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.

@ClashCityRocker my PT uses a laser machine to treat nerve pain. It was very expensive for him to buy but he uses it for everything. It reduces inflammation, quietens irritated nerves, helps arthritis and much more. I pay about £26 a session and it is money well spent. I shall start going again in March once I am cleared to drive.

Sorry to hear about your pain @ClashCityRocker. Sciatica is so debilitating.

My SIL continues to be put through the wringer. Went to A&E last night with shortness of breath. Suspected blood clot which thankfully they ruled out but the CT scan for that raised some concerns about her liver and lungs. She already had a full suite of scans booked for Monday so they let her go home.

@Remaker its me @FairyWren7 - sorry to hear about your sister-in-law. It’s not much consolation but ‘this too will pass’.

All you can do is be a kind ear and a handhold for her but it must be terribly disconcerting and distract you from your own goals and recovery. Make some time for yourself this week.

I’m going to start the stretching and swimming regime again and see if it helps. It got a bit disrupted during parents and friend visiting.

Thanks Tam Yes I think its probably worth it to do a bit of private.

My oncologist was lovely but super busy and very hard to get hold of and now I am signed off. Though in theory I have 5 years access to 2026 end to the breast unit but its quite hard as they are also very busy. And part of me wants to go la-la-la I won't ever get cancer again, who me, no, no need to test. 😎Its good as it keeps me calm about cancer but also I do need to get checked now as its not since Nov 21 had the first check though was all clear after surgery early 2022 then had chemo and radio to Aug 22. And other scans have been clear since and no symptoms. But I will try and get this MRI organised one way or another. Still nothing from breast unit. Endo have been on for another test for them so will do that. 48 hours of urine collection at home, nice.

Hope SIL is clear for liver and lungs Remaker The scans often do show things which turn out to be nothing, my wider one showed about 8 things including something on the lungs which they decided was from covid. Its absolutely terrifying that wider scan though, hope she gets results quickly.

Sorry to hear about being in pain Clash and Fairy I never got that, got numbness and can't feel a thing in some places post chemo. Hope you can find something that helps.

Hope you are continuing your recovery Top

Hope everyone has a nice weekend. Had a lovely day today at Kew Gardens orchid festival, you need to pre-book but free to members and then dinner with DH at the Toby cavery and brought takeaway roasts back to DD and DS who were very happy with those. Walked for about 2 hours solid and climbed the walkway and feel a bit worn out now, I am much less good at walking than swimming, get mild bone pain when I walk. Though so lovely to go for a day out with DH and see the beautiful flowers, geese, squirrel, birds etc.

Sorry to hear about SIL @Remaker . Perhaps it’s anxiety making her breathless. It’s so easy to start thinking the cancer has spread everywhere. Let’s hope the scans don’t take too long to get results.

Good day here. I’m in very little pain, didn’t even need paracetamol this morning and walked through town to the coffee shop with DH. This afternoon I tried out the exercise bike cautiously and may have got a bit carried away 😂

I am researching hydrotherapy and local pools. I think my own hot tub and a local swimming pool are probably the best option but it’s interesting to see what’s out there. I reckon the wound will be ready for immersion in about a week. I’m using Bio-oil on it and it looks good.

I am watching the thread running down. No 2 will be coming up soon!

Thanks for your support everyone. @TopOfTheCliff I agree that anxiety might well be playing a part. She’s been back to the hospital twice since she was discharged under a week ago. My brother isn’t the best at providing emotional support. Thank goodness DH is better at it (maybe because he’s English not Australian 😁)

@FairyWren7 I will do something for myself this week, promise! Unfortunately DD17 has chosen this time to become completely stressed out about her upcoming driving test and her HSC (equivalent of A levels here). And I’ve had to pick up the slack with Mum while my brother is preoccupied. So there hasn’t been a lot of ‘me time’.

Thanks for the reassurance about false stuff in scans @Penguinsa that’s really reassuring. All of my scans have so far come back clear thankfully so it’s tempting to think the worst when that doesn’t happen.

