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

@MamaOl93 I would call back and ask them to tell you more specifically what will happen. I can only go by what happened with me and it was a different area of the body and I don't want to give you duff advice. If you have an appointment to see a specialist they will (I imagine) at the very least have a look and maybe order tests. Don't be afraid to call back for more information as this is a very anxious time for you and being informed is key.

@BadEyeBri I'm sorry you're having a tough day emotionally. It's all such a rollercoaster

@MamaOl93 Your GP is not a specialist, they can't diagnose anything really just say that it needs a specialist to look at it.

Your appointment is to get someone who looks at faces and mouths all day long to see your particular area of concern. They may want to take a small sample of the tissue, they may be able to give you an idea one way or the other or it could be something they want to wait for results for.
Try not to think about it until Monday, worrying doesn't help even though it is hard.

I had my MRI rescheduled for this morning. It was strange - the assistant asked me if I had Xrays at the Breast Centre. Why ask me about Xrays? And also the Radiographer seemed to make a phone call half way through the MRI. Is it my anxiety talking or does this look bad?

Ok thanks @PhannyPharts @MrsPnut yeah I know I’m trying not to worry x

@ChickandLamb the anxiety can make you hyper aware of every movement anyone makes. You turn into Poirot looking for clues if you're like me. The lady who assisted with my mri came to say hello after my ct scan two days later as she saw me waiting and I read that to mean she knew I was terminal and being nice to me. Turns out she had remembered how scared I was and just wanted to see i was ok.

Hey lovelies, just a quick check in as me and EC are not BFF's. I have a real hair wig which I'm never going to use as I now am happy to go au naturel despite looking like Grant Mitchell. Hate the feeling of anything on my head so that is how I roll until my hair grows back after my last EC on the 18th May. Much love to you all, I'll catch up tomorrow.

HC x

@ChickandLamb When they asked about x rays they would have meant a mammogram as it uses x rays. From my experience I gather they like to have all the scan data available of the area to cross reference to help with their images and/or present to the specialist analysing the images.

@HumphreysCorner I'm already dreading my next EC. It's been so much harder this time.

I have thrush on my bum hole. A new low has been achieved

Oh PhannyPharts that sounds grim. Canestan? My foof is still fried and I can only use specific ointments because I still have internal radiotherapy next week. It feels like I'm weeing fire. I have to psych myself up before the loo

@PhannyPharts I would suggest Canestan too. Would some ice help to soothe the burn and itch? Make sure you put it in a thin flannel or similar before applying it - I clenched a ice cube when my haemorrhoids were bad and ended up pulling off a bit of skin omg.

@BadEyeBri oh dear, your poor foof. Would a bag of ice in a towel to sit on for a bit ease things?

I didn't even know it was a thing Back from the pharmacy armed with a pump action lotion and some other cream. Hoping for a quick resolve on it. Another thing to add to life lessons learned.

Big love to all those of you with gynae cancer and treatments. Until you enter this world there is so much you don't know or understand. It changes everything forever doesn't it? On every possible level.

@FizzyOrange I'm going to put some ice in the freezer now - Good shout

Not about pulling the skin off though ye gods!!!

@PhannyPharts just hoping you don't upgrade to thrush on haemorrhoids. I'm pleased you have some cream and potion, why a pump action though, I don't think I could aim it with that!

Hi there it’s my first time posting. I feel a fraud but don’t know where else to go, please tell me if I am not in the right place. I am waiting a colonoscopy after having bleeding from my anus, I also have the feeling of needing to go all the time. Sometimes I really force it and it comes out but just in bits ( sorry tmi) I don’t have piles but the GP saw evidence of a fissure but I think that’s me poking around and rubbing with toilet tissue too much. Anyway I am frightened that I have cancer. I am 48 with a 7 year old child. X

@Rugbygirl1973 Welcome, I’m sorry you find yourself here but we’ll hold your hand whilst you wait.
The bleeding could also be a symptom of inflammatory bowel disease or polyps in your colon both of which are manageable. I have ulcerative colitis and I had diarrhoea and bleeding for months before I went to the doctor. I kept thinking it would get better.

