Cancer Support thread #78 - Newbies welcome

[MrsPnut]

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

I'd never had a general before. They told me they were starting it and I had that feeling like you are drunk and are holding on to the sheets in case you fall out of bed because the room is spinning the next thing I knew they were telling me I was awake. I felt fine when I woke up I even thought they hadn't done the operation - no pain.

Hi @ChickandLamb - I’m sorry you found yourself here but this thread has kept me going for the past 10 days. It’s like having a virtual security blanket.

In all honesty I think I’m still in shock. I feel well so it’s all surreal. I think you’re displaying tremendous maturity for your age and i hope you have some solid support irl. Look after yourself.

I’ve had 2 GA’s in the past and found them absolutely fine. The staff are so good at making you feel comfortable and relaxed - I had every faith in them.

I'm approx 5 miles from Cleethorpes. Have a car and can travel. You ladies are truly wonderful. ❤️

Good luck to us all for the week ahead.

HC x

@HumphreysCorner About an hour from me then, I have been to Cleethorpes to watch DD2 play rugby many times over the last 10 years.

@JeanLannes I think it would be odd if you weren't in shock. It's like reaching into your handbag to grab a pen and instead pulling out a piranha.

Good to hear of your positive GA experiences too. My friend has reassured me a lot by saying the operating theatre is the safest place in the hospital. So many specialists whos job it is just to keep you safe.

@Acinonyx2 I met my husband at 18 and we had our eldest when I was 20. Never really had time for a wild youth. Plan is (or was) to have a wild middle age instead. I am hoping it is early but I veer between serene calm and floods of tears. I have niggly pain on the other side and in the mammogram they found microcalcification that they said was "probably" benign but my head goes to all kind of dark places. Every time I look at my 2 children my heart breaks.

Hello everyone and newcomers. I've popped in to say I love a GA For me it is truly the best rest: no dreams, no difficulty getting to sleep, no waking up to an alarm & no expectation to do anything when you come to. Bliss! Except for the reason to have one in the first place of course.

@HumphreysCorner If the spots are around your mouth and nose, they may be due to an overgrowth of a staphylococcus type bacteria that normally would be held in check by your immune system (a bit like how thrush develops when candida goes out of control). I've had it on my last two chemos & it is sooo sore. This time I used an antibacterial cream and it cleared up pretty much within 24hrs. You have to be careful though, as it can spread beyond the skin and take hold in your system, so do keep an eye on it and check your temperature.

It is comforting to know that I am not the only one who has fallen into the financial planning black hole. A few years ago, DH and I decided to slim down our outgoings. Because I already had a long term disease and so was more expensive in terms of insurance, and because he was earning more, we decided to cut my critical illness and life insurance. Pretty gutted about that now, as I worry what would happen if the chemo hasn't worked and I end up dying before the mortgage is paid off. Not sure DH could manage it all on just his salary. Hindsight is a wonderful thing.

Good to hear that SafeFit is so popular but sorry about the waiting list. For whoever asked, they do tailor it completely to your circumstances - I started mine right in the middle of chemo and we just adapt week by week. As I am on day three of cycle six I am limiting myself to light shoulder rolls today! 😂

So sorry you've had to join us @ChickandLamb. Got everything crossed they have caught yours early. It is a massive shock and I know what you mean about just looking at your DC and your heart breaking. I would give anything not to put DS through this.

Gosh I'm another one who loves a GA! I've had loads, two recently with my port and my laparoscopic procedure, all day case stuff. It's such a great feeling to be put to sleep. Coming round is also rather nice as you are drugged up and just keep dosing off again. I always find anaesthetists to be the most personable of people who have always been reassuring and kind.

Babamamananarama the hair loss dolls arrived today as the DC's love them, thanks for the recommendation.

BloodyBridget I've got my final round of chemo a week on Tuesday (all being well), then the PET to see if it's worked. I can swallow much more easily, so it is doing something, I just hope it's enough 🙏

MrsPnut your lunch sounds delicious, so nice to be cooked for.

Thinking of you SerenaTuccot and hope the radiotherapy is manageable.

Hope everyone gets the news they want this week in terms of surgery and results. The weather is looking reasonable so hopefully we are all in for an ok week.

@HauntedDishcloth that's exactly how my spots are. Will mention it next week when I have my bloods taken but in the mean time what cream should I use. Have hydrocortisone.

HC x

@HumphreysCorner If you've got an over-the-counter cream like Savlon you could use that. Hydrocortisone would probably be ok but may be a bit strong for sensitive chemo skin - you could try a tiny bit like a patch test? If you could get to a pharmacist they should be able to recommend something which has an anti-bacterial action & if it's over-the-counter I'd assume it'd be ok to use whilst on chemo, although ideally it'd be best to check with your own medical team. They might be able to prescibe a specific anti-biotic cream & even oral antibiotics if it seems stubborn to shift. I used an antibiotic cream called Fucidun I'd had before for something else - which of course you shouldn't really do

So still no news this morning so about 10 am I emailed my BCN and within 10 minutes the booking lady was on the phone to tell me yes - the surgery is booked for the bilateral reduction and clearance on Thursday [shocked] I wonder when she planned to tell me.......?

