Cancer support thread # 75 - come on in!

[Bloodybridget]

This is the new thread for anyone at any stage of cancer, from noticing a possibly warning sign, through tests and scans, diagnosis, treatment and beyond. Come on in for advice, sympathy and support.
The last thread is here.

If you've been on a previous thread, please come and say hello and introduce yourself!

If you are a relative or friend of someone with cancer and looking for support, there are other threads on this topic - this one is for cancer patients ourselves.

Just popping on to say Great News to BloodyBridget and iVampire.

For all those waiting for appointments or results my heartfelt sympathies. For me, those were the hardest times of all. So hard when you don't know what you are facing and much easier to get your head around it when you do.

Somebody up thread mentioned hair loss and cold capping. (I have tried to scroll back but couldn't find it) I used the cold cap and it worked very well for me. Not very pleasant though. I think how well it works depend a great deal on exactly what chemo you are having. I had Paclitaxel (which I think is Taxol, which was mentioned) Cold Capping has a good success rate with that drug. I did lose some hair but no-one except me and my hairdresser would know.

It does add at least an hour and a half to the time for each treatment and with Covid this probably changes the balance in the decision.

I am a year past active treatment now and just coming up to check up appointments with the oncologist and surgeon next month. This thread was a life-line and an amazing support to me.

It's my birthday today, and I've raised £640 for Women's Aid via Facebook! I'm thrilled- I feel like Rockerfeller 😂💰😂

IVampire I just went back and read your posts again and realised I got confused between the post updating on your latest check and the post you made re: Liver results. I very much hope it will still be great news.

Happy Birthday @BitOfFun/Rockerfeller ! And great cause 👏💰

Happy birthday and well done bitoffun

Hi guys need some advice. 2 weeks post radiotherapy for breast cancer. Im in so much pain i cant sleep or move my arm. The nurse gave me some silver cream but that doesnt seem to help. I dont want to go whinging to the doc if this is normal and i just have to ride it out. Pic attached.

Happy birthday to @BitOfFun, and well done for fundraising for Women's Aid, that's brilliant.
Waving at @Skap and everyone else.
I'm not going to linger here tonight as am on holiday with my DP and SIL.

Ouch, that's some burn you've got going on there, Annie! Take some painkillers and use your cream- it's nasty and sore, but I think it's in the range of normal for radio side effects. Can you call your nurse? They can often prescribe xx

Just checking in to say the same as @BitOfFun it looks like a nasty but normal burn @Redannie118

I had round 2 FEC on Tuesday and breezed through but these Filigrastim injections make me feel awful! Day 4 and 2 done 5 left. I’m trying antihistamines this time which seem to have reduced the pain but I am a zombie.

On the plus side now I am bald my head is cooler!

I’ve got a big birthday in 2 weeks. Was having a live band and a big do but that’s all cancelled I am wondering about a fundraiser event instead. Or just give the party money to Charity.
I think my kids are up to something anyway so it won’t pass unnoticed.
Not really in the mood to celebrate at the moment. It all seems rather hard work. Bleah!

Happy weekend folks
TopO

@LucyWarlowsRightHand that’s great that you can have key hole it makes recovery much quicker I believe. I was supposed to have that but because of covid they weren’t doing key hole in April so it had to be open for me. I had a right Hemicolectomy which meant it was very unlikely I would need a stoma, unless there was complications which didn’t happen. Think there are about 5 or 6 different operations they do depending on where the cancer is located.

Morning everyone

I confess to dancing in the rain this morning.

So a quick update. Finally had a another staging scan and got my consultant to ring with proper results and a plan after much chasing. They have restaged me to stage 2, apparently the initial radiographer made an 'error of judgement'. Am beyond happy if that's the right word, the future seems that much more attainable and manageable.

I am pr+ but er/ her2 -, so they are debating hormone treatment versus chemo but surgery first on the 9th September and we will go from there. My anxiety has lifted considerably as I've done this before and won do I'll do it again.

@Redannie118 that looks so sore but if memory serves my radiotherapy burns were similar. Keep an eye for signs of infection and hope it settles soon for you.

For everyone else, if you are awaiting results or tests sending you huge hugs. Often seems the hardest patch.

Otherwise I hope you all have an awesome weekend doing what makes you smile. I'm off to play Disney princesses with the tot (wish me luck )

Morning all!

Feeling calmer this morning.

We just told our 5yo DS about my surgery on Monday. I was so worried about that. But: He made up a song called the Lumpy Bumpy Boob song, suggested that I tattoo a picture of him on my boob instead of a new nipple, and he wants to know if I get sweets after anaesthesia and if I'll share them with him.

Now how do I get him to stop singing?!

@Minxmumma that is great news!

@KentishMama so glad you're feeling calmer and telling ds went well, I found telling the dc so hard but did feel better when it was done. Your ds sounds wonderful!

I am feeling really fed up with the unfairness of it all today. I've been to have my merina coil removed and am off go the hairdressers shortly. I was going to get my hair cut in a short bob but now I'm wondering if I'll regret not being able to tie it back while there's still enough of it to do that - but mostly I just don't care! I'm going to have to pull myself together and start thinking more positively I know.

Thank you so much for replies. Knowing its within the realms of normal makes me feel so much better ! Hope everyone is ok today :)

Hi everyone, I'm sorry to hear what your all going through and I think your all so brave!

