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

Hi, I hope you don't mind me joining. Was at breast clinic today and had a cyst drained. Due to the colour of the fluid (dark brown), doctor decided to get it tested and took a couple of biopsy samples. I don't think it will be BC but at the back of my head I'm wondering - I know it sounds mad but I've fallen asleep twice in the last couple of weeks sitting on the sofa. I have never done that, and it reminds me of my mum saying similar shortly before she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. I think I'm just rambling now, it was my mum's first anniversary yesterday so timing of my appointment wasn't great. I should know results next week. I've not told anyone as don't want to be worrying them. And I'm finding it hard to sleep as my breast is sore after the biopsy.

Please try not to worry- stress can make you massively tired and fatigued. You know you can talk to us in the meantime while you wait for the results, and we will hold your hand.

@BadEyeBri Whatever I ate on chemo days made me feel really nauseous - sometimes to the point of vomiting. So after a while I fasted on chemo days and felt much much better.
Weirdly I steadily put on weight over the 8 months of treatment. I was weighed each time and it crept up and up. Due, I think, to the steroids, less exercise in lockdown and a decision that I absolutely will not spend my final months (years?) on a diet.

@HumphreysCorner @Alittlewornout @chinateapot @Percivalthebabyspider thank you all very much. I will be in contact chinateapot.
She’s 10 with a rare solid tumour linked to ovary. Chemo underway. Prognosis is good but not guaranteed and a way to go yet. Best of luck to you all too.

Just a quick one, my new PICC works!

all the talk of diets etc.I have a very big stomach which I hope is down to the ovarian tumours, I am banking on it going down after surgery.Please tell me Im right ! (I know some of it is fat though ) Its not ascites

@thereisonlyoneofme I had an ascitic drain on Tuesday and still have a big stomach so I am certain mine is down to ovarian tumours too. I have been told by one of the Macmillan nurses that is important to eat plenty to keep your strength up and every doctor or nurse I see seems obsessed with how much I am eating and drinking.

Had an ECG which shows Tachycardia so have to see my GP.

all the talk of diets etc.I have a very big stomach which I hope is down to the ovarian tumours, I am banking on it going down after surgery.Please tell me Im right ! (I know some of it is fat though ) Its not ascites

I had bariatric surgery almost two years ago and lost weight but it appeared to me that my large tummy was determined to not go without a fight. It just never seemed to get smaller. Anyway if turned out it had been getting smaller whilst my 6 month old baby sized ovarian tumour grew and the day I left hospital I was 12kgs lighter than when I went in and when I got home and looked down I saw my pubic area for the first time in years I was shocked at how grey I was despite being grey haired for a few years now. And to tell you the truth it was really funny being able to see my knees and feet as well without having to change position.

Yay for PICC @HumphreysCorner! But the tachycardia sucks. Will GP have to refer you on?

@fizzyorange - my gynaeoncologist said to me the day after my op, all I want you to do going forward is eat good food. And that I could do because even with weight loss surgery I’ve never had trouble eating though I have now lost a huge amount of weight.

@HumphreysCorner - I’m sorry to hear that you’re Tachycardic and I hope it’s resolved soon.

@HumphreysCorner yay for PICC line working, hopefully tachycardia will get sorted quickly

Anne1958 Wow, Im looking forward to dropping a trouser size then!

@HumphreysCorner so pleased about the PICC line and it is good they are looking into the tachycardia.x

@HumphreysCorner
I have sent you a PM. Try going to the My Mumsnet button top right of the page and click on it then the Personal Messages box. You can send to me at TopOfTheCliff without a @
I got told off today! Too much exercise has made things inflamed and I have to sit quietly for at least two more weeks... I may go nuts!

Regards to all. This too will pass...
Top

Hello all, joining you on the bench here in the wake of a diagnosis of high grade lymphoma (diffuse large B cell) with quite a scary emergency hospital admission a fortnight ago (huge tumour in chest squashing my heart and lungs), rapid diagnosis and my first round of chemo. Been home a few days now and waiting for my head to stop spinning and to try to process it all.

