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 was it today you saw the oncologist? Or next week? I’ve lost track. If today I hope it went well and you felt you could ask all you needed to.

Good memory @TopOfTheCliff - I saw the oncologist yesterday. I've just got the fear of starting the whole process now. Half of me is eager to get it started and the other half is absolutely terrified of how I'm going to feel.
Consultant gave me a ton of paperwork regarding side effects and a list of what I need to get.
Didn't sleep very well again last night.

@WorryMcGee don't be hard on yourself- everything is worse in the middle of the night: especially if you've had no sleep. 🌹

o my goodness, I dont know how I would cope with a little one right now - I cant even cope with my beloved cat

Don't for a second think anyone here is strong all of the time - everyone has their moments. You will get through this, and share your experience and strength with others at the right time.

Has anyone received Paclitaxel and not lost their hair? Consultant yesterday told me it was a 50/50 chance but MacMillan website says all hair falls out pretty much immediately. Shall I go to collect my wig sooner or later???

I had loads of hair. I hung on to it the first three treatments and was very pleased. Pride before a fall I’m afraid. On the fourth week my week off it was horrible came off it clumps. I’m now short and it’s still shedding but bearable. Honestly I haven’t bothered with wigs yet as a I wouldn’t know where to start and I wouldn’t have the money to get the really realistic ones. There’s some fabulous beanies around on Etsy, especially the patterned bamboo ones made in Australia.

o I reckon end O’keefes 48 hour cream. I’ve tried others but this one suits me the best. Also get some factor 50. The sun gets you even when you are covered up and it isn’t out. I literally don’t know how it happens.

I did Pac. Re hair it's normal to lose it all on that but if you can cold cap that can generally save c50% or so. I was not allowed that option so tried to recreate it with a coolbox and putting frozen peas on head under a tight fitting hat. The nurses told me I had zero chance first time I went but I did save maybe 50% of that which starts on top.

The issue I have had is the 50% I lost has started coming back underneath in crazy chemo curls pushing the straight hair out though it meant always had hair. I also put ice lollies in coolbox and that meant did not get mouth ulcers at all or taste changes and had ice for hands and feet to try and stop neuropathy. I still got neuropathy badly but it went a few months after chemo.

Worry So sorry things are hard with a baby, be kind to yourself baby and cancer is a very tough combination and just take any help offered.

I have had bad bone ache around both shoulders and was a bit jittery about that but taken some well woman menopause vitamins and its a lot better. DS has had 2 home visits from hospital now so hoping won't be too long before he is home though he's holding out on refusing meds to the death as well as refusing all therapy. He was so much better at home and really want him back but NHS etc seems to require 10 million meetings for that with everyone assessing and passing between departments, very silly meeting yesterday with 1 team saying they can't assess until another assesses then they replied well we can't assess until you assess and I moaned and was asked if I would like therapy to deal with uncertainty. Nope I'ld like someone to finish their assessments and make a decision. Third visit this weekend.

@LemonDrizzle10 my hair all fell out 2 weeks after my first session. Probably a good 90% plus. I did get a “proper” wig (ie it cost £100 - same value as the NHS voucher) but never wore it, it felt old. Old style. Like an older ladies hair on my head. I did however use a variety of Haircube wigs from amazon at around £20 each. A little fringe snip and a 150° straighten and no one ever knew they were wigs.

Thanks so much everyone for all the information.
I'm starting on EC so will see how that goes. The wig shop is fabulous (I'm in Essex if anyone wants details), it literally looks better than my actual hair. I have a young daughter who I think will feel more comfortable for me to look like I usually do.
I think I saw something about eyelashes on here a while ago. Anyone know where the best place for those is?

