Cancer support thread #74 - come in, we're here for you.

[Hippiechick162]

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 iswww.mumsnet.com/Talk/general_health/3760336-Cancer-support-thread-73-come-in-were-here-for-you

Current members, please do introduce yourselves smile

Skap my Herceptin stopped when cv arrived on the same basis. My consultant told me that 9 treatments is enough to give all the protection.

I had already googled. and gad read about that research so was quite ok about his advice.

Can I hover here until Monday?

28 family history of breast cancer is ridiculous but no one will consent to be screened so I've tried! I noticed a pea sized lump last night, emailed the gp this afternoon had an appointment within 30 mins (!) and had a referral to the breast clinic which my DH has taken to calling the 'one stop tit shop' on Monday.

My mum had it at 38 and again at 40. 4 of her cousins and 1 aunt have died before 40.

Welcome @CrymbleCrumble Sorry you have to be here. What a worrying time for you and how brilliant that you are being seen so soon at the OSTS . ( as your DH so aptly named it )

Someone is generally awake in the wee small hours for handholding but last night I slept from 12.30 to just now ....amazing . I am putting it down to the relief of getting a Tesco delivery slot !

Will be thinking of you .

Hi CrymbleCrumble ans welcome to the best thread no-one ever wants to join. In the nicest possible way, I hope you don’t need to be here for long

This bit though, when there’s a distinct possibility something is badly wrong but you don’t actually know, is one of the most stressful times there ever is

(I like your DH’s name for the One Stop Tit Shop!)

Hi @CrymbleCrumble sorry you are going through this. Your family history sounds like mine! Mum and nanna had it and survived, aunt and nanna's sister both died of it. All before 45.
I know this time is the hardest because you are in the dark and just have to wait. The best advice I was given was to keep busy....my house was reorganised, changed round, cleaned out and 2 rooms decorated during my wait!
I hope all comes back ok but until then someone will always be here to support x

Am I allowed to post questions about CBD oil with high THC content (in connection with cancer treatment) and if so is this the right place to do it?
Thanks

What cancer do you have, ^Lifeasadog* ? And are you on treatment at the moment ?

(Sorry if I’ve missed introductions before)

I'm on chemo at the moment. I have an advanced cancer (I'd prefer not to go into details). I'm not looking for advice as much as any relevant experience people have had.
Thanks

Thank you all! (Said in Jim's voice from Friday night dinner) I'm okay today. I feel a bit what will be will be. Im going to work tonight and the weekend so I'll he going to the appointment alone directly after work. Not ideal but they won't let DH in anyway so no use him being there and sat in the car like a lemon!

You’re probably best off asking your Macmillan nurse Lifeasadog

The advice to me was that either
a) it doesn’t work so don’t bother, or
b) it might, in which case as it has not been tested for interactions with my drug (inhibitor but ‘counts’ as chemo) then it is not advised because either potentiating or reducing effectiveness of the main drug is directly hazardous, and until tested you cannot rule that out

But there are different amounts known about different cancer drugs. So as you don’t want to disclose which drugs, we can’t really help.

In a similar way, I’m barred from turmeric supplements - because they probably are effective but interaction with my med isn’t known. But for others it’s fine, almost recommended

I don’t think it would be safe to generalise

@CrymbleCrumble The OSTS is a brilliant name. In case you don't know they all seem to run a similar way and this was my experience last July.
It's a long job because they do everything so expect to be there up to 3 hours.

First a mammogram then back to the waiting room while a radiologist looks at it.
After about 40 minutes called through to see the doctor who had the radiology report of the mammogram. She discussed history (I had been before and nothing was found). Examined me, drew on me where she could feel the lump and said they would do ultrasound and possible biopsy.
Back to waiting room for another wait.
Called into ultrasound which was done by the consultant radiologist not just a sonographer. She also took biopsies and went to have a quick look under microscope before sending me back to the waiting room.
Waited...
Called back to see doctor. At this point talking to many people I have learned that if they suspect cancer they tell you their suspicions.
I was told it looked 80% like cancer but the biopsy would confirm yes or no.
I then had to go back two weeks later for the results.
I went alone and wished I hadn't, not least because it was a 70 mile trip but also because I hadn't told DH or anyone else and so had that bombshell to drop on him. At least your DH can pick you up even if he can't go in.

