Cancer support thread #73 - come in, we're here for you.

[Trumpton]

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 smile

@BitOfFun you just me laugh really hard I've been called a lot of things in my time, but a noodle isn't one of them 😂 if it helps, I've drank so much the last two days I've not done myself any justice!

Well done on the weight loss @peaceanddove I've not stopped snacking on chocolate etc for days now. I'm beyond caring at the moment. Good luck on Tuesday for you. I'll keep all crossed for you xx Sorry I don't know anything about HRT. I know my mum takes takes it and it helps her. She had cervical cancer when she was 25.

Now on 11th day since my last session of chemo and beginning to pick up .
DH and I took the 3 grandchildren out for a half term
breakfast this morning and I enjoyed my runny eggs so much .
I have just spent an hour on the phone chasing up appointments and am finally able to arrange transport with Patient Transfer on and off island for pre op and main op in Wythenshaw.
I am doing pre-op alone on 2nd March .
Then travelling alone on 16th March for admission for mastectomy and diep reconstruction on 17th . My choice entirely , it’s a long op and I will be out of it for a couple of days . I would much rather DH stayed on island with the adult dc and then visits when I am returned to consciousness on the Friday 20th . He can do a day trip then and return a week later to escort me home in a wheelchair .
The 2nd week after the operation I am advised to stay local by the surgeon so I am staying with friends about 40 mins away from hospital .
It’s a tricky one to call but I cope much better when I can be totally selfish . I have done all chemotherapy sessions alone and much prefer it that way . He has been absolutely fabulous in supporting me and driving me to and from appointments and then letting me do the bits I need by myself .
We have known each other since we were 18 and have been living together since 1971 ( married 1975 ) he is used to my funny ways .
The cancer bollox is enough to strain the best relationships !
It certainly hasn’t turned me into a saint !

Well that’s my update and now I am getting my brain back a bit I can start thinking of others and will catch up soon .

Large gins all round I think .

Had bloods this morning as cancelled chemo from last week supposed to be on Friday which has now also been cancelled with my bloods back. Low white cells so now have to give myself injections for 5 days and on antibiotics so I don’t catch anything. Which means CT has been cancelled and will probably have to cancel my appointment with the genetics team next week as well if chemo is rescheduled for next week. Really over it all!

Oh Squiffy that’s horrible for you .
The crashing disappointment of cancelled chemo is so hard .
I sobbed everywhere when mine was cancelled due to infections . .
There are no real words that will help one just has to keep plodding on and on and bloody on !
Chin up chicken 🐥

Trumpton With the travel arrangements and needing to stay away from home your schedule for surgery sounds quite gruelling. I think you are right to do it your way though. You know best how you cope best.

Squiffy Delays and cancellations must be a real pain and on top of that to have to inject yourself cannot be pleasant. I hope your bloods recover quickly and that you don't need any further delays. I knows exactly what you means about being over it all. I am off tomorrow for my 15/18 Herceptin. Although the side effects are nothing like as bad as with chemo they are persistent and getting a bit worse and I just want it all done now.

@meercat23
Are you still getting drippy bloody nose with Herceptin ? I have had 3/18 and carry tissues everywhere . Poor sore snozzle !

Oh Yes Trumpton Not so often with the nosebleeds but still very drippy and sore. I get lots of little sores like mini cold sores around the edges of my nostrils. Really attractive!!

Oh @Trumpton, I'm heading for my pre op on Tuesday at wythenshawe then in on Thursday. I'll be in there when you come for your pre op...I'll keep you posted on what it's like in there. I'm best when I'm self sufficient so dh is dropping me off and going. Think the devil would have a restraining order against me at the minute...total bitch one minute and sobbing the next. Whole hot mess going on! You do you, it's the best way for all involved.

@Squiffy01 that's just crap! Feels like 2 steps forward 1 step back when they cancel stuff. What injections have you got to have?

Hello everyone,
Please could I squash in and join the club?
I've been diagnosed with breast cancer, hospital have had 2 goes at slicing it out and I'm struggling with the waiting game while the hospital decide what they should do next.
Cancer is an absolute bugger.

