Cancer support thread #76 - newbies welcome!

[Bloodybridget]

Here's the next 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, please look for other threads; there is one in Life-limiting illness for partners - link to latest. This one is for cancer patients ourselves.

Thank you so much for your replies, I managed to pull myself together before the DC got back from walking the dog, amazing what a bit of mindless ironing can do! I believe so @FizzyOrange unless they decide to take a biopsy of cells. I honestly can’t put into words how amazing you have all come across, I know inspirational is a taboo word here so I won’t insult anyone just thank you, thinking of you all this evening.

@Bloodybridget hope you manage bedtime ok tonight on your own. I love both Mamma Mia films and can watch them over and over again!

@shiningstar2 I had a biopsy last week and I can honestly say it was absolutely fine and I am the least brave person I know! They inject the skin with a local anaesthetic which does sting for a few seconds but that is the worst part. The actual biopsy is totally painless, literally nothing. You do hear a noise like a stapler going off but no sensation at all. Then they put a dressing on it and you're done. For me the biopsy was done with an external ultrasound but I had already had the internal one at the gynaecology clinic.

@FizzyOrange I can watch those over again too. I see a few musicals in my near future. Fiddler on the roof is another favourite.

@14yearsandcounting waiting around for tests is very tedious.

My first ever chemo in the morning!! I made my favourite curry and ate some cherry dark chocolate. Who knows if I will enjoy the taste of those again after tomorrow.

@Bloodybridget good to hear your dp is bit more mobile on her crutches. As others have said good luck with bedtime. X

Covid rest tomorrow. Have isolated so hope all ok. Anterior Resection Wed pm. Picked up all pre ops, drinks bowel prep but not looking forward to giving myself pre op injection in stomach. I don't do medical stuff (or rather didn't- no choice now)

I've got long charger lead for phone downloaded some movies got chewing gum for wind. Longest I've ever been in hospital before is one day. This will be at least 4-5 days if all goes well. I'd really appreciate any tips of things I might need. As no visitors allowed want to ensure I'm not needing anything. Xxx

@gillmoregirl if you’ve got a long charger lead you’re a step ahead! My other recommendation is a hand mirror just in case you can’t get out of bed for a while. Hope it all goes well. I hated the idea of injecting myself (I had to do blood thinners) but it wasn’t too bad in practice

@Toofaroutallmylife Never though of that. Thank you. Must see if I can raid DD dressing table. Lol. She won't be impressed.

@Toofaroutallmylife I hope you are keeping well and they are still monitoring you closely despite covid

Sending very good wishes to @Acinonyx2 for first chemo, hope there will still be foods and drinks you can enjoy. Also to @gillmoregirl for surgery, and the preparation. I'm just trying to think what I found useful in hospital - an eye mask is good for times when you want to doze. Maybe a big scarf or shawl, I got very chilly sometimes.

DP is safely tucked up in bed, I'm pleased to say!

Oh by the way, can I just say to all newbies, please don't ever feel you have to minimise your fears, frustrations, physical discomforts, or any other problems, on this thread! I'm seeing a lot of "It's nothing compared to what you're all going through", etc. - we all have difficult stuff to deal with and we're all entitled to talk about it and to ask for support, that's the whole point of the thread. All right?

@gillmoregirl not sure how relevant this is as not sure how mobile you'll be, but I found slippers that I can easily slip on and off really useful. I usually have great big slipper boots but sometimes you can't reach down that far to pull them on! And a nice-smelling hand cream helps to eradicate some of the antiseptic odours and makes you feel a bit more human. Best of luck with it - rooting for you.

Good luck with chemo, @Acinonyx2! I am a few weeks behind you so will be following on your footsteps at the end of the month. Wishing you all the very best with it.

Ah, thank you for asking @gillmoregirl. Next six-monthly monitoring scans (Head MRI and CT PET) are in a week’s time, so getting a bit twitchy! But trying to ignore it as best I can.

Wow - it's been busy on here! Have been living on CNN time since Tues. Will read properly tomorrow.

Just to say good luck to @Gilmoregirl for tomorrow and commiserations to @Bloodybridget and her DP. Lucky to have a son who's an occupational therapist. I always wanted a dc who was a car mechanic but it didn't turn out that way, tho' one of them married a CH expert, which is almost as good.

Im on planet wide awake at the minute. Head buzzing with loads of nonsense.

@Bloodybridget. I love tonne cosy so will take warm shawl. Also treated myself to warm tracksuit as I'll be in enhanced recovery so they want me to get myself up washed and dressed dressed as soon as possible even with open surgery. I have my daughters eye mask packed (panda eyes lol) but I'm sure no one will care.

@AlbertCampion Hand cream another good idea. X

@Toofaroutallmylife Hope the next weeks passes quickly to get them over and done and you get peace of mind. ❤️

@Thymeout It's only covid test tomorrow. The big shows on Wednesday as long as I'm negative (have been a hermit for three weeks so i🤞. The times definitely are a changing in the old u s of a.

Have told more family and friends now. Everyone Very supportive but couple of friends after been told have been conspicuously missing. As far as I know it's not contagious 😷

Nite all. 

@Bloodybridget when I read about your DP I couldn’t believe it. I’m now two weeks post ankle fracture and it has delayed my chemo by a week. It is a frigging pain not being able to walk or shower and it seems so ragingly unfair to have to cope with this on top of chemo. But I have an able bodied DH who is feeding me and pushing me around in a wheelchair when needed. I keep warning him not to fall off his bike!
All best wishes to your DP and hope she isn’t too sore.
The fragmin injections annoy me as they sting a lot.
Well today is an exciting day as we are off to fracture clinic to have stitches removed and an X-ray. If all is okay then the last chemo dose has been rebooked for Wednesday and I will be done. On to the next thing which will be surgery in a months time Covid willing.
Best wishes to everybody and welcome to the new people. It’s a good place to hang out.

