Cancer Support thread 86 - Stay Positive

[LemonDrizzle10]

New thread as other one nearly full.

Thanks Mycat We only did Porto briefly on way back from Azores, flew to Azores direct then back via Porto for an overnight stop. We had a lovely hotel in Porto which would recommend Vincci ponte de ferro with room with view to bridge and Porto and the meal also had same view. The seabream was excellent. These are the Porto photos. It seemed quite busy in that area by the river. There's a cable car nearby. In summer there are boat trips. The flights were cheap with Ryanair. Azores was lovely, like a giant tropical garden with waterfalls and beautiful flowers and houses and lovely spa hotel there, Octant Furnas, which we would love to go back to.

@dotty2 yes that’s the name of the injections. I take three but the nurse has just said to leave it at two and I’ll just have to hope my neutrophils recover enough…last time with the three injections they were only just enough to go ahead. The thought of it dragging on into another week of summer is depressing!
@AGreatUsername that looks like fabulous hair regrowth! Yes it’s short but it looks even and thick.
Ive got my look good course tomorrow. 🤞🏻 it helps me feel less round, less red and a bit normal!
Hope people are enjoying the sunshine.

@Silkierabbit my husband had a week’s ‘work’ trip to the Azores last summer …he really rated it as a fabulous place!

@AGreatUsername wow your hair looks amazingly thick and lush with such a rich colour
@Silkierabbit thanks so much for posting those photos. I’m glad you had a great time, it looks amazing and somewhere I definitely want to visit

Thanks Mycat Hope you get to go there, it really helps me travelling even when just for a few days. I was lucky with hotels on this trip too, got given free private pool and free bottle of champagne and chocolate cake, some liquer, jam at first hotel we stayed for 2 nights then hotel in Porto gave us free champagne twice and free cake.

Glad your DH enjoyed the Azores What A week on one island would be perfect. I loved the beautiful pink flowers everywhere.

@Silkierabbit thanks for the reminder - we are looking for something interesting but not long haul at some point in May and forgot about the Azores. Ill add it to the (very) short list of options!

The flight was good, 4 hours direct though was only once a week hence coming back via Porto but that was nice. Its a lovely place if you love gardens, flowers, rural, not many people, beautiful scenery and hot springs, our hotel pools were hot spring ones and all 37C including outside one. It's not huge maybe 1 hour from one side to other and worth hiring a car. We were based in Furnas which was a great base. There are dolphins boat trips and swimming with dolphins though probably still cold for swimming ones.

Well done @EachandEveryone for getting to the end of chemo. I find I miss the chemo nurses in a weird way. I don’t want to set foot in that place ever again but they were so supportive and kind and wonderful and I feel a bit alone now.

I did get a bit of luck(ish) today, they moved my radiotherapy to another hospital so I can get it done quicker. It’s not as convenient but I just want it over with and I don’t want it interfering with Ride London 100. I’ve nearly hit my fundraising target, the new bald look and accompanying constant tears appear to be helping the fundraising effort…I am 4.5 weeks post chemo now and rode 60 miles to the seaside in the sun today.

Wow @Silkierabbit that just looks incredible 😮

My kids are now really interested in the Azores for next summer. I foresee a project!

Ooh @WorryMcGee that’s great about Ride 100. You will be fine if you can ride 60 miles already. The actual route is flattish and the cheering crowds really help you towards the finish. I wish when I rode it I had taken in the sights a bit more. I was so busy trying not to crash into anybody I hardly saw the amazing central London buildings.
I did another tandem training day yesterday. DH misled me and we ended up riding 70 miles and didn’t get home till 2am so I am a bit knackered today but very pleased with progress. Even when it was hurting and I was fed up I was so pleased to be out there pedalling with my favourite person in the sunshine instead of having chemotherapy and feeling like shit. We stopped for a Crème egg McFlurry at 11pm on the way home 😂 He knows how to treat a lady.

@Mycatispretty I am so pleased my hopes for you worked out. Onward and upward!

@AGreatUsername your hair is coming on brilliantly. I am about a cm behind you. I will have a pixie cut soon to sort out my hairy neck. I don’t seem to have curls this time though. I’m a bit sad about that.

I’m having a quiet day with hot cross buns and coffee today. Sending strength to all.

@LemonDrizzle10 I am 11 months on from receiving my blue dye. It’s gradually fading but it’s still there. I think it’ll go eventually

@Mycatispretty good news that your blue dye is gradually fading, seems we have a long time to wait - I wasn’t expecting it to take so long. Mine just reminds me of the dye that used to be on bacon rind when I was a kid!

@LemonDrizzle10 I try and avoid looking at myself as much as possible but my mirrored wardrobes don’t help! I was given the impression it would fade in a few weeks not 2 years. However, at least it is fading and in the grand scheme of things it doesn’t really matter.

