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.

Fantastic @InOtterNews, hope you're home and settled xx

Covid is on my mind too. I'm based at Guy's and was at the cancer centre building this morning, everything still seems normal - well, normal for covid anyway!

I had my MRI results, the main tumour looks to have shrunk by about 20% apparently and my lymph nodes are back to being within the normal size range, thoigh the other legions in my breast look unchanged. The doc says overall this is good news, so I will take it. She also said not to get hung up on having a "complete" response, where the cancer would be completely zapped by the chemo, because apparently that is rare with my hormone positive but HER negative type of cancer, so I consider myself forewarned there. I must say I've found this 3rd round of EC chemo tough. I am fine again now but had a couple of days last week where I felt really awful and really low. Next poisoning session is Thursday, then that'll be it for the EC and onto the next stuff.

@KentishMama have been thinking of you, hope things have been easier chemo wise

@BitOfFun hope new new treatments have been ok do far and are doing their job!

Hello @Lubballoo, I'm so sorry I've been quiet! Have not had much energy, but this cycle of chemo has been marginally kinder than cycle 1! The Lanzoprazole just managed to keep the heartburn from getting unmanageable, and I was less nauseous than last time. Just struggling with the steroids still - felt very hyper the first 3 days and then crashed spectacularly. I have a call with the oncologist tonight and I think she wants to try a lower dose of steroids next time. Let's see how that goes...

I've just about read everyone's updates - so much going on for all of us. It's exhausting, isn't it?

@lubballoo I think 20% reduction sounds pretty amazing - it is fascinating how that works, isn't it?

@InOtterNews So so so pleased you made it home!

Sending love to all.

3 year canciversary for me yesterday, still here and in good nick !!

So grateful for the modem treatment that hold it at bay, and for my lovely haem team!

I've started my 2 day fast/bowel prep, what can I do to stop myself obsessing about the chocolate chip cookies🍪in the kitchen ?!! Kicking myself for not eating them all yesterday, rookie mistake !

Put the biscuits in your hospital bag now, as a post procedure treat

Then do our best to erase the memory - so they can be a pleasant superseded to your sedated self

Brilliant idea I'm off to do that now.

My keyboard really hates me some days. ‘superseded’ should have been ‘surprise’

Well I screwed up my resolve and went cheerfully in for round 5 chemotherapy today. It started well with drugs 1 and 2 but after lunch I had an allergic reaction to the third one which was annoying and mildly scary. It all slowed down but after more steroids we got there eventually. I promised them chocolate brownies for my last treatment in 3 weeks. They broke it to me to have to go back for a year of Herceptin injections though.
Now I am bracing for the ten days of side effects and vow to take ALL the drugs this time!!
Hope things go okay for you @Lizdeflores and you aren’t starving
Congratulations @iVampire
Hang on in there People!
TopO

Hello to everyone.

Hope the surgery goes well @Lizdeflores - I was just thinking about you the other day, and whether it was coming up. Chocolate chip cookies in bag sounds like a good idea. I survived for a week in hospital on weetabix, jacket potatoes and the odd pudding, and whatever treats DH brought in. The food was so dire otherwise!

Hope chemo going ok for @TopOfTheCliff , @Lubballoo and @KentishMama. And that you're recuperating at home @InOtterNews. Reduction sounds very good to me @Lubballoo - must feel good to know that it's working.

Not much news here, although I am now halfway through my chemo as of this morning's dose. And it's DS3's birthday today, so a party tea AND wine for me!

I will be giving DH a shopping list of tasty treats to bring in. I keep kidding myself that the food will be ok, however I have worked in hospitals for 25 years and know I'm deluded. Packing hospital bag today a small one to take in and leaving some stuff for DH to bring in when I'm more alert.
Happy Birthday to your son and enjoy the wine.

Best wishes to all today x

My standard hospital treats included Deliciously Ella energy or nut butter balls, roasted cashew nuts, dark chocolate and mini cheddars. Obvs the last few weeks I've been on liquid diet so these have all come home with me.

No exciting news from me. Spent a inordinately long time at the hospital yesterday for bloods and then platelets. The bigger the hospital the longer things take it seems.

The fatigue is immense and just getting dressed is an achievement. I'm a bit more stable on my feet so using the stick less. I do have neuropathy in my feet which is annoying me for some stupid reason (I feel like I have zero tolerance to crap at the moment 🤨)

@Lizdeflores are you in hospital now? Hope everything goes very well.
@BitOfFun how are you doing?
and @InOtterNews, thinking of you.
@Lubballoo seems like pretty good results, of course we'd all like miracle cures.

Good wishes to everyone else of course!

I got back from two lovely days in Dorset yesterday. Missed a call from the oncology manager at Barts on the way back, which I assume was to tell me to come in for my appointment on Wednesday. Trying not to think about it all the time; I'll be glad to have it over and know what's happening.

I'm going to start a new thread, will post a link.

here's the new thread - sorry, I couldn't think of anything new to say in the intro!

New thread is fine! Thank you for starting it (I’ve just posted on it)

I’m now in a tier 2 area, and (as I said over there too) I started by breaking to rules. DD stayed with a classmate last night, as another close friend was off yesterday being tested. It’s against the strict interpretation of the rules, but it’s much safer for her to be away from me until friend’s status is known. If she has to isolate, then we’ll have to solve how to manage that when the need is known. Really hope that doesn’t come to pass!

Operation was on Friday it went well they managed to do the bowel surgery without having to do stoma. They got all disease and our confident that any remaining bits will be mopped up by chemo. Hopefully home tomorrow pain control ok but I can hardly stay awake.

Hi guys. My brother recently got diagnosed with cancer and my dad is awaiting a test to see if he has bowel cancer. I’m so so worried. Dad is 70 & not in great health. He has been sick for about a year and we all thought it was just old age