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

965 replies

LemonDrizzle10 · 24/12/2023 11:59

Old thread nearly full!

OP posts:
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42
TwigTheWonderKid · 03/02/2024 21:03

I had two lymph nodes removed. They found cancer in one but not the other and said that radiotherapy would be just as effective and much less invasive than full lymph node clearance. So I had 15 lots of radiotherapy to my breast, breast bone and axilla.

nappybrained · 03/02/2024 21:25

@TwigTheWonderKid thank you that's really interesting to know thank you for sharing really kind

PissOffCancer · 03/02/2024 21:33

@TwigTheWonderKid I was taken aback myself. Pain has been there before diagnosis but worse now. Definitely not phantom. Will see what happens at pre op this week.

lucysmam · 03/02/2024 21:40

I don't have phantom pain - I have randomly odd feeling stomach muscles. They're sort of numb to touch in between both sides of my rib cage 🤷‍♀️ oncologist not in the slightest concerned but did check & follow up with CT (my request for a change!) & nothing out of the ordinary going on. Presumably it's from being so stretched full with ascitic fluid 🤷‍♀️

TopOfTheCliff · 03/02/2024 21:42

@Icanneverthinkofausername welcome to our lovely thread nobody wants to be on. Rage is a perfectly logical response to this fucking awful disease. We have a Virtual Rage room ready for you with protective equipment and lots of crockery to smash. We also serve unlimited calorie free booze in our virtual pub the Patience Inn. I have to say after going through whole cancer triathlon twice in a row I still think they got the wrong person.

@nappybrained I had a total axillary node clearance on cancer no 1. That arm gets slightly more nerve pain and numbness than the other (which only had three nodes taken) but it’s just as strong and doesn’t swell up. If they recommend it to reduce recurrence or even just to assess how many are affected it’s not too bad. I do resistance training and lots of cycling which helps too.

Post op now day 8 for my hip replacement and doing well. I’m in very little pain compared to pre op and I managed a short walk outside on crutches today. Things got complicated as MIL died suddenly yesterday when we were expecting FIL to go imminently. Poor DH has his hands full but is coping bravely. He is my hero. What more does the poor man have to endure?

PissOffCancer · 03/02/2024 21:49

Did get some good news this week though. Mum of a good friend was diagnosed with breast cancer just before Christmas. She had a lumpectomy last week, and pathology results came through yesterday to say no evidence of spread. Short course of radiotherapy, followed by tablets, I’m not sure which ones. I’m so happy for her and good friend. Hopefully I’ll be as lucky.

lucysmam · 03/02/2024 21:57

I'm glad to see you're doing well @TopOfTheCliff ! Long may it continue. Have any FIL related decisions been made yet? (don't answer if you don't want to!) I do hope your dh is ok - I'm not sure how well I'd cope tbh.

TopOfTheCliff · 03/02/2024 22:23

@lucysmam at the moment we are still in shock. We all met today for cake and crying which was very therapeutic. SIL has moved in with FIL but she hasn’t thought it through properly. Things will become clearer in a few days I guess.

765g · 04/02/2024 06:53

Hi all , i have been silently reading for a day or so. It has helped me process how i am feeling since discovering Friday that i have cervical cancer , should have mri this week to check where it is and hysterectomy in two and a half weeks .
the emotions / lack of sleep is what's surprised me the most, I feel less alone albeit it would be nice for you all if you were not in the same club.
just cuddling my 5 year old and counting my blessings I have him . What a roller coaster this is and I am only a few days in

TwigTheWonderKid · 04/02/2024 08:43

Oh @765g ,so sorry you are here with us but you will find lots of support here. You probably won't believe it, but you are at the worst part of your journey right now; you are in shock and everything is unknown and scary. You are right about it being a rollercoaster. Once you have all the information and a full plan from your doctors things will feel a little better. What kind of support do you have in real life, apart from your gorgeous little boy?

Tilllly · 04/02/2024 09:02

PissOffCancer · 03/02/2024 21:49

Did get some good news this week though. Mum of a good friend was diagnosed with breast cancer just before Christmas. She had a lumpectomy last week, and pathology results came through yesterday to say no evidence of spread. Short course of radiotherapy, followed by tablets, I’m not sure which ones. I’m so happy for her and good friend. Hopefully I’ll be as lucky.

💃🏼 🥳 🎉 great news

Tilllly · 04/02/2024 09:04

I'm glad you came over @765g

It's a shit situation but this grp does help

You're at the worst bit now, it does level off a bit

My advice is always to get a notebook and record every appt, phone call etc. there's a lot of information thrown at you

Tilllly · 04/02/2024 09:24

I feel crap today

Am going to force myself up and off to church I think
Tempted to stay in bed tho

TwigTheWonderKid · 04/02/2024 09:42

Physically or mentally @Tilllly. Or both?

