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.

Wonderful to be on holiday at Christmas BG and Witch enjoy the rest of your time there and glad it's been good.

I love Lapland, been in winter and summer, summer we were around Kussamo for the brown bear spotting at Arola, though not sure about their Russian border trips at the moment. Lovely huskies.

Hope everyone had a good Christmas. Had a good albeit quiet one here, oldest DS did a lot of the Christmas dinner which was great, cause tbh its normally all me and it stresses me out. Had friends round on Christmas Eve, seeing some friends later and off up North tomorrow to see my Auntie and some other cousins. Feeling a bit bad cause I know my hot flushes are really disturbing my DH every night.

Hope the hot flushes calm down Octopus I got them first couple of months and now never.

Lovely Boxing Day here seeing the seals and seal pups at Horsey in Norfolk.

@Silkiebunny im very tempted now to book summer 2024. It’s also incredible to see what we have on our doorstep, how beautiful to see a herd of seals at the beach ! I’ve been on tamoxifen now since April and periods stopped just before chemo. Had a few hot flushes for the first months bit they did go away. Who knows though what other surprises Tamoxifen has in store for us over the next few years.

Well here we are on the other side. It’s grey as anything today with high winds later. Probably an indoor day although I might go and peer nervously at my allotment/ weed patch. I saw almost all my family yesterday. DB1 got Covid so we only saw him through a car window looking miserable. Oh and a niece had to stay home because her BF had a last minute panic attack at the thought of the gathering! Red flag there.
The other 23 relatives were very cheery and we had a lovely pot luck lunch. It was so nice to be well. I’m up to about fifteen spoons now so lots of energy. I could genuinely tell them I am getting better.
Wishing you all a healthy week
Top x

We loved it in the summer as well Witch - flights had to get connecting in summer with Finnair, remember the hey, hey as you got on board and their blueberry juice to drink. The bears (Arola bears) go to mid August only so best to go before then if want to see - that place was wonderful and did all home made Finnish food, canoes for the river and so many juices made from all different Finnish berries like cloudberry. We saw 8 bears including 2 cubs who came around a metre from our observation hut. We went to summer toboggan in Ruka as well, so many reindeer on the road but almost no cars, some lovely white reindeer. And white water rafting. There was a lovely restaurant in Ruka by the toboggan in the town which did the most wonderful vegetarian dishes as well as the usual stuff and in summer it was all very reasonably priced. There was an angry birds hotel and a hotel in Oulu which was full of rubber ducks for the kids and a beach we had to ourselves. It was quite magical there in the summer and blissfully empty. Does need a bit of research and a hire car as things can be far apart.

Glad you had a good Christmas Top

Yes, welcome to the other side! We had a very quiet Christmas, as our family is small and scattered and there are several healthcare professionals having to work either Christmas Eve or today. But it was nice enough. My DSis and dad came to stay (with her doing the driving - I posted about this massive relief that was a few weeks ago). We did a jigsaw and some quizzes, ate nice food, just about kept boredom at bay for the teen DDs. I managed a sunrise 5k yesterday (yay!) and I also took my rather frail elderly dad for a very short walk in the Boxing Day sun by the river. He has a pre-cancerous blood disorder and last year his feet were so ulcerated he could hardly walk at all, so although it was very slow and short, I felt very grateful he was well enough to be with us and to enjoy a walk in the sun. Very grey here today though and DD2 and I are planning a trip to the posh cinema later.

Went swimming again yesterday though didn't do as much as usual as busy there but nice anyway and then did a clean of downstairs bathroom. Weighed myself today and just slightly lower than on 16th but same weight in kgs. I should be a pound down based on calories but didn't weigh myself first thing but after a couple of drinks. But very happy to have not put on during Christmas.

@Silkiebunny I am the same. Minuscule loss but not a gain! I’ve been cooking most of the meals because that way I get to eat what I want. I’m forcing healthy options on everybody. I’ve just put a leg of lamb to slow roast for five hours while we go out on a Christmas Train of Lights trip. I am behind on my yoga programme but well ahead on quality time with family which is my current priority. They will soon be scattered again and I will have plenty of time for yoga.
Hilariously I just had a parcel delivered which I had forgotten about from a month ago. I succumbed to an advert of a lovely lady swishing about in a pretty velvet dress surrounded by nice furniture. The dress isn’t quite what it seemed and I look like a green velvet sausage or possibly a Yule log. I might as well wear it but like many things in life it hasn’t lived up to its promise! I should have ordered the furniture instead.

One of my pet hates is online clothes shopping where everything is shown on a willowy model and you have to mentally translate what it will look like with curves. Maybe this time next year I will be willowy and it won’t be a problem 😂I don’t think willowy is ever going to be achievable but I have just been for a swim. What I really want is to feel a bit less creaky. That’s a more realistic goal. I hope.

When I look for dresses etc I always picture myself in them as I used to look, thin, long hair and pretty much anything looked good and I used to wear lots of quite fitted dresses. Now I buy them and feel great until I look in the mirror or someone takes a photo. 😂So I am avoiding mirrors and photos but hoping one day I will get back to a lot more like I was before. I can already see a bit of a difference which is motivating me. Though I did buy a silver glittery dress and that was amazing, the glitter was so distracting I actually looked good in it.

If anyone is interested in weight training, my brilliant cancer specialist pt is starting s9me new sessions. http://www.oomph.london/the-big-strong-lasses.html

Hello all, I hope you all had a good Xmas?

I'm also hope everyone is ok.

