Cancer support thread 90 - still the best threads no one wants to be on

[LemonDrizzle10]

Last one filled up quickly!

@AGreatUsername I’m so sorry, there’s nothing useful to say. I hope the trials work - they wouldn’t be investing in/ doing the research if there wasn’t a chance it could work. Lots of love. X

@AGreatUsername how awful. I'm so sorry. Focus on the trials. There was someone on this thread who was completely written off then made a full recovery from a trial drug. Different cancer (I think hers was melanoma) but new things come through and some of them with surprising results for some people. All the very best luck. xx

@AGreatUsername so sorry to see your news, it's all shit 💐

@Silkiebunny Floof is epic! I love how big his ears are 😊

@TopOfTheCliff sorry you're fretting. Hopefully it's all just a wobble & nothing to be concerned about 🤞

@nappybrained I watched soooo much nonsense when I was properly ill earlier in the year. Some of what they put on the tv is dire. I usually don't bother with it other than background noise while I do something else.

@weegiemum keep on "wittering on" here. No need to apologise for it! It's a stressful time. Some of my posts are epic and very moany, I find it really helps to get everything down.

@Crimsonbow hopefully your new date comes through quickly 🤞

I've missed some of you, I'm sure! Hopefully everyone's going ok.

Me and dd1 went to Lovejoy's Sheffield gig last night, at the 02 academy. When I booked our tickets, just after chemo number 2, we were almost certain I'd be reselling or dd would be finding someone else to go with. Thoroughly enjoyed myself bouncing about with a bunch of (mostly) teen girls and a fair few parents.

I feel a bit like a proud parent watching them grow as a band 🤣 Dd1 introduced them to me when they released their first EP, & I pulled faces at a bunch of Minecraft Youtubers releasing music but they're actually right up my street!

Off to my consultant appointment today - I tried ringing repeatedly yesterday to find out if it's with the woman I had the phone call with last time. If it is, I don't particularly want to go. But, no one answered the phone all day 🙄 I didn't feel at all listened to & she was so keen to get off the phone it was a bit pointless ringing really (I know it's like parents evening calls & they are rushed but it was to the point of rude). Anywho, I shall get my ass in gear & get the bus & see what's what. Probably a glass of wine at the pub down the road from the clinic afterwards too.

Have a good day everyone 🙂

I was going to post a couple of gig pics...managed to forget 🙈

So glad you had a lovely evening with your DD, @lucysmam There were a couple of times during my chemo when I did something I thought I might have to cancel and it feels like a small victory, doesn’t it?

Yes! @dotty2 it does. My dad repeatedly text to check on me, & so did the girls dad...to make sure I was seated & had my coat 🤣 Not sure where I was sitting in an all standing venue, or putting a coat bigger than a hoodie 🤔 Far too much worrying about me going on for my liking!

Glad you had a lovely time LucysMam and Floof thanks you for the ear compliment. He absolutely loves compliments and trills each time.

Woke to a surgery appointment on 9th October so oncologist and surgeon now to see. Today is hopefully the 4 kitchen people and the specialist teacher in theory so it's try and make the house look presentable time but challenging with kitchen around house and 4 workmen in.

@AGreatUsername I’m so sorry to hear your news. Hoping that there will be other treatments available for you.

I saw the liver specialist today and it seems my liver inflammation is unrelated to chemo. I’ve had multiple CT scans and there is no tumour there so possibly an autoimmune condition. More tests to come, so that will fill in the time while I wait for my 3-monthly cancer check to roll around.

I had really bad shooting pains in my stomach all night. I wonder if it’s a side effect?

im so tired everyday it’s another appointment. My friends funeral is this afternoon and I feel terrible I’m not going up North for it. Really bad.

@EachandEveryone don’t feel bad about not going. If you’re able to: think about your friend at the time of the funeral. Light a candle and reflect on the time you spent together.

@AGreatUsername that's difficult news to hear (understatement). Every day there are improvements to treatment and new drugs - absolutely go for it.

@lucysmam the concert looks fantastic. DD and I are off to see Ann Marie on Sat night - it’ll be DDs first music concert. I’ve dug out her old ear defenders!

@EachandEveryone sorry - can’t find what your diagnosis/ treatment is.
I have a similar cancer to ovarian and had short shooting abdominal pains with first chemo.
Is that similar? I guess only advice is to phone the cancer line if you want to check with someone. Are you otherwise well? X

I was told 'zingy' shooting pains in your breast are normal with breast radio, but I'm not sure whether that's helpful to you @EachandEveryone and your mystery cancer of unknown primary. Are they in an area the radio is targeting?

