Cancer Support Thread #81 Newbies welcome

[TopOfTheCliff]

This is a kind and friendly place for those with cancer or those worried they have cancer (or who used to have cancer) to hang out.
Please introduce yourselves and chat away. No issues are too big or small here.
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Thanks again. Today was definitely better in terms of pain, albeit still not leaving contact with a bathroom.
I hope your meeting tonight gives you what you’re hoping for MissSmiley

Got bloods taken today prior to starting chemo, then told I wasn’t actually booked in as they were hoping for a cancellation. Was starting to feel like a bit of an afterthought then had a phone call at 6.00 to say could turn up tomorrow at 2.00. I presume though, it will depend on the results of my bloods today…I have poorish liver function so cannot take anything for granted.
@MrsWooster glad today a bit better, hopefully you’ll keep going in this direction.
@MissSmiley, that was a turnaround!

@Podgedodge I hope your blood results mean you can start tomorrow 🤞

@MrsWooster had a right old palaver getting a cannula in for the contrast, ended up with three bruises and a burst vein in my hand that's basically a blood egg! It all felt very real tonight, I was shaking the whole time, really grateful for my friend who drove me, we had a laugh, we've been friends since we were 11, I'm terrified about getting the results but at the same time want to just get the surgery over with.

Hello lovelies, thinking of you all. Hit me quite bad just before Christmas as it was a year since my BC diagnosis. Still here but still freaking out. My meeting with the surgeon seems to be delayed.

Love to all x

Had mastectomy on 17th Dec, drained on 24th, recovery has been very easy and very little pain, some excess fluid but doing 30 mins exercise a day from all my fleece bedding of course and that has shifted almost all it. 4 week wait for results due on 14th, radio, likely everyday for 3 weeks M to F and hormone therapy are a definite, and more surgery to remove lymph nodes and chemo are maybes. Hoping to avoid the chemo but a really big lump so we will see.

Waves to TwoNoisyBoys, good to hear your update, always seem to bump into you in rest of MN, hope the treatment is not too bad. As no hospital for 3 weeks I decided I could get the excitement from dental appointments so had one today and 1.5 hour one on 15th private but dentist was so kind and took an hour with his assistant and only charged me £52.50 with free x rays next time. Need 2 fillings but lovely turtles were appearing and can have music of my choice during it. Hope everyone's treatment is going OK.

I saw the oncologist last night and I have a dental x ray tomorrow, then an appointment with a max fax consultant before I can have zoledronic acid infusions.

Radiotherapy planning CT in 2 weeks and then 20 sessions of radiotherapy staring roughly 2 weeks after the planning session.

Hi @Silkieschickens (waves wildly) yes we come across each other everywhere but here, I think! Hope you’re doing ok…you’ve reminded me I need to make a dentist check up appointment!

I wanted to update: I had the chemo on New Years Eve and it was fine, as was day 2 and most of day 3. By the end of day 3 I had awful muscle and joint pain, nausea, diarrhoea…awful and throughout day 4 was far beyond what I hilariously thought I’d ‘prepared’ for. Day 5 was pretty bad, but easing enough to get out of bed for an hour in the evening. Today, day 6, I’m exhausted but actually where I thought I’d be: tired, unwell, for to take the piss out of the kids and eat some tea watching a film with them.
I wanted to say it because I know I use these forums in part to get a sense of what the hell this might be like and knowing that it can be shit-and then be ok again might be useful.
KBO.

Oh, @MrsWooster, I started my chemo today. Am dreading the next few days, but thanks for the reminder it will get better again. Can I ask, did you have all the anti sickness etc drugs to take and they didn’t help? Did you have to contact the nurses? Or did you just ride it out?
I am glad you are feeling a bit better now and I really hope that continues.

I wore the cold cap and now have a thumping headache, but atm otherwise feel ok, and am eating now while I can!
Thank you for taking the time to share, and thanks to everyone on this thread as well, it really helps to know we are not alone. Xx

Oops, sorry for xs, forgot where I was…

I’m glad you’ve started. Bloody well done on the coolcap-I folded like a tent after 3 minutes.
I did have the anti-nausea tablets and I’ve only actually vomited once, tho the nausea itself is debilitating. The muscle joint pain may well be a function of inflammatory stuff-I have diabetes-so may well not effect everyone.
I suppose we’ll all have our different vulnerabilities to this process and all we can do is Keep Buggering On and wait for the next, better day.

Waves at @HumphreysCorner >>>>
Wow a year since I finished IV chemotherapy and had my operation! I remember when you first posted xx You have come a long way!

I’ve been forgotten by the surgeons
Still waiting for the mammogram result from Dec 17th but I reckon no news is good news
I have hauled myself back to the gym rather reluctantly to get back in the groove. Not feeling that keen this week, I’m still hoovering up the chocolates after Christmas. I think the aches and pains are here for good now. Perhaps I should settle down and become a knitting grandma instead of a bold adventurer.
I expect I will get my mojo back once the weather improves it’s just making me want to hibernate at the moment.
Love to all xxx
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Bold, knitting, adventurous, granny Top?

