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.

Another one here waiting @Whattodotomorrow so you are not alone!

I found a lump at beginning Dec, had 2 week wait for hospital & was there last Tue. Like you they told me at Ultrasound that it looked 'very suspicious' and to prepare myself for cancer. I had a full in panic attack on thr ultrasound table as I had completely convinced myself it was just a cyst.

I'm back on We for official results and think I have experienced every emotion possible in the last few days. I also have kids so the prospect of this being a last Xmas with them is too much to bear.

I feel strangely calmer today though & just want the official result & a plan of action to get the ball rolling! At least we have plenty to distract us with it being Xmas next week. .Defo did not put this on my Xmas list! Lol

I will be virtually holding your hand as we go on this unknown & unwanted journey together!

. . . . And after non stop googling for 48 hours after Tue I have stepped away from Google completely!

So my post chemo CT has been rebooked for tomorrow and I’ve just found out I have an in person appointment for results Thursday! I hadn’t had the letter due to the strikes.

I’m totally panicking now. I’d accepted no results for Xmas and put it out of my mind. Now I’m petrified again. I’m going alone, it’s at school pickup time and I haven’t told my husband they’ll probably give my results, just that it’s to start the hormone blockers. Merry bloody Christmas.

Thanks Sierra I have often felt better in denial though that technique doesn't really work mid treatment but I am back to it post treatment.

Just had a call with Maggies and they have got a few interesting things will do - yoga once a week, a Where Now 6 week online course for those who have finished treatment and maybe counselling but that's for Jan as list is full. DS is still sectioned which atm is a lot harder than the cancer for me as the worse of treatment is over so I feel a bit of a fraud using the cancer counselling. Though atm I think something are suppressed so can focus on him. We will go to Paris to see MIL for New Year.

@AGreatUsername oh no, what a horrible shock for you. I've been thinking about the time frame and that would mean the results would have to be read on Wednesday which only gives them one day. You mention your CT was rebooked, is it possible that this results appointment matches up with your previous booking?

I think it does, but the CNS today said she’d spoken to radiology and they were quite optimistic it’d have been read by Thursday. They’re usually very quick as it’s a dedicated cancer centre, blood results are back within an hour etc.

I just have to hope it’s all okay.

@AGreatUsername I'm really hoping it's ok too, I'll be thinking of you tomorrow and on Thursday Xxx.

@KefaloniaKid You are exactly where I was in August, I got my biopsy results in early September, surgery in October, radiotherapy in December and I'll be starting on Tamoxifen in January, it's been a rollercoaster, one you'll hopefully stay off but the care I've had had been amazing and so timely.

I've been told I have no greater chance of getting cancer again than if I'd never had it, so just need to see how I respond to the tamoxifen and then get on looking forward.

hello. I would like to join in your thread please. I have just had a double mastectomy for breast cancer, and am finding the recovery very difficult. I dont really mind losing my breasts as such, but having a lot of problems adjusting to new body shape, with phantom pain, and balance problems. I've still got drains in, which I am finding hard to manage. I am soon to be starting chemo too

@chubbychipmonk and @Nimbostratus100 welcome to the friendly thread nobody wants to join.

@Nimbostratus100 you have dived in at the deep end with the DMX. Did you have bilateral cancer? Or did they find a gene flaw? It must be hard to adjust to it all when you start with surgery. I found after four months of chemotherapy I had got my head round the diagnosis before surgery. I had a lot of trouble with my drain and got a seroma and an infection but it all settled eventually. Do you know what chemo regime you are having?

@chubbychipmonk I was just like you when I went in first time. I’d had a cyst before so thought it was benign and when the radiologist was being serious with me and told me it was a solid mass I swore. I knew exactly what that meant. You will feel much better when you have a plan for what happens next. You really don’t need to be planning your tearful deathbed speeches yet. The chances of being here in 5 years time with a treated breast cancer are well over 90 percent for almost everybody, and nearer 98 for some.

I am feeling a bit trashed today as my wig and I went out to a small drinks party last night and DH was having so much fun I didn’t want to drag him away. I sat wearily in the corner until nearly 11pm. I’ve got no energy and look very pasty but I keep hoping I am over the worst now and will be recovering by Christmas.
I had coffee with a new friend I met on an FB cancer page which was lovely. I am trying to take it easy and avoid Covid gatherings but it’s so tempting!
Regards to all
Top x

I discovered very early on, nothing is so bad that google cant make it worse!

@Nimbostratus100 hi, I was i your position in August and I also struggled with getting better. But guess what, you will get better, just give your body time to adjust and rest up. Mine took 8 weeks in total and the last bandages came off in the 9th week.