I'm still in bed but need to get dressed for Sainsbury's delivery in 20 mins.

lucysmam · 04/02/2024 09:44

Don't over-do it @Tilllly !!

@765g welcome to the thread we don't want to be on! You're absolutely at the worst part right now. The waiting is the pits - it's better once there's a solid plan in place, shitty as it is. Stay away from Dr Google! And definitely get a notebook to jot things down in. I've misplaced mine & it's driving me a bit nuts trying to find it 🙄

765g · 04/02/2024 09:52

I am lucky , I have my husband, my parents and my husbands family that have said they are here for support, my boss seems to be very supportive at the moment too so lots going for me

Tilllly · 04/02/2024 10:02

765g · 04/02/2024 09:52

I am lucky , I have my husband, my parents and my husbands family that have said they are here for support, my boss seems to be very supportive at the moment too so lots going for me

That's really good - support is key, esp from work. Mine were great but some can be horrible

Tilllly · 04/02/2024 10:05

@TwigTheWonderKid
I've visions of you greeting the Sainsburys man in your negligee 😁.

Physically
Niggles
R breast is killing me, think it's a pulled muscle but every movement- have put a sports bra on

Chemo sick - taken the ondansetron and it's 80% there

Stomach is spasming and bouncing, no idea why

Overdid the Cotswolds I think tho I won't admit it anywhere else.

Just like, FFS!

TwigTheWonderKid · 04/02/2024 11:01

@Tilllly I have often greeted him in a winning combination of nightie, massive socks and slippers and gloves ( due to my neuropathy) Now I'm off the chemo I thought it was time that he saw I do actually own clothes!

I'm sorry you are feeling so rubbish and the ondansetron is not quite working. I think I asked you this before but can't remember what you said - did they give you Metoclopramide as well? They worked for me.

JlL2013 · 04/02/2024 11:13

@765g Hi sorry you find yourself here. It's shit but the ladies are lovely.

Agree with the others, this part is the worst. Fingers crossed you get a treatment plan ASAP.

I was stage 2 cervical so had Radiotherapy and Chemo. Happy to answer any questions. Am nearly 18 months out and doing well, although the menopause is kicking my arse a bit.

Try to stay off Google. I found the cervical cancer Facebook group a bit bleak but they are supportive. Reddit was also pretty good. However this thread is probably the most supportive.

Really hope it all goes well for you.

Tilllly · 04/02/2024 12:14

Sounds glamorous to me @TwigTheWonderKid 🤣

I'm violently allergic to metaclopramide
☹️

nappybrained · 04/02/2024 12:50

@Tilllly if ondensatron not working fully, would they consider nabilone?

@TopOfTheCliff thank you, that is reassuring, I guess I'll dig deeper they're now talking full resection as despite lymph nodes responding very well, tumour has only had a partial metabolic response! I now have to have axillary lymph nodes biopsies and a endotracheal biopsy of lymph nodes in chest which may be autoimmune , could have been done ages ago but hey ho..I was never going to be straightforward
Well done on hip, sounds like your doing fab
@765g sorry and welcome

TopOfTheCliff · 04/02/2024 12:59

@765g welcome. I found at this point it helped to keep busy with tidying, weeding, batch cooking and enlisting support eg lifts for kids to activities in future. Displacement helps stop you going down the rabbit hole and planning your funeral. Also the Calm app and yoga breathing.

@Tilllly have you got any domperidone? That helped me a lot for top up anti-emetics. I hate nausea with a passion and it is my default when anxious. Sympathy!

@TwigTheWonderKid I am amazed how many different men deliver the shopping, and never a woman in 4 years. Occasionally we get a repeat visit and they are very friendly. Here anything goes for door opening. But I like the idea of dressing up for him. Tiara and feathers perhaps?

Talking of planning funerals we had a lovely imagining of the funeral we want for MIL. She was a very elegant lady who loved Am Dram and took part in many musicals and operettas. We are thinking the wake will be in a village hall with music from her favourites, a slide show and a display of her shiny shoe collection along with a proper Devonshire cream tea. We have a good friend who tuned her piano who might play for us. Everybody who comes can take away one of her ornaments to remember her by (and reduce the number we have to offload to the Hospice shop) She would thoroughly approve!
DH is doing well, and we are trying to plan the rota for looking after FIL. I am happy to be installed as a human fire alarm even if I can’t do much.
I am slowly healing, no drama there thankfully. May all of us do the same.

Tilllly · 04/02/2024 14:35

I'll ask @TwigTheWonderKid @nappybrained

It's not horrific, just frustrating
The stomach spasms and breast pain are worse

I think they're limited as the won't give me anything in the same family as metaclopromide

Tilllly · 04/02/2024 14:37

@TopOfTheCliff
That sounds absolutely wonderful

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