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)

Anyone else tried meditation to deal with anxiety? Started getting a bit panicky again today about port insertion tomorrow (I know, I know - it will be fine!) so decided to finally try putting some of the mindfulness reading I've been doing into practise. Lasted about five minutes before I started getting properly annoyed with myself! Focusing on breathing just seemed to make me tense up, for some reason. Tried to embrace the feelings of annoyance but that just wound me up even more. So in the end I gave up and went out for a long stomp around the park, and now I feel a bit better. Would like to try again some time, though - practise makes perfect?

@HUGS65 So sorry to hear about your diagnosis. You'll find lots of lovely, knowledgeable and supportive ladies here! Is there a reason that you're worried about your liver in particular? Will you be having any CT scans?

@Anne1958 no wonder you have been knocked for 6, that's a huge cyst. Hello and welcome.

@HUGS65 hello and welcome. What type have you been diagnosed with and how big is your tumour. Why do you suspect it may have spread to your liver?

As @backformore says, what is the next step for you treatment wise?

@backformore I'm on sertiline for anxiety. I thought I was having a heart attack. It's made a big difference and I increased my dose to keep in check. My GP has been amazing.

@Anne1958 welcome. I have kidney cancer and I'm hoping it's surgery and done as I have no symptoms. It's the mental toll as well as the physical.

@HUGS65 hi. Have you had symptoms that make you suspect it's spread?

Countdown is on for my op...Monday at 7.30am. Hoping the early start means that I'm getting taken first.

@backformore I should have said, I also meditate daily and it really does help. There's so great guided meditation on YouTube.

Hi, scared newbie here.

They found a mass on my right ovary last May, when they were doing a kidney scan. I was referred to ob/gyn and waited until a few weeks ago to have the laparoscopic surgery. That went ok until an awful infection in my belly button incision requiring 5 days in hospital. That is now healed.

Throughout all this was told this was a benign.

Now they are saying they found an area of squamous cells. They have decided that area is benign but I am now waiting for them to look at every bit for this squamous cell cancer that can arise in a dermoid cyst.

I researched this because I can't not know what is going on. This type of cancer sounds very bad. It is rare but has a low survival rate. Ack!

Has anyone had this?

Could I please join and get and give some support. My doctor was supposed to phone yesterday but didn't. I am 65.

@seizethecuttlefish That’s a good point - I think maybe guided meditation could be best to start!

@seizethecuttlefish I'm on Citalopram 20mg for anxiety and depression and have been for years. I also drink too much but have been told no alcohol the night before chemo and the 3 days after.

@LoveFall hello and welcome. I've not heard of squamous cells. My nurse told me not to google as a lot of info is US based and their treatment is different. The ladies on here are brilliant and good at hand holding.

Hi, I hope it's ok for me to join you all. I'm 36 and was diagnosed with appendix cancer in September. I've had my first big surgery but I have another one to get through soon.

Day to day, I'm ok. But I worry about the future a lot. My children are 9 and 10.

Its breast cancer hoping there is treatment for me out there. Just fear that it has spread felt alright b4 diagnosis

As it must have been there a long time

Hello everyone. Such a great thread. I've had a week where I've pretended I haven't got cancer. Back to real life now as off for more tests tomorrow....

No symptoms except kept thinking i am dying

@crazycatladyx Hi there, and welcome to the thread you never think you'll have to join (but is full of the kindest people on MNet!). We're pretty close in age - I'm 38, also two kids (2 and 8), with breast cancer. Just starting chemo, then surgery in the spring, then radiation. Is surgery going to be your main treatment? Totally get the worry about the future. I'm still dealing with a sort of grief for the old me that didn't have to worry as much (or pretended I didn't)! I'm told it gets better...

Thanks for recommendations on chemo bits & bobs. Doing a shopping list is a bit of a distraction!

Hi again.

I have a question I hope those with experience might help me with.

My surgery in December removed both ovaries and fallopian tubes. I still have my uterus.

The surgeon told me the pathologists are disagreeing etc. about whether my dermoid cyst has any cancer in it. If they decide it does, the surgeon told me I will have to have a hysterectomy and lymph node check. This to me sounds like a bigger surgery than the laparoscopic surgery I just had.