Thank you. I have constipation which I have had for years and until I saw the blood in Feb I thought nothing of it, now it’s a symptom! I am also worried that means I have had bowel cancer for years. I am already an anxious person but now I am going out of my mind with worry. I am driving my DH mad.

Welcome @Rugbygirl1973. Try not to worry too much. I agree that waiting is the worst part.

I was referred on the two week pathway as they found blood in my poo (I couldn't see any). I had my colonoscopy yesterday. They found 5 large polyps. Not to put you off, the equipment failed (and as there is little chance of this happening, I've taken that bad luck for you 😂) and I have to do the whole thing again at a larger hospital (due to the size and equipment failure as the place I went to could only do smaller ones).

My advice would be, to put every symptom from now on to the back of your mind - it can imagine all sorts (mine did). Follow the bowel prep to the letter, drink all the revolting stuff, but don't bolt it down, and try not to worry, it could be something as simple as piles/fissure/IBS and panic.

Oh gosh @Recorditnow that must have been awful. Does that mean you have to wait longer for a diagnosis?
Yes I know that I have to try and put it all to the back of my mind but I just feel so frightened.

Welcome @Rugbygirl1973 don't feel a fraud. Waiting is the worst bit so keep chatting about anything. 💐

Sore foofs and bums, ouch 😣 Chemo really is the gift that keeps on giving and this is my mantra that I say almost every day.

Going for flush and bloods to test my levels. Bet the evil PICC doesn't work.

Love to all.

HC x

@TopOfTheCliff when you thought you had reacted to the glue what was happening and how long did it last?

I've been back forth with hospital as I have a nasty reaction to something - probably the glue. The incisions are itchy and painful - and oozing brown serous fluid so can't heal properly. I've been scanned but radiologist said I don't have a build up of seroma fluid to drain so that's not it. Big red bubbly rash over and under the node surgery arm as well. It's a mess and I am royally fed up . Just takin painkillers and antihistamines and hoping it will settle down. They were pretty horrified but no-one seems to know what else to do.

@Rugbygirl1973 - sending a hand hold. I had similar to you a few years back. The colonoscopy showed a significant amount of high up internal piles which they sorted so as others have said there are other reasons.

@BadEyeBri @Babamamananarama - your posts really resonated with me. I really struggled with the last lock down. DH was away abroad for extended months, we all take it in turns to help care for DF who has Alzheimer’s while trying to navigate tricky family situations, home schooling, work and study. All while trying to dodge Covid. I put on weight and spiralled downwards. So by the time the days were getting brighter in early March I was like right, I’m going to get back to how I was. Capable, fun, independent etc etc ie the person I like to be and the one DH married. Then this comes out of the blue. I honestly still don’t think it’s properly sunk in. I run our complete lives - DH breezes in and out - so it is a shock for him that he’s now having to pick up some slack. I haven’t lost my hair yet though they expected it to start going 10 days to 14 days after my first treatment. My eyebrows are going to be more disconcerting. Although I’m blonde they’re naturally dark and distinctive. Think Dennis Healey tamed

I’m pretty sure my wig is a racquel welsh one but do fancy a pink one. I’ve ordered some turbans and may order gold hoops and a crystal ball!

Port seems slightly easier and legs aren’t as bad. I wonder whether the pain last week was a se of the Phesgo injection.

Really feel for all you gynae patients. Sounds relentlessly hideous. Hope all ok x

@Acinonyx2 - that all sounds rough. Do you have a community team of district nurses? When they saw me last week and checked my port etc they said for any issues with dressings, infections etc I could call them direct and they would always pop in and check anything for me? They seemed very on the ball. Hope it gets easier for you over the weekend x

@Acinonyx2 That sounds tough, I hope that it starts to turn a corner soon.

@HumphreysCorner Sending positive thoughts that your PICC cooperates today.

The nurse is coming to do my bloods today for chemo on Tuesday. I've got a two hour window for her to turn up so don't want to shut the dogs away too early. Big Ron has got a growth on one of his paws between the toes so he has to go to the vets this afternoon. He hates having his paws touched so that's going to be fun for me.