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)

@Noidea2114 @Acinonyx2 @Bloodybridget @TopOfTheCliff @thereisonlyoneofme @Lizdeflores @Nonotmenori @backformore @Zorgothslugofdoom @FizzyOrange @MrsPnut @MrsPnut @InOtterNews @BitOfFun and everyone else. Thank you for all your help and let us help each other in the New Year 💕

Don't know why it's blocked out😭

Yes, as @HumphreysCorner says, thanks to everyone here for all the brilliant support over this awful year. May the next one bring better times, excellent doctors and nurses, effective treatments, returning health for as many of us as possible, and peace and joy for all xxx

Hello again. I popped on the end of the last thread after receiving my diagnosis of Stage 2 HER+ BC and was in limbo due to the xmas break until the last two days where I've met the breast surgeon and oncologist. My treatment plan is 6 cycles of chemo then mastectomy, starting in about 10days after all the preliminary tests & scans. Bit gutted that I'll still need a mastectomy after the chemo & won't be able to get away with less severe surgery. I'm thinking I will become even more hermit-like than my usual antisocial state for the duration of chemo. Apparently after the initial session I can have chemo at home if I want - anyone had that? Not sure how I feel about that but would be good for avoiding potential infection I guess.

Never been into new year stuff normally but this year with everyone saying next year can't be as bad I'm even less of a fan. Still, good wishes to everyone on this thread and thanks for sharing, the good and the bad.

I have to post this while I still can, one can of larger wipes me out these days,no one tells you that chemo turns you into a light weight.
As we all say this is the club we would never want to join but this is an amazing group with such warmth and compassion from its members and I get so much from being part of it.
Happy New year. Xx

@HauntedDishcloth My insurance offers healthcare at home to have chemo at home if needed, I will probably do that when it comes to my BC chemo but my current regime needs me to have daily radio as well as the weekly chemo so it wasn't worth it.

Yes yes, to all of you wonderful ladies. Happy new year however it is happening and here's to positive and calm days ahead.

Best to all of you, and thank you everyone for your support - this thread has been a lifeline over the last few nightmare weeks 🙏 🥂

Happy New Year All! 

@Acinonyx2 My nails were fine during treatment and are still okay. I have them fairly long. My advice is:
Stay out of the sun/limit exposure of your hands/nails to sunlight
Buy a decent nail oil. I used Polybalm. Expensive but you don't need much.
Handcream
If they need cutting do it prior to each chemo.
You have to religiously look after them every day, even if you're super tired. I know some people swear by painting them black but this is only to stop UV light getting to them. It can sometimes cause a whole host of problems when you take the varnish off i.e. hides infections.

Port advice: GET ONE! I cannot emphasise this enough. I had my first 4 chemos via cannula and ended up with bad phlebitis in my arm. My veins are still knackered months down the line and will be for some time. Yes, its an additional proceedure and will leave a scar but it is convenient and you do forget its there after a while.

@citybumpkin totally agree re port - is brilliant (almost worth it for the ketamine given over here to insert - the dr who did the procedure said I’d get the good drugs and he wasn’t wrong!). As nothing stronger than paracetamol for pain is usually standard was well impressed!

Re nails i never leave home unless it’s pre-Dawn or post-dusk (as here it is permanently warm and sunny all year!) and I was dedicated to lots of nail care on a daily basis - but I think only 20 - 30% of taxol patients have really bad nail damage? - so hopefully the majority will be ok! The problem I think for me was I didn’t start the foot/hand cryotherapy until about 5 weeks in (after neuropathy started). Nails are lovely strong - but the top half ‘detached’ from the new growth and ‘died’ and fell off (well 8 fingernails - little pinkies are fine as are toes - go figure!). Also have to be careful the top ‘bare’ part of the nail doesn’t become infected!!

So I have lovely bottom half set of nails - as has been said before - chemo the gift that keeps on giving!!

Peace and Joy to everyone in 2021!

Happy New Year to all you beautiful ladies, thank you for all your advice and friendship. This is the thread no-one ever thinks they will have to join but it is the nicest on MN and I am truly grateful to have found it xxx

Sorry I meant to ask @citybumpkin how are you? Well I hope! Have you finished all your treatment? How do you feel?

@ElaineMarieBenes I'm okay. Suffering from various after effects from treatment plus anxiety regarding the future. I'm due to have bisphosphonates later this month (3 years of those). DD is growly rapidly and takes a lot if my energy (and patience). A toddler and fatigue really do not mix. How are you doing?

Happy New Year, lovely ladies! Here's to better health, fewer restrictions, kind consultants, helpful nurses... and all that jazz. Thank you all so much for being wonderful human beings. I couldn't have got through these last few months without you all ...

@citybumpkin I’m surviving despite chemotherapy’s best efforts! I seemed to get different side effects every other week - but as a present following my last taxol treatment quite a few decided best to all join in and have a party! I’m also surprised how fatigued I am too. I also thought I had a few weeks off - but next herceptin (and perjuta?) is tomorrow! I think you said the cumulative affects of taxol are debilitating and I agree! Am also due some radiotherapy and then tamoxifen for 5 years.

I haven’t seen my (young adult) kids for nearly 2 years now and can’t wait to get back home this year (they also don’t know about my BC nor do any of my friends or family back home!). I look quite different at the moment so they all may notice! Hopefully will have some hair by June!! No real sign yet though!

