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

@balkanscot Healthcare at home are a company that do treatments at home for the NHS and private hospitals. They do specialise in chemo at home and the team in my area is about 5 nurses of which I have met 3 already.

@MrsPnut I see. Have they given you an indication of when will be your first session at home?

Do you have a photo of your pugs that you want to share?

I have just managed to annoy DH by going crazy re: I want a CT scan/how do they know it’s a traumatic injury & not something else, etc. Thank goodness I am going to Maggie’s again tomorrow morning.

@balkanscot I need to see the oncologist first but we are working to get the referral sorted tomorrow. He needs a more involved referral than my surgeon did.
Photos of pugs attached, note lack of personal space in one of them.

@MrsPnut Cute dogs! Hope the referral gets sorted tomorrow. Do you have any idea want kind of chemo you are going to have now?

@balkanscot I honestly don't know how we can really put these fears to rest going forward. Is there more information about the scan and how they interpreted it they could give you that would help to reassure you? I often find, later, that at the time I haven't requested as much info as I really want/need.

I had the gas man in today - and he meant well, I'm sure he really did. It began with the story of the lady who developed a brain tumour after breast cancer and just kind of went downhill from there. My boiler is ancient - living on 'borrowed time'. My last words to him were: 'well, I hope I last longer than my boiler.' to which he laughed cheerily and went on his merry way.....

@MrsPnut such lovely dogs! I thought the white one was close to your DH then I realised he is wearing the other one on his head!

@Acinonyx2 my boiler is nearly 20 years old and on its last legs too. I keep having bits and pieces repaired but really I ought to bite the bullet and get a new one. Your boiler man probably thought, 'well, I'm sure I cheered that lady up today' .

@FizzyOrange Very likely he did!! Ours is over 20 years old - if it breaks down again - they won't repair it.

@Acinonyx2 my boiler man started up a scheme where you pay £20 each month by direct debit and that includes the annual service plus all parts and labour for a year. The terms stipulated that boilers over 15 years old would be exempt from the scheme. When he was over last year doing my service we were chatting and I said what a good idea it was (he has his own business and I've known him nearly as long as I've had this boiler) and he said 'I will take yours on as I know the history'. Well my history is constant call outs and repairs so I couldn't believe my luck and signed up before he left as I was worried he would change his mind. I have already had 2 repairs since then so I am already in profit

@MrsPnut check out those gorgeous pugs. I'd happily have them invade my personal space they're adorable. I hope you get your treatment and everything in place ASAP.

@Acinonyx2 I had two people tell me the stories about their aunties with breast cancer who died in a week. It's always aunties.

I know this may seem a weird thing to say and maybe you'll understand me and maybe I'm talking crazy. But I'm scared to now think of myself as ever being cancer free. Like at least when I know I have it there's certainty there and I don't want to believe I'll be free of it in case i take my eye off the ball and it comes back? I guess it's like you say you're probably never totally free of it in your head. The self confidence in my health I always had I think is gone forever.

@balkanscot sorry you are so anxious, you sound like me, I am always going over the 'what ifs' in my mind too. Hope you can offload at your appointment tomorrow.

@MrsPnut lovely dogs! I love the pic on the head. I have a Cockapoo and wouldn’t be without her - she doesn’t leave my side. Hope you get the oncologist sorted quickly.

My plumber is great but embarrassingly gave me a big hug last week with tears in his eyes - ‘why is it always the nice people’ . After trying to get a niggle sorted in the heating for the last 18 months it now looks like it will get sorted...

Hello!

Sorry I haven't been around recently - have been absolutely knocked by round six of chemo. But just wanted to say I am so sorry to hear your news @MrsPnut - that completely sucks. Hope they can get the chemo at home sorted super quickly.

Had my radiotherapy booking-in appt today. I probably have loads of questions to ask advice on but am knackered so will leave it for another day.

Sending lots of love and sympathy to everyone having shit times.

@MrsPnut very, very unMumsnet type hugs. I hope your chemo is started swiftly. You've been of so much help on this thread and if there's anything you need just shout.

@MrsPnut, buggeration, I am very sorry. Sending love and hugs. Is that handsome chap wearing the pugs your DH?
@balkanscot hope your Maggie's appointment is helpful today.

I have a rash of very itchy spots coming up around the crook of my arm, I think it might be a rash from the contrast dye from my last CT scan. I just looked it up and apparently it can take a few days to get the reaction, scan was last Saturday and spots started appearing on Wednesday. I've never had a reaction before. Anyone else had this?

@MrsPnut sorry to hear your news, thinking of you and best wishes for the chemo. What lovely pugs.