I must've pushed myself too much yesterday doing the ghost walk in London so I havent bothered going in today. If Im honest, Im terrified about next week. A week today is my appointment. I keep rubbing my groin to seenif the lumps still there. It is but nothing like it was. I almost wish I could have more chemo whilst I feel well on it. I mean Im tired and have the shakes as if Im starving and Im anything but! I dont know. Lets wait and see.

its my fat face I dont like I seem to have pouches where my cheek bones where. And fatty deposits on my chest and back. My skin is the best its ever been though 🙂

I did Look Good Feel Better today and it was great. I was feeling pretty down going in, my kids are away with their dad and my skin has been awful but it was so lovely to spend time with people who understand the minor indignities as well as the serious side effects. The lady who led the session had loads of great recommendations as well.

I'm the skin cancer lady just name changed

Does GA feel horrible? I'm worried about it!

GA as in general anaesthetic? If so, then I had my first one ever a few weeks ago when I had my lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy and like you, I was really worried about it. The reality was that it was actually quite pleasant! I told them I was worried about feeling/being sick and they said it was unlikely to be a problem, and it wasn't at all. I drifted off to sleep very happily and woke up easily and gently.

@LudoBagman modern GAs are wonderful. I have had far more than my share. You walk into the anaesthetic room and climb onto the trolley. There is a bit of small talk while they insert the cannula. Sometimes they like to give you oxygen before you go to sleep, sometimes not. Then they inject the magic juice and you drift off to sleep. Next you know it’s all over and you are in recovery with a kind nurse offering a cup of tea. Honestly it’s actually quite enjoyable compared to a lot of procedures. Just remember us all cheering you on from afar too. You will be okay.

Congrats @eachandeveryone on completing chemo. I also had my last chemo last week. Nurses keep pushing me from pillar to post about when to get my picc line taken out. I just want it out now. How was your scan arranged? I was basically told congrats and no plans for a scan or whatever, except for a call with consultant in three weeks, i need to start asking questions. Are you have any more treatment? I will be having herceptin for a year.

My side effects from chemo don't start until three days after so I am currently in the middle of it. Does anyone suffer from tinnitus or ringing in the ears? I have had it all night and will contact the nurses today but I just wondered if anyone had and how long did it last. I have also found that it occurs when I am anxious which is pretty much everyday these days.

Wishing you all a very good and cheerful day.

@dotty2 the lady who did my eyebrow micro blading also does tattoo removal. Maybe it’s possible to remove our tattoo markers once we’re finished treatment?
Anyone done this?

Thank you @LemonDrizzle10 yes, I’d been googling and spotted this was a possibility. Knowing that makes me feel a bit better about it. I wouldn’t mind do much if it was just a dot but every time I look at it I feel annoyed!

@dotty2 I’d hope it’d be straightforward to remove a line. 😊My lovely lady also does nipple tattoos for free - she was lovely when I went to see her. Anyone wanting treatment before starting Chemo gets priority - I’ve met loads of lovely people while going through this. There are nicer ways to meet lovely people though!

Yes I was worse yesterday I feel as if I’m shaking but I can’t see it visually 😮 I don’t know when my line will come out but I’m wondering what to do with it being a bank holiday and getting it cleaned? Will one week be ok? The scan and appointment were made for me so it will be this time next week when I know everything. How do so get through the next few days? The lump has gone right down so sun taking it that it’s a good sign? Who knows aim not as positive as I was.

Thanks Worry and well done on an amazing bike ride.

Bring Hope you can get a wonderful summer holiday with your DCs. I love planning and going on holidays.

I have my CT yesterday for DIEP, quite easy though the guy (probably very poorly paid as said support worker) put the cannula in the side of my wrist and then had to wait a while before scan and 10 mins after but he was very nice.

Had my nipple taken out so no idea on that but the joys of cancer treatment on appearance seem to keep giving.

Re the hair that is my dilemma Great I am aiming for a long bob and am currently down to mid ear level which looks stupid though is thick and getting less wild and more manageable so I am on hats. I love the hats though and get them to match my cardigans. The sensible thing to do would be to go to a good hairdresser and explain what you are aiming for but I am scared to do that incase they cut it all off but there are some very nice pixie styles out there. And I searched and found a pixie bob, maybe that would be an interim stage.

My beautiful chemo cat, Mr Floof, is now purring above my head and 1.1 metres long now.

General an puts you into like a deep sleep so you don't feel anything, all you notice is the cannula (?) going in first then a few minutes later you are asleep. Its strange waking up from one but only in like a where am I and what happened way. I always take ages to wake up from one but its always fine but I normally have lots of staff around when I wake up as I seem to take a couple of hours longer than average to wake up though I warn them. First one for cancer I had I woke up thinking I was on holiday in Australia and was vaguely slightly aware some people claiming to be from a hospital saying something about waking up and my mind was thinking no stay asleep this Australia holiday is great and then I drifted back off after 30 secs or so. They give you something like biscuits and toast with a drink and check you can go to toilet OK but they are OK.