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.

I’m in hospital, been in since Tues am for my brachytherapy. All the treatment has been done, just waiting for the nurses to be happy to let me go.

Hope you are home now @Yorkshiregold and treatment went well.

@Enigma52 I'm so glad you managed to get through it! Well done!

@Yorkshiregold I also hope you're at home and resting now...

... and @Tilllly , I've been thinking about you. How's it going?

@catmomof3 💪🏻 great attitude

@Enigma52 - bloody well done!

Seen oncologist and palliative care consultants

Have got a mix of drugs that should manage this pain better, whilst minimising (if not eliminating) the risks. But worth the risk not to be in pain

Chest - 2 lots of antibiotics haven’t helped because they don’t now think it’s a chest infection. It’s fluid on the lung. Right in the middle where they can’t drain it. That’s why I’m so out of breath… I’m going to have some radiotherapy in the next week or two, which won’t instantly help but should reduce pain and might help with breathlessness
Trying to avoid oxygen cylinders, walking aids etc

Knee - there’s a tumour on the femur. That’s why it hurts…. Radio for that too so hopefully I can then walk normally

Travel - forget it. Nothing on a plane or overseas. And I wouldn’t get a fit to fly cert now anyway. Best recommendations for trips in UK please ☺️

Just waiting to see if the sotorasib is going to help at all

@Tilllly

Are there any places you've always wanted to go? Do you have to consider being near hospitals/ medical help?

I've been watching Pilgrimage on iplayer. They've been to some beautiful places in North Wales.

Great, another Safe Haven postmarked letter today for a CT scan on 17th. Had 'listening therapy' yesterday at GP. It's a priest who does it, I actually got such a lot out of it and cried- a lot! I need to try to make the effort to 'live' every day rather than wasting it just waiting. Getting my lymphodema stockings tomorrow- yeay. Thinking of everyone.

Been awake since 4am with period cramps and I don't know if I've started my period or I'm still lightly bleeding from my biopsy's last weeks. Having my CT scan this morning and feeling very scared, when I had one last year for my bladder and kidneys I was only worried about the cannula (have serious trauma from these when I was pregnant) than the results. Really hope I can get through it without getting upset. My MRI is booked for next weds and because nobody has arranged bloods I have to do prick test, is this to check my kidneys?

MDT next friday so will know then if my nurse tells me how bad it is 😢

Morning all. @catmomof3 probably your period by now. Oh god I hate the cannula- I have crap veins and I’m squeamish! I have a picc line in which is bloody amazing- I love it! The finger prick test is normally for your glucose level but I think they just are a bit blood thirsty. Top tips for cannula- keep very hydrated and keep your hands warm - even if you’ve got a hot water bottle to take with you to help the veins. Good luck!

Snowing in central Scotland today! ☃️🌨️

@Tilllly
How far do you want to travel?

Is there anywhere you've always wanted to go?

A city break, with restaurants/ cafes/theatre?

Do you like the seaside ?

Beautiful views/ countryside?

Depends what floats your boat

Just got home and omg I don't know how I'm gonna manage all these cannula's. The one from today made my arm feel weird and now I'm in bed crying. I don't know how I'm gonna get through this.

@catmomof3
My veins on the back of my hand packed up on my first chemo two years ago and have never recovered. I had a picc line put in for my second cycle and that was fab although it can be a bit of an annoyance at times because it has to be cleaned and flushed every week but I was able to go on short holidays, trips and work with it in. I now tell everyone to go in at the inside of my elbow and not my hand and so far everyone has done that and it's been fine. If you end up having chemo then ask for a picc line to be put in first as it saves a lot of pain in the long run.

They went in my arm, I can't do hands at all won't let them near me with a needle if they do my hands. Last ct scan I had last year was fine I don't know what this nurse did but my arm just felt off plus more blood than usual when it's taken out.

I think I'm gonna have to ask my gp for calming medication because I don't know how I'm gonna through with just mirtazapine for my anxiety. Spent the last 30 mins in bed sobbing.

