Cancer Support Thread 95 - No googling allowed 😊

[LemonDrizzle10]

New thread - we need to stick together!

@dancingwhilstfacingthemusic That chemo ward sounds like a nightmare! "Plane flu"....😬

@dancingwhilstfacingthemusic oh gosh, what a pain! I had to spend the day at the hospital between cycles 4 & 5, right when I had no red or or white blood cells, and ended up with a chest infection! Was so angry. Still coughing a month later. So annoyed. Didn’t stop them giving me more chemo though. They’ll do anything to get it in you! Ha! Hope it went ok 👌

They were happy to give the maskless wonders chemo despite chest infections so hopefully mine won’t be delayed - have dispatched dh to pick up some first defence.

I had my weekly hairwash this morning (because I’m cold capping). I decided to have a mini spa day and lit candles, played spa music and gave myself a soothing facial. It was lovely. I also did a foot massage. Anything for a bit of indulgence amidst the chaos. Ds2 has gone away for at least a week and I needed him to see me looking spruced up and well rather than green about the gills!

Feeling better than last week. Fingers crossed. They’ve given me mouth and eye products to deal with issues and they’re working well.

Hope you’re doing ok @ememem84 and the throat has settled.

Ah that chemo ward sounds ick. But yep they’ll go to great lengths to get it into you!

dsis came back from “our” Disney trip yesterday. Was meant to see her today. But apparently some woman in the row 2 in front of her on the plane was puking the entire flight. So dsis is now not seeing me for another week. Just in case. Which is lovely she’s so thoughtful but I want my Disney merch to see her.

throat is still scratchy. But I’ve rested this afternoon. Been to the zoo with the kids and for dirty cheeseburgers after as is our tradition. Temp normal.

if temp goes crazy I’ll call the number. But for now I’m doing ok. Haven’t needed any painkillers so that’s good. More of an annoyance.

lovely day at the zoo. Look who I met! Tent Monkey face

How’re you doing today @ememem84 ? That’s awful re the plane but how sensible of dsis (can’t she leave the merch in your doorstep for you to dettol … 🤣)

if anyone else is struggling with chemo mouth, I’ve been given some oral gel and also some mouthwash (benzydamine hydrochloride) which has made me comfier and removed that awful claