Cancer support thread #77 - newbies welcome

[InOtterNews]

I couldn't see new thread so here we go...

Welcome friends old and new, to the most supportive thread on Mumsnet. Everyone is welcome whatever stage you're at (fears, diagnosis, treatment). Introduce yourself and say Hi

Good luck to everyone having treatment this week. Hugs to all - especially if you're feeling rubbish (physically, mentally, or waiting for results - ugh)

@MrsPnut Thank you! I will update when I can. Have just read through the pages of this thread and strangely it all already feels a bit less scary.

Hi @Peachscone this thread is open to all please feel free to use it as you need. Step away from Google you will drive yourself crazy. There is every chance this is nothing to worry about but I know this can be a very uncertain time . This thread is a good place to share fears, worries or express frustrations x

@MrsPnut I drove home after getting my picc line inserted. Our car is manual and it was my gear changing arm, no problem whatsoever. The line is inserted on the inside of my upper arm.

@PeachScone welcome to the group no-one wants to join but is also the nicest group on MN. As others say, step away from Google, a lot of information is out of date and often not even relevant to your condition. We will help you while you wait xxx

@Bloodybridget regarding counselling, I haven't had any for cancer but I have had some for generalised and health anxiety. It was somewhat useful for me, by no means the instant cure I was looking for, but I got on well with my therapist and I could voice things to her which I couldn't to RL people and just being able to get some frustrations off my chest helped me.

I seem to be finally on my way to starting chemo. The way everyone has dragged their heels over my diagnosis and treatment with all the excuses you could think about is disgraceful. My GP on NYE advised constant nagging so I wrote a strong e-mail last night which seems to have done the trick. I have had a call from the unit today and once I've had a negative Covid test, they will book me in. For me, the waiting and I have to say, almost begging for treatment, has been a terribly stressful and humiliating experience. I hope no-one else has had to have this.

@backformore the F in FEC is fluouracil which is the same as Efudix the treatment used for sun damaged skin and basal cell carcinoma. So all my blemishes have disappeared along with my hair..

My sore armpit blew up last night with a fever so I went in to see the lovely nursing team this morning. They drained off 250ml, took some bloods and put me on antibiotics. I’m feeling rubbish today but pleased to have had it sorted. They were so kind and took time to check how I was feeling. I can’t believe how efficient they are. This seems such a hard slog at the moment
Regards to all
Top

@PeachScone you are more than welcome, the ladies on here are just wonderful.

Saw my oncologist Dr earlier who was comical and upbeat. Just what I needed. Going to have Paclitaxel, Carboplatin and EC chemo spread over 6 treatments. Had my bloods done today ready for my first session within the next 2 weeks.

Feeling lots more positive after speaking to him.

@TopOfTheCliff thanks for that! Makes sense. Hope you’re feeling better soon! I don’t yet know about drains 😳 Do they come with node extraction?

@FizzyOrange that sounds outrageous - I’m so sorry. My experience has been the opposite: a barrage of tests and appointments and chemo within two weeks of diagnosis, which has been traumatic in a different way but faultless service. I hope you’re on your way now!

@HumphreysCorner great news! A doc with a sense of humour goes a long way, eh? Humanizes everything s bit.

Hi all,
fizzy just awful for you. I still haven't heard back from pals re my complaint. Not sure I ever will!
Glad your arm is sorted top
My appointment is on Wednesday morning. 7.5 weeks for an urgent cancer referral. Pretty shocking.
And that's with me chasing them every other day before Xmas.
Anyway, sending love and hope you are all feeling as well as you can be x

Hello everyone. Another newbie here, waiting to hear the results of a biopsy last week after a routine mammogram. The doc said she’d found a 1cm lesion, though she couldn’t feel anything (‘e neither). I seem mostly unable to get a handle on my anxiety - I’m not usually like this!

Welcome @Wellwhatalovelyday we will hold your hand x

@TopOfTheCliff I'm pleased the nurses got you sorted out and hope you feel better soon, it sounds so sore xxx

@Shrillharridan 7.5 weeks for an urgent referral is outrageous! It seems to me that unless you hassle them relentlessly, nothing gets done. The CNS was a little frosty when she rang but I will get over it. I feel so sorry for those people who are unable to take on the medical profession, I mean what happens to them?

