Cancer Support Thread 84 - gently crunching our way into autumn

[mowly77]

New thread as old one about to be full. As those who have been around far longer than me have said: Welcome. Pull up a chair, help yourself to a biscuit, a large gin, or a detox tea. Or all three. This is a supportive thread for anyone with cancer to discuss how things are going, ask for advice etc., vent, scream, or discuss life in general.

Please feel free to join for support if you are going through tests as well, hopefully they will come back all clear, but if not we are here to hold your hand through the journey.

Hello to all my old friends here, and those I don't know.
I was initially dg with ovarian cancer in 2019, and I was action these threads for a long time, a great source of support.
My cancer was relatively slow to progress for the first three years, but is now advancing very fast, and I was told today that it's very unlikely I can have any more treatment apart from palliative care. My prognosis is poor - a few months; which given fairly catastrophic bloods, may actually mean a few weeks (but of course I don't know).
I'm in hospital atm, desperate to get home which may happen in a couple of days. I don't want to die in hospital, we are in touch with the local hospice.
I don't think I have the strength to really engage online again, but I want to send you all my love, thanks and respect, and to wish you the best lives possible whether long or short (paraphrasing ER!).
I will ask a friend to post here when I go. Hope this doesn't come across as self important - I have wanted to know when thread friends have died.
Bridget xx

@Bloodybridget . It's Catnidge here. I have name changed. I've always kept and eye on your posts(hopefully I don't sound too much like a stalker )

Sorry to hear how much things have now progressed. I hope you get the move to the hospice sorted and that you are kept comfortable.

Sending strength and love to you and your partner.

Oh @Bloodybridget so sorry to hear this. You were the "mum" of the thread when I joined & so supportive to everyone - thank you for that. Of course it doesn't come across as self-important. Wishing you peace xox

Oh @Bloodybridget I’m sorry to hear your news, you were so kind to me when I found myself here. I’ve always been in awe of your ability to reply to everyone no matter what was going on with you.
I hope you manage to get out of hospital to somewhere more restful and enjoy your remaining time with love and good painkillers.

Bridget, thank you for all you have been to everyone here.

Thank you for helping me to find courage where none existed.

You and yours are in our thoughts and I wish you the joy of each other in the days ahead.

xxxxxx

@Bloodybridget sorry to read your update. You have been a great support on here so thank you.
I hope you get out of hospital soon.
Sending love x

@WorryMcGee I was similar to you in that my nodes appeared clear on ultrasound and MRI. Even after surgery the surgeon said they looked good. However, they found cancer in 3/5. I burst into tears when he told me. I then had a bone and CT scan which brought out the full scanxiety.
I had chemo then full axillary node clearance. Turns out the rest of the nodes were clear and there never had been any cancer in them. That was a bit hard to take in. There is an Optima trial which I could have taken part in but declined. They are trying to see if chemo does benef

...if chemo does benefit women with hormone positive cancer with a small number of nodes affected. You could ask about that as you then may not have chemo (assuming you're suitable and your hospital is part of the trial).
I did use the cold cap. It was bearable but I lost over half my hair mainly on the EC chemo. It did start growing back when I was on Paclitaxel. The nurses did encourage me to continue with it and am pleased I did. My hair was a weird texture for a while but it's settling down now.

Bridget your kindness helped me so much when I first posted on here and I'm so sorry to hear your update. I hope you do get home from hospital. I
We're hoping to take my son to Norfolk soon and although it's always been beautiful it will hold a even more significant place in my heart where I will remember my friend I never got to meet in real life.
Of course we will want to hear after your death you hold a very special place in people's hearts on here . Much love to you and yours xx

@Bloodybridget I don’t think we’ve ever crossed paths but I have read a huge number of these support threads in search of companionship since my own diagnosis this year. Your ability to remain upbeat and reply to (and remember!) everyone was quite remarkable. I wish you peace, and your partner and family too and I am so very deeply sorry to hear your news.

@Bloodybridget I'm so sorry to read your update. You were so kind and helpful to me when I first joined the thread for which I'm so grateful. I was always in awe of the way you replied to each poster with your generous and supportive comments. I really am hoping you get out of hospital soon and am sending you all my love Xxx

@Bloodybridget I hope you get home soon x

@Bloodybridget I do hope you get home asap. You have been such a support to us despite your troubles.

@Bloodybridget ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

I had my lumpectomy yesterday, I've got dressings on my breast and under my arm that feel like micropore tape, so not waterproof.

I remember being told to keep it dry for 48 hours, but I don't remember any advice after that, can I just shower normally but carefully after that? What if it comes off?

Definitely wasn't paying attention, it has to be kept dry for two weeks, so below the waist showers/baths only and a wash with a flannel everywhere else and no deodorant.

I've booked two appointments at the hairdressers so I don't have to attempt hair washing.

@Bloodybridget it was disappointing to read your update, especially as you were quite active on the threads when I first found them about a year after being diagnosed. I hope you can escape the hospital soon and have your last days filled with family and love and smiles. Take care.

@Bloodybridget another relative newbie, but I read many of the old threads when I first found myself on here and yours was a wonderful voice of calm, care and reason. Thank you so much. I am manifesting your escape from hospital to hospice. Go well.

@Bloodybridget another fairly recent newbie. Sending you love and hope you get your wishes. And thank you for everything you have given to this corner of mn. 🌺🌺🌺

Hope you're feeling ok today MrsMontyD. I had my lumpectomy on 21st September, and was given fairly conflicting advice from different people in the hospital.

Initially I was told to keep the dressings on for two weeks, but I could use a flannel to wash. But then the breast care nurse called, and when I questioned said that two weeks was too long, and I should get the top dressing off after a week, and then the sterastrips (?) over the wounds would slowly peel off over the next week or so - which they did. Hope that helps!

Wishing you a speedy recovery!

@ajandjjmum Apparently I told DP it was two weeks when he picked me up last night, but I'd had extra morphine and couldn't remember this morning. There's no top dressing, just something like micropore tape, a strip on each incision.

I've got an appointment at my doctors on Tuesday for a wound check so it'll get changed then and the nurse might put something more substantial on it.

I definitely had a dressing over mine, so that would be different.

When DH came to get me, I walked in the opposite direction to him - he was a bit insulted!

@ajandjjmum They should have given DP any instructions that weren't written down, I thought I was ok but apparently I was amusingly high 😂

My blood pressure was quite high and I was cold in recovery so I got extra morphine and a nice blotchy reaction.

@Bloodybridget I hope things are calm, comfortable and peaceful for you.

My results today came as no surprise. I have a small tumour (11mm) in my lung. Definitely cancer. So starting SABR in the next couple of weeks.