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.

Thought I'd seen this somewhere; resistance training can help boost immune system.

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001jc6p?partner=uk.co.bbc&origin=share-mobile

I'd be very paced though. Could you speak to a physio about it? Would the hospital have one? The arm where I lost a lumph node can puff up a bit more when I've lifted some weights. I'm putting a tubular band on it during and afterwards and sometimes cold showers.

(Big fan only cold water! Am trying to get back into it in showers.)

Omg this is me. A bit.

I need to put the breaks on, it's reassuring that it's a common thing though.

Hello everyone, I was mycatispretty on previous thread. I have reading the support group but not posting as I’ve completed breast cancer treatment last year. It’s great to see everyone on here.
I’m ok but I continue to feel stiff and sore on op site side. I’m doing yoga at home and walking every day. Psychologically I’m a bit of a mess. I worked in a hospice for 15 years and I saw patients with the same stage cancer returning a few years later.I knew I was unwell about a year before diagnosis as I was really fatigued, had night sweats, I also had paraneoplastic syndrome which manifested itself every evening, without fail in a skin rash (hives) and swollen lips like an anaphylactic reaction. I also smelt strange . As soon as I had my surgery the rash/swelling never appeared again. I didn’t go to the GP about it as I didn’t want to make a fuss and it was so difficult to book an appointment. As I experienced these symptoms for over twelve months I do wonder if the cancer had time to travel and lurk elsewhere in my body…
I also feel a bit frustrated, like many people, that due to lockdowns I missed my mammogram which was delayed by 18 months as the service was shut in my area. If it had been caught 1 year earlier it could’ve been a different story.
Fantastic idea for this thread @TopOfTheCliff as I feel like I have support again and it great to be reunited with you all. I didn’t want to keep on posting on other thread now I’ve finished treatment. I haven’t read this thread yet but I will - just wanted to placemark and say Hi 👋

I'm 2 years post BC surgery. My chemo ended on Feb 2nd and my radiotherapy on April 5th 22.

I used to run a lot so I went for a first gentle jog in mid April 22. I managed about 800m 🙁 But I built up gradually and managed my first full Parkrun in Sept 22. Now I'm back to running 5k twice a week plus an hour long class at the weekend.

I'm still about 3kg heavier than I was but I'm not going to worry about that. Just concentrate on good diet (30 different fruit & veg a week) and try to exercise at least 4 times a week. The chemo upset my system and now refined sugar makes my mouth sore, so I've cut out biscuits and sweet stuff anyway.

Hi, I’m 59, big 60 next year and 25 wedding anniversary as well.
I was diagnosed with stage 2b breast cancer in Aug 2021. I had surgery then radiotherapy and now taking anastrozole, which is definitely a drug of torture. I had oncotype test and fortunately scored very low so managed to dodge chemo. However, radio wiped me out, which was a surprise because I thought that chemo was the cause of most post treatment fatigue.
Anyway two years on I’ve just had my 2yr mammogram and had the all clear.
I am on a breast cancer support group on Facebook and in the early days I found it so positive when members came back yearly to celebrate NED. To some it may seem like bragging but because a lot of groups are top heavy with people in treatment it gave me so much hope to see these positive posts.
It can be overwhelming on support sites because they are heavily weighted with people in active treatment. That is what they are there for but it’s good to see positive longterm survival stories when you are in the middle of the worst period of your life.
My DSis is 21 years post breast cancer this month. She was diagnosed at 34, not the best age, but is still here and NED.
In rl I don’t share much. But getting the all clear last week feels like Christmas and birthday rolled into one.

@Angrymum22 Im on a different Facebook Group - different cancer. I love it when long term survivors post - gives me hope.
I don’t ever feel it’s boasting -I think they know they’re lucky and want to share that hope with others. (I know you don’t think it’s boasting either).
It helps so much to see their posts rather than those who don’t seem to get past about two years (post diagnosis).

Im watching Jamie cooks Mediterranean just now. Good flavour ideas - lots of veg.
(Still getting over chemo, not normally lying in bed at 9am).

Maybe swapping healthy food ideas is a plan? I do tend to get into a rut.

Hi all

Hope it's ok to join you on the graduate programme.