Was also hoping for the Pfizer vaccine in January - but have been told will be ‘months’ until I am well enough to get it - though DH is having it on Monday!

Hi Ladies,

I'm 41 and I think I have found a lump in my breast, it's solid from the side and on top its a similar consistency but firmer and doesn't move to the tissue(?) in the other breast. It feels like an oblong sort of shape and not round. Can anyone explain or try to, the different feeling of a lump or tissue?
I found it today when I had an itch, typically on a Friday evening so I will have to wait until Monday to talk to my GP.

I'm not overly worried but can't talk to anyone in real life as my dh (40) has stage 4 bowel cancer and there is no need to worry them for the sake of it. I don't suffer from health anxiety even with DH's diagnosis. I know the chances of it being serious are very low.

If you feel like you can would you share what your lump felt like?

Thank you

Hi @loubieloo4,

Obviously get it checked out, but it’s great to know you aren’t panicking. With any luck it won’t be anything but if it is you’ll know that you addressed it quickly (I’m currently beating myself up over the fact that I left mine over the summer because I thought it was a cyst linked to breastfeeding my youngest; when it was still there in the fall after he’s finished bfing I finally went to the GP).

Mine was on the side of my boob, below my armpit. It felt fairly solid, didn’t move and was also pretty smooth, I guess like an egg? (which I told myself couldn’t be cancer because it didn’t have irregular edges, which is what Google was telling me). Not painful. I convinced myself that it seemed more or less noticeable at different times (hoped it was hormonal). Turns out it’s 4 cm, which isn’t massive but also not exactly small.

Everything 🤞for you!

Hi @loubieloo4 I found my lump by accident on November the 23rd and it was firm, painful and rectangle shaped. I could get hold of it but it was attached to the muscle centre front that is in line with my armpit. My doctor gave me antibiotics as she thought it might be an infection. A biopsy confirmed a 4cm tumour. I know how you feel, it's frightening but it my just be a cyst. Contact your doctor as soon as you can. The ladies on here have been my lifeline since diagnosis.

I had a mini meltdown yesterday and talked all my worries through with my lovely daughters. I think the fact that treatment is starting this year and not next suddenly became all too real. I want it to start but am worried about it all. Just want Larry to sod off!

Also, all my work friends are looking forward to going to back to work and just before Christmas my boss swapped a staff member from another setting to work with me and we really are the dream team but as I can't work it makes me sad.

May 2021 be as kind to all of us - as we are to each other.

@loubieloo4 I have never felt a lump even though I'm stage 3! Only felt the lymph node under the arm. Everything crossed for you though.

I have a port - very smooth fitting with sedation and easy to use. I've had some pains ever since though and the incisions just never healed properly. Sent photos back and forth - and after 4 weeks went to local nurse and GP put me on penicillin for infection. Scarily, within 48 hours my hideous cough has radically improved and I feel generally much better. I guess this is why I was so ill after the last cycle - yet I never had a fever - always under 37. I was starting to worry about walking pneumonia though but I kept thinking it must just be the runny nose dripping because there was no fever. Other people were saying it sounded bad but I was in total denial.

This is really bringing home the infection risk. How on earth did I even catch these? I'm quite anxious about dd going back to school on the 11th. Cases are shooting up around us. I'm feeling vulnerable. I'd like to hibernate quietly until June.

@HumphreysCorner have you talked about sick leave with your employer - what's your plan?

@loubieloo4 If you have private health cover or can pay, you can access a breast check without GP referral via Check4Cancer. It's £250 for the consult but tests are extra & it's only at certain locations. I used this & got an appointment in 7 days compared to the 17 days going via NHS. I did call my GP before going private; they didn't bother seeing me due to Covid, just put the NHS referral straight in & I got the letter 2 days later, so all quite quick but obviously having a private option it was better to go that route & free up NHS resource. Hope you can get quick attention either way, take care.

5 days post op and I've finally accepted that I have/had cancer. Won't know until 8th January to see if they have got everything out. Or if I need further treatment.
Describing to my friend my right boob is as usual pointing towards my knees.
Left boob has a lovely scar which looks like an arrow pointing towards my nipple. Friend thinks it's to give directions to DH. As he said at his age he needs directions.
This boob is a beautiful shade of blue. And is now a lovely shape with the nipple facing forward. Do you think it would be cheeky to ask if the could improve my right.
Scar at the side is a nice and neat curve.
My waste whether it's a No1 or a No2 is like radioactive material. DH went to the local shop for bread and while there bought back some toilet paper.
This is the same colour as my radioactive material at least I'll be colour coordinated.
Keep having a cry so I'm not feeling guilty when Dh provides either cake or chocolate.
Having a take away tonight but no wine as I'm not drinking at the moment.

Reading this thread and your amazing stories of good times and bad is inspiring. As you say the club no one wants to join.

I finished 15 sessions of radiotherapy on 18 December. They warned me the treatment still worked in my body for 2 weeks. So much for no side effects Today I have a burn on my collar bone which is very painful. Can anyone advise how long it's likely to be before it goes down? I don't mind the red skin colour, but I object to the pain! I've lathered it (gently) with My Trusty sunflower oil based cream and had paracetamols so far...