Cancer Support thread 86 - Stay Positive

[LemonDrizzle10]

New thread as other one nearly full.

@HerbalRefreshment i totally second getting a good therapist, mine has been amazing. I had the double whammy of finding out my husband had been having sex with prostitutes for most of our marriage and then my cancer diagnosis. The rage and pain was off the scale. I’m doing so much better now.
Also - antidepressants are great. I’m on Sertraline and it has made such a huge difference to smoothing out the lows.

Hiya - no, I had a biopsy on the breast lump and CT scan so far. They just told me today. I don't know what else will be done until I see the on line. Definitely no other biopsies have been done. I actually don't know. They said it was her2 tnbc. I will have a look on the patient portal tomorrow - not that I know where too look. Thanks so much for the info, and to know your sit as well gives me alot of hope, I really appreciate it

Thanks so much for everyone's replies. I've been on the rage room for alot of hours and it's helped

This is fantastic to read thank you

Oooh can someone point me in the direction of a good website for more on the gut info…and especially inspiration for meal planners/ideas. I’m so sick of my diet but at a loss how to improve it. It’s not terrible but could be so much better. Doesn’t help with two small humans who turn their noses up at any of my new creations!

@Podgedodge I had to hide that thread. I don't think I'm going to sleep too well either tonight.

@Chocolateismyfavourite So sorry to hear your news, hope the immutherapy can have really good results for you. I have no direct experience though when my cancer nurses spoke to me about stage 4 they said they had women they had been treating at stage 4 for 10 years and there are new treatments all the time. All lousy to have to take but at least they can help.

DS has been discharged now, yesterday, though already home since 17th. I had results of CT back for diep and all good, no signs of cancer in abdominal area, bones etc and the adrenal mass has not grown and stayed at 28mm. That they have said is not cancer. I am supposed to do tests and did some but the rest are on my to do list. Joined Holiday Inn to go swimming with DH and been there twice this week including tonight. My right side seems to be improving with exercise and sinus clears with steam room.

@Whattodotomorrow I’ve mostly got books from the library and listened to podcasts, the Zoe podcast is good, and Will Buscewicz https://theplantfedgut.com/ and Tim Spector involved with Zoe both have books and have been on other podcasts. It’s Food For Life that’s Tim Spector’s book that I think is more about the microbiome.

Here’s a link that should give early access if anyone wants to join Zoe - I get a month free, though tbh I’m not using it a huge amount now as I’ve learned most of what I need https://joinzoe.mention-me.com/m/ol/sw1cb-3909717a22

@Whattodotomorrow this podcast episode started me off: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-diary-of-a-ceo-with-steven-bartlett/id1291423644?i=1000591868099

Thanks @WorryMcGee that looks interesting. I must have a multicoloured breakfast.

@Silkierabbit hooray for your news! Good scan, benign lump and DS free from the CMHT. You must be elated! Poor lad is he very traumatised by it all?

I am plagued by BT engineers in a saga where BT1 comes and fixes the broadband while breaking the phone line. Today BT2 is trying to fix the phone line. We went through this two months ago. I think it must be the gas board digging up the road causing it.

Sending strength and determination to those who need it
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I’ve just been over to That Thread and given a blast of positivity. The truth is nobody can give accurate life expectancy data any more as the new treatments are so revolutionary that the whole field has changed for the better. Some people seem to almost relish telling us we are doomed. They can bugger off. Actually let’s install them in the rage room as targets to throw things at instead.
My copper phone line however is doomed. So broken I will need a fibre digital line instead. The future is here early.
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Thanks for links - looks really interesting.

Well done @TopOfTheCliff for commenting on the thread. I read it last night and it unsettled me…I know it’s just uninformed people posting but it did burst my little positivity bubble. I should know better. Hope everyone enjoys their day…the sun is out here but still really cold. Or it’s the chemo making me cold!

waves

I used to be on these threads a few years ago, but had to create a new account as I couldn’t remember my login details and have changed email address recently too.

Anyway… ER+/PR+/HER- stage 2 BC, both DCIS and IDC (separate areas), requiring a mastectomy, chemo and radio. Plus 3 years of Zometa, 5 years of Zoladex and 10 years of Letrozole.

I’ve just found out that my cholesterol is really high. I was wondering if anyone here has experience of this being caused by AIs and what helped to get it down? I’m waiting on a GP appointment, but would like to go in armed with knowledge!

I only have one previous measurement, from my first 40+ assessment thing a few years ago, pre-cancer, where it was borderline high. It’s double that now. I’ve gained heaps since finishing radiotherapy, which I know I need to lose and I’m sure will be contributing… but looking for food/drink ideas. I have never smoked and rarely drink (as in literally two or three times a year).

