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.

@LemonDrizzle10 thank you! Wishing you and your friend a speedy recovery 💐

Welcome @PumpkinPastiez sorry to see you here. It is an uncomfortable position to be in having to push for more tests when everybody is saying they are not concerned. I think being a persistent pain in the neck with an earlier diagnosis is better than being a polite person with an untreatable cancer. My second breast cancer was only picked up when they decided to scan me to shut me up (said much more nicely but still).

@KefaloniaKid you make a good point about coming to terms with life after a cancer diagnosis. You can ignore it and get on with life most of the time but there is always the nagging fear at the back of everything that will always be there.

The puppy is called Wilma. My DD says she wasn’t thinking of the Flintstones.

All is well at Tops Towers. In laws are the right way up and DH is out cycling. I have coffee and TV politics so I am happy. Pain now only 2/10 and all good.

i dont think the Dex can still be in my system but dear me Im getting about three hours sleep a night. I have loads of admin to get through today. Has anyone applied for any benefits? I really good do with some kind of travel funding. In London theres nothing appart from the Macmillan grant which really needs you to be on PIP etc and I dont think I will qualify for any of that. My brother is leaving me for four days so I will be dusting the bunting off later. No more cooking “hot” dinners everyday. No more putting the kettle on every hour. Bliss.

I've applied for PIP, will see how that goes. A friend has said to apply for Universal Credit. The online PIP form didn't take long to complete, I took a photo of my paperwork and attached it.
My neighbour works at Citizens Advice, her colleague has a load of info to pass to me, I'll report back.
I'm a single parent, I'm heavily reliant on my friends and neighbours at the moment.

I have a UC in but Im not expecting anything as I do get paid for six months. My friend told me to get it in the system though. There is an incapacity to work form that looks straightforward if you can get hold of one.

I'm thank you for the lovely welcome

Hello everyone and welcome @PumpkinPastiez - this thread has been an amazing source of support for me, and I hope it will be for you too.

All is OK here - it is my 50th birthday today and I am 4 days post chemo (5/6 - yay!). I had assumed the day would be a write off, but I actually don't feel too bad and have some low key treats planned. DH and I went for a walk in the sun earlier while my DDs baked me cake. Plus I have lots of bigger plans brewing for later in the year. Two different sets of friends sent cards with a promise to take me to the theatre over the summer, which will be lovely. It's obviously not where I hoped to be when I was thinking ahead to my 50th a few months ago, but I am trying to be positive. Sending best wishes to everyone not in such a happy place today.

@dotty2 Happy Birthday! 🎂 Glad you’re not feeling too under the weather today and up to enjoying some treats. Those theatre trips sound fabulous. I’m always more positive when I have something to look forward to. Well done your DDs on their baking skills!

Happy Birthday @dotty2, home made cake and a walk in the sun sounds lovely, keep the cruise/huge party/facelift/shopping trip to NYC for your 60th ! xxx

Happy 50th birthday Dotty I hope your day goes as well as it can and you get to celebrate it properly again later when all this cancer treatment is over.

Happy Birthday Dotty! Hope you have had a lovely day x

Sorry I forgot to say I'm 30. :/

I can see mam tor from my kitchen window it's so beautiful

HAPPY BIRTHDAY @dotty2

@PumpkinPastiez I'm very jealous! Such a wonderful view, I've got a picture of the great ridge on my mantlepiece,

I've got champagne tonight - celebrating my lymph nodes being clear - felt like I won the lotto when I was told. My friend had to open it, we had some with our roast turkey.

@incognitodorrito I didn’t ask them to reduce my steroids as I’m pretty sure they would’ve just told me to take them but I just didn’t take all of them after the first treatment, as a friend had said she hadn’t either. I think someone said that if you’re going to react, you probably react to the first treatment and after that, there’s not so much of a risk. I didn’t take the ones after the IV at any point, and then I reduced the ones before as I went on.

I’ve not been here much, I deleted the Mumsnet app on my phone as I was spending too much time scrolling. I am now into the monitoring phase, nearly 3 months out of chemo, enjoying being able to get on with my life, but also worried like everybody else on and off about recurrence. I’ve just booked a holiday abroad in May, though it feels a bit like tempting fate, which is what I think you said @AGreatUsername - but anyway insurance will cover it if there is a problem, and it’s something to look forward to.

@DesertRose64 I was diagnosed with stage 1a ovarian cancer but high-grade serous. 1a is a fairly unusual diagnosis, so I’ve not met many other women with it.

Happy Birthday @dotty2 !

Happy birthday @dotty2 🙂

Loved all the animal pics ❤️

Did anyone have a rash on Paclitaxel and then find their skin peeled afterwards, a bit like sunburn? My hands are behaving like I’ve got really burnt on holiday….