I am fine TwoNoisyBoys just waiting for biopsy results on 14th so a 4 week wait which feels like forever but at least had Christmas, son's birthday, operation recovery (very easy) and can fit in my dentists. Hope you are doing as well as you can be. Dentist said definitely to go to them during both radio and chemo esp if get dry mouth as you need some saliva replacement drink or something like that, sounds delightful though relative to everything else will be like a nice cocktail.

Top I think with all your exercising you are definitely due a hibernation under some fleece bedding. I do exercises from home 30 mins a day and put on cheerful music. Nothing too strenuous just things like the Pamela Reif beginners videos. Though am resting last 24 hours as I got pain, does appear not a great idea to do these on your mastectomy arm. Oops.

DH was very pleased with himself when he washed my surgery bras then the insert fell out one side and he discovered you could put 2 inserts in the one side and non in the other and I now looked balanced. The hospital forgot to give me a softie thing though tbh don't especially need one and now look even enough with it being winter especially and I feel so light now, my breast cancer lump was like a rock that was heavy and caused stabbing pains, so much nicer without it. Think the surgeon likely to have found lymph nodes aren't clear from way phrased despite scans being clear but we will see.

Appointment just brought forward to 11th as they had a cancellation, that is better as its 3.5 weeks from surgery.

Hi everyone, I'm reading everyone's story and wishing you all the best.

I found out today that they're discussing my case at the sarcoma MDT on Monday, I have the number of my sarcoma specialist nurse now who is lovely. She'll call me right afterwards to tell me the results of the CT scan and what they are proposing.

In other news, I had an emergency referral to the eye hospital yesterday with a painful red eye, they think it's scleritis so I'm signed off work for two weeks while I do 7 lots of steroid eye drops a day, back to see them in a week. I can't believe my luck at the moment. It might actually be a sort of silver lining as I was considering getting signed off until I find out what the plan is with my surgery but now I have no choice and my boss has been very understanding and sympathetic so far. The eye pain is rubbish but it's taking my mind off the cancer.

Hi all.

I'm hoping for some advice here regarding itching from zoromorph and any healthy food supplements.

I've been feeling pretty rubbish all year and kept being told I'd got gastritis and given PPI's only to get progressively worse until it was discovered I had a failing liver and was sent to hospital for observation where it was discovered I've stomach cancer. I've had to have an endoscopy and ct scan repeated and these've happened this week.

My current difficulties are that the zoromorph makes me itch and oxycodene had me near suicidal,so zoromorph it is.
Has anyone else had success with resolving the itching as a side effect?

My next question is around food- I've the appetite of a sparrow and'm looking for a powdered supplement that doesn't contain seed oils or is laden with sugar. I've always eaten 'cleanly' and batch cooked my own food from scratch so artificial flavours are impossible for me to stomach,the smell alone makes me wretch.

Sorry I've not RTFT, so'm not sure if this's already been discussed and appreciate any advice or suggestions you lovely lot can help with.

Mutha I would check with your medical team about the itching but I get itching with meds sometimes and an anti-histamine a day can help but check with your team that would be OK.

@MuthaFunka61 I agree with silkier, those meds often make you itch, an antihistamine might help

I have duodenal cancer and a generally dodgy digestive system and I love Huel meal replacements if you want to look into that, otherwise you can get calorie rich drinks from the pharmacy, you should be talking to a dietitian I guess

@MuthaFunka61 I would check with your team before buying any supplements as the added vitamin content can conflict with other medication you're taking. There is some good advice on the Cancer Research site about how to boost your calorie intake without consuming more food, if that makes sense, things like using whole milk, using butter instead of low fat spread, eating fromage frais rather than low fat yogurt. Have a look under 'Managing Diet Problems with Cancer'.

Thanks for your responses.

I've spoken with the nurse who's in charge of my care and the dietician but all they're coming up with are food supplements which I can't tolerate,hence me asking here. I will take a close look at Huel @MissSmiley,it sounds like it's along the lines of what I think I need.
@FizzyOrange,thanks for your suggestions too. I don't eat low fat products due to the ingredients and've come to the end of my tether as I don't seem to be able to get the nurse to understand what I'm telling her,no matter how many times I repeat myself. It's frustrating.

I'll ask my GP for some antihistimes when she calls later today. I'm at a loss as to why this hasn't previously been suggested and so wondered if I was missing something,again the reason for me asking here @Silkieschickens. I'm thinking I may need to ask for a change of nurse.

@MissSmiley,can you recommend any of the Huel products?

I'm thinking about the original or unflavoured powder to add to smoothies or soups,have you tried these?

@MuthaFunka61 I use the black protein power at home or the ready to drink bottles, I sometimes survive on these 100% they're plant based and gluten free (I'm coeliac and lactose intolerant too) each "meal" is 400 calories so you know exactly how much you're getting

@Thymeout Well teeth are still giving me gyp. Been out with the dog come in and whole mouth aching! Had special toothpaste from the Dentist but it doesnt help. Its random because went out this morning
in the cold for half an hour and came in and nothing ! My dentist is off sick at the moment apparently. Roll on the warm weather !
I finished chemo in June , also have had 2 lines now and not had a problem before. I will have to take myself off to a private bod I think (but not yet)

"TopoftheCliff" can you take me in hand please . I need jolting out of m y armchair , Kilimanjaro anyone ?