@TopOfTheCliff glad you are making a good recovery. I remember my MIL doing some hydrotherapy after her hip replacement.

@Remaker so sorry to hear about your SIL, all the waiting is so stressful. Hope you carve out some time to look after yourself as well.

@ClashCityRocker and @FairyWren7 sorry you are suffering with pain. Hope that things get easier soon.

@Penguinsa Kew looks amazing.

I'm doing ok. Only real problem is the hot flushes disrupting my sleep. I then find that I'm having the odd day (about a day a week) where I dont get enough done, which I hate. Feel guilty and lazy. I also know I should be trying to eat more healthily, but finding that difficult. Trying to keep up my steps when I can.

@remaker glad to hear the shortness of breath wasn't caused by blood clots but what a worry. I think the time before treatment kicks in as the absolute worst in terms of uncertainty - you're stressed and anxious and hyper aware of what's going on in your body in a way you just weren't before. I hope things settle down for her soon.

Kew gardens was a firm favourite of my one of my great aunts. Lovely place.

Spent all day sulking yesterday, and googling too. I think I might have buggered my piriformis muscles which is pressing on my sciatic nerve. Hopefully some physical therapy will help.

DP has been very sympathetic to a degree but has pointed out that I have been much less resilient about what is, in his mind, a straightforward overuse injury which will be fine in time than I was throughout the whole cancer treatment. He's probably right...I feel like I've used up a whole lot of my resilience with the cancer treatment...
Anyway I'm onwards and upwards today, have hobbled around Tesco and done the shopping, will try and get the house a little neater and then see if some pool-walking helps ease it a bit.

DP has been very sympathetic to a degree but has pointed out that I have been much less resilient about what is, in his mind, a straightforward overuse injury which will be fine in time than I was throughout the whole cancer treatment. He's probably right...I feel like I've used up a whole lot of my resilience with the cancer treatment...

Ah yes, it's easy to talk about resilience when you've not had much to be resilient about.... One of my pet hates in general, though I may be being unfair to your DP @ClashCityRocker - I don't think most people have really thought very much about what resilience means and are quite happy to label people who have been through hideous life situations as unresilient, when actually, they have shown a huge amount of resilience in really shitty situations that other people wouldn't cope as well with. That's my little hobby horse!

@SierraSapphire I concur with you about resilience. I used to think I wasn't a person with much of it, but when I look objectively at myself, I see that's not really true and I've overcome some huge psychological and physical challenges and bounced back.

Am in hospital atm after bowel resection & hernia repair. Just seen my consultant who told me that my abdominal wall is very thin with hardly any muscle. Absolutely no exercise that puts any strain on my abdo/core for 3 months then starting very gently with a physio who "knows what they're doing". I'm a bit gutted (see the pun there) as I'd just started yoga and been referred to a rehab scheme for post cancer patients. They've got to be postponed for later.

I think walking will be OK. I thought I'd take up one of those virtual walking challenges that are on the Internet in an attempt to make walking in my local area slightly more interesting.

Ah well done @MissMarplesNiece - you've shown great resilience going through it when you were so (not surprisingly) worried! It is frustrating, not able to get on with things, I very much cope with life through exercise, but hopefully the three months will go quite quickly and you do manage to find someone who knows what they're doing!

Sending strength to everyone slogging through pain and frustration today. Glad to hear your operation is done @MissMarplesNiece

I am on my Arctic trip and have been on a snow shoe hike today. I am exhausted but delighted I was fit enough to do it. The views were quite incredible. So peaceful and grand.

@dotty2 That looks so beautiful

Ooh @dotty2 I am enjoying a bit of vicarious travel with you. Thank you! Also @Penguinsa I love the orchids.

Well done @MissMarplesNiece the worst is behind you now. Slow and steady gets you there. I guess you ( and I) need lots of protein to help us to repair.

