Cancer Support Thread 87 - everyone here is so supportive.

[LemonDrizzle10]

New thread

Thank you for the new thread. Checking in waiting for my 19th and final RT appointment. Relieved this stage is nearly over but now full of apprehension for the next step (Abemaciclib, a targeted BC treatment). I guess that combination of relief and fear is pretty much my life now with early but high grade, node positive breast cancer. Sending love and positive thoughts to everyone on these threads. MN has been a source of support to me over the years, first for my failed attempts at exclusive breast feeding. And I was on lovely supportive threads for couch to 5k, then for my PhD. But this is the best one, if the worst circumstances.

Thanks @LemonDrizzle10
This thread is for those who might have, do have, or used to have cancer. There are other threads for friends and relations supporting cancer patients on the Life Limiting Illness page. Come here to rant and rage or gibber whenever you need to.

I could be all three. I am almost through treatment for my second aggressive breast cancer in three years. First one triple positive BC second one triple negative BC and no relation apparently. I’m now just on oral chemotherapy Cape which is a marvellous weight loss drug as I feel sick and don’t want to eat so the chemotherapy lard is dropping off nicely. Also my hands and feet are peeling.
I have had almost all known IV chemotherapy drugs but only one immunotherapy so far so I have a few more in the locker for the future.
This weeks excitement is a large splinter in my bum. I am trying to decide whether to let it work itself out or go and have a nurse dig at it. I think cowardice will prevail but I am off on a trip to the wilds of Derbyshire for a couple of nights in a horse box with DH. The splinter will be my excuse to sit and read my book instead of cycling all day. Life is almost fun again despite all the knocks back.

Thanks @LemonDrizzle10
Just checking in…also managed to see the nicest GP at my surgery this morning who has given me a cream to help with the explosion of spots/rash that had appeared on my face. I may soon be able to leave the house again!

@TopOfTheCliff I’d get the nurse to dig that splinter out! I can picture the look on their face, hee hee.

I’ve just booked my transport for chemo number 6. Lady said ‘we can’t guarantee transport’ - never been told that before. Hope they turn up!

I’m much too afraid of it hurting @LemonDrizzle10 . I may be innured to fear and despondency about cancer with my usual carapace of optimistic denial but this is a big pointy bit of wood that I slid across yesterday getting into a boat. It just needs to get a bit of pus going and it will pop out I am sure. Neutropenic sepsis is a faint possibility but I’m sure Derbyshire has hospitals too.

Thanks for new thread. Congrats on reaching end Dotty I was offered the Abemaciclib but turned it down but it probably makes sense to try it. So am just on Tamoxifen awaiting reconstruction. Still getting the pins and needles down one side mainly but not got too far, hospital said contact GP. E-mailed GP they asked me questions replied said call. Called and they said not the right time to call. Was hoping was anxiety and would go but goes when swimming but otherwise there and still a little in swimming. The sinus thing only time don't get is in steam room. Didn't sleep all night as meeting re DS and talking to another Mum whose child has gone into another MH crisis and back in hospital and feeling tired now so will sleep.

Hi, thanks for the thread. I’m 55 single and I have cancer of unknown primary. Usually has a rubbish outcome but I take comfort on the fact that it’s viral so the original can only be in four different places and believe me they have looked. The secondary is in groin. I don’t know the size just that it is responding well to chemo. Today will be my 5th cycle of weekly. I’m ok today but yesterday I felt awful itching everywhere and neuropathy in my fingers and feet which seems to be ok today. I’ve decided to put my wig on today to see if anyone at the clinic notices .

I have Glastonbury in four weeks and they have kindly moved my last cycle by three weeks. I’m just hope I’m strong enough by then. I am going to give it a damn good go!!

got the dreaded your pay is cutting by half next month letter today. I work did the nhs I’m a nurse and i beleive I already filled in the Uc forms does anyone know what happens next?

@TopOfTheCliff have you tried udder cream on your peeling skin? It what they put on cows udders !!! Oh the never ending glamour of cancer! It very thick and creamy and was suggested to me during my last lot of chemo, I got mine on Amazon.

Thanks for new thread I was diagnosed with stage 4 fallopian tube cancer in 2020 and had reoccurance (peritoneal) in Nov 22. I've just finished chemo and due to start a parp inhibitor in June.

Thank you for the new thread @LemonDrizzle10

I'm 35, into the second week of treatment for stage three cervical cancer, two years following the loss of my husband from cancer. No kids, but do have a dp who is being a fantastic support.

I'm just here to have a vent for now... currently sat in my hospital waiting room and being mucked around passed from pillar to post. I arrived early for my blood tests, the clinic was delayed which meant I missed my appointment with the oncologist, then I had to go back to the other clinic for my infusion. They've just called my name and asked why I didn't check in with them and now I've missed my treatment slot!

I did check in with the receptionist, at all 3 of my appointments today. Due to them running late (and poor admin) I've now missed 2 of the 3 appointments! Now I have to wait another hour to be seen.

I'm fed up.

Now I need to make arrangements for the kids to be collected from School as I won't make it back in time.

I rarely moan about things, but today I'm Thoroughly pissed off.

One of the nurses in the chemo suite has just been really off with me. And another nurse apologised as it was noticeable. It must be the wig no one recognises me!

That not on!

That's *

I'm 31 stage 4 melanoma, starting immunotherapy soon

Thanks for starting the new thread, I don't post a lot but I read it everyday and have learned a ton of useful stuff and am continuously buoyed up by the level of support here.

