Cancer Support Thread #79 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

@Bloodybridget that is a handsome shed

Thanks all for your messages. Can anyone tell me what happens when I go for my appointment? Will they just take a biopsy straight away or? I don’t know what is gonna happen. And also will I find results out same day? X

@MamaOl93 I can only say what they did for my breast cancer. They took a biopsy on the first day but told me as soon as they looked at the cells that yes it was cancer but until they sent the samples off we didn't know what type. I had an MRI and CT scan to check for further spread and was called back for my results after ten days when I got all the information and treatment plan. I started my first round of chemotherapy within a month. I don't know how it works for other types though.

Thank you for the information @PhannyPharts. Hope you’re ok x

Hi everyone. Can I join in? I was diagnosed last July with breast cancer. HER2+. I've had 3 EC and 3 Docetaxal. Now on herceptin for a year.

I also had a DIEP flap reconstruction in January which I am recovering from.

I am very happy to offer any advice for anyone considering that sort of surgery.

Much love to you all going through it.

@MamaOl93 when I went they drew a pen mark round the lump and I went for a biopsy. They drained lots of fluid out but it still left a mass so the nurse said they need to test to see what's going on in there. A week later I got the diagnosis of IDC triple negative BC. Had an MRI and CT over Christmas and New Year then my treatment started mid January. The team decided to do 9 weeks of chemo and 3 sessions of EC before an op then radiotherapy as they felt that was the best chance of survival for me.

Ladies, ironically I've received my first invitation for a mammogram being over 50 as early discovery of BC means it's better to treat. Do you think they don't have access to my notes or they would realise I'm already being diagnosed and treated?

@Bloodybridget love your shed, have a bit of a shed fetish myself. Would like a summer house to chill in.

@BadEyeBri 28 lots of radiotherapy. If I have similar I still won't be back to work anytime soon.

@ChickandLamb sorry your jab is affecting you. Have my 2nd AZ at the beginning of June.

HC x

Two injections of filgrastim brought my count up from 0.8 to 3.55! Man was I happy about that. Took Clarityn a day before and through the course, but still had some throbbing pain in mid spine area. Hoping this little pick me up can keep me on my current palbociclib dosage.

Yesterdays BSO went well although I was stuck at hospital for far longer than expected due to a scheduling mix up. Oh well, just feel tired and have a bloated tummy and a bunch of bruises but so so glad its done.

@Noidea2114 biophosphanates can also sometimes cause bone pain, especially the IV drip version, so just be prepared for that. Its not as bad as filgrastim, but it can be a light throbbing.

Hi @ChipsAndKetchup hello! I'm new here too and everyone has been lovely. How did you find the EC?

I'd like more info on the diep flap please as I think that's one option for me. How big is the tummy scar? I already have a c section scar plus keyhole appendix removal scars so one thing that puts me off is yet another scar on my abdomen.

Ha HC this cancer malarkey is a full time job. My radiotherapy is pelvic. It's been quite hardcore, every weekday for 5 weeks. I'm exhausted now.

@HumphreysCorner glad the filigrastim is working. Makes it all worthwhile when you can see it working.

Also I would imagine they've just sent a routine letter re the mammogram without cross checking - done a data trawl based on age and sent them out en masse.

@PhannyPharts the EC was ok. Better than I expected. Days 1-4 a bit nauseated and tired but I just ate my way through it. It was like a giant hangover but I still managed to function surprisingly well on it.

The tummy scar from the diep is pretty extreme. It goes from hip to hip. But it'll fade in time hopefully. The recovery was way way easier than I was expecting. And pain honestly minimal.

@Noidea2114 - when I finished radiotherapy (end of Oct 20) I had a call from the radiotherapy consultant 6 weeks later to check how my skin was etc and then they discharged me.