I've felt better each week since around 3 weeks ago after radiotherapy (I'm now 7 weeks past) and have been building up rowing, dancing in the kitchen and weights. Had to very slowly build up rowing again. Tamoxifen, menopause and radiotherapy definitely put me backwards and my back kept twanging when I did too much. 10 mins only twice a week for a couple of weeks and a TON of stretching. But managed 30 mins on Friday with no problems.

I also went swimming yesterday and really pelted for half an hour. Kind of over did it I think as was rather wiped by the afternoon (more thyroid related I think, still don't think I'm at the right dose at the moment) but I really feel so much stronger today. And my lower back is great. I think my legs are the strongest they've ever been.

Put on a few pounds though over Xmas 😬 and also a few night sweats creeping back.

I think tamoxifen may have knocked periods on the head which is the best thing ever! Silver linings... (and probably shouldn't count my chickens!)

Oh that's great thank you for this!

I love the sound of the Big Strong Lasses weights sessions. It’s hard to fit it all in though along with yoga/ Pilates and cycling and gardening.

Today all my DC and DH came with me to the 5k your way Parkrun and I managed 2 laps out of 3 which is double my previous best. It felt amazing to be so supported by them. They seem genuinely proud of me for making an effort and relieved I am recovering.
Today is our 7th wedding anniversary so we have gone to stay at the lovely pub we got married in and had a nice meal. We have had a lovely time thinking of places we want to visit. It’s wonderful to be ending the year in a positive way.
Happy New Year to you all.

@TopOfTheCliff sounds lovely!

We’re on our road trip - we’ve been to Mount Kosiosco (sp) highest peak in Australia. Dad was very interested in the snowy hydro plant and info. The snowy mountains are beautiful! Last day of 2023!

Happy New Year to all! :)

@TopOfTheCliff congratulations on your 07th Wedding Anniversary, I don’t know why but thought you’d been together with your OH forever. Whilst our holiday has been lovely, I’m feeling a little alone in my marriage. If I’m not making loads of effort nothing really comes from him, we are on our second attempt now which I kind of agreed to due to small kids and big house and then the cancer came. I know that sounds awful but I grew up with a LOT of financial insecurity. I’ve changed a lot since the big c & treatment and find im hankering a lot after a future which doesnt involve a marriage. Anyway, i think the New Year’s Eve melancholy is settling over me and we have a big journey ahead of us today. Wishing you all as quiet or loud a NYEs as you hope for. Oh and shout out to all the strong lassies on here, I’m starting 2024 with sb ambition of lifting heavier by the end of it and wearing shorts next Summer.

Wishing you all a better 2024. A year of good recovery, increasing strength and whatever your dreams are.

@Witchinawell it feels like that to me too as we are a very good match. I was married for 27 years to a very clever man who expected very high standards from me. I had a meltdown at 50 and left him. To my surprise I met and married DH who is a complete contrast to XH. Easygoing kind and funny. We hardly ever disagree. I’m just sorry that for half of our married life so far I have had cancer treatment. It took a lot of courage to dismantle my previous life and start afresh but I am so glad I did. Now hopefully I can get back to enjoying life.
I’ll post my favourite T shirt for you. Happy New Year! I would say don’t compromise and hold out for what you want.

Happy new year everyone- and special thanks to @TopOfTheCliff . You are an inspiration.

Currently on a train back home from Newcastle. All the visits to family are done. Was lovely to see my parents but I notice them slowing down. Xmas visit to SIL involved me biting my tongue a lot!
Wishing you all happy new year with continued recoverys.
I agree with @thesandwich , @TopOfTheCliff yes you are an inspiration and so helpful to all on these cancer threads despite your own rough time of it. To 2024 🍾

Glad you are recovering and able to be active again Ikea and no periods - mine went with chemo and have not come back. Love rowing.

Fairywren Your roadtrip sounds amazing and how wonderful to see the biggest mountain in Australia. Happy New Year to you and all in Australia who are in 2024 already. 🍾

Congratulations on your anniversary Top and so glad you have found happiness together, you do seem like you were made for each other.

Witch Sorry things are difficult in your marriage, hope things improve. I would say cancer is an emotional rollercoaster so I would think carefully. It takes a while to feel more stable, at least for me and there can be a lot of unsettling change.

Glad you had a good Christmas Vino

Wishing everyone a happy New Year and a better 2024 full of recovery, happiness and gained strength and pet cuddles.

DH has been to France for a couple of nights to see his relatives and is currently driving back, some he has not seen since pre-covid so nice for him. I've been here with the kids and pets and looking forward to having DH back especially as he is collecting a F&M hamper I ordered for presents for DS for his birthday and a few nice biscuits and champagne truffles for us. Will have a nice meal and champagne and truffles here tonight then may head to Norfolk for fireworks on the beach tomorrow, weather permitting which is a big if.

Happy New Year everyone and let's hope for continued health for all of us. I've been to the theatre with DD this afternoon, she's gone onto a friend's and I've come home. I haven't celebrated New Year's Eve for quite a long time, but it was nice to get out during the day so I feel as I've done something. I'm booked into a class at the gym tomorrow for New Year's Day and will have an outdoor swim and go to the spa, then I have one day of work tying up loose ends then we're off to New York in a couple of days. Still struggling a little bit with the cancer anxiety with various twinges etc. though the nausea I had a couple of weeks ago has gone so that's one fewer thing to worry about!

Have a wonderful time in New York Sierra that sounds great.

Happy New Year everyone.