I think I may have bowel cancer....my sister was 26 when she was diagnosed with it she was stage 3 but she fought it and is now recovering.
I am 26 now and experiencing bleeding when going to the toilet and I'm so scared I've had a blood test and done a stool sample but I've had a letter through this morning saying I need to go for another blood test and I'm convinced it's because they've found something and need to re test.
I have been refered for a colonoscopy (I asked for it) just waiting for them to get in touch with an appointment.
I'm really worried about what's going to happen I have a 18month old and 12 week old dds
My husband knows but I haven't told my family about it all because I don't think they would cope going through all this again....i can't take my mind off it and I can't book another blood test till Monday.
Did anyone have bleeding with no other symptoms and get diagnosed with bowel cancer?

@Babymamma192 hi.
I’m sorry you are going through this worrying time. There are a few of us kicking about on this thread with bowel cancer. I definitely found the not knowing the hardest bit mentally I think once you know what you are facing and have a plan it gets easier.
Was your sister referred for genetic testing? I read somewhere they are now referring everyone young to get genetic testing but now can’t remember where I read it.
I was diagnosed last year at 32 had chemo and then surgery end of April. I am now all clear and being monitored for 5 years.
I never had bleeding my only symptom was a bit of abdominal pain that came and went only went to the dr cause my husband guilted next into it.
My experience with the first tests was blood test and poo sample which must have flagged something up cause they then did a second different poo sample and then sent me for ultrasound, endoscopy and colonoscopy.

@Squiffy01 thanks for your reply, they did mention doing the genetic test but I don't know if they actually did it.

Yeah I just want to know what is going on! It's hard waiting my mind keeps thinking of the worst case scenario.
I'm glad your husband got you to go to the Drs! Hope your doing ok

@Skap it’s not much fun to be dealing with anxiety again but @meercat23 it’s actually got a lot of good news mixed with it, as there was no sign of anything invasive and lymph nodes had a completely normal appearance on ultrasound. So yes, could be DCIS but v v v unlikely to be an invasive cancer. And that’s a hell of a lot more optimistic news than many people have at the time of biopsy

@Babymamma192 welcome to the best thread that no-one ever wants to join. I hope we can wave you away with a benign diagnosis soon, but if not we’ll still be here. The early days when you don’t quite know what’s up are right up there with the most stressful. I hope that leaning on your DH is helping you

Sorry that I can’t help with your symptoms as I don’t know anything about bowel cancer (I have leukaemia, plus ongoing investigations after mammogram call-back - results middle of next week, same day as they ultrasound my still not-quite-healed ankle. I’m still not used to seeing myself as less-than-healthy, so being under three hospital teams simultaneously is a bit weird)

@iVampire you have rung a bell with me tonight. I am normally so fit and healthy and cycle 100k at the weekend. I have a dodgy hip and was considered for replacement but decided it isn’t time yet. Now I’ve suddenly got Breast cancer and I’m off work and can’t cycle and I feel like an invalid yet there is nothing to point at as I have no real symptoms. It feels like a huge fraud to be going for scans and bloods and chemo when I am actually well and energetic and in no pain. It’s surreal and feels like a huge mistake! I want my life back

Hi everyone. Im just wondering if anyone can give me any advise about otc sleeping aids which work. I've been finding it so hard to get to sleep and stay asleep this past few weeks. Wakening each night with stupid thoughts in my head. Exhausted all the time now. I have zero motivation to do anything. Not normal for me at all .
Rang gp surgery Friday early afternoon but was told I have to ring back at 8.30 on Monday morning to get gp to phone to discuss any new prescription! It's so hard to get appt at the minute.
Is there something I can buy over counter that might help or should I persevere with trying to get gp consultation onMonday.

@gillmoregirl I’m sorry you aren’t sleeping well (me neither I’m just back from a brisk walk!). Not sure if nytol works but you can get it otc in the U.K. I think?

Yes, try Nytol, but insist on Zopiclone when you see the GP.

Hi @gillmoregirl sorry to hear your having such a hard time, lack of sleep is just torture which is why it is used to break people. I've never used the over the counter meds so I'm not sure how good they are but it can't hurt to try them. I would ask the pharmacist if there are any ingredients in them that might interact with any other medication before taking them.
I would also continue to chase your G.P a prescription of sleeping meds will help Zopiclone is the one I'm most familiar with and seems sucessful. There are also some antidepressants that can also help with sleep and the kind of intrusive thoughts you descibe. Have you been offered psychology? I had my first appt this week and it does help to have that space dedicated to you, time to talk about your fears and worries.
I just wanted to say that your thoughts are not stupid you are having a reaction to the shit circumstances we are in.
Have a peaceful and hopefully restful Sunday x

Thanks everyone. I think your right I'll call gp in the morning. Do no harm to talk to her anyway. I seem to be more Eeyore than Pollyanna these days which is not my usual self. Also trying to manage DD's anxiety about forthcoming GCSE results after the fall out from A level debacle. 🥴. Hope everyone has a restful Sunday.

Hi all, ive posted seperately but thought I would post on here to. I'm worried sick waiting for an appointment at the hospital to check an abnormality my gp can see on my cervix. She drew me a little picture of where it was. I went as I've been having constant pain and irregular bleeding. I had an abnormal smear 2 years ago and was positive for hpv but a colocscopy was clear at that time.