@TopOfTheCliff hope all goes well today, I've been thinking of you coping with your ankle too! We managed a shower and hair wash for DP this morning as, fortunately, we have a wet room type shower with space for a chair inside, and there's a hand held shower attachment - we might have designed the bathroom (new last year) with just this in mind! If you get the stitches out, will you still have to keep it dry?

Blimey just catching up. Bloody hell @Bloodybridget - your poor DP. As if you don't have enough going on!

Good luck @gillmoregirl - I'm sure you've got everything covered. For my short stays I also took some essential oil to stave off the nausea when the whiff of hospital food in the corridors got too much for me. Also fruit pastilles (this might just be me though) or boiled sweets. Good face and hand cream. Bed socks also useful.

@TopOfTheCliff good luck to you too.

Welcome to everyone who has found themselves here over the last few days. Feel free to rant, vent, laugh, cry. This is the best thread for it.

@gillmoregirl

Good luck on Wednesday hope you get on ok!

Iv got a ct colonoscopy & endoscopy booked in I'll let you know how I get on soon Iv no idea when I'll get them done yet.

Thanks for the reassurance about biopsy @Fizzyorange. In the event they decided to leave it and do it all at once when they do the hysteroscopy. The transvaginal scan today found a very large uterus polp, a cyst on an ovary and a very thickened uterus lining. Apparently I will have to have a GA for the hysteroscopy because of size of polp. I was also offered key hole surgery at the same time to remove the cyst and my ovaries. After discussion decided to leave this bit for now because if the polp is cancerous I will have hysterectomy so doesn't seem any point in having an extra procedure until I know. Have taken blood today for cancer markers. This is a strange time. Feel disconnected ...as though it's all happening to someone else. Hope all on this thread are have an ok or good day.

Good luck @gillmoregirl I hope the COVID test went ok, I’ve only ever stayed in hospital once and I really wished I’d bought a blanket, just something a bit softer then the hospital sheets!
I’ve just had a call from the breast clinic to say they have had a cancellation for this Thursday which I jumped at forgetting DH has an interview for a promotion at work. He insisted on rescheduling and they happily obliged but I feel awful, he won’t even be able to come with me! I think my delicate emotional state has scared him and he wants to be close by but his niceness has bought back the tears.

@Acinonyx2 how did you get on today? Hope it all went well.

@gillmoregirl hope the Covid test was ok and that the pre surgery prep isn't too awful. What is enhanced recovery? I will be thinking of you tomorrow and hoping it all goes well xxx

@TopOfTheCliff hope the fracture clinic went well and all is on track for your last chemo. You're right, it seems completly unfair to have this on top of your chemo. Thinking also of @Bloodybridget and DP and hoping you are managing.

@14yearsandcounting oh good news you got a cancellation! I remember when they rang me and offered me a next day CT scan, part of me didn't want to face it but best to get it out of the way. Sorry you are so tearful, it is hard isn't it?

@shiningstar2 I'm pleased you made it through your appointment and your plan of action sounds best. I really know what you mean about feeling it is happening to someone else. I have felt like that since all this began and am still expecting to wake up from this horrible dream. I am finding it strange that everyone else is going on with their lives as normal and I am wondering if this feeling will persist for me.

Love to everyone xxx

I just wanted to share some beauty from my walk today,it's a ginko tree. Such vibrant colours and leaves are like little golden fans.
@gillmoregirl I found my headphones invaluable when I was in hospital I found podcasts an escape from the ward bustle. Good luck with the prep and the op.
I managed a socially distanced school pick up today, first since surgery seeing my sons happy face when he saw me was priceless.
To all those waiting on investigations results and treatment I hope your day has been peaceful.

Hello

Am a bit behind, but wanted to say good luck to @gillmoregirl for tomorrow. I think people have already suggested everything I craved in hospital (except sweets maybe? And trashy magazines), and - if there is a chance of a stoma - then I would suggest some high waist pants / loose waistbands. Will be thinking of you.

Are you also due surgery tomorrow @Fuckmyliferightnow? I think you said you were.

So sorry to hear about your DP's fall @Bloodybridget. Sometimes it's easy to forget distances on this thread - I was all ready to offer to help out, but if you're in London then we are a fair distance apart!

Plodding along here. A wobbly day yesterday, mostly because I saw that a classmate from secondary, who I won't have seen for 30 years or so, and probably haven't thought of much either, had died of cancer. Just so wierd, when I remember her at 11..... But back on track today. I see the oncologist tomorrow and start round 6 on Friday.

Oh @Starmer - what a kind thought. I am sorry about your old friend.
@Lizdeflores what beautiful photos!
Sorry can't catch up with everyone right now, just got DP home from fracture clinic, she has to go every week, aargh!

I’m delighted to report positive progress. I went to fracture clinic this morning and achieved a lot. They took out my stitches, did an X-ray, took my bloods and I had a quick physio session. The doctor confirmed I am mending satisfactorily but can’t weight bear for another month. I did negotiate that I won’t need to go back in December as I will be isolating prior to surgery and I can organise physio in the New Year. It’s a huge relief and I feel more positive as I can go ahead with my last chemo on Wednesday.
@Bloodybridget it does seem strange that your DP has to go every week. And very annoying.
@Starmer how upsetting! I lost an old friend a couple of years ago and it is very unnerving being the one with cancer everybody else is worrying about.
Best wishes to you all