The Great Recovery! After cancer what next?

[TopOfTheCliff]

This thread was suggested on the general Cancer Thread
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/general_health/4895824-cancer-support-thread-90-still-the-best-threads-no-one-wants-to-be-on?page=15&reply=129923637 as a place to come when you are recovering.

You may feel your treatment is over and you are cured or at least NED, or it may just be a lull between storms, but you want to step away from the daily grind of chemo and radiotherapy and look to the future.
Most of us come out the far side of a cancer diagnosis battered and unfit and probably overweight from the steroids and the comfort eating. Where do you start? How long will it take ? Should you diet to lose weight or try to exercise more? Then there is the huge mental hurdle of putting Cancer behind you and not worrying about recurrence with every twinge.
I am a veteran of the Cancer Thread having had breast cancer twice in two years and I managed the recovery after cancer no 1. Now I have to do it all again but in good company I hope.

That sounds lovely Sierra We are just having a simple Christmas at home and I much prefer it with just us.

Sorry you got sad Bring I think its normal after you've been through traumatic things to crash at certain points and it just means the path to recovery is bumpy rather than smooth. Glad you have a new boyfriend and sending love.

DH came back with all the things and then went to sleep saying it was exhausting all the click and collect. But good to have everything here now. Still have dining room to do and wrapping but that's doable tomorrow plus we will fit in a swim at the pool.

I think the diet will be a little challenging the next few days - got a cake order today but should only be about 4 days with more food so not too bad. Better than if we go to MILs when its about 3,000 calories a day or 'you don't like my food'. DS eats industrial quantities of cakes so they may all disappear in the night which will help my diet.

So far I have had 2 boiled eggs and bread and butter and 1 small choc orange brownie from the bakers. Just about to have a Chinese but will have the king prawns with bamboo shoots and water chesnuts and a spare rib and then a hot choc from the bakers so won't be too bad for calories. Should avoid going into excess ones at least. Though we have lovely champagne truffles in the F&M hamper which I need to be restrained from, thankfully I do not know hampers location. 😂

@Silkiebunny your Floof is an amazing animal. He seems almost human in some ways.
I too just have the dining room to do. The bicycles are almost gone, just two left to move then I can get in to clean and decorate and lay up the table. Today I finished making up three double bedrooms for the family visiting which has meant I shifted a load of crap into the last single room and shut the door on it. Then we went out to see the Light Trail in Torbay and watch the Train of Lights which was awesome. Tomorrow once I have done the tidying and some cooking I shall meet DD1 and her new DH to go for a good carol singing session. (They flew in today and went straight from the airport to watch a Premiership football match - priorities!)
DH has gone out into the night for some late night shopping at Aldi. His family shower each other with multiple very cheap presents while mine just buy one decent one. Horses for courses.
Hope you are all remembering self care and not exhausting yourselves too much.

That sounds a wonderful and very productive day Top

DH and I had 2 of the 12 chocolate brownies then put them in the kitchen. DS has disappeared with the remaining 10. Also heard rustling like DS was in the F&M small food hamper which has 3 lots of biscuits in and some chocolates. DD tried the champagne truffles and DH had a Chelsea bun. I had a couple of champagne truffles after my hot chocolate. Floof was looking at me with big sad eyes whilst I drank my hot chocolate. DH told him hot chocolate is not for cats but Floof does not think that is fair. The boys are definitely helping my diet here, DS by eating everything sweet and Floof by looking at me with big eyes if I eat anything nice, he eats non stop but that is different. Though DH can be the opposite with big portions and saying if you don't eat then I can't. Not sure why as he is normal bmi right in the middle so I ignore that.

Wonder how much will survive until morning. 😎Its just us so it's fine.

I was feeling smug about my low key Christmas prep as we are going to my brother’s for Christmas Day lunch. He’s just phoned to say his roof is leaking (we had a huge storm today) and doesn’t know if he can host. I half heartedly said they can come here but secretly I am hoping they don’t. He has five children! I have set the robot vacuum going but I refuse to run around like a maniac tidying up, they will have to just take us as they find us if they come.

Aah I am so stiff I can’t move this morning! Walked way further along the sea front than is good for me. Hoping coffee and paracetamol do the trick as I have lots to do!
@Remaker if you end up hosting then make sure you delegate everything! They can use your kitchen while you languish on the sofa looking pale and brave. Could the five children be sent outside to do some important mission? Good luck!

Gosh 5 children is a lot to have in your house Remaker Hope there's a good solution for everyone.

A sea walk sounds great Top though I think you also need to be delegating and taking a well earned rest.

The cake monster, oka DS who is stick thin, on top of the 10 chocolate brownies he snaffled yesterday, in the night the mini gingerbread biscuits and 3 Chelsea buns disappeared. But thankfully my champagne truffles survived and I have had another 2. Also had a fried egg sandwich. Off swimming now. Then have dining room and wrapping to do but not too much of it as it's just the things for all of us and DD wanted cash so just has a few things.