I'm 52 (53 tomorrow!) with early hormone +ve, HER2 -ve breast cancer with no lymph involvement but recently had a high risk of distant recurrence score following a genomic test. So today I was back with the oncologist telling him I'd decided to go ahead with the chemo no one expected me to need to have. He was brilliant, agreed with my decision, explained everything and then I was swept up in a barrage of pre-chemo assessments as they want to get going asap so I can schedule it around my daughter's graduation in July. Feeling a bit shell-shocked with it all but glad I've made the decision and now just need to pull up the big girl pants and get on with it.

thanks for the new thread. 43, re occuring TNBC five months after stopping chemo, its spread to my liver too, stage 4. add special little treat of a tumour in my heart wich they took out 5.5 weeks after my mastectomy on 30th December 2022. Seeing the oncologist 31st May for treatment plan, its taken a while as apparently the biopsy results to see if im suitable for it see to take a long time, but, hey, ho, im not focusing on that.

Was interesting to read my ct scan on the portal, because theres also some fluid in the pericardial sac, which, is something extra i could do without quite frankly.

Also, and i a m sorry if im repeating myself here, my breast cancer lumps are very prominant, you can see them as they're around my mastectomy site - they called them satellite tumours - they're getting bigger, and is difficult to lay on my left side, I'm also getting a fair amount of deep ache, and, yes, it is a little painful when Im laying down, and since yesterday, during the day. Has, on the off chance, anyone had this too? been going on for about three weeks.

And, finally, I've also got this thing, it's been on and off the last 6 weeks i reckon, but last few weeks ive really noticed it, when I chew and then swallow my food, about half way down my chest, it feels like its, not stuck, but, like, as if id swallowed a big portion and not chewed properly, but i have, because im making extra sure im doing so, so it isnt lumps, if that makes sense? I have to keep sipping drinks and sitting up really straight, its very uncomfortable. Its not every meal, or all the time. Has anyone else who may have been in my situation had something similar?

Sorry for the essay.

Sorry, bt the way, this is Chocolateismyfavourite

Weird they can't guarantee transport for chemo!!!

Is sometimes used it for radiotherapy and it was totally reliable. Had to be ready 2 hours in advance, but they turned up and were very friendly. I hope yours works out too!

@Pinchaperfect

So sorry to read all those things you're experiencing. It recurring just 5 months after stopping chemo is simply not fair.

Was your chemo after surgery or maybe before and after?

Was it you who said on the previous thread about starting immune therapies? I hope they work for you like they are doing for a person I know who is in full remission from her stage IV BC on immune therapy (she had liver, lung and bone).

Me -

locally advanced stage 3 (C?)

HER2+++

breast cancer also in multiple lymph nodes

Grade 3

Hormone negative (ER zero/ PR zero)

treatment plan:
Chemo (EC then Taxanes) > Surgery > Radiotherapy + Phesgo (monoclonal antibodies) for a year starting with the Taxane chemo.

now - on Phesgo

why did it cross out surgery?

@SummerCycling OMG wow! thats amazing! yes that was me. I will find out on the 31st what the plan is.

I had 12 weeks of weekly chemo, a 2 week break, then the mastectomy, 5.5 weeks later the open heart surgery, and was meant to start preventative radiotherapy on 27th April wich, was when they told me the cancer had come back.

@EachandEveryone

I don't know about UC but I recently discovered and applied for ESA.

https://www.gov.uk/employment-support-allowance

What did they find in the post mastectomy pathology report - had the chemo done anything or was there no response? At the hospital I'm at they seem to tell patients the findings. I'm wondering if they predicted it would come back so soon when doing the histopathological report or if they were taken by surprise.

12 weeks of weekly, was it Paclitaxel?

Anyway, yes, OMG wow! Exactly, when she told me (and she is a totally reliable source) I thought wow, I never knew any BC patient at stage IV could possibly go into full remission. She will be on the two immune therapies for life. Who knows how long this incredible success will continue, but the tumours gradually shrank till they were undetectable in all three places. When she was first diagnosed stage IV she also had a number of Docetaxel chemo sessions (I think about 8).

She is even working and living her best life. It really gave me hope (in case mine returns, it is high risk) and with any luck, she's not incredibly rare getting that result.

At what stage do you tell people?

My GP suspects I have bladder cancer. Blood tests showed some abnormalities, which led to more bloods and bowel/urine tests. There was blood in the urine and markers (?). I have dates for ultrasound and cystoscopy (which came through scarily quickly!).

All a bit of a shock as I have no urinary issues, but do have bowel problems which I thought may be coeliac disease/IBS, hence initial visit. GP did feel "a significant lump" during examination. I'm more tired than usual but I've just turned 60 so getting on! Otherwise, I feel well. I would say I'm not even overly anxious about the diagnosis. It will be what it will be.

I have told no one. DH is struggling at moment as his beloved DSis has stage 4 cancer and MIL has Alzheimers and he's worn out looking after them. This might just break him (he's a worrier). Adult DCs live in two different cities and I will see them both bank holiday weekend but not sure if I should wait until I have firm diagnosis and treatment plan. I guess the GP will be in touch re results of u/s and cysoscopy? She did say it's likely early stage and is a very treatable cancer. Also said local hospital is a centre of excellence for urology.

I have refrained from googling. And I'm self-employed and very busy with no time to be ill!