I went on a 5 mile run today. My legs felt like lead but I wanted to do my favourite 5 mile route with a podcast like I always used to do on a Sunday pre c section and cancer and I actually made it round without walking breaks so I’m pleased about that. Bloods tomorrow and a discussion about my rash and slightly tingling fingers and I’m nervous, I don’t want them to say they’re going to delay round 6 of 8. I want it all over with, I don’t care.

Wow @WorryMcGee that's amazing! You will be back with the running club in no time. Well done. I am going to start walking round the block from tomorrow. I couldn't run before so I wont be starting now!

Happy Birthday @dotty2 I understand your disappointment that your 50th wasn't quite as you might have hoped. I had my 60th during the first lockdown and during chemotherapy. I was fed up that the band we had booked couldn't play at my party and in the end we just went to the beach and played crazy golf. BUT I won the tournament, and had a lovely day, and only a few months later the lead singer in the band who was our friend suddenly died of Covid. I realised I was actually very lucky and loved and looking back it was as good a day as I could have had under the circumstances. Life is what happens when you are busy making other plans...

Today was an excellent day. I slept well, woke with no pain and had lots of energy and felt good for the first time in months! I'm exhausted now but tomorrow is the start of my comeback!

@dotty2 Happy birthday! It might have been different to how you thought you’d spend it but now you can start planning for your 60th!

@WorryMcGee you sound amazing! I’m not a runner but I’ve always wished I was…it just doesn’t come naturally to me…I’d rather chase a ball!

@TopOfTheCliff good luck with day 2 of your comeback!

I’m now 11 days post my first chemo. Tired but ok. However, my daughter has just come down with chicken pox. So frustrating as she’s had 7 years to catch it (!!!) and we even got her vaccinated against it just before I started chemo - but it’s obvs not had time to kick in. So, my hospital doesn’t seem concerned and that I don’t need antivirals but our local gp said that if I need them she will prescribe them. Has anyone had any experience of chemo and chicken pox?

And my other questions is, what do people recommend to help the sore mouth? I don’t have specific ulcers but just a general yuck about it! Thanks in advance

@Whattodotomorrow good idea to get antivirals if you get the pox.
For the foul mouth you need an alcohol free mouth wash. The chemo nurses usually give them out but you can buy Difflam or Corsodyl I think. You can use a soft brush to clean your tongue too. The white coating is usually dead cells not thrush but if it spreads onto the roof/ sides of your mouth you might need antifungal treatment. How did I get to be such an expert?
Hope you stay well now till round 2.

My arms and legs are really heavy this morning. It’s odd! I may have overdone it yesterday. Still planning a walk though.
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Thanks for the birthday wishes, everyone. I am definitely in the frame of mind of trying to embrace what I can still do and have still got (manage it some of the time). In that spirit, I ended my day with a lovely evening out with my DDs and DH at some winter illuminations nearby. It was perfect because it felt like a treat but only took an hour and no need to worry what I looked like. (I do empathise with everyone struggling with seeing a face/body looking back at them from the mirror that no longer feels like you.)

Well done on the run @WorryMcGee - sounds like it was really good for you to reclaim that bit of you and your routine.

On the mouthwash - I've found gelclair and alloclair good. Both have hylauronic acid in, which is supposed to help re-moisturise your mouth. I think the key thing is to use a mouthwash regularly, even before it feels dry. Although horrible, I've found it's only really bad for 3-4 days each cycle so you should get some respite before the next one. And keep experimenting with different foods/drinks to find stuff that tastes nice. A non-alcoholic beer before dinner seems to help me (think it's the bitterness). And randomly, one of my birthday presents came with a packet of love hearts. I haven't eaten a love heart for about 35 years but decided to try one just now and the fizzy sourness was great. Prob not a good solution long term however (my poor teeth).

For those that remember my fears of more skin cancer on my face, I had photos with a microscope done and sent off to a dermatologist to review. I've had a message from the GP that she needs to see me, so clearly bad news as if clear they let you know that you don't need to be seen. Today I've found a third lesion close to the original invasive one. I'm a bit teary as I don't want to scare my little ones after more surgery. I do feel bad when so many of you have far greater problems, but it's plunging me back into depression.

@Novemberhater sending you huge hugs. 🌺

Really appreciate this!

Well done @Novemberhater for confronting your fears. It’s miserable when you know exactly what the implications are. You have inspired me to line DH up against the wall and photograph his basal cell cancers. He needs to get them sorted out! Also sending hugs x

I managed a pathetic half hour walk up to my allotment (which isn’t looking too bad at all) My watch then posted it on Strava for all my mates to see. I feel patronised now by the kudos 😂

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