Cancer Support thread 88 - virtual rage room currently empty, virtual collective afternoon tea - all welcome!

[LemonDrizzle10]

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@TopOfTheCliff that sounds frustratingly similar to the online courses we have to do for work 🙄 So many of them & they rarely work properly first time!

Hope everyone is doing as well as can be.

I'm feeling a whole range of emotions this morning. There has been a change of plan; the major surgery they were going to do next week with a big midline incision, bowel resections, hysterectomy and all the rest is off. Instead they are going to try again to get a better biopsy of my ovary and lymph node, this time with the colorectal guys on hand just in case. They can't rule cancer out without this biopsy but they are increasingly suspicious that I might have an infection instead. The second surgeon said she has had two cases presenting the same way that turned out to be tuberculosis. HOW I could have picked that up God only knows.

So I am set for another long wait for results, I think.

@TopOfTheCliff It’s a good idea. I’m hoping to move into Community Development in some way - hence the course. The Victorian gov seem to be investing heavily in this sector and I’d like to do something rewarding again.

I loved teaching for a long time, such a rewarding job in many ways. I trained teachers for a while, that was interesting. But you need a lot of energy, emotional resilience and to be well to stay in education.

Food hygiene is always useful!

@MyNamesGaryAndImAddictedToChips Sounds like one of those games teenagers play - would you rather have cancer or tuberculosis?
Hoping the tests come back the right way for you.

@Florabritannica You are not wrong! Let's face it, nobody wants to have cancer. I'd never given a moment's consideration to having TB so I don't know what that might look like yet apart from 6 to 12 months of antibiotics.

Yes. Made me sad. Only found out about her about a week ago and I've found her so helpful.

I started the move well through cancer prehab thingy at her recommendation and just did some rave dancing for half an hour in her honour.

The bad boob nipple hurts today. I've been told that's not where the cancer is but it makes it hard to forget.

I’m sad about Liz O’Riordan having a recurrence too. Poor woman has been through so much with losing her career and then her mum dying during chemotherapy too. It’s a bit shocking too that somebody like her who must have the most modern treatment still gets a recurrence.

This one must be tough. She mentioned she had her mum with her during the other two.

Obviously they're all tough but I can't imagine how shit this must feel

If I get a recurrence I will be RAGING! Having cancer twice has been challenging enough. I’m not sure I buy her “Be positive” message I think that’s for public consumption as she has such a big following. I bet she’s at home sobbing into the cushions and swearing. I would be!

Yes its sad Liz has it for a third time and she was crying on the video despite the be positive message. The lady I met said her friend had breast cancer 3 times in 20 years and was living her best life but I was thinking I am not sure this sounds much more attractive than the dying option. 😂Its worrying was just like a pimple as well. Never would have thought that would be and not told what to look for at all. I do have a lump by the scar but just assumed scar tissue and its been there ages now and when I went for reconstruction appointment they must have felt it and said nothing. Don't even know how they would check it.

I read the news about Liz too. She must be so very angry - how unfair it all is. I don’t know what type her breast cancer was/is but it just puts it all into perspective doesn’t it?

I had a lady call me today regarding PIP assessment …we both ended up crying as she had breast cancer 6 years ago. Same age as me at diagnosis, similar path. She was so lovely and understanding. She assured me it will get better and I will find a new normal. I hope I’m like her and not Liz though.

@Silkierabbit I asked my surgeon what a recurrence on the mastectomy side could present as and he described it as an irritated mosquito bite, so a bit like a pimple.

Chemo 11/18 for me today. I'm feeling super positive - dd1's just walked i as I got dressed & commented that right boob is much less red & purple than it was when I was first unwell. Fingers crossed it continues that way 🤞

I'm off out again tomorrow with one of the friends I went out with on Tuesday and another who was at work. Dd2 has threatened to ground me 🤣 My inner social butterfly is enjoying every moment...but does need a day or two of blankly staring at a wall & being waited on, to recharge from allllll the socialising 🙈

I haven't investigated any cancer sufferers (wrong word, sorry, I can't think of a better one to use) on SM. Not sure I want to - I'm quite happy here & doing my own research & wary that some of you have mentioned competitive 'suffering more'.

Tiktok must have picked up the researching & posting here though - it's been showing me radiotherapy videos. Not sure what I expected but it was not the massive machine I keep seeing! Is it loud as it moves? It looks like it would be (I hate t-t with sound, drives me a bit nuts).

Hope you've all had an ok day 😊

@ Lucy’s am I have no memory of noises from the machine apart from some light whirring as it pivoted. The crap music they played covered it anyway.

