Cancer Support Thread 92 - Christmas Happy Hour at the Patience Inn 7pm tonight 🎄

[LemonDrizzle10]

Old thread nearly full!

You remember the sparkly boots I didn't buy because they were almost £300 & that's just silly money on boots?

They're now £99. & still available in my size.

& I must not buy them because I already bought two pairs of sparkly boots for way less than that!

@lucysmam I bought these to wear to a wedding in the summer when I had a bad foot and needed flat supportive shoes. I didn't think I'd wear them much other than for special occasions, but recently I've been wearing them loads just because they make me smile.

Buy the boots - we all need more sparkle in our lives!

I agree with @SewingBees , buy the boots! If ever there was a case of the universe telling you something, this is it! What's for you wont pass you by and all that. Those boots are calling to you....

@SewingBees keep going with the sick lines just now. I was off May 22 to Jan 23 and then went off Jan this year so am now on half pay but just want things sorted now but I'm on management (but not terminal) rather than cure.

Starting immunotherapy next week, we'll see what joy that brings!

@lucysmam agree@SewingBees
Those boots are calling you!!
Did they have a size 8?

Buy them

I'm finding immuno ok

@TopOfTheCliff How are you feeling about your hip operation? Am I right that it's tomorrow?

Thanks for asking @SewingBees . I’m pretty nonchalant really, telling DH it’s a piece of cake after what I have already been through. I have a habit of mistaking fear for excitement so don’t get scared even by quite extreme situations. It will be great to be free of the joint pain and able to get fitter again although that may take a few weeks. I have lots to look forward to.

@TopOfTheCliff I'm glad to hear you're not afraid. I was the same with my back operation - I just wanted to be more mobile and with less pain. Recovery is slow though and I'm impatient. I managed seated yoga yesterday - it was great - and I've just walked the dogs with my husband this morning. We didn't go far, but the ground is uneven and there's a small hill so it felt like an epic to me!

Good luck for tomorrow Top!

Ooh @SewingBees that is great to hear! You have done really well!
My yoga teacher has said she will welcome me back with a chair when I’m ready. I’m on a mad countdown trying to get all my jobs done today. The hospital have already rung and postponed my admission tomorrow from 7am to 10am which is irritating. My paranoid theory is that having seen my scans the surgeon has realised how complicated it’s going to be and wants to get the easy cases done first.

Anyone got any helpful hints for "off to have a mastectomy" bag?

Just trying to keep distracted following scan yesterday and surgical appt tomorrow.. big gal pants feel like they are constantly being pulled up

@TopOfTheCliff Another theory would be that, like me, you're the surgeon's only patient tomorrow so they don't need to start early and instead s/he will be nice and relaxed and not rushed, and will have an extra morning coffee and get some admin done before surgery, and then do an awesome job fixing your hip 😁

When I had my tonsil op I was told I would be moved if any children or diabetics were put on the list. I think previously for ops I've been further down the list because I was staying overnight anyway and they did day cases first so there was a better chance of getting them home.

@TopOfTheCliff it might be something as simple as them realising someone has a latex allergy and has to go first?

Not at all
Get the tough jobs done first

I am seeing the brain man on the 30th. The brain team have agreed it's metastatic brain cancer and that it is suitable for the gamma knife.

And I am now medically retired. After 29 years, I'm gone, just like that.
Weird

@TopOfTheCliff Wishing you a very smooth ride tomorrow, and during the recovery period. Let us know how you get on, please!

@lucysmam Have you bought the shoes yet?! You can't not buy them at that price. It's a sign.

@Tilllly Glad to hear you're seeing the brain man so soon, and that suitability for gamma knife is already confirmed!

I have been chatting to a couple of colleagues, and word has reached my annoying boss that I'm on the mend. She's very excited that I'll be back soon. I think she's expecting me back when this sick note runs out at the end of next week, but I'm kind of thinking that I need to add another couple of weeks... I'm feeling okay, but there's no way I can sit at a desk all day - and I would like to be off during the half-term as I've barely seen DS8 over Christmas... We won't be going on any huge excursions, but I reckon I can do a few fun things with him that week. Now I'm feeling guilty about thinking this way - does it make me a Mumsnet-CF to stay off for a week or two longer?!

PS: the CNS said that 12 weeks of recovery are quite typical after brain surgery. With these extra two weeks I would go back 11 weeks after my first brain surgery and 8 weeks after my third/ final brain surgery. I am not sure which one to count from, ha!

@KentishMama If your job requires you to sit at a desk all day and you can't do that then you are not fit for work. It's not taking the piss to take the time you need to get well enough to return to work. End of. You should discuss a phased/soft return anyway as it's likely to be exhausting getting back into it all.

@SewingBees I'm probably overthinking it then! Good point on phased return. How does that work practically, do you just agree reduced working hours with your employer you front? I'm sure they'll agree, but it'll be mega hard to put into practice as my team is spread across so many time zones. E.g. if I start by just working mornings, I'm unable to manage my US based team members. If I just work afternoons, I can't connect with anyone in APAC. Urgh.

@KentishMama could you do reduced hours split across the day? Giving you time for a nice lunchtime nap?

No employer should expect you to go back to full time hours after a period of serious ill health. Usually you would agree to start perhaps half your usual hours and gradually increase, as far as your health allows. Also consider a reduced number of days at first.

I’ve just made an idiot of myself. I went for my weekly dressings and instead of going to the treatment room they thought they were doing me a favour sending me to the chemo suite. I just couldn’t stop crying sitting on the chair again and everyone having chemo around me. This could be me again in afew weeks and I don’t know how I will manage a second time. Is it harder on your body? What will work do I’ve only been back afew weeks?

I have an MRI on Monday and Ct PET on Wednesday I will know middle of February and he made it quite clear that any movement and I’m straight back on chemo as it’s the only way I can get immunotherapy. I’ve been so matter of fact all the way through and have distanced myself as if it’s not happening to me. It hit me today for those few minutes.

Hi had my appointment with the cardiac therasic (sorry I don’t know how to spell it lol .) consultant yesterday. Have got a mass on my chest. Had my scan at Halloween, so just seeing surgeon now. I felt quite uncomfortable as I thought he was quite abrupt. Even my partner says the same. I’m scared of hospitals and take panic attacks.
I have two options, monitor the mass In 6 months or remove it and find out what it is.
I chose to monitor it as I am recovering from colon cancer, had operation in aug. All good and tumour was removed. Just finished chemo.
im just scared it’s another cancer. There dosent seem to be any urgency with this chest mass. Which I’m hoping is a good thing.
I need help for my panic attacks and fear of hospitals. As I have plenty appointments ahead of me.