Cancer Support Thread 85 - Hoping for a positive 2023

[AGreatUsername]

Starting a new thread as the old one is almost full.

Welcome one and all, this is a thread for those with cancer and those who are awaiting tests for cancer. We offer support, a place to rant/vent/cry and ask questions without judgement. As always maybe we can do a quick who’s who at the start of this thread for newbies.

Heres hoping for a positive 2023 for us all.

I was diagnosed with stage 3a low grade ovarian cancer in May 2022. I have had radical debulking surgery followed by 6 sessions of taxol/carbo chemotherapy.

I had my post treatment scan results this week showing NED so I am moving into 2023 bald, but hoping to regain some peace and hope and better mental health!

Hi, please can I join this thread? I don't have cancer - but my fiancé (soon to be husband in January) has not long been diagnosed with stage 4 oesophageal cancer - staged at T4a N2 M0. possibility of surgery, caveats of clear washings, good chemo response etc.

People have been great but its so raw, real and awful. The thing is, my lovely OH is fine in himself - well mostly fine, and we try to be as positive as we can be.

We only got engaged in July, been together 3 years - its not fucking fair.

Thanks for new thread Great Also hoping for a better 2023.

Breast cancer x 2, 2 surgeries, chemo, radio and now hormone therapy and awaiting reconstruction but a long wait.

So sorry to hear about your nearly DH Jax and of course you can join.

Hoping everyone manages to enjoy at least some of Christmas and New Year. Our son is still sectioned and very distressed in hospital so not the greatest Christmas for us (just want to bring him home but not allowed to) but we will stay in a hotel close to him tomorrow night and see him after being with our daughter first. Going to Paris to see inlaws for New Year.

@Jaxinthebox I’m so sorry to hear of your fiancés diagnosis. Cancer is so unfair. When are they looking to operate? It’s such a massive blow for you, will you be able to go ahead with all the wedding plans still? I hope so.

operation is contingent on the washings being clear, and he hasn't started chemo yet. wedding is in 3 weeks so I hope so. he doesn't have a feeding tube or anything (yet) but they said it would probably happen soon, although he is continuing to eat and drink albeit pureed/blended/smoothie food

@Jaxinthebox I am so sorry for your situation and I truly hope you have your wedding but this thread is for people with cancer. There is a support thread for partners and family of someone with cancer.

For my introduction, I was diagnosed with vaginal cancer in Nov 2020 and then following a CT scan I got a breast cancer diagnosis too.
Breast cancer was Stage 3 grade 3 Er and Pr + HER- and my lymph nodes were involved.
I had chemorads for Christmas 2020 then 3 rounds of brachytherapy. I had a double mammoplasty and full node clearance to discover all nodes had cancer and all the tissue supplied with them.
8 rounds of FEC-T followed with an incident at half time which held up the rest of my treatment.

I now have a full bingo card of side effects but I have been back at work since April and I can look on the bright side.

Hello all, bc diagnosed in aug 2021, lumpectomy, chemo, radio and now on long term meds, some side effects but rebuilding.
as others have said, waiting for a plan was the hardest part.
very best wishes to you all.

I’m looking forward to a Christmas without cancer treatment except I had a PET scan a while ago and my hip is lighting up much more than 2 years ago. Much tooing and froing and it appears to be arthritis so my oncologist was just see you in 5 months!
I am also affected by the lidocaine shortage, I’d switched from 5% ointment when it went out of stock in August and now 4% cream is also out of stock. I have a vulval ulcer that won’t heal and I need the lidocaine so I can sit down and wee without hitting the roof. I need to do some research for another alternative.

I was diagnosed with BC in June 2021.lumpectomy,chemo and radiotherapy then followed. Just finished my last Herceptin on Wednesday and will continue with Anastrozole for the next 5-10 years.

Last Christmas I was in the middle of treatment, bald and feeling pretty rough. This Christmas is SO much better and I'm feeling grateful and quite emotional.

I've been back at work since April and apart from a few niggly side affects life is good.

We have 10 for lunch tomorrow which I'm so looking forward to and then we're off to Edinburgh for New Year.

Merry Christmas to you all and I hope you get to enjoy your Christmas.

Christmas wishes to all old friends on the thread & new posters I haven't been fully acquainted with. I'm 2yrs post BC diagnosis (HER++, stage 2b), treatment-wise I had FEC-T chemo, single mastectomy, radiotherapy, Kadcyla, Herceptin & now on hormone suppressing daily tablet for 5-10yrs. I'm 2months post DIEP breast reconstruction surgery and all seems to be going reasonably well for me - at the moment, that being the massive caveat.

Sending supportive vibes to everyone needing them!

Thanks for the new thread. I was originally diagnosed this year with stage 3a grade 1 endometrial cancer after a hysterectomy, then going for a second opinion as I thought they were wrong about treatment the Royal Marsden found a tiny spot of 1a high grade ovarian cancer and a couple of other things my hospital missed.

I had chemo that finished in November, I refused radiation (new-ish research and guidance plus my second opinion indicated it's no longer necessarily recommended in my situation) and am now just on check ups. It's a bit weird to just be set adrift after all the hospital visits but looking forward to getting my life back, though I did work all through most of it.