I was in the same situation in September , but things move on and you will find this group a huge support .
Once you have a plan things become easier , not easy ! But easier .
The waiting is so hard !

Hello just checking in. Had my surgery yesterday and think it all went to plan. It was very surreal because one minute I was chatting to the anaesthetist about our daughters A Level choices, then the next minute I was coming round in Recovery! The surgeon removed the cancer cells then performed a therapeutic reduction mammoplasty on my boob and also removed the sentinel lymph node.

All in all it was a bizarrely peaceful experience and all the staff were so lovely. So today I am strapped into my heavy duty sports bra and resting on the sofa. My boob is uncomfortable but not painful, and DH has just fetched me some co codamol just in case. Get the dressings off and path results in two weeks and I'm just wishing so hard that there's no node involvement.

Lots of love to you all

@Hippiechick162 filgrastim?? I think but knowing for sure would involve getting up and checking and I do not have energy enough for that! It is quite ridiculous how exhausted I am.

Just left the hospital. They have now decided that it is a double mastectomy that I am having on the 27th not a single! We'll get there in the end.
Rest up @peaceanddove! Hope recovery is speedy for you.
Welcome @romola as you've been told the wait is rubbish. Try to keep busy, it really does help. The people here are great and so supportive.
@squiffy01 that's not good...exhaustion is horrible. Rest up and take care xx

@Hippiechick162

Such a lot to take in isn’t it !
I am having a left side mastectomy and diep reconstruction then a further operation possible 6 weeks later on the healthy side to reduce and lift .
I would almost rather it was all done at once . How do you feel ? Give it a chance to sink in .

I have small granddaughter (3)today for the first time in ages . I actually drove to the nearest town and we had coffee (me) hot chocolate (her) and a mooch around the charity shop . The most I have done for months ! DH now back so he has taken over .

@trumpton Awww my grandson was 3 in December! He's a little star. Happy birthday little one.
I'm feeling ok, I think. I'm glad they've decided that now rather than after the surgery. I'm having double mastectomy, DIEP and lymph node biopsy so will be all out of the way in one go. DH has been great but I am concerned about it all, I know I need to focus on getting better but worried about the impact on us as well. It's all just a messy rollercoaster isn't it? Xx

Just checking in.
Yes to the drippy bloody nose on Herceptin. I'm on 6/17. I also get a day or two of mild nausea and diarrhoea.

Looks like there should be a MN meet up in hospital!
@Hippiechick162 that's a lot of surgery in one go. I'm with you and @Trumpton on doing it alone. I did all my chemo on my own although had to have lifts there are back as drugs made me drowsy. I was only in hospital one night but didn't see the point in DH doing a 2 1/2 hour round trip to sit by my bed for half an hour.

I'm pretty much out the other side now apart from Herceptin. My DH has been a solid hero taking the brunt of my ups and downs and with no-one to offload himself. I've also finally started to see an improvement in the RA which has knocked me off my feet in a worse way than all the chemo. Had review with the elusive oncologist (his deputy actually) which was a bit meh. One of the things I and my DC struggle with is the fact that there are no tests at the end to measure response and check the cancer has gone and not spread. Just an annual mammogram which is so not going to reassure me as I had two clear mammograms before diagnosis.

Anyway I'm going to step back from this thread a bit now. I will pop in from time to time. Thanks to all you lovely people and the best of luck to you all.

@Skap
You have held my hand all the way . Thank you and pop back !

We are up to 950 messages on this thread . Would someone like to start the next ?
I did this one just by copying and pasting the intro and am happy to pass the baton on.

I have weirdly gained 3lbs in weight, despite barely eating anything yesterday due to being nil by mouth. And my fingers are swollen, is it common to retain fluid after surgery?

I'll do it @Trumpton. Take care @Skap and do pop back. All the best xxx

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/general_health/3827476-Cancer-support-thread-74-come-in-were-here-for-you

I've set it up. See you over there everyone...The Patience Inn serving still xxx