@Chocolateismyfavourite so sorry to hear your news.
Just organised a big delivery of crockery and electronic equipment to the rage room: it should get delivered any second now.

Hi @LimeMango and welcome back. I have had BC twice now and am 10kg up with a risk of diabetes. My understanding is that after successful chemotherapy we are more likely to succumb to heart disease and diabetes than we are to die from breast cancer. The emphasis of life after cancer should really be focussed on healthy living, diet and exercise rather than drugs. Further up the thread we are discussing the gut biome and its role in health. I have a been in my bonnet about this now. Have a look at the links posted up the thread about the ZOE project. It’s a much more positive way to look at eating than a diet.
Meanwhile my DH has gone out to look for cake. Make me strong!
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Hi @LimeMango I've been looking at my cholesterol too, which is at the top range of normal but higher than I'd like it to be. I was told that chemo drugs can increase it by my GP, but I don't know about AIs. I take a couple of supplements that there is evidence for around reducing it, red yeast rice and lycopene. I also did the Zoe programme (above - I'm not on commission, honest) which helped me to understand how my body reacts to fats and monitors how much I'm having. Though I understand refined sugar and carbs are also relevant maybe more so that dietary cholesterol. I do eat minimal saturated fat, but then that's caused me issues I think with weight loss and lack of iron, I avoid carbs and have just not been getting enough calories overall. it's difficult to win! Dr William Li has just written a book called how to beat your diet, which is mostly around fat metabolism, I got it from the library. Would be interesting to know what you find out.

Why oh why did I look at THAT thread. I feel terrible and scared now.

@SierraSapphire thank you for the link, I’ve signed up!

I’m just coming on to apologise for “That Thread” which I posted last night to try to get some understanding and answers about my friend’s cancer. I had no idea that the responses would be so negative (not all but enough) and I’ll ask for it to be removed as it’s upsetting and distressing.
Sorry again, I just didn’t stop to think about what I was asking and how it might affect other people.

Thanks OzGirl for asking for it to be taken down. I have also asked. I am sorry about your friend and I think your original question was fine, its some of the responses that have distressed people. I won't repeat what was said but a lot of incorrect things. Primary cancer is definitely curable. And treatment is improving all the time for primary and secondary.

Thanks @WorryMcGee I had an email saying someone had signed up, I wondered who it was! Will be interesting to see how you get on. My diet was pretty similar already to the Zoe recommendations, though I did find some things that spiked my blood sugar more than I expected, such as porridge even though I put lots of other stuff in it, and sweet potato. There's a link between endometrial cancer and insulin resistance, so I've been keen to try and get steady blood sugar. Wearing the continuous glucose monitor was fascinating!

Hospital appointment this afternoon. Feeling sad and tired. Feel like for the first time in a year I’m finally letting myself feel as ill as I feel. I don’t know if that makes sense.

Im seeing breast surgery today, but emailed consultant secretary to let them know about my gynae oncology referral and CA125 and CA19-9 bloods - these were done by GP so wouldn’t have appeared on their radar I’m guessing.

Booked hynotherapy for MRI fear. I’m really claustrophobic. If I thought MRI was going to be a one off, I’d find the money for a private open scan. But I think I’m going to need to conquer this fear.

Hope everyone is having an okay day and @Chocolateismyfavourite Im really sorry to hear your news.

Hi - Thanks so much for all the info and replies, I wasn't ignoring anyone, Im having problems with the app on my phone. ( p.s if my user name changes when I post this, its Chocolate here by the way ) Its saying I need to log in, but I was logged in, then ive forgotten my password and there's some error page coming up on the forgotten your password link...so im on my lap top hahaha.

Really appreciate all the stories of hope, because thats what theyre giving me.

Also I had to stop reading that other thread to, made the mistake of reading some of it late last night.

@TopOfTheCliff Were you strong, or did you succumb to the cake lol

@lowlythirdremove good luck with the appointment. Sometimes you just have to let yourself feel everything you are on that day, rather than trying to be everything for everyone else..I should take my own advice, but its how I cope.

@Ozgirl75 Thank you for asking to have it taken down.

I went to the GP surgery to get my medical exemption certificate for free prescriptions today, just my luck that the receptionist who is new there happens to be our opposite neighbour so now she knows all my business 🙄

@Chocolateismyfavourite luckily DH got distracted before he left so all he could find was a nearly out of date Panettone in the cupboard. That was easy to resist!

@SierraSapphire I have signed up to Zoe but did it before you posted the link. Sorry! I’m really intrigued and like you I have a low GI breakfast with oats and seeds and fruit. Looking forward to learning more. Is the waiting list really August?