I’ve been having telephone consultants with my oncologist every 3 months as they are monitoring my hormone levels as I’ve been made menopausal by monthly Goserelin implants and am now on Letrozole. I’m also having bisphosphonate infusions every 6 month for 3 years. I had the first before radiotherapy and the second a couple of weeks ago. So, basically what I’m saying (in a very round about way!) is hopefully oncology will keep an eye on you for a bit longer.

@ChipsAndKetchup thank you. That helps me weigh things up. I don't know what different options I'll get yet. I'll be in chemo until at least September then I guess I'll be left to recover then have the op. I'm leaning towards an implant but only if that is the best choice on balance.

@MamaOl93 Mine was slightly different because I had been diagnosed with vaginal cancer first and had a CT scan which came back with the lump in my breast and my lymph nodes.
I had an examination from a nurse, then a mammogram and finally an ultrasound with biopsies being taken and a coil marker inserted. Final mammogram to check the marker was in the right place.

They told me that day that it was cancer but needed the biopsy results to tell me the type but my results were back within a week.

Hi @MrsPnut thanks for sharing your story on that with me - and sorry you had to go through that too 💐 I don’t know what they do regarding suspected mouth cancer but I’m assuming they will ultimately do a biopsy. It’s the waiting to know if it is cancer 😢 xx

@MamaOl93 the anxiety is horrible. My best advice is do not get yourself into a Google frenzy. Information is often wrong or out of date. Stick with sites such as Macmillan or the nhs and try to keep yourself as busy as you can which I know is almost impossible. We are here with you and hoping for good results for you ❤️

@PhannyPharts thank you 🥺 that means so much. Xx

@Bloodybridget glad to hear they sorted you out with “lotions & potions”. I have serious shed envy now. Even though I don’t have a garden.

@MamaOl93 hang on in there. This vacuum of waiting and turning all sorts of scenarios in your head in the worst. Fingers crossed 🤞for you’ll - it may turn out it’s nothing serious. But if it does the plan of treatment & what to expect will help you focus on moving forward.

I had a thought today: all this reopening of society, I can’t seem to get excited about it at all. I couldn’t care less. All this planning of going here and there, doing this and that - I almost miss the days of quiet lockdown living. (Don’t miss home schooling) Without pressure to answer questions like “What are you up to at the weekend/bank holiday weekend/Summer?” I couldn’t care less about boozing down the local boozer. Or going mad in the shops. Or going to hang off a cliff in a far-away beauty spot. Or eating out. I am awful, I know. I just can’t summon up any excitement for anything at all. At least at the moment I can’t.

@PhannyPharts you can PM me anytime and I can send you pics if you like. It's left me with a flat tummy which is a bonus and I know someone that had the implant and had it removed for a DIEP later. I just tried to keep in mind what would give me the best result long term so the DIEP was the one for me but isn't for everyone.

Very happy to talk to you offline if you like. It's important that everyone has access to all the information before making these choices so I'm happy for you to get in touch anytime x

Thanks @balkanscot. I am obviously hoping it’s nothing. My family aren’t worried at all - they think it’s just a reaction to a mouth ulcer I had a week ago, but... the ulcer is completely healed now and the lump is still very present. So who knows :( the sooner I know the better x

@ChipsAndKetchup I definitely will nearer the time if that's ok once I have my relevant options. I don't know what's possible yet until I've got the bastard chemotherapy out the way. On the positive side the first tumour I've noticed is definitely recessing to the touch which is reassuring. Not sure about the lymph nodes - they feel a bit less prominent at times or the second suspicious area because I never bothered to get confirmation if it was cancerous or not. I just told them to take it off and not bother with a biopsy and waste another week.

As no topic is off the cards. Does anyone get a sore fanjo and bumhole during chemotherapy? I know your skin becomes tender and sore but after my morning ablutions its so uncomfortable.

@PhannyPharts I'll be here anytime you like.
Trust in the chemo - especially if you can feel the shrinkage. Thats fantastic. I had the same after a slow start and then could feel it disappearing each week.
Get those feet up. It's a marathon for sure but one you can achieve.

@ChipsAndKetchup thank you. That's so kind. (All of it)