I finished active treatment for early stage breast cancer in April this year, although I'm just about to start tamoxifen so that may be another hurdle to overcome.

I'm really interested in how diet impacts recovery and would love to share recipes. I am struggling to name 30 vegetables let alone eat them every week so that will be my first challenge!

Lovely to see people coming back and see how everyone is doing. It feels a bit of a no-mans land after cancer treatment as you are not in treatment but normal has changed forever so its good to have this.

I also got chemo brain and my oncologist told me it would be caused by chemo and the research I saw a while back so not sure I could find it again said it did cause long term issues (think was 10 years out) but not as bad as in chemo. But I would say I am largely back to normal and was about 6 months after chemo and I often have to remind DH about things. I think it was having to learn all the medical things to do with DS as nobody seemed to have a clue and all the medical things with cancer plus going through what happened during chemo day by day and memory came back. Whereas at the end of chemo I went away for a week saw photos of Floof and had no idea Floof was my cat until after 30 minutes really hard thinking. Whereas now I responsible for everyone's schedules again and reminding DH if we are going swimming its a good idea to bring his trunks and a towel. 😂DH just went away for the weekend to France for his piano without me and lost his wallet there. Thankfully minimal cash in it, £20 or so and cards appear not used.

I have two strange big toe nails now and hoping they aren't anything but I think it maybe swimming damage. Poor rabbit died yesterday appear to have had a heart attack. I'm allergic to rabbit but DD brought him to me lying on his side with his neck unable to move and said tell me how to keep my rabbit alive. I said call the vet and I'ld google and in the meantime try and put hay and water to his mouth and give him a cuddle. He looked well past the point of no return and DD was sad but glad he was in her arms when he passed.

Work starting on outside of house tomorrow. DD has all A stars predicted for her university application and application gone in for Oxford but her course only has a 5% acceptance rate. Still hoping the kitchen guys come back for last day / half day and take their stuff! Glad the painters are female. Though the guys have done a brilliant job, was supposed to be 2 weeks from 23 August though! At least its all useable apart from sockets but we still have things out as there will be more dust.

Hi everyone, hope its ok that I post here but the thread caught my attention. I'm 21 years post treatment for lymphoma and at age 42 I am happy to be able to say that I have not had any recurrence or significant side effect since. Underactive thyroid but controlled with medication. The post from Isaax further up this thread caught my eye as I have a yearly mammogram/breast clinic appointment and a yearly MRI to monitor for that potential impact of radiotherapy to the breast area from 21 years ago.
I am generally fit and healthy although my diet and exercise regime is not great at the moment, working full time with 3 young children has meant this has not been given priority and recently I've been thinking that I need to update my priorities in this regard. The fear of another cancer lurks at the back of my mind from time to time and while I know how important diet and exercise is in this regard, I have not been finding the time lately.
Lovely to have this thread so thanks!

Hi original, it's so hard with kids isn't it.

If it helps; Liz Oriordan, the breast surgeon who has now had breast cancer 3 times, often says exercise is more has more impact than food.

I'm doing the 30 plants thing simply as my gut was shit before I knew I was in peri meno and I now know that it's a million times better if I do.

Had a cold end to my shower. I swore a lot.

Hi @KefaloniaKid, I'm 3-4 weeks into tamoxifen. I think things are starting to settle a bit. I had come off hrt two weeks before I started as well and I'm not sure how much of my symptoms are down to that too.

I bought two books on exercising through cancer; this is the one I haven't really read much of, but am flicking through today.

It has a lot on adaptations and how to start slow and low. (All the way to the marathon runners 😂)

I think it could be really helpful for many on this thread. Lots on lymphoedema and lots of visual exercises to follow.

@Ikeameatballlunch thanks for the book recommendation it looks excellent. I'm trying to go to the gym twice a week, focussing on weights and adding in some cardio. Not looking forward to taking the tamoxifen but keep holding onto hope that I'll fall into the group that barely notice it (I know I'm being ridiculously optimistic!). Do you find it matters what time of day you take it in terms of side effects?

Hello, please could I join?

I was on the cancer threads a couple of years ago. Small tumour in left breast which had spread to lymph nodes. Two lumpectomies, complete lymph node clearance, EC chemo and radio.

