the planned activities on one day. Just too much standing and walking. For a group of retired people they are all very energetic and noisy! Lots of lovely food and even more drinks including the largest G&T's I have ever seen anywhere.

I hope all is as well as it can be with everyone and all best wishes to WTF for Monday.

fedup at least you know when you will know more. Hard not to worry, of course.
meercat welcome back, glad to hear you had a good time, looking forward to hearing more! Take it easy now!
Skap yes true, other people's friends/whatevers can be annoying, although we haven't been bothered by anyone so far. We don't have far to travel, can be as quick as 35 minutes door to door but we always allow an hour, buses and traffic being somewhat unpredictable. Yesterday we had time for a coffee in a hipster place opposite the hospital before going in, other customers were youngish men (OK under 45, say) having work meetings. My DP is long retired, she is 72 now.

For day 1 AC I am feeling pretty good, apart from sense of taste. But I seem to remember things go downhill for a bit now. I'm so excited about only having one more treatment to go!

Hi all. I've woken up this morning with lower right pelvic pain running down the side of my leg. Trying not to disturb anyone so haven't gone downstairs for painkillers yet!
I've been busy trying to get everything sorted for work before my op. Only 3 days left going to type up handover notes today.
Does anyone have experience of surgery whilst anaemic? At my pre op last week they said my bloods from 3 weeks ago showed anaemia, yet no one has told me. I've been feeling very tired, dizzy and breathless and thought it was all down to stress , turns out to be the anaemia! Also have mouth full of ulcers. I'm usually so healthy, (bar cancer) worried about surgery when I feel so rough and how this may impact recovery.

Had bloods last week and again tomorrow. Will call the pre op nurse to see if she has results. My CNS didn't attend my consultant meeting and hasn't responded to recent emails so I imagine she is unwell/has something going on.
Who do you guys contact for bloods results?
Sorry for all the whinging!

Will have a catch up on the thread.
meercat glad you enjoyed your holiday and some lovely food and drink. Sounds like you need a pots holiday rest now!

skap pleased you have found a non drag queen wig!

Bridget hope your cold improves and you've had a restful weekend.

trumpton good news that the armpit is finally healing, sorry its still so sore though.

The cats are sitting on me now. I need to train them to go downstairs and return with a packet of paracetamol in their mouths

Welcome zorgo, I don't have experience of breast cancer but lots of people on here do.

you'reaquizard sounds like so much to take in all at once. How are you feeling now? Do you have a surgery date?

Hope everyone has a peaceful Sunday.

Hope your pain has eased up a bit catnidge

Glad to hear the armpit is on the mend trumpton

That's a good holiday meercat, great you got to enjoy it.

Bet your new do is fabulous Skap

I got an appointment for a colonoscopy, know idea why or who referred me for that, but maybe it's routine

I've one week done on radiotherapy, was wrecked on friday though, it's a 45 minute drive each way, which normally wouldn't bother me but really took it out of me.

Has your cold eased up bridget

Hope everyone is having a good day.

Hope everyone enjoying a peaceful weekend. I seem to have come down with some sort of chest infection. Possibly from the plane and the germs circulating through the sir con. If it is as bad tomorrow I will ring the GP and see what they say.

A friend suggested that my immune system might still be compromised but I thought that it got back to normal quite quickly after treatment finishes. Google suggests that some forms of chemo can leave the immune system depressed for longer. Whichever is true I could do without this it is nasty and uncomfortable.

@meercat23 oh that's a rotten end to your holiday. Those air vents on planes are known in our family as the germ sprays.

@ellenanora5 colonoscopy sounds odd when you have breast cancer? I think I would query who asked for it.

@catnidge I don't have experience of surgery with anaemia but I do have other health conditions and know that the surgeon and anaesthetist planned the surgery around that. Did they give you anything for it?

@WTF99 all the best for tomorrow

Popping in and saw this, meercat it took me nearly 3 years for my some of my white blood cells (cant remember which scores exactly) to get back to "normal" after my chemo finished. Though I may be a wuss!
I always asked for a print out after every blood test so I could compare stuff. Mine was breast cancer.

Ah Pepper thats helpful. I didn't know that. I am supposed to be at the hospital on Wednesday for Herceptin and so see the oncologist. I will have to ring and see if they want me to keep away but I will also ask about immunity.

Being brave and going into work today. First day in after my diagnosis last week. Feel very apprehensive, but the anti-anxiety tablets seem to be working ok and I think being busy at work should help take my mind off the waiting. Also, on a cynical note, I don't really want to go off sick before absolutely necessary, as it will affect my sick pay if I'm off for too long. Can I ask how other people coped with work? Did you go to work after your diagnosis, before chemo? Did anyone work through chemo? Really worried about everything, and trying to plan (it helps!!). Thanks everyone!

Zorgo I worked throughout chemo but I only work part time/freelance so have a lot of control on when and how I work. Also my chemo was one day a week and the side effects were not pleasant but not to debilitating. Some others here have had a much harder time so it probably depends on what they are giving you and how frequently. Do you know what your regime will be?

Skap I've rung the hospital regarding the colonoscopy, the secretary told me the name of the doctor who referred me but I've never heard of her, she said it was for a cancer patient with alternating bowel issues, so no idea what that's all about, waiting on someone to ring me back.

Zorga sorry I'm no help to you on that front, I don't work outside the home as I'm ds2 carer, best of luck going back and don't be afraid to take time out if you need it during the day.

Final chemo and hat of doom done....boom!!!

Just the side effects to get through and 15 radio/14 herceptin.....but I'm feeling like this now...