The uncertainty is making me crazy. I can't bear to leave my phone in case they call. The surgeon said they had promised her they would decide by Monday. If it is cancer, It is very rare.

How do you cope with this uncertainty? I know how busy my ob/gyn who was my surgeon is. I don't want to be a pest and I trust her.

But it is getting hard not to spend a good part of the day in tears and the rest just sort of frozen with worry. I am already exhausted by a post op wound infection that landed me in hospital for 5 days. Any help welcome.

Hi @Anne1958 and @crazycatladyx welcome to our little corner.
@LoveFall it’s tough, you can’t change the outcome so spending energy on it is counterproductive but the worry would be affecting me too.

@HUGS65 It really is unlikely that your cancer has spread, did they biopsy your lymph nodes at the breast clinic? Are you being sent for a CT scan?

I had my PICC line fitted yesterday, of course it wasn’t straightforward and it bled a lot so I’ll need the dressing changing today and a little clean up. Chemo today at least so they can take care of it.

Hope everyone else is bearing up under the strain of homeschooling and treatment.

I am being sent for ct it burst through breast.biopsy done on day and back in a week so I assume its a bad cancer

Morning all,
Well, off to Sheffield today.
I'm such an absurd person. I've been desperate for this app for weeks and now I don't want to go!
🙄😒

@HUGS65 My biopsy was done on the day and back within a week too, that's a usual timescale. Mine has spread to my lymph nodes but nowhere else.
In fact mine was found through a CT scan because of my vaginal cancer being a rare primary to have.

@Shrillharridan Good luck, I know exactly how you feel.

@Shrillharridan good luck today I'll be thinking of you x
@LoveFall I have stage 4 ovarian cancer and in October I had a full hysterectomy. Mine was open surgery (due to previous abdominal surgery) it is a big op I was admitted on a Friday and discharged the following Tuesday my recovery has been straight forward.
I don't think you should feel like a bother to your medical team of you have questions. Do you have a specialist nurse?they are often very good at explaining things in a much more reassuring and sometimes understandable way.
To all the others that find themselves having to join this thread welcome and if you need support through your journey this is a good place.
I'm of to tackle home school tis morning😱

@Shrillharridan thinking of you today, one step further in the journey.

@HUGS65 my tumour Larry is nearly through my skin as it's so big but hasn't spread to my lymph nodes and my nurse said that's usually the first place it travels.

@backformore I spent the last few weeks crying about the future I'm not going to have. My dream is for me and DH to swap our caravan for one with a fixed bed then spend our retirement touring. Sitting outside reading my book. After seeing the oncologist I believe this will happen.

@crazycatladyx hello and welcome. I never knew that cancer could grow in the appendix. Have they been removed?

I've just had a call from the hospital to say the MRI scanner broke so can't have my liver scan today. At least it won't delay my chemo start.

Thank you for the lovely welcome.

Appendix cancer is a really rare one (about 1 in a million). The only claim to fame we have is that Audrey Hepburn had it. Unfortunately, its spread all through my abdomen so my first operation a few weeks ago removed 8 organs. I'm back again in a month or 2 to have 4 more taken out. They'll do a hot chemo bath during that surgery called HIPEC. This is my best shot at getting NED.

For the PP who asked about total hysterectomy, that was one of the organs I had removed. Aside from some UTI type discomfort, I've been fine. I'm not sure about the difference in recovery between keyhole and open, but my scar is 38cm and has healed really well.

It’s a big day today. I get my results! I didn’t sleep much and had weird dreams when I did.
@Shrillharridan I’ll be thinking of you today good luck,
@Tean791 I hope your tests are painless and it isn’t too hard today
@HUGS65 you know you need to stay in the present and not run ahead catastrophising and planning your funeral don’t you? It will be much easier when you know the treatment plan. Hugs indeed!
@LoveFall I hope you get the call today and that it is all okay. Keep us posted!

Thinking of you and your results @TopOfTheCliff hope all goes really well xx