And I agree - no one will expect you to go to the funeral, but if you know your friend's family, you could tell them you are thinking about them and remembering her in your own way. I've had people do that when they haven't been able to come to family funerals, and I've found it a nice thought that they are with us in spirit, whether lighting a candle, or sitting in their garden listening to the birds. I'm sorry for your loss.

There's nothing wrong with a couple of glass of wine the night before the clinic appointment, is there? I've no idea how I'm going to sleep. Or eat. I promise I'm not usually this introspective. It's interesting reading all your experience and having an idea about what might be happening next.

@AGreatUsername very sorry to hear your news, here's hoping there's some trial that can offer help. Thinking of you x

@weegiemum I've had a couple of glasses every now and again, some before clinic & some not. I honestly don't see why not, if you fancy it! 🍷cheers!

@LemonDrizzle10 ooh dd1 loved her first gig! I hope you both have a fab time 🎵 I've considered getting some earplugs or similar for Taylor Swift.

Positive day here today. I saw the more serious of the two consultants treating me - I think in my dreadful state I maybe took her as a bit offish & she was actually really nice. She says there are definite positive changes in the feel of both tumours, and there are certainly changes in the appearance of both breasts as well. She is going to book another CT to be sure it's responding as well as she thinks.

She also checked whether my heart's still doing the weird beat skipping thing & it isn't any more! I totally forgot to ask about continuing the ramipril & lansaprozole though 🙈

I have a list of medications that she's hoping to start me on in a couple of weeks - they've changed them from the ones originally planned with the other consultant, just in case one in particular makes my heart do strange things again. Cannot for the life of me remember what any are called though so I will be back with a list in the morning to find out if any of you have any experience of them.

She did say that it's usual to have a longer break after chemo but that since it's responding she's keen to keep heading it off from doing anything further.

I did remember to ask about the hot flushes & she's keen to check my menopause status since I've not had a period for a while - anyone know what this involves? She did say they'll still give me the hormone suppressant though for the time being.

And, I can definitely go back to work after half term yay! (that's a genuine yay, I love my job).

I finished off two more peg doll sets with varnish when we got in, then headed for a nap 💤 my poor old thighs are not thanking me for all the queueing and bouncing about last night 🙈🤣

That was an essay, and, as usual, I forgot to post the pics I meant to 🤷‍♀️

The Little Red Hen, and Each, Peach, Pear, Plum. The next two (another Goldilocks set, and So Much) are underway with their various colours marked out 😊

@lucysmam those peg doll sets are amazing! You're very clever!

Thanks @weegiemum , they've kept me sane over the past few months working my way through the list of them to be done.

Did you pour the wine?

Yes! (See photo).

And I wasn't very hungry so I had a dairylea sandwich which is my favourite comfort food! (Also see photo)

Love these

Ooh, I had dairylea on toast for breakfast 😋 good choice!

All the best for results weegie.

Beautiful work LucysMam.

@weegiemum I hope today's appointment goes ok.

I'm thinking about heading back to bed once the girls are out the door 💤

Thanks! I'm up and ready to go after 2 glasses of wine and a decent sleep!

Dh still in bed of course, he's the ultimate at getting ready in 10 mins. Appointment is at 10 so plenty time yet. It's a 45 min drive across Glasgow at this time of day.

Good luck @weegiemum may the outcome be as good as possible.

@lucysmam small gains are good. Great to hear you can go back to work as you clearly have a passion for it, and that the tumour is responding.

@EachandEveryone I am sure your friend would have understood you aren’t well enough to attend and you can have a quiet moment remembering them.
I have a friend in the last stages of bowel cancer and have decided not to intrude by visiting but sent all my love in a lovely card. It seems selfish to insist on seeing her for my own reasons when she is so poorly. But I shall miss her terribly.

All good here. DH serving pancakes and bacon today for breakfast.

Just out from the clinic and in the tapas bar! Mixed news, it’s either cancer or pre-cancer, they’ve taken a biopsy and I get the results in 2 weeks. By then they’ll have a plan going forwards which will definitely involve surgery.
Thanks for being supportive, I'm going to be white knuckling the next 2 weeks but I reckon it is cancer from what the consultant said.