On Friday I have my third annual post-cancer mammogram and as usual I am in a state about it. Convinced they will find something this time. Am quite sick of this feeling of dread!

Hello everyone 👋. I had ovarian cancer 10 years ago. I’m currently NED but I have regular tests, as the cancer I had has a 30% chance of lifetime recurrence. My treatment has left me with changes to my body that I have to live with every day. However, I plod on and my mantra is to try and keep busy and to do as many nice things as I can. I’m also working continually on trying to be kind to myself and to put myself first. I think women of my age group, 60s are so used to saying yes and running around after everyone else.

Love and strength to everyone on here. 💙💪

I took it in the morning and found it made me buzz and then I was completely zombies by 7 pm but I think it takes a while to settle.

I asked if I could split the tablet with the Bc nurses and the pharmacist at the Gp surgery; as long as it's within the 24 hrs they said it was ok. Bc nurses were a bit worried about it in case the tablet crumbles but pharmacist suggested a tablet splitter which seems to work.

If I'm honest I don't know if it's made any difference! I'm sticking with it for now mainly because I've an upcoming thyroid test.

I'll post some more about exercise stuff later

One friend takes it in the morning and another takes it at night - pharmacist suggested sticking with a routine for a good 2-4 weeks to see how things go. (Tamoxifen)

I always try to take Tamoxifen with a meal generally the evening one though do get bad insomnia but I am currently on 6 week break from it to see if I move over to Letrozole and still get some insomnia though better than it was. It probably worth testing with different meal times to see if its helps.

I have found exercise to be very good in helping with not getting ill as well and find it more important than diet but I do think a largely veg diet ensuring enough iron is best. I get weak without enough iron.

@FairyWren7 If you want to take supplements I was suggested these, as it took my immune system a long time to bounce back - tbh I don't know where it is now as I got fed up of just having monthly blood tests at the GPs and then nothing else happening. I haven't been ill for months though. As always, just check they are not contraindicated with anything else you're on. Sloan Kettering has a good website to check.
List A - astragalus, echinacea, cat's claw
List B - Grape Seed extract, Pine bark extract, Essiac.
Choose one from list A and 1 from list B for 6-8 weeks; then another pairing.

I have no problem with 30 plant foods a week, remember it includes tea, coffee, spices, grains etc. I have the Deliciously Ella app, which has lots of plant-based meals. The Doctors Kitchen app is probably also good and includes meat too. I do add meat sometimes to the Deliciously Ella things that I cook, but just organic chicken, fish or very occasionally grass-fed beef. I have also always had an exercise addiction so that's fine too, though it obviously didn't stop me getting cancer in the first place! I think where I fall down though is stress-reduction and relaxation. It's difficult being self-employed, a lone parent (though to a young adult/student there are still things to do!) and a carer for my DM with no real support for me - I have great friends but they're not there day-to-day.

Yes tea, coffee, v dark chocolate, spices, dried herbs, seeds, nuts, lentils, beans on top of veg, salad fruits etc!

It's easier than you think. I haven't counted yet mind you

I've been batch cooking vegan curries to have over the working week for some time- I try to have 3 different ones in the freezer at any one time. Simply for speed, cost and to reduce our meat originally, to defrost and cook in the microwave with rice or something else.

Post the 30 plants a week thing, I've recently looked at them and tried to switch them up a bit. Dh gets a bit bored too of the same ones (🙄!) I didn't have many with beans 🫘

My vegan friend loves black beans for their iron content and I'm trying to find more recipes with those in.

@Robotalkingrubbish - do you mind my asking - was it high grade or low grade ovarian? 10 years is fantastic- but I know nothing is guaranteed

I found a book - Salad love - by David Bez
has different ideas for combining veg/ salads/ fruit. Today I had celery, apple and walnuts. Added some cooked salmon.

Not at all difficult, but I find it hard to think of ideas in the moment.

Great to Carolyn garritt’s book mentioned- she’s helped me since diagnosis.
her website http://www.oomph.london/the-big-strong-lasses.html might be of interest and YouTube videos of routines.
She’s brilliant- and has been through breast cancer herself.

Low grade but although it’s slow growing, it has a nasty habit of coming back. I can never be discharged.