Been swimming, sauna and steam room was quite busy so just did 65 x15m as kids in pool playing ball, unusual there but it's Xmas Eve. Then came back and sorted downstairs kitchen, living room and dining room with DH for an hour and looks a lot better especially dining room, rest was ok before.

Came back and the cake monster has struck again and 3 more Chelsea buns and 1 hot choc has gone.

@Silkiebunny animsls make a home! I’m campaigning for a friend for Bertie! I want a little white dog. I think Boo will be the only schnauzer - I could never replace him.

@TopOfTheCliff I swam yesterday after a gap of a few days. Also had little to no sleep due to creatures and a snoring late back in husband. Well I felt like I’d been run over - so sore, whole body. Had to take lots of painkillers and rest rather than going to the botanical gardens.
We’ve had a busy few days so very tired.

@remaker - oh no. Bloody weather! Some rain here in Melbourne after a run of perfect sunny 24 degree days! Hope you have a lovely Christmas with or without your brother and his kids!

Happy Xmas all! Xx

Well my cunning plan worked as DH and I have reached Christmas Eve germ free. I missed lunch with DD2 yesterday as she was snotty and unwell but will see her on Boxing Day. I went to church and sang away happily amidst many old friends and even sat with ExH and DD1. The service was lovely and made me cry in a nice way. Afterwards we went and found the church angel. I will attach a picture. It was such a joy after missing Christmas several times in the last few years.
I am very happy if a bit achy and exhausted but the food prep is done, dining room decorated and the table cleared for action. It is so wonderful to be moving away from Cancerland and allowing the horrible memories to recede.
Have a wonderful day everybody!

Top in angel mode

Merry Christmas everyone.

@TopOfTheCliff love that!

We are going well here! Nice pancakes for breakfast! Just started getting the roast ready.

Happy Xmas to all!

@TopOfTheCliff great picture!
Happy Christmas everyone.

Minnie and the giant prawn! Really yum!

Merry Christmas!

I went to church yesterday as well, to the crib service and saw some people who I used to work with years ago, though they didn't recognise me, I find this a lot since my hair has changed after chemo! I was invited round to a friends house last night, but it was going to be me and a load of couples so I decided I wasn't really up for it, and I spent the evening on the sofa instead.

DD and her friend are asleep upstairs, they came back from the pub in the early hours so she has assured me she will be up by 9 am, so so far today feels like my normal day of getting up and sitting on the sofa with a green tea (whilst looking forward to the coffee later!) - I've got croissants for breakfast though, which is a rare treat these days, then we'll go round to my mum's and then to the pub for a huge lunch that I haven't had to cook!

Hello everyone here and Happy Christmas!

I'm a couple of years out of treatment (including stem cell transplant) for aggressive lymphoma. @TopOfTheCliff was it me you were thinking of? I went into Derriford in August 21 for stem cell transplant and spent most of august in isolation in Treliske. My initial recovery was pretty grim and elongated and I'm sorry to say I didn't have the emotional energy to return to the cancer support thread.

2 and a half years on I'm doing pretty well - back to work (though have to marshall my energy because if I overdo it I crash and burn, and my immune system is still not very robust). It's taken a while but HRT has helped a lot in terms of getting rid of the brain fog and returning my energy levels. I've still got a few long-term effects but living with a good quality of life. I've returned to horse riding which is my big passion and been great for building back my stamina and hugely beneficial for my mental health.

It's nice to see some familiar faces from the old threads as well as some others who've also been on the STC journey. I've not read the full thread but will try to catch up!

Happy Christmas, everyone and wishing you all a great recovery for 2024.

@TopOfTheCliff Love your angel 😇

Ooh @Babamamananarama I am so pleased to hear from you. I worried you might not have survived the stem cell transplant and we would never know. That has made my day! Happy horsy Christmas from Devon xx
All well here. DSS has brought home a lovely new GF who is a delight!
Joy to all x

Happy Christmas everyone, thank you for the support and cheer!

Merry Christmas everyone, loving the pet pictures. Floof very happy with the hamper. Turkey is in the oven.

@TopOfTheCliff I'm so sorry to have had you worried but pleased that my reincarnation has cheered you!

Lovely Christmas dinner, worn the Floof out.

Lovely to hear everyone has enjoyed their day yesterday. In comparison to the -25 degrees last time we came, Kuusamo is currently quite warm at -4 degrees currently. It’s a dry cold (very unlike damp & cold North West England) so quite nice out and about as long as your layered up. Husky puppies playing with my husbands boots yesterday.

Merry Christmas everyone.

We are here in a very warm Tenerife. FaceTimed my 2 sons and parents. Really chilled, just what we needed.