I'm just back from hospital. Had my last scan and the little dots put on me. Start radiotherapy on Monday 27 April and first chemotherapy on the following day.

Nurses were all lovely. Even got a free water bottle with how much to drink.

I will be given HRT too at the end of treatment which was really the only question I had.

Thanks Ivampire.
I've done the research and acquired some but my concern was that it wasn't what it was supposed to be so I was really looking for user experiences to compare.

🍾🍸
Pathology results back from mastectomy. All clear !
Keep on with Herceptin .
Mammograms on good side every 12 months for 5 years from original diagnosis ( July 2019)

Wishing everyone well .

We are having an Indian take away and gin to celebrate .

Fantastic news @Trumpton.
Hope it's the best takeaway and gin you've ever had

Wonderful news Trumpton. So pleased for you.

That's great @Trumpton so pleased for you 😀 xx

@Trumpton what fantastic news! Enjoy your takeaway and gin!

Well done @Trumpton great news! Enjoy your drinks and food x

Can I ask a very personal question? What did your lumps actually feel like? Ignore if it's too personal 

@Trumpton congratulations!! Have a bloody big indian!

Hi, I’ve been lurking on Mumsnet for a few years but this is my first post! Diagnosed with early breast cancer Oestrogen positive through routine screening.. Had lumpectomy on 31/03/20 and sentinel node biopsy. Results are no spread to lymph nodes and clear margins .. Have had tissue sent for a test Onco Dx (?) to help identify genomes/ markers for recurrence .. then I will need 4 sessions of chemo. Otherwise I will definitely be getting radiotherapy... spoke to consultant ( all consultations by phone which I really like) and he said I’m a candidate for “ rapid radiotherapy “ which would deliver all treatment in a week!! Anyone familiar with this? I feel lucky ( so far ) and just hoping I don’t need chemo... my son had chemo 10 years ago for Ewing Sarcoma and it was horrendous... I know mine would not be like that, but I’m very scared by it...anyway I’m just giving a summary.. I’ve found what I’ve read here so far very interesting...

@Trumpton Congratulations! Hope you enjoyed a large gin!

@CrymbleCrumble My lump was like a squashed rubbery jagged ball. It was at the top right of my boob so visible if I manipulated it. It felt like it moved which is usually a sign of something that isn't a tumour. Unfortunately in my case it was.

So the physio isn't working . I still have a sore patch on my shoulder and all around my armpit. Is this just nerve pain?

I'm also still anxious about my treatment plan. I had surgery at the end of March. Its rads at the end of this month and then chemo at some point. I've never heard of someone having treatment fir BC in this order.

@Trumpton fantastic news

@CrymbleCrumble my lump was movable and squishy, like you'd expect a cyst to be. I love your husband's name for the breast clinic.

I have my mastectomy and node clearance on Tuesday, which is less than four weeks since I finished chemo. I'm slightly concerned my body hasn't had enough time to recover but, since chemo finished, I've had to have an abscess drained and that's healing really well. Fingers crossed it will be ok.

crumble my lump was tiny, hard and round and moveable. It also hurt. All of which are not supposed to mean cancer.
@Megjobethamy. Good news on the biopsy results and fingers crossed you might not need chemo. I think accelerated radiotherapy has been introduced because of Coronavirus. I've seen it mentioned on another forum.

Trumpton fantastic news - I'm so pleased for you! Hope you enjoyed your Indian.

megjobethany the accelerated radiotherapy is what I'm going to be having. Would normally be 15 sessions over 3 weeks, but will be 5 triple doses in 5 days, to reduce chance of covid infection. My consultant said ongoing research shows both protocols have the same outcome, and that the change to 5 x triple doses were likely going to be introduced in any case, along with changes to the NICE guidelines. However, with covid, they have introduced them slightly earlier than originally planned.

I've got my marking up appointment on Thursday, and will hopefully get my 3 tattoos and a start date for radiotherapy. Slightly worried they will delay it as I think I have cellulitis in my breast. It started on Monday and I've been on antibiotics since, but it doesn't seem any better. Antibiotics finish on Monday, so hoping for some improvement, otherwise I'm going to call my breast care nurse for advice (and might also go to see my gp). Not sure what to do really, as I don't want my treatment to be delayed! Has anyone else had cellulitis near their wound site? The wound itself has been healing really well (no sign of infection in it) - just general red, hot, sore skin.