Bizarre! 17 degrees in Cheshire today 🌻🌼

I saw the BC clinic consultant this week - not the iffy one from two weeks before but the original one who is now my named BC consultant (probably a sign that I'm being tricky to handle as never had a named one before). The first thing she said was that she had me booked in for surgery on 24th April at which I raised an eyebrow - not that I could do that date anyway as DC has an important medical appointment that day. I spent last week having some talking therapy and came to a decision about what to do about telling the DC's and delaying surgery and treatment until end of July. In light of youngest DC's special needs and the effect of me going into treatment would have on their exams, MH etc, I decided to delay and deal with the fall out later. They were quite good about it really although my consultant did try to demand that I see a psychiatrist. They are 'happy' that I understand what I'm doing and that I understand what could happen if I delay but could see that my mind is made up.

So, I will not be telling the DC as it is unfair to ask them to keep secrets from one another. DP & I have told those who need to know like work managers, a few friends and my brother but no one else will know until we're ready. We're looking at a few short holiday's as this will be the last year that we'll likely take youngest DC with us.
I'm going back to work on Monday as I need some normality and I have no planned tests until July when I go back to the BC clinic to see what's what. I am content with my decision.

Something weird has happened. DWP have credited my bank account, quoting my NI number as reference, for a substantial amount of PIP benefit. I only posted the form 2 weeks ago and have heard nothing via text, phone or post. Mistake? Do I transfer the payment into a separate account, in case it is a ( huge) clerical error???

@MothralovesGojira The key part of your post is that you are content with your decision, Imparting serious information to DC, is hard enough, with dealing with the fragility of MH and additional needs.

I totally agree, tell who you want to want to tell; it's so much easier then
telling everyone at the same time.

You have a plan, you are happy with it.. good on you.

@Enigma52
DWP are possibly fast tracking all claims relating to cancer as there has been some criticism about leaving cancer patients waiting but 2 weeks is very fast indeed. I would say yes, pop the money into a separate account until you get the letter through (may take up to 2 weeks), check it and if you're happy with the award then it's yours.

@MothralovesGojira yes good plan re: separate bank account. almost fainted with shock when I saw the figure, particularly as I've not received a text at the very least.

@Enigma52 I put my claim in at the end of Feb. I had a telephone assessment last week and received a text today saying I was being awarded it and would get a letter in the post. It will be backdated to the day I started the claim in early Feb. Nothing has landed in my bank account yet but I don't think it will be long.

@SewingBees Mmmm... I think this is a DWP mistake? Cash in bank, no text... how odd! Into a separate bank account it goes...

@Tilllly Travelling. So, I have recently come to realise that as long as you go somewhere really, really nice, you don't have to go far to have a nice break. My friend recently spent two nights at a lovely Pig Hotel less than half an hour from home, and it was the most relaxing thing she's done in ages. So I highly recommend that you hit Instagram to find a nice boutique-y hotel somewhere, not too far so you can get to your hospital if you really, really need to.... and enjoy!
I'll help you look if you give me some sort of idea of what you like!

And I'm sorry, but I've nothing helpful to say about the medical side of thing, just a head full of very strong swear words, and I suspect you've thought them all yourself.

I managed to spend half an hour gardening after work yesterday and today as it's finally light enough and warm enough in the evenings. I love, love, love Spring 🌼

@Enigma52
I never got a text with mine - I just got a letter about a week after the arrears went into my account. Hopefully you'll get a letter through soon or you can lose 60 minutes of your sanity on Monday and phone them to clarify. I have to say that I did transfer the money to savings just in case it was a mistake but it wasn't which was a relief.

@Yorkshiregold Agree with @KentishMama

How about a spa break?
Total relaxation, nice food, candles, fluffy towels, gentle massages ( if allowed?)

Whoops, meant @Tilllly
🤦‍♀️

@MothralovesGojira yes, I really don't relish the thought of being 1006 in the queue on Monday and then being cut off at 6pm. Cash in separate account for now, as I await my letter/ text.