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Cancer Support Thread #81 Newbies welcome

1000 replies

TopOfTheCliff · 13/10/2021 17:27

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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7
Acinonyx2 · 01/11/2021 20:28

@Zorgothslugofdoom glad to hear that!

I have a port rather than a picc - could you get one instead?

Ilovealido · 01/11/2021 20:42

@Doofas, sorry to see you here. I’ve only just joined myself. I have a 3 year old so can relate to the adjustment between mum & dad care. It’s really hard. Does your DC enjoy sticker/ activity books? They were recommended to me as a good activity to do when I was low energy.

WeeTattieBogle · 02/11/2021 05:08

@Thymeout

Hi - I just pop in now and again. 7 yrs ago had TAH for a huge Borderline ovarian tumour, not cancer but there's a v small chance of malignancy in future so 5 yrs of monitoring. On the last one, unrelated stage 2 colon cancer was picked up. (V lucky. No symptoms.) Hemicolectomy 2 yrs ago. Belt and braces oral chemo. Only did 4 out of 6 cycles because of covid. But all clear at the moment. Fingers crossed.

@TwoBigNoisyBoys - My M.O. is to go straight to GP for anti-anxiety medication - low dose anti-depressants. I just can't eat if I'm worried. V happy to prescribe with valium till they kick in. It's routine in the USA to be offered it and it makes a huge difference if you're in for it long-haul. (Tho still hoping you're not.)

Hello Thymeout.

I read your post with interest. Was your OC of the mucinous type. I only ask because I’m grade 1a mucinous, I had a 6kg sized cyst, and it’s generally considered nowadays that those with mucinous quite often have a primary in their colon. It’s why women with mucinous are checked for colon cancer going forward along with their regular check ups.

Those who’ve had a giant tumor are less likely to have a primary in the colon but it does happen.

kimlo · 02/11/2021 06:46

I've had half my thyroid out now. Results in 2 and a half weeks.

Just after some advice. I can't wash my hair until friday. But I have blood in my hair. Any way to get it out?

MrsPnut · 02/11/2021 10:29

@kimlo Can you give it a rub over with a damp flannel? I really struggled after my surgery earlier in the year with not being able to shower for a few weeks so I feel your pain.

kimlo · 02/11/2021 10:57

I'll give that a go. Moving my neck isn't easy and I haven't really slept. I'm sure a good soak wpuld make me feel better, but it's not to be yet.

Acinonyx2 · 02/11/2021 11:53

@kimlo could you sit in a nice bath but keep your upper parts out? I've just started taking baths again 6 months after surgery (yes - I did showers!) and is a lot more relaxing.

@MrsPnut we had same kid of surgery - do you still have any post-surgery pain? I have quite a lot still and realising it's probably chronic.

MrsPnut · 02/11/2021 12:02

@Acinonyx2 I have a small amount in my armpit side but nothing major. Not compared to my extravasation pain anyway!

Acinonyx2 · 02/11/2021 12:08

@MrsPnut yes I figured that might obscure the issue!

MrsPnut · 02/11/2021 12:11

I still have quite a lump in the breast where he removed the tumour and reconstructed it.

I'm due to see him on Thursday anyway because I didn't get a clear margin so I need a second surgery very soon.

HauntedDishcloth · 02/11/2021 13:19

I don't enjoy showering or baths much anymore due to my mastectomy scar. I'm kinda ok about having had the surgery etc but obviously when one's performing ones ablutions it's more in one's face (so to speak though in reality quite a bit lower down!!). I ache a lot from chemo/meno so do have baths with masses of bubbles & make myself a temporary bubble boob Grin

Luckily I don't have any pain, just tightness in certain positions. Have you seen if a physio can do anything @Acinonyx2?

@kimlo Have you tried lots of dry shampoo on the area & brushing out? Or talc. If no joy then try to forget it & put on a beanie or scarf.

BlueistheNewme · 02/11/2021 13:25

Hi Kimlo, someone told me about these recently, they are meant to be quite good.

Cancer Support Thread #81 Newbies welcome
BlueistheNewme · 02/11/2021 13:26

They used them when they weren’t able to wash their hair, and said that it was better than the dry shampoo. I hope the photo showed up on my last post.

TwoBigNoisyBoys · 02/11/2021 15:48

Thanks @Thymeout. I got beta blockers AMA sleeping tablets from the GP yesterday. Had a call from my cancer nurse today, confirming the biopsy results say breast cancer. Have my meeting tomorrow to discuss my treatment plan, she indicated chemotherapy and surgery, as well as bone scan and CT scan but will all be discussed tomorrow. Huge huge waves of panic again.