@Wellwhatalovelyday a warm welcome to you, you will find the nicest ladies here to hold your hand while you wait. My anxiety ramped up when all my medical problems started, I honestly thought I was going mad, it was just awful. My GP put me on beta blockers which really do help, they don't take the worry away but they take the edge of the physical symptoms which do help.

@seizethecuttlefish I have been thinking of you, was your operation today? I hope it all went well, the relief when you know the operation is over is immense, I was so terrified when going into surgery. I wish you a swift recovery

Wasn't able to speak with my GP today and they refused to leave a message! Will try again tomorrow.

I really can't tell if it's a lump or breast tissue, I have lost about 3 stone in weight and a lot has come off my boobs, maybe I'm just feeling my newly shrunken breasts!

Will keep you updated x

@loubieloo4 did you mention to the receptionist that you had found a lump. Hopefully you are seen tomorrow.

@Lubbablloo It would be IV at home after the first one in hospital to check no adverse reaction. Apparently private healthcare like it because they don't have to pay VAT on the drugs administered in this way! All the kit has to be left in your home. Not at all sure about it given the fact DC will be at home now is in the mix.

Today I got given my starting date: next Thu so it's all feeling a bit too real That's one month since the mammography/biopsy etc with xmas break in the way & being transferred to care local to my geographic area. I wanted to get my hair cut short & possibly eyebrows done beforehand but am a bit stuck now with lockdown. Is there any central resource for chemo tips like the nail oil etc ? My googling's been a bit incoherent.

Spoke with my gp, she has referred me but there is an 8 week wait even for fast track referrals 🤷🏼‍♀️ let's hope it's just normal breast tissue!

This is quite a useful site
www.tickingoffbreastcancer.com/

@HauntedDishcloth I'm waiting for my first appointment. My biopsy was the the 9th December so hoping it will be soon.

@loubieloo4 8 weeks is ridiculous, my referral came through in a week and my Dr said there is no need to go private as the NHS will be just as quick.

@HauntedDishcloth of all the stuff I used and was able to get quickly and easily out here these I would recommend or stuff I had already! (I had 10 days notice of chemo start date and had to have a port fitted in that time as well) -:

Small Vaseline tin
Eucerin UreaRepair plus (is for feet but Dr said to use on hands as well - better than anything else!)
Eucerin sensitive skin (perfume free) soap
Bamboo spa gloves from Boots
Sudocrem
Ice pack socks / gloves (I couldn’t get the gloves here but improvised with sports injury ice packs and my spa gloves! But don’t bother if neuropathy &/or nail loss isn’t likely with your chemo - i had ACT and I it was the taxol (bastard!!)
Holland & Barrett sulphate free shampoo soap (in a green box - long lost but I bought this in the U.K. in August 2018 - it is tiny and cost £15 so almost didn’t buy but seemingly lasts for ever and is lovely to lather over my mostly bald scalp)
Mavala nailactan and mavala double lash (also for eyebrows - though using castor oil now! - but bought in boots)

I saw Opi nail envy recommended by a few people online but DH couldn’t find it here but bought me Orly nailtrition instead. I think there are some things I wanted which were only available in the U.K. that looked good and were sold via the cancer research online shop (nice sounding creams etc but obviously didn’t get to try).

Good luck - and it’ll be over before you know it!

Ooh @HauntedDishcloth I reminded myself of the things I wanted! It was the Jennifer Young skincare products - still want them but can’t really recommend just because I like the look of them!

Being back at work is going well!!

@HauntedDishcloth over here all the Eucerin creams can be prescribed by the dr and think maybe the same in the U.K.?

Hello everyone, I’m a long time member with a name change.

I’m in my early 60’s and was recently diagnosed with stage 1A Oc following the removal of a 6 month old baby sized cyst on my right ovary. It was all a horrible shock and I’m sorry of this sounds awful but I don’t yet get any comfort from not needing chemotherapy etc and that the debulking surgery I had is the only treatment I currently need apart from 5 years of check ups.

I’m sorry if I sound ungrateful but this has knocked me for 6.

Sorry I just saw the mention of Jennifer Young creams and I think it’s the Target cancer charity that is giving away these creams to women.

Just been diagnosed with breast cancer feel scared worried its spread to my liver just got that thought stuck in my head

Sorry, it’s the OVACOME charity.