My BCN is a doll though.

@FizzyOrange keep up that zen and denial - we're nearly there! (My zen is slipping a bi today I admit...).

@Vinorosso74 when is your surgery this week?

@Acinonyx2 it's Thursday. Same day as you I think? I'm getting nervous about it all and what the results show etc. I should just try and focus on one step at a time but it's impossible to! I feel slightly detached from it all too.
Had my pre op assessment this morning and have to go for a radioactive injection on Wednesday afternoon to help locate the lymph nodes.
Hope you're doing ok.

@Acinonyx2 I'm pleased you've had the phone call. Waiting for the phone to light up with the hospital number has been one of the most stressful parts of all of this. At least you know what you're dealing with now, not knowing is horrible. I am still in full denial even though I've started my bowel prep. I wonder when it will wear off?

@Vinorosso74 hoping your surgery goes well for you on Thursday. I am also nervous about what my results show.

@Vinorosso74 just about to go in for my pre-assessment and yes - I'm booked for Thursday too!! Quite nervous but it's all in motion now - I'm just along for the ride.

Long 2 week wait for the pathology though.

@FizzyOrange I'm sitting here watching a hospital drama on the TV before I go in - crazy but weirdly cathartic!! I keep thinking - people do this every day.....

@Acinonyx2 yes, the waiting for results is awful! I wish the surgery was the end of it but I know that's only the first hurdle.
I know lots of you have had/are having chemo but that really scares me and the length of time all the treatment takes. I just want to be ok again. It seems so life changing.

Thank you @HauntedDishcloth

Ladies, fed up with my runny nose which I think is due to the lack of nose hairs. Just been for a 7km walk and liquid pours out my nose constantly. Getting through so many tissues. Any one else suffering?

HC x

@Acinonyx2 not much notice then? 😳 my BCN is lovely, as soon as chemo finishes I will see her again.

HC x

@FizzyOrange I hope your surgery goes well tomorrow.

@Vinorosso74 thank you. The length of time that the treatment takes is very wearing, it just goes on and on and you're never 'done'. My big thing is my surgery, then it is the results of the pathology, then more chemo, then if I will need maintenance. Add in all the scans and appointments and it feels never ending. Loads of us have had chemo but remember that side effects are really individual. Someone could have the same diagnosis as you and be on the same chemo drugs and yet experience a completely different set of side effects.

@HumphreysCorner my nose constantly drips and often I don't even realise until it drips down my top! I have made my nose sore with the wiping.

@Acinonyx2 surgery really is an example of something that is done every day. I am trying to hold onto that thought too,

@HumphreysCorner had the continuous streaming nose. I usually walk with a friend and must have been quite disgusting. I could hardly fit enough tissues in my pockets. It's calming down now but still rather runny.

@Vinorosso74 it does seem like a long old road.

I'll be on the new drug till about this time next year I reckon - maybe March. I hold onto a vision of me next spring fit and reasonably healthy with hair (even if it's quite short) and nice new bosoms.

But now - surgery prep. Packing, walking - oh and of course, putting diaries and notebooks in a folder to be destroyed unopened in the even of my demise

@FizzyOrange Good luck for tomorrow, I will be thinking of you.

@Acinonyx2 Hurrah for both boobs reducing, I'm glad that could squeeze you in. At least fingers crossed they should only have to operate on you once to have tiny tits.

@Vinorosso74 The length of time for treatment really does depend on what cancer you have. I had my vaginal cancer treatment start mid Dec and I finished at the end of Feb. If that was my only cancer then I could be going back to work now. I've just got an internal examination next week and then an MRI at the end of May then I am ready to be discharged from that oncologist. It just so happens that I have breast cancer as well.
Also BadeyeBri is having the same treatment I had for her cancer and has reported feeling really sick on it when I had no problems with that but did have problems with radiation burns. We each respond differently to treatment.

@MrsPnut thank you!

@MrsPnut we should meet for tea and compare tits. Anxious as I am, I'm quite excited to have more regular boobs, scars and all. I should be excited to get the tumour out - but I'm hardly aware it's there so can't feel anything much about that.

How are yours settling in - can you get a sense of your final size and shape?

Thanks @MrsPnut and @FizzyOrange you're both right everyone is different. I'm still a newbie with all this cancer stuff but it does seem relentless. Radiation burns in the vaginal area sounds super painful!
At my diagnosis appointment, the consultant said it would be 6-12 months of active treatment. However, they were still awaiting the HER2 results at that point. I'm HER2 negative so no chemo before surgery which I guess has possibly shortened that.
@Acinonyx2 I've put a few things in a bag but should be home the same day so best not take much.
I won't be having any breast reduction as mine are small already!