What helped me was lots of walks with the family but that was in summer so it was easy. I had a recon so played around with different bras and vests. It kept my mind off it a little bit. Talk to your nurse about the balance problems and don't worry about your body shape, you are here and that's all that matters. You will get used to it. And stay off Instagram 😃 , that's advice for me.

thank you @Makemineadecafplease

Morning everybody, and welcome to the newbies - @Whattodotomorrow , @chubbychipmonk , @Nimbostratus100 . And apologies if I've missed anyone. Thinking of everyone waiting for results or a plan. Feel free to vent, despair, ask questions or share the trivial stuff - whatever helps.

I'm a week out from my latest chemo dose and starting to feel a bit more human. I'm aiming to get my head down to work properly for a few hours today (instead of half heartedly which I did for quite a bit of yesterday) and then hopefully I can stop for Christmas. Poor DD has really been through the mill after her dental surgery, but she was well enough to snuggle up on the sofa with me yesterday afternoon and watch a film, which was a lovely couple of hours.

@EachandEveryone - hope you are OK. Do you know if the trains are going to let you get back to family for Christmas? Hope you have people around to support you if not.

Welcome new joiners. You’ll find lots of support here and a place to rant or moan or just get some stuff out.

Results for me tomorrow. Wish I wasn’t so paranoid. I’m having real trouble with body aches, mainly my lower back but really my whole back, hips and knees. I suspect this is menopause related following surgery. The pain is never in the same place for long but still. My mind assumes the worst. I’ve had some tummy discomfort this week along with a slightly upset tummy following being ill last week and again, worst case is in my mind.

Absolutely dreading these results. I have so much to do and get done for Xmas and if there’s bad news I have no time to process and must simply plaster on some christmas cheer.

AGreatUserName snap! Ive had a hip pain on and off for a few days, convinced itsOC recurrence, despite last C A125 being stable. Ive also got balance problems and hearing loss in one ear which has gone on for 5 weeks , convinced that its brain mets ! I cant seem to type anything without making loads of mistakes which hasnt helped with this! GP appointment not available, E consult not working, and cant get through to Oncology, which is probably just as well as Im probably wasting their time. Im sure you will be fine, its the mind working overtime. (I keep telling myself this over and over ) Ive also got the dreaded lurgy but so has everyone else !

Place marking

Ive also got hip pain and have for the last four weeks. About 90% certain is a hip flexor strain but damn if Im not tired of dealing with this. Oncology said bloods look great and if pain goes with anti inflammatories then its probably skeletal-muscular. Despite all this it doesn't help mentally and I really just want to get this scan done in early Jan for peace of mind and then find a PT to help sort this out.

Overdid it yesterday visiting a friend and spent today exhausted on the couch. 10 days after surgery was probably pushing it a bit much. But so much to do for holidays and I just cant summon up the spirit at all - too achy and cranky this year to deal with all the hassle of the strike situation on top of everything else.

I’ve had an unusual reaction to a Synovic injection in my knee. It’s left me on a walking stuck and wearing a brace. It’s been 6 weeks of rubbish and I’m having a new knee just after New Year. Each time I’ve had an X-ray these last few weeks as well as when I had my MRI I was convinced they were going to tell me I had knee cancer. If there is such a thing 🙄

Cancer makes the mind play the most horrible tricks on us.

Anyone coping with a terrible cough and a hernia ! Im sure its going to get much bigger!

I feel rubbish. I saw a different consultant today who was just confused by all the referals I had. He said they now dont know if its a primary or secondary and they might just take it out a lymph node dissection. I said but its already started in the right side so what will that be a double dissection? He said im a mystery. I feel sick. Now i have to go to plastics for another appointment. I just want some action. Do you think its ok to ring the original consultants secretary?

@EachandEveryone blimey, I can't imagine what you must be going through, and yes you should definitely try to contact the first consultant

Hi all, I have an appointment with a consultant at the Birmingham Women's hospital tomorrow about cancer. I will need you tomorrow. I will report what the Doctor tells me. I doubt I will get much sleep tonight.

Hi @Vaccine001 do you want to say what type of cancer? Where on the journey are you? Im sorry you find yourself here, it’s all a bit rubbish, but there’s plenty of support here for you.

CT results for me in 12 hours so not much sleep here either!

Hello @Vaccine001 I posted on your other thread. I had endometrial cancer this year you're in a scary place, but I don't think it's a scary as you are worrying about, though no guarantees. My guess would be that they found it in your womb, and if radiotherapy has been offered rather than chemo, more likely they are worried about mopping up any cells that might have been close to your vagina, but I am not a doctor, so this is just a guess on the information that you have shared so far. Good luck, it's difficult to believe at the moment but you will feel better once you know what's going on and there is a treatment plan.

@AGreatUsername fingers crossed as always!