I am doing well, sleeping comfortably and not needing painkillers. Today I walked 2.3km round my hill and felt good. I’m very happy with progress.
BUT poor DH seems to be developing shingles! I’m not surprised considering how much the poor man has been through. The rash is coming up behind his ear today. He doesn’t believe me yet but he is feeling awful and has had earache for a few days. He just needs to slow down and rest. We have nothing planned at the moment except caring for FIL and supporting SIL. The coroner is having a PM for MIL so nothing can be done yet.

I think we will look back on this time as one of the most challenging times in our lives. I hope we will be proud of ourselves. Resilience? I own it!

Sending strength to you all.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/general_health/5005668-the-great-recovery-part-2-after-cancer-treatment-what-next

Here is the shiny new thread!

Thanks for new thread Top and glad recovery is going well.

Glad you are having an amazing holiday Dotty and can do active things, that scenery is amazing.

Well done to MissMarplesNiece for getting through surgery and hope the recovery goes well.

Remaker hope you can get some me time. I have DD doing A levels this year and its very full on though I am lucky with her she stays calm and does it all by herself. Her boyfriend is also teaching her. DS is the opposite though.

Hope you can get help with that Clash

Octopus I just had hot flushes the first few months then they went and none since. I hope you get the same. I think swimming helps (any exercise I would guess). I think low sugar / no or low alcohol are supposed to help but some of it is trial and error and luck. I have never really drank much alcohol, not always been great on sugar but my hot flushes stopped even when having a lot of sugar so that's why I wonder if was the swimming.

@MissMarplesNiece well done on getting through your surgery. That’s taken a lot of strength to get yourself there. I wish you a good recovery!

@MissMarplesNiece well done in getting through your op. Take it really gently.
wow@dotty2 thats awesome. Another one here enjoying seeing your adventures!
@TopOfTheCliff sounds great progress- poor dh. He’s been through a lot, as have you both. Hope he listens. Having to wait for a pm is tough- being in limbo land.

I’ve bitten the bullet a bit today and have got stuff sorted out at the Drs. Trying to get my referrals for physio and ongoing adhesion issues sorted. I also seem to have developed a throat infection - which I’ve got drops for. Dr Google informs me (sorry @TopOfTheCliff ) that my immune system is very bad - this is a bit of a ‘no shit sherlock!’ situation!

I actually had a nice day despite the insane weather over here, 37 degrees hot wind, then storms this afternoon and fire alerts across the state. (Fortunately we aren’t at risk where we live - but getting phone alerts was a bit alarming).

I had breakfast out, a haircut - I’ve had the back tidied up in an attempt to grow it out without looking like a scarecrow! Then I managed to find a nice dress for our trip to Sydney!

Got home and the fence and part of a tree had blown down… Truly a mixed bag…

So how do I build my immune system up again? We eat well. I had completely cut out sugar. Will be back on that Monday. Was eating soups with loads of ginger, tumeric etc in. Reduced red meat and upped seafood. Been taking vitamin B and vitamin C… I walk the dog for between 3 and 6k a day. Swim. Trying to do yoga stretches etc. What am I missing? Help!

Husband has already fixed the fence!

@FairyWren7 I was going to suggest vitamin D as I think that makes a big difference to my immune system- I use a spray. However I just remembered where you live and expect that's not such an issue for you! Maybe also increasing good gut bacteria? Kefir, kombucha etc?

I don’t really like fermented stuff. I’ve been having issues in that area because of the adhesions and gynae surgery. I have a lot of inflammation. Drink a lot of cranberry and water.

Could go back on probiotics…

Thanks for the suggestions @myrosehasleftme

I’m out dog walking every day so usually get 40 minutes or so sun exposure - with a hat and sun cream on at the moment!

@FairyWren7 yes maybe probiotics if you can't eat them? I hope the throat improves soon.

Thanks @myrosehasleftme

This thread is now full so >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Come over to our shiny new thread!

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/general_health/5005668-the-great-recovery-part-2-after-cancer-treatment-what-next?reply=132945457