I am terrified. Fuck cancer. I'm angry at the surgeon

@AGreatUsername thank you for the new thread.

I was diagnosed in December 2020 with stage 3c ovarian cancer. I had 6 cycles of carbo/taxol with major surgery after the fourth cycle. I've been on the PARP inhibitor Niraparib as maintenance chemo since October 2021.

Thinking of all of you on this thread and hoping for a better 2023 for us all Xxx.

@MrsPnut thank you I tried searching for the support thread first, I will try again. I wish you all well.

I was diagnosed with BC in September following a routine but thankfully early mammogram. Stage 1 so lumpectomy and I've just finished radiotherapy, starting Tamoxifen as soon as it's prescribed. Hoping to be back at work in a couple of weeks depending how the Tamoxifen goes. Currently having an arthritis flare up (potentially triggered by the RT on top of the RT side effects.

Hope everyone has some peace this Christmas.

Happy Christmas folks.
I found a breast lump during lockdown in May 2020 and had treatment for triple positive BC with the kitchen sink regime of chemotherapy surgery radiotherapy Herceptin hormone blockers and Zolendronic acid infusions. I had a complete pathological response but broke my ankle badly during chemotherapy and took a year to get back my fitness. I am a cyclist and sailor so in spring 2022 I sailed solo round the UK while my husband cycled raising £12000 for Macmillan Cancer Support.
On our return I found a tiny lump in the opposite breast and hey ho it’s a Triple negative BC for which I have had chemotherapy and await surgery and radiotherapy. Good news this week the gene test was negative. Bad news I now have Covid so all my Christmas plans are cancelled. I am the unluckiest person on this thread (@MrsPnut might disagree) but I stay ridiculously cheerful and resilient because I am made that way.
Currently I am sitting in bed munching cherry liqueur chocolates. DD is bringing Christmas dinner over later. I don’t feel too bad just tired and aching and sniffing. Has anybody had Paxlovid? I will hear about it tomorrow I expect.

Sending best wishes to all. @Vaccine001 are you okay? Do you have kind family you can lean on? There are great phone apps like Calm or Headspace for when your mind is going out of control. Hugs xx

Top x

Jax I hope you can still have a nice wedding. This is a link to the support thread to others with a partner with terminal cancer, its nearly full but they will make another one www.mumsnet.com/talk/life_limiting_illness/3942076-Still-the-storm.

Hi, I’ve posted on here before. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in April this year. I had lumpectomy and radiotherapy and I’m now on tamoxifen. I’ve struggled a bit with side effects of meds but I’m coping.
A couple of weeks ago I thought it would be a wonderful idea and a challenge (as I’m an introvert) to go to the Canary Islands by myself over Christmas.
Bad idea! I feel so lonely and without the distractions of home it’s given me too much time to think. I’m in an adults only hotel an it’s all couples. I’m single since discovered my husband, who I’d known since infant school and loved dearly was having multiple work affairs and paying for young escorts.
I”m also convinced my cancer is still lurking somewhere as I was so fatigued for 2 years prior to diagnosis and I used to get a weird anaphylactic type rash every day for a year before diagnosis. That rash never appeared again after my lumpectomy which makes me think the cancer was travelling about in my blood prior to tumour removal.
So sorry to do that emotional vomit on Christmas Day to you all and I know you’re all going through it too. I wish we could have a group hug.
on the plus side the weather has been beautiful and I plucked up courage to speak to a couple staying here and they invited me to spend Christmas evening with me. Coincidentally, they live about a mile from me in the UK and are similar age.

I was diagnosed late Sep 22 with triple pos, grade 2 (now upped to grade 3) BC, stage 1. Mastectomy with immediate recon in Nov. A further op to ensure clear margins a few weeks ago and chemo to look forward to in 2023 but hopefully no RT. I am 45 with 3 children (12 & 3 & a very needy Sprocker) and hoping to get back to work in Jan. Husband and I were divorcing but reconciled a few months prior my diagnosis. Hope your all having the day you wanted today.

@Mycatispretty it’s hard not to imagine what’s lurking and hasn’t been picked up yet. Id gladly have my other breast removed asap to reduce any comeback changes but it wasn’t an option and I need to get the chemo out the way first. Your separation & divorce sounds a shock to the system with what you discovered. Im glad you’ve found a nice couple to have dinner with. Id gladly join you in the Canaries, as much as I love my family, I love spending time alone and would love a solo trip away. @Vaccine001 would you consider calling the macmillan hotline ? I was in a bad emotional space after my diagnosis and it really helped talking to someone outside my immediate family.

Diagnosed on Wednesday. Am flabbergasted. Breast cancer stage 2 no other info. Waiting for mri. Feel alone and in the dark.

@lostintranslation78 so sorry your in the club no one wants to join. I can only say that knowledge is power and when you have more information and a treatment plan you will feel more in control and less scared. Sending you big hugs

I wish I had a partner to give me a cuddle, pick up the slack but all I know is I’ve still got to parent, get through this and look after myself. I go from being mindful to crying uncontrollably to deep sadness.

@Mycatispretty thanks for the virtual hugs