@AlbertCampion I had my radiotherapy booking in appointment earlier this week too, I hope yours went well. I was expecting pin prick tattoos and instead I seem to be covered in marker pen and plasters, so no baths or swimming for a couple of months. Although I had no disease found after the operation I need 33 sessions

@Bloodybridget He is, there is no greater love than that between a dad and the dogs he never wanted in the first place.
I tell him that at least the dogs are pleased to see him when he comes home from work.

I have spoken to the oncologist’s secretary and she has an appointment for me but needs to get to the office before she can let me know when. My surgeon’s secretary (his wife) called me this morning to pass on information and a contact number. She’s so lovely as is my surgeon.

I wallowed last night, had some wine, chocolate and crisps and now ready to plough on and get stuff organised.

@MrsPnut I hope you get some news and a forward plan soon.

Thinking of all you going through a difficult day today.

I'm in the waiting room (what I affectionately call oncowaitz) ready for round two today - the one where I'll probably lose my hair.

Ive had a phone consult with my oncologist this morning. Thought Id at least get a face to face after op. Two more rounds of chemo then a maintenance drug. Also informed me that another oncologist would be taking over, thats No.5 in two years. Im beginning to get a complex.

@Acinonyx2 DH and my Maggie’s counsellor have said that they wouldn’t be allowed to say anything if it was suspicious or not good news. Still, to be proactive and for my own peace of mind my counsellor has suggested I phone my consultant’s secretary which I have just done (answering machine but still, at least I have done it, I.e., left a message).

@FizzyOrange Thanks, I offloaded quite a bit this morning. Rewinding any hospital conversation is a double edged swords - every rewind I interpret it differently. Bloody mind and its ways of working!

@MrsPnut I love the black one doubling up as a cosy fur hat for your DH. Sounds like a plan is being put into action which is always reassuring, it gives us (at least, me) a sense of some sort of control and that things are moving forward. Good luck! 🤞

@PhannyPharts I hope today’s round goes as side effects free as it can get. Hair loss is... I wasn’t as upset as I thought I was going to be (maybe having had very short hair to begin with helped a little - I shaved it all off as I couldn’t bear the moulting and seeing it all over the place. But then, whenever I would look in the mirror afterwards I just didn’t recognise the bald, alien (puffed up with horrendously dry skin) face staring back at me.

@thereisonlyoneofme changing oncologists so many times is crap, isn’t it? Hope the new one is on the ball and that you are happy with her/him.

@Bloodybridget have you been able to get something for the spots/rash?

@MrsPnut I've just realised we're in the same YNBC Facebook group, so I've already told you that your news suck and that I hope scans etc will be swift etc. But I felt the need to repeat the part where I'm saying that this sucks. Like, it really, really sucks.

I lost the thread again as I'm trying not to spend quite as much time online. The usual intro for this thread: Aged 39, ER/PR+ HER2- IDC, finished active treatment at the end of January, now having fun with endocrine therapy and the emotional aftermath of this whole mess. And trying to move on, whatever that means.

@KentishMama it does indeed suck, and small world etc.

I have an appointment for Tuesday evening to see the oncologist so at least we can get going on some treatment.

@MrsPnut - that sounds good, and it's very soon. Here to chat through any chemo experiences etc. if that helps. And also here to swear about things as much as necessary.

@beresh- 33 sessions !? 😱. I hope the treatment centre isn’t too far way from you

@beresh holy crap. 33!

I'm home from hospital. Already thinking about dinner and feeling "off" but not ill and to entertain myself I decided to go into a Google black hole of despair. Why the fuck am I doing this? I don't know.

@MrsPnut glad you've got your appointment sorted. I guess it'll be a long four days for you. Sending best wishes

I hate watching that red stuff go in 😞

Hey all, 3 days post 2nd EC and feeling rubbish. Also turns out they didn't give me meds to take before and after the last EC and also I should have had injections to do after every double dose and after each EC which is to help my bone marrow make more red blood cells. That would explain why they keep dropping. Anyway, off to catch up with everyone's news.

HC x

Lots to catch up on, some little bits such as fiery foofs have lifted me.

Firstly, welcome to newbies and hope your stay is short but if not, once a plan is in place this is the best place to be and share. 

@MrsPnut I'm sorry to hear your news isn't too good. Thinking if you. Loving the pugs and it is the same story with my Cavapoo that DH didn't want and they are truly best buddies.

I'm a tad gutted about radiotherapy following 6-8 weeks after an op as that clashes with our caravan holiday which I hoped to go on after all treatment. Hey ho, I know my health comes first.

Back later. Big wave 👋

HC x