If you have time to get your eyebrows done it’s my one regret. They needed a consultants letter and I felt silly asking so I never do. I have kept them so far and use a tattoo pen from Superdrug which is very good

@EachandEveryone
What do you mean by get your eyebrows done?

www.traciegiles.co.uk/permanent-makeup-london/permanent-brows/

I got my eyebrows microbladed prior to treatment. I’ve just had my 5th weekly paclitaxel treatment and had my hair all cut off last week as every meal I made had hair in it. I’ve got very thin hair normally so am surprised I’ve still got any. I cold cap which I don’t mind, but becoming very sensitive to ice gloves and socks (I could only handle them for 25 mins or so yesterday). Very anxious of developing neuropathy if I give them up.

Hello. Is there a place to post if you are waiting a biopsy, so only 'suspected cancer,' (GP letter to Hospital) please?
My biopsy is tomorrow (probably). My Mother died of cancer 9m ago & my Partner died last year too. I'm scared.
I don't know if this thread is the right place though as I'm not diagnosed yet?

of course, you are very welcome, we have all been through this waiting time, and for many of us, we agree this was the worst

I just had my second chemo yesterday. The first one knocked me off my feet for a week. The second one, no side effects yet.

Have I got away with it, or is the hammer going to fall a bit later, this time?

@medianewbie yes, this is the right place and very soon you will hopefully have an all clear like almost 95 % of all those that have a biopsy. I have had two operations to remove my tumour and am in the midst of chemo and can honestly say the very lowest and absolute worst I felt was when waiting for the initial results of my biopsy. Losing your mum & your partner to cancer and then having the same fright must be triggering so much anxiety for you. This is the nicest thread on mumsnet and you’ll get some amazing advice and comfort here if you have to stay. I had my GP prescribe a very light diazepam when I was awaiting my results and prior to receiving my treatment plan. I haven’t touched them since but really needed them at the time. This may or may not be an option for you. ❤️

@Nimbostratus100 im hoping you’ve dodged it. I pop a very light zopliclone once I’m home from chemo. I then sleep through more or less from 4 pm Wednesday to Thursday morning. I do wake up and make sure I drink water, listen to a podcast then drift back to sleep again. I’ve done this for my last two chemo sessions and get the impression that it’s helping with the after effects.

@inincognitodorrito
Thank you x

@Nimbostratus100
Thank you x

I'm awaiting genetic screening results (2 months locally)
It's taken about rhat long to get breast examined (wait for GP appt, rhen he referred but 'it wasn't ryped up' so 2wk delay, then no spots at Hosp, so went today. Got mammogram done but no Radiologist avail so was told: 'we've had a quick squint, no worries at all but mammogram shows small change in density in breast behind dimpled area on outside skin so we'll do an Ultrasound. No one available today so you'll have to come back tomorrow afternoon. They may decide to do a punch biopsy then. If not, we'll do one of the skin but I'm on call tomorrow so we'll need to get you back in next Friday. Then it'll be 1- 2 wks for biopsy results'. I was asked to take my bra back off so she could draw with a sharpie on my breast for tomorrow 'in case we can fit you in'. I'm so tired now.

Sorry for typos!

@medianewbie welcome to the thread nobody wants to be on. In normal times you would be seen in a One stop clinic where everything happened in one day but the system has been overwhelmed recently so it is all a bit chaotic. The good news is that they don’t hang about once they have done the biopsies so you should be called back for results about ten days later and you will know exactly what is happening. Meanwhile try to keep busy, stay off Google, and maybe try some Calm or Headspace Apps to stop you going mad with worry.

I am still coughing and croaking away and I don’t know what the wounds are up to but I now have a date next week for my radiotherapy planning scan and also for The Chat with my oncologist to decide about oral chemotherapy. I’m slowly coming back up from the depths of despair. I’m in the shallows of despair now 😂
Sending strengths to you all
Top

gosh that sound rough, there is enough uncertainty in all of this anyway, without the added anxiety of going back and forth hoping to be fitted in

💐

@medianewbie That sounds very stressful. At what is a tricky time, I was very grateful to get mammo, scan and biopsy sorted out within 2/3 hours. Makes me appreciate it more now.

Hope you're properly on the mend soon @TopOfTheCliff

Wishing everyone a kind and gentle day.