Cancer support thread 91 - don’t borrow tomorrow’s worries

[LemonDrizzle10]

New thread

Does anyone know anything about having head, neck and shoulder massages,facials and using hot tubs when you have cancer and are on chemo?

DS1 is home for a reading week tonight and I think he might enjoy a spa day with me but I've Googled and it's very confusing. I can't asy Oncologist before I plan to go and I'm not sure he'd really know anyway.

I understand a deep tissue massage might not be a good idea but info on using public hot tubs is contradictory. I assume Id have Gill out a medical declaration, which I would need to do lie on, but frankly with stage 4 cancer how much harm could they do?

Twig I was told not hot tubs or sauna or steam room or jacuzzis on chemo but I think it was just infection risk and its a balance with mental health. Also if they are pretty empty I wouldn't have thought risk is great. I use those all the time now and never got an infection but do wait until they aren't busy. Maybe phone and ask.

I would definitely not advise a hot tub, they are absolute petridishes for germs. Even when I was healthy I would often go down with a stinking cold after a spa day where I used a hot tub and a cold could kill some patients with advanced cancer and I presume that isn't the plan. A massage can't really hurt though unless he has a picc line or central line installed in which case maybe just a foot or scalp massage rather than full body.

Oh god @Tilllly I posted my slightly frivolous post before I read yours.

Sounds like you are mentally quite calm at the moment and just getting on with it. I'm so sorry it wasn't different news. Do feel free to come over to our lovely stage 4 thread, it's actually a lot more cheery than you might imagine and like here, everyone is sooo lovely and supportive . Link Here

Oh goodness, please don't worry about it lovely

Last week they were saying the field might be too large for radiotherapy, and it might not be sensitive to chemotherapy at all so I see this as good news

@TwigTheWonderKid
That link brings up about 97 billion threads?

@Tilllly

Mine are 18 and 23. They certainly are a mix of both adult and child.

It works for me?

Let's try again

If not it's the Roll up, roll up thread in Life limiting illnesses, probably quite near the top.

Got my blood test results yesterday- B12 and iron were fine but I’m on the edge of being pre-diabetic.
6 months of sitting on the sofa eating crisps wasn’t my best idea it seems!
I’ve just had plain porridge for breakfast.

I was told to avoid hot tubs. The Helen Rollason centre I go to for reflexology will not give massages while you’re having chemo.

I finished my chemo a while ago - no way could I have done the 100 mile walk while I was having treatment. I’m currently experiencing the mental collapse that my BCN warned me about but I thought wouldn’t affect me! Am on the counselling waiting list.

Love to all.

@LemonDrizzle10 sorry to hear about having to give up crisps and replace them with plain porridge! (I must say I do like porridge, though maybe not plain..) Sorry also hear you are being hit by the post treatment mental collapse. May the waiting list for counselling not be too long.
Counselling is beginning to sound like something I too might consider. Trying to hold things together out of sheer force of will is not easy.

@Tilllly I've just read your latest update. Sending lots of love to you and your Son as well.

@Silkiefloof I'm loving the cat picture.

@LemonDrizzle10 go easy on yourself, hope you are able to get some counselling.

@LemonDrizzle10 we sound similar, except I have only shed 3kg so far and am still suffering from Cape side effects so can’t exercise yet. Patience is in short supply here. Could you pay for some counselling sooner?

My porridge is much nicer jazzed up with mixed seeds and raspberries. It scores much better for blood sugar that way. Sadly Zoe advises that I can’t tolerate bread rice or pasta so I am getting used to lentils and chickpeas. I don’t stick to it everyday but I am learning.

@Tilllly while it sounds frightening at least they have a plan. Is it a lung primary or mets? Do you know when you will starting treatment? Sending hugs.

@TopOfTheCliff I think my BCN noticed that I was struggling and asked for some interim sessions. The hospital rang this morning and I’ve got one on the 15th.

I’m just about to do an online order of ‘delicious’ low sugar foods!

Hi everyone, I've been quiet. Still waiting for app for biopsy. (Ireland). Am away for a few days until tomorrow and nerves kicking in again. I'm sorry to all who have gotten bad news and hope you all feel as well as you can.xxx

@MrsTaytodarling hope date through soon..love your name .
I had a cheese n onion tayto white bread sandwich for dinner during last chemo mouth cycle. It was reassuringly glorious !!

Hi @TopOfTheCliff

It's a primary. They were expecting mets, but they are looking at the genetic markers

@napnappybrained there is NOTHING like a tayto cheese and onion sandwich 😁

Tayto?

What is that?!

@tilllly, Irish crisp. A taste sensation

@Tilllly Tayto are delicious Irish made crisps I'm not in Ireland but occasionally can manage to get a pack here.
I was so sorry to read your update but the treatment will hopefully be effective and the Dr's can't always predict how it will respond to treatment so there can sometimes be unexpected positive results. I am thinking of you.

Hello @LucysMam. Prior to this I have enjoyed following your lovely Saturday morning threads. I am always so impressed by how crafty you are. I enjoy colouring and love writing so i need to make myself move.

I have my appointment now. On Tuesday I have an appointment with the cancer specialist and in the afternoon a Thorax scan with contrast. I am alternating between being calm, thinking it'll be something else and being so frightened. When I was ill years ago myself and my dh were very naive. Now, i feel like everything they do i know what they are looking for. The positives are whatever it is, we will have some answers soon, it can be treated, they will have caught it early and hopefully i can finally get some pain relief.

Well I feel I've missed out now @Bbq1 I want to try tayto!!

When will you get results from the scan? Waiting is a bitch

Tilllly they really are tasty, try them if you can!

I'm not sure. It was 9 days from the first scan but they are moving quickly now so hopefully soon after it. Yes, waiting, always waiting is absolutely horrible.

I had a super quick phone appointment with one of my oncologists today - she seems to think the finger nail thing more likely to be post-chemo rather than new meds related. They haven't split any more so I expect they'll grow out eventually - they're growing quite quickly.

On another note - I've had a call (after the oncologist) booking me in for an appointment next Monday afternoon which is the soonest I could do. So the something & nothing heart thing may be something since they want to see me so soon but also still may be nothing, since the original referral was made in June 🤷‍♀️ Or this may just be a routine follow up?

Gotta love the uncertainty! 🙄

@Bbq1 I love anything crafty, keeps me nicely occupied! I've spent today painting "Secret Peg Doll", some other dolls, and sorting some vintage beads for beads.

*booking me in with cardiology 🙈

If anyone is looking for something to concentrate on, I'm a big AFOL (adult fan of lego). You can get lovely sets with instructions or create your own