Cancer Support Thread 93 - The Thread for the Dread and the Not Yet Dead? Everything you need to know about Cancer but didn’t want to know

[LemonDrizzle10]

Shiny new thread.

Session 2 of radiotherapy today. My rather dour oncologist has compacted it by a couple of sessions without explanation and I'm wondering whether it's so that it's over just before my birthday! Same dose, nobody has mentioned a clinical reason. The radiographer didn't know why. That would be rather sweet of him.

How soon have people tended to notice tiredness starting?

Hi to everyone! I had my surgery almost 3 weeks ago (WLE + therapeutic mammoplasty) been going ok so far and starting to feel more comfortable but now Ive got a swollen painful breast. Clinic says it's a seroma. They're going to call me in to have it scanned and aspirated. Hope they do it soon it's really painful and Im worried my healed up incisions will burst :-(

Best wishes and KOKO to all of you struggling or plodding along.

@ProperPickle
@herecomesthechoochootrain

Hope your ct scans went ok today.

I had a lumpectomy in November. Started chemo in January. I have to do 6 months of chemo and then radiotherapy.

I seem to react differently to others. I was fine after diagnosis. I didn't worry about having a treatment plan etc. I went on holiday and kept extending it. I was away for 17 days! I only came back because I had gene testing and then surgery.

I'm lucky that my children are 18 and 23. My 23 year old despite their own health difficulties and their autism has been amazing. She even does my post chemo injections. My younger child is also autistic. They have reacted completely differently. Getting the diagnosis affected every one in my family. It's clearly shook my parents for example.

Ooh I had one of those

They didn't drain it tho cos they said they mainly reform after
Took 3 or 4 weeks before it went and a few months before the tenderness stopped

I know it's nothing to worry about tho

Thanks @Tilllly! So if they drain it/them they may come back again? Bloody hell. I already feel like jabbing it with a pin to relieve the pressure.

@HellonHeels I had a big seroma after my total axillary node clearance. It was drained by the nurses about three times but got infected and formed a little fistula which leaked for ages, then healed up with a weird tunnel. I’m having the scar redone in a couple of weeks to tidy it up.

@HellonHeels

That's what the BCN told me - where I am, it's not common practice to drain them
Tho mine was only mildly uncomfortable, yours sounds very debilitating

breastcancernow.org/about-breast-cancer/treatment/surgery-for-primary-breast-cancer/after-breast-cancer-surgery/

This and others suggest it's not uncommon to have it refill 🤨😟

Hey @Tilllly, broken rib pain sucks, I know people say it’s one of the worst pains you can have. I hope it starts to ease off for you soon.

@Catunderling I’m on 22/25 radiotherapy but I’m having chemo as well. A lot of my fatigue is from insomnia (not sure whether this is from radio, chemo, chemo drugs, general worry, probably a combination of all) but I also have had a feeling of losing energy in my legs since I think about week 2, similar to when you’re recovering from flu. How many sessions do you need to have?

@Yorkshiregold
What I don't understand tho is the rib is broken because of the tumour
The tumour isn't going anywhere so will the rib heal?

@Tilllly Hmmm, that’s a good question, I don’t know. Usually the body has a good capacity to heal but the tumour will affect that. I wonder if @TopOfTheCliff has any thoughts/advice.
Did your oncologist say anything about it?
How is your skin around the rib? Sometimes some supportive taping can help with the pain from a rib fracture. But if your skin is weak/thinned then that might cause you new problems that you don’t need.
Sorry, I don’t think I’ve been any help there at all.

@Tilllly my broken vertebra is not expected to mend, even though I had a bone graft while the rods and pins were being put in to bypass the break. You should definitely ask if there is a plan to address your rib and ease the pain.

@Yorkshiregold 🤣 you were!

@SewingBees thanks, I will ask

Oddly, ibuprofengel is helping

@RainbowRedPanda - I'm sorry you're so scared. It's easy to say - and hard to do - but we often say here 'don't borrow tomorrow's sorrows'. It might be IBC, but it might well not be. It's good you're getting it checked, but don't let your mind race to dark places you may not need to go. Come back and let us know how you get on. And of course your DH will worry, but I'm sure he'd rather know.

@dotty2 thank you, I'm trying really hard not to worry. I had a biopsy today so I should know either way in a few days. I did tell DH. He's away at the moment so just over text.

@dotty2 your ‘don’t borrow tomorrow’s worries’ is perfectly timed for me.
I think I need to get this tattooed on me somewhere.

Hope everyone is doing ok.

Had my CT scan and it was ok. I've got an appointment with the breast team on Friday and should have all my results back so will finally know what I'm dealing with.

🙏

Lots going on here, and so many new breast cancer cases! I hate this illness so much. Wishing all of you the smoothest possible ride...

I commuted to the office for the first time since last November today. Feels like a milestone of sorts, but I'd be quite happy to only do this twice a year. Long, exhausting day!

I'm wondering... I'm seeing adverts for vitamins/ supplements everywhere, and I feel like I should be trying some to, you know, get healthier. But it seems to be such a minefield! How can I figure out what's (likely to be) safe after hormone sensitive breast cancer, and after bone cancer, and compatible with my escitalopram, Zoladex, Exemestane combo? It feels like a total minefield.

Example: my horrid new boss subjected me to a long conversation about her preferred supplements the other day, and when I looked them up, they are made from bovine colostrum, full of hormones!

Any thoughts, oh wise ones?

@Tilllly I remember that my stepson was taping his ribs and sternum after a rugby related fracture, and that was really effective for reducing pain. I think @Yorkshiregold is on to something there.

@KentishMama

I'd speak to the pharmacist in boots, they sell supplements

I take flaxseed, multivitamin with iron and calcium. Hasn't killed me off
(Yet)

Hi @KentishMama
Firstly, congrats on the office commute! I only work 5 mins from my home, but haven't made it back to work since last November!

Anyway, I was thinking the same re: vitamins. I've decided on a vitamin B12 and D spray, Evening primrose ( which I smother on my dry skin) and Seven seas joint supplements.

I am also thinking of getting in touch with a registered homeopathic practitioner, largely because I'm struggling with menopause symptoms hugely. Obviously will check with oncology first.

As you say, a minefield!

Good luck.

@KentishMama oh and an iron liquid supplement.

Hi @Enigma52 sorry to hear that you are struggling with menopause symptoms, I have this to look forward to as my treatment will put me into menopause.

I think you might be better to find a registered dietitian to talk through nutrition and supplements that will help. They go through extensive training and critically appraise the medical research.
And just to be clear, you need a dietitian NOT a nutritionist as this is not a regulated name and people with minimal training can set up as a nutritionist (although some are good).

See the NHS link below on homeopathy, the research on it is sketchy at best.

NHS Homeopathy Link

Thanks for this, that all sounds a lot but you'll get through it. Are you on steroids? Thankfully I'm not on them re sleeping. I'm on 3 of 30 sessions of radio so a little way to go.

@Yorkshiregold

My oncologist told me to take the steroids at breakfast, time and lunchtime, so it didn't interfere with my sleep as much