Cancer Support thread 86 - Stay Positive

[LemonDrizzle10]

New thread as other one nearly full.

Fabulous to hear some positive news @Podgedodge!

Glad everything is OK Podge

Thanks Dotty Yes its been very distressing for us and DS but hopefully formally discharged tomorrow.

Hope you are OK @mowly77

Hooray @Podgedodge we love to have things to celebrate here! 🍾

@SummerCycling the fact you had a complete pathological response to treatment means the chemotherapy and Herceptin has likely killed all the cancer cells in your body, even the ones they might not have removed or stray ones in other places. That is why it is such a good thing to have. You can be reassured that if there were any nodes left behind they won’t have active cancer cells in them. When I had my total node clearance ( 30 removed) I found a survivor six months later working hard in my armpit. I had to have the poor little thing biopsied to be sure it was okay but it was just doing the work of 30! It is very hard to relax and believe you will be okay after all you have endured but things are going very well for you.

Still okay here. Fives doses done, 25 pills out of 1120 taken 🙄

Silkie, I saw your original post and decided against posting my reply. Suffice to say it’s been a difficult time for my son also and you and yours are in my thoughts as always. Xxxx

So sorry to hear about the extra stresses on top of cancer that some of you are dealing with - it’s so hard trying to keep yourself on an even keel with out that extra stress on top.

My dc was hospitalised last year due to psychiatric issues & I honestly don’t know if I could have coped with cancer at that time - I know it’s not something you have a choice over unfortunately! Thankfully she’s doing well now - we were just beginning to relax after all that when I was hit with this! It is all a bit rubbish but hopefully we will all get out the other side!

Congrats to you Podgedodge great to hear positive news!

congratulations!

I slept for 12 hours last night and now I’m in a virtual queue for Peter Pan tickets.

going to yoga at Maggies this afternoon. I hope my wind behaves itself.

Hi guys. Found out this morning my cancer has returned. triple negative BC. Having a CT scan tomorrow and results Nd treatment plan Wednesday.
If it hasn't spread it'll be surgery, where he removes the entire mastectomy site, he said it's quite a big op and different type of chemo. There's a newish one specifically for tnbc wich is going to recommend I have
If it's spread, it'll be a case of chemo to maintain where I am now. They're concerned about how quickly it's returned.
Its not f fair.

So happy for you!.

I’m so sorry @Chocolateismyfavourite - I know you were sort of expecting it but it is still devastating news. Are they going to put you on immunotherapy?

Thanks so much Polly and Onecat Sorry you also have children who have struggled. Glad your daughter is home again Onecat That's almost the opposite but same to us, it was more or less straight after radio they sectioned DS and was so depressing as had been planning on holidays / getting back to normal and then another year of being told take it one day at a time. But discharge now confirmed for 2nd May with him not needing to return ever and already home.

So sorry to hear your news Chocolate

I really don't know. He said he couldn't tell me anything until I'd had a scan nd they can see what they're dealing with basically, wich I appreciate tbh because I don't want to be told one thing then it might not happen. I'd rather they had a definite plan in place, instead of this might happen or this might happen .

Is immunotherapy strong than chemo then? Sorry to sound ignorant but I haven't really looked into anything beyond what I had done.

@Chocolateismyfavourite the immuno acts alongside chemo but my understanding is that although the side effects can be worse (but don’t seem to have been for me) the outcomes are better. I don’t know if that’s only for pre-surgery treatment though. Possibly completely irrelevant to you but if they do offer you pembrolizumab I’d be very happy to share my experience.

@Chocolateismyfavourite that is really shit news and I’m so sorry that you’re going to have to go through it again so soon. I’m keeping everything crossed that you’ve caught it before spread.

Thank you, sorry my head's frazzled at the mo, can't think properly. I will remember that in Wednesday and see what they say.

@WhatToDoTomorrow it really is shit. Thank you ❤️

Iv what a meeting about my absence with my boss today. It was very formal and very odd.

However I didn't think he appreciated my response to his 'so what can we do to support you returning to work so this doesn't become a habit'? question which was

'well I wouldn't be off if I didn't have cancer' it's true!

@Chocolateismyfavourite I'm so sorry it really is the shittest

@Chocolateismyfavourite What a dreadful time you're having of it all. Hopefully a plan can be pulled into place, that will give you a way through this. Take care of yourself.

@Chocolateismyfavourite - I'm so sorry, that's really, really shit. You need wise words from @TopOfTheCliff who has TNBC as well I think. Was your first tumour TN? Sending you lots of strength and swear words.

@FangedFrisbee - how utterly crap of him! It sounds like a standard question, but it needs to be tailored to the circumstances, surely? It's a bit like the standard wellbeing assessment you get before Macmillan will give you counselling where they ask how often you worry that something really terrible will happen. To which my response was 'well something really terrible has happened...'

Thanks everyone. @FanFangedFrisbee I can't believe they said that?! Jesus, what's wrong with some people.

Yes it was TN first time round too. At the moment I'm veering between it'll be fine, it won't have spread, to, best start planning my funeral. ( Sorry bad misplaced humour)

@Chocolateismyfavourite , thank you so much for your kindness even when you have had the shittiest news yourself. I’m so sorry.❤️
@FangedFrisbee , no words. Even if it’s a generic question, how rubbish to ask you it! They surely have some discretion over what they ask!

thanks for the outrage! God love the nhs eh! My manager is not known for his people skills 🤦‍♀️. I've a mind to report it to hr

@Chocolateismyfavourite so sad to hear your news. 💐

So sorry @Chocolateismyfavourite 🌺🌺

Oh @Chocolateismyfavourite that is so unfair. The Rage Room is vacant this evening if you want to smash a few things. Hopefully it is just a local recurrence and they can deal with it surgically. TNBC is such a headbanger that when we get a diagnosis we have no idea whether we are in the vast majority who have treatment then disappear back to Normaland or the unlucky minority who have to keep fighting off cancer like a swarm of annoying wasps. Just when you think you are cancer free up it pops like a mushroom and the whole circus starts again. The good thing is that even since last year NICE have approved several new drugs for TNBC so they have plenty more options for us. I say us because I will never trust my body again.
Actually I have quite enjoyed planning my funeral. My DH would do it on the cheap and if I go I want a big fuss made! With good music and lots of crying and laughing.
Day 4 of Capecitabine and I’m still okay. Don’t dare make any plans yet but things aren’t as bad as I feared. 35 tablets done 1085 to go.

@FangedFrisbee it might not be a bad idea to ring HR and remind them of your protected status due to cancer. Get them to tell the manager to back off!
Hope you are feeling a bit better every day.

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