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.

They're usually pretty fast here, much better than going to ED

Waiting on some coamoxiclav then can go
45 minutes- result

Afternoon all! Aww pictures of Daisy AND kittens, absolutely gorgeous. I hope Daisy enjoyed her first outing @Tilllly !

In other news it's a really gorgeous day in Scotland today - sun is a shining and we're at 10 degrees - positively balmy!

Just booked a long weekend in St Andrews for next month with my sister - here's hoping immunotherapy stays on the schedule it is.

Happy Sunday all x

Just popping back in to wish you all the very best. My biopsy was clear for IBC, I've never been more relieved.

Wooohooo
That's brilliant news @RainbowRedPanda
I'm so happy for you

🎉 🥳 💃🏼

Very happy to read this @RainbowRedPanda ! Fantastic news. Now breathe.

@TopOfTheCliff We were just talking about our plans for the next few days, and decided to go to Pollensa tomorrow for a wander around. Any recommendations of things to do there?

Sadly it's quite cool and overcast, but we should get a few moments of sunshine this week. I just need an hour or two outside in the sun, then I've had what I came for :)

@Whatevershallidowithmylife Any chance of you keeping the sunshine going for a bit? I'm in Scotland for 2 weeks from Friday. I don't care if it's cold, it can even snow if it wants, I just don't want any more fucking rain.

@SewingBees I’ll try my hardest - for all our sakes 😀

@RainbowRedPanda fabulous news!

Why did I think walking into town was a good idea? My knee is killing me.

Lurching from diarrhoea to constipation atm.
Cancer really is shit.
Hope your knee is OK @Tilllly.

@SewingBees here's hoping you have a lovely time in Scotland over the Easter break ( and the weather is kind you to you!)

@Tilllly how's the knee now?

@Zoopet yep, they are both grim. I hate the way treatment has the power to affect our digestive system so much. Hope it won't be too harsh for you.

@KentishMama Have a fabulous holiday..good food, wine, weather and peace?

@RainbowRedPanda great news!! 😊

Not bad this end. Cycle 4 of ribociclib starts today ( urghhh) Please just it be a teeny bit kinder then the last 3 cycles, it's not much to ask!

I'm having some complimentary therapy on Thursday ( can't wait!) DD is home from Uni on Thursday and hoping to see some nice work colleagues for coffee during the Easter break.

I'm sat in Wetherspoons with an ex colleague, and a planned lift home
So all good now!!

@RainbowRedPanda 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
Brilliant news!

Does anyone receive PIP?
I've just submitted my form.
Suppose a gruelling assessment will be the next stage?

@Enigma52
MacMillan usually do it for you?

@Zoopet
Grim

Are you taking anything for it or do you not know which to treat?

@KentishMama sorry I didn’t see your message until too late. I hope you found the old plaza and the street cafes. I remember a very fine gelato shop.

I’ve been out on my bike this morning with my friends. It was cold and wet and miserable so we had double coffees in the Orchid house which was nice and warm. Now home and getting warm and dry in time for yoga then a swim. I’m enjoying this recovery business.

@Zoopet personally my least favourite symptom from chemotherapy was the nausea. It is my default symptom when I am anxious too. I hate it! Even walking chemo unit makes me heave. Sending sympathy.

@Enigma52
In my experience they don't do the dreaded in person interview for people in active treatment for cancer. Someone phoned me about 10 weeks after they got my application just to run through my answers and asked if I was the same. Just reiterate how bad it is on the worst days and if they ask about good days then I just said that I don't have very many of those so hard to say. I then got an award about 4 weeks later I think.
I asked my friend (in DWP) about it and they said that people who are having treatments that affect the immune system should never be asked to put themselves at risk by attending an in person interview. I found the PIP people to be very sympathetic and easy to deal with.

Have meds for both but I either bleed with constipation or I'm on the loo throughout the night with diarrhoea.
I give up!

@Tilllly yes the benefits advisor at Maggies did it for me. She said I would likely have to go in for an assessment.

@MothralovesGojira I seriously hope I can avoid the assessment. If I don't, they will likely see me on a crappy treatment day anyway. A phone call 10 Weeks after your application??

@Zoopet that's just rubbish for you. Have you tried movicol for the constipation? Prune juice? Imodium for diarrhoea?

Sympathy. I get constipated on the ribociclib.

Fingers crossed you don't @Enigma52

I seen on here quite a few times people saying they turn you down on application, but approve it on appeal

@Tilllly yes that's what the benefits advisor said too. We shall see! 🤞

@Enigma52
I think that it was about 10 weeks but may have been 8. Sadly I can't clearly remember that period very well. I do know that I got points for things like not being able to shower unless DP was home because I needed someone to put my Picc line waterproof sleeve on/off for me, open food packets, cut up fruit/veg and I couldn't lift a kettle. Plus DP made sure that I'd taken meds correctly and on time and went to the pharmacy for me, did food shopping, took me to appointments etc. I also had the community nursing team visiting once a week to flush my picc line and that can give points too.
I also got mobility points because I couldn't walk to the bus stop and at my worst I could barely walk to the car parked 25m away.
I also clearly stated how all the medication effected me including the chemo so things like the toilet issues for 10 days after chemo and manic behaviour from steroids.

@MothralovesGojira again, thanks for sharing, appreciate it.

I sure am having some crappy days on this ribociclib and letrozole, so will make sure they know about them.

The BCN also submitted a piece of evidence, to state the side effects of the drugs and the pleural effusion.

Next question, does anyone take anti depressants? I'm going slowly mad with menopause and can't cope with the anxiety. Yesterday I literally forgot how to drive! Stalled the car, couldn't remember which was brake: clutch. Mood swings, crying.. bloody hell it's a whole new shitshow!

GP ringing today and going to ask for either sertraline or citalopram.