I'm 41, kids are 7 and 4.
My prognosis is good statistically, but I've got 5 more rounds of chemo ahead, each one requiring a 5 day in patient stay to be on a four day drip, which with no visitors allowed I am feeling quite daunted about.
I'm also now feeling quite sad about the prospect of all my hair falling out, which I've been told is pretty certain. Initially it felt like a small thing in the big old bargain, but actually I think it's gonna make me really sad when it happens.

Welcome @Babamamananarama to the thread no-one wants to join. Pull up a chair, the booze is over there near the crisps and try to relax.

Evening all, I have post partum parts again! It’s a week since my last brachytherapy and they have been getting worse since then.

None of the gels or ointments are making it better and the flaminal today made it so much worse. We’re having pizza and wine tonight because there is no way I am cooking.

@Babamamananarama Good grief - you poor thing, that sounds like a real whirlwind. I'm so sorry to hear about the chemo hospital stays. That would daunt me, too, especially with young kids at home (mine are 2 and 8). Glad to hear that the prognosis is good. Honestly, the hair thing won't seem like a big deal for long. I think it's one of the biggest concerns for most people embarking on chemo (it was certainly one of mine, along with my pathological fear of needles!), but really the worst part is the anticipation. Once it's gone, you just get used to it and get on with it. And it actually saves a lot of time in the mornings! ;)

@Babamamananarama hello lovely, you are absolutely in the right place. What a lot to take in, keep posting. Since I lost my hair it is so easy to get ready as no hair or makeup to do then put a beanie or head scarf on and a mask. One less thing to stress about.

Going to monitor my heartbeat then contact the Dr, it might mean being put on beta blockers which I'm not keen on.

5 more chemos, operation then radiation.

The best news I got today was that DS has been accepted for the school bus after I appealed. A big relief for me and a saving of £570 a year.

Big wave 👋

HC x

Thanks backformore and humphrey.
Ironically I've been moaning away about having a bad-hair-year (having missed haircuts due to lockdown), and then last month I just got stuck in myself with a razor-cutter and gave myself quite a decent low-maintenance curly cut (I cut the rest of the family's hair) so a bit bummed to have that learning curve cut short. Maybe I'll experiment with some punk chops on its way out. And I guess maybe it'll grow back curlier.

I'm very lucky to have recently moved 5 minutes away from my parents who are in our childcare bubble, and who can be very on-hand when I'm in for chemo and support DH.

Very glad of the company here - lots of wisdom to absorb.

Hey @HumphreysCorner if you are taking heart/pulse rate at home don't rely on a smart watch or Fitbit they are really bad at catching extra or fast beats and will sometimes count double. Do a manual count. Sorry if you already know this. I'm working all weekend but it gives me something to focus on rather than crapping myself about my PET/CT next Friday.
Be good everyone and if you can't be good be safe

@BadEyeBri no I didn't realise about my Apple Watch readings. I think I need to just chill out after today's nasty double chemo and ignore my watch.

HC x

Great PICC news, Humph!

Just to fill you in- apparently my bloods revealed that I was likely to have serious side effects, so the chemotherapy is now no longer on the table. I've also been taken off the Fulvestrant as it isn't working. It is yet to be explained to me why my oestrogen-blocker has als been withdrawn, but I daresay I will hear soon.

Basically, my treatment now consists only of painkillers, and the associated laxatives needed to counteract their constipation effects!

I feel pretty well at the moment, so this is all a race against the Covid restrictions being lifted if I am to see anything of the wider world before I go.

I feel somewhat abandoned, I won't lie.

@HumphreysCorner sorry to hear about your heartrate. I just wanted to reassure you that I have been on beta blockers for over a year now and feel loads better. What is it about them that makes you feel worried?