TwoBigNoisyBoys · 02/11/2021 15:49

*and, not AMA…wish there was an edit button on here!

Doofas · 02/11/2021 16:14

Thank you @ilovealido he's probably a little old for sticker books but as I was online buying some books for Christmas I saw a book of pen and paper games so I've bought that. Hopefully that'll have some things we can do from bed.

It's hard when things change so much and you're trying to deal with all your stuff and what they're going through

kimlo · 02/11/2021 16:15

@BlueistheNewme thank you, they look perfect!

Thymeout · 02/11/2021 18:00

@WeeTattieBogle

Yes! It was a MucinousBorderlineLOvarianTumour. Not carcinoma. Cells not entirely normal but not as abnormal as ov ca. Non- invasive. I don't know where the borderline falls, but, at 1a, you must be just the wrong side of it. My lovely surgeon at St Thomas' said it used to be controversial, but now the WHO has pronounced and reclassified from 'tumours of low malignant potential'. Tho' I keep coming across Gynae consultants at local hospital who trained 20 yrs ago and haven't kept up. Awkward.

I knew that mucinous was closer to GI cancers and responded better to GI chemo than the Ov ca ones, but hadn't heard about GI primaries. I think large tumours - mine was 'over 2 kilos and extended as far as a full-term foetus', but not in the same league as yours! - are a good sign. Slow-growing. Wd surely have metastasised in the time it had taken to grow that large.

No one's mentioned a connection with my colon tumour which is relatively aggressive, but possibly it points to being more susceptible to GI tumours?

My Ca19 was being monitored. Referred to Gastro because of Ca 19 connection with pancreatic cancer. It was stable but higher than normal level. Gastro not much interested. No sign of cancer but mangled lymph node in pelvic area, surgical damage? and suggested a rescan - which Dr Dud in Gyne ignored till I raised it in annual review. Lucky I did, as scan found the colon tumour which wasn't visible 9 months before. St Thomas' were ace, but local hospital Gynae doing the monitoring - not so much. Fortunately, Colo-rectal in same hospital headed by SuperDoc have been brilliant.

How are you doing? Did you have chemo or are you on watchful waiting? Chemo for Borderlines apparently kills more than it cures, which is one reason that I'm a bit obsessive on the subject. Not just 'semantic' as one consultant told me.

Thymeout · 02/11/2021 18:12

@TwoBigNoisyBoys

I had a low dose of fluoxetine plus valium. Changed to paroxetine at some point. If beta-blockers aren't doing it for you, don't hesitate to ring GP. I know they're cautious about prescribing valium, but I only needed 4/5 with no temptation to take more.

Perhaps ask consultant tomorrow?

Bob74 · 02/11/2021 18:55

Hi all, is this thread active still? I have just been diagnosed with colorectal cancer and am terrified. Have CT and MRI scans tomorrow night. Feel like the bottom has fallen out of my world. Thank you for listening x

MrsPnut · 02/11/2021 19:02

Hi @Bob74 welcome to the thread no-one wants to join. I hope you get a clear treatment plan soon because the waiting is the absolute worst part.

MrsPnut · 02/11/2021 19:04

Oh gosh, I’ve just made the connection. It was your colonoscopy today. Unmumsnetty hugs to you.

Ilovealido · 02/11/2021 21:51

@Doofas, yes I thought he might be a little old for sticker books but glad you found something else that might work. I agree it’s so difficult in terms of managing all their emotions on top of yours. I’m just completely terrified about leaving my daughter & sometimes the sadness is overwhelming.
@Bob74, I also have colorectal cancer. I’m so sorry to hear you have been diagnosed too. I remember how overwhelming it was getting a diagnosis, I was just in shock. Over 6 months later I am still struggling to come to terms with it all. Having the scans & waiting for the diagnosis is really hard but knowing the treatment pathway does really help. And once you start treatment you get sort of swept along. Hope you are doing ok.

Bob74 · 02/11/2021 23:31

@MrsPnut

Oh gosh, I’ve just made the connection. It was your colonoscopy today. Unmumsnetty hugs to you.
Yes - unfortunately it wasn't the answer we were expecting or hoping for. I'm in an absolute spin if I'm honest. Thank you for answering xx
Bob74 · 02/11/2021 23:31

@Ilovealido sorry to hear this. How are you doing? xx

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