I lost a good cycling buddy today. He died suddenly at 70 shocking all of us. Haven’t heard the details yet. Think it was heart or stroke not an RTA. I’m glad to be plodding miserably towards recovery and will enjoy every scrap of good stuff I can. RIP friend xx

@TopOfTheCliff so sorry about your friend 💐, but I am also pleased to see your resolve to enjoy all the good stuff you can, too. If I've learned anything (very quickly, too!) it's to say yes to all the things I can manage, instead of my deafault "No", and I'm having a ball.

@lucysmam the noise from radio isn’t too bad, nowhere near as loud as MRI. I’m starting mine on 9 Aug, they’re fast tracking me so they can get me back on immunotherapy within 8 weeks of my surgery.
@TopOfTheCliff i’m so sorry about your friend.
Tbe thought of recurrence terrifies me. I don’t think I could do this again. And I know I’ve had it relatively easy compared to some of you lovely lot.

@TopOfTheCliff so sorry to hear about your friend- what a shock.

I'm starting my radiotherapy on 7th August. Hospital agreed I could delay treatment so DD and I could go on our camping holiday with our friends. The car is absolutely bursting at the seams and I ended up borrowing my neighbour’s roof box because my one needs new holes drilling in it before it’ll fit.

@bringonyourwreckingball The thought of reoccurrence is frightening for me too and I suspect lots of others. We’ve done it though even though it’s been tough - I’m starting to believe I can cope with anything now.

I have my 12 month mammogram next week. A little apprehensive as the last breast surgery I had was only two months ago, and is still fairly tender. Then I'm worrying if they'll find anything - as we all do!

Do you have to wait for the letter from this, or do they normally tell you if there's anything dodgy straightaway? I'm too scared to finalise hotels etc. for our holiday in October/November until I've been told there's nothing else hanging around!

Top - sorry to hear about your friend. The fact that it was so sudden may be better for them, but heartbreaking for family and friends. Reminder to make the most of every moment.

@TopOfTheCliff so sorry to hear that. Life is bloody unfair sometimes.

Loving the puffin pics.

Recovery from treatment is continuing. When I look day to day I see no improvement but actually week on week my energy levels are getting better and I am getting out and doing more. Cancer still taking a huge amount of head space up but I guess that's par for the course. Should be scanned in September to see where we're at

I'm on a full day Indian cookery course today which I booked when I needed something to look forward to so that should be good.

In the spirit of living life to the fullest l went on a 16k kayak and though the Pico's de Europe yesterday. My husband and I last did it 13 years ago and thought we would be up to it again. Turns out that 13 years and two cycles of chemo takes its toll!
But we do have some wonderful memories like an eagle coming down to fish right in front of us and beautiful inky blue butterflies and dragonflies. My son will have many memories and hopefully they won't just be of his parents screaming 'Right, I SAID RIGHT, THATS YOUR ** LEFT'.🤣

@Lisdeflores - I identify. My husband and I are hopeless in boats and had one of our only real rows in a kayak in Belgium due to my impatience and consequent tendency to oversteer. The rest of it sounds magical though. I've always wanted to go the Picos de Europa.

@ajandjjmum - me too. I hope yours goes OK. My letter says results will come by post, but I assume we'd get a call for a recall/biopsy if there were any issues? I am feeling a bit overwrought this morning, in fact, as I only got the letter this morning, and am just about to go on holiday for two weeks and had promised myself I would not think about cancer and to throw myself into the holiday. The appointment is the day after we are back. I only finished radio in May, so am also still sore, and am now worried the worrying will ruin the holiday. Ah well - I will just have to try to put it out of my mind.

We are off to Denmark, a week in Copenhagen then a week exploring. I'm tired of people telling me it's an odd choice for a summer holiday! None of us like the heat, and we do like history, art, architecture, good food, wandering on windswept beaches, design/nice shops and exploring somewhere we've never been before. So what's not to like? We are going to get the train over the bridge (from The Bridge) to Sweden one day as well.

Sending love to everyone worrying or sad - very sorry to hear about your friend @TopOfTheCliff

@ajandjjmum I've been called when there's something dodgy, and it's generally been around a week or ten days. It's horrible thinking the phone might ring at any time though, I had to divert mine to my home number one day when I was training because I couldn't risk seeing the hospital number whilst I was having to perform in front of a room of people. Fingers crossed for you!

@TopOfTheCliff Sorry about your friend. My DB's best friend (early 50s) died unexpectedly last week, though I don't know the details. I suppose I should be more grateful that I am still plodding along....

@dotty2 I loved Copenhagen. Try and get on a guided bike tour - you see so much and it’s fun on the amazing cycle ways. It’s such a cool country.

@SierraSapphire it is quite good to be reminded that although we are grumbling our way through a massive onslaught of drugs and physical battering we are basically healthy and will recover from the treatment (assuming the bastard cancer cells are all nuked). My friend wasn’t healthy and I can think of a few others that won’t make old bones but it’s still shocking to have them snatched away from us.

I’m going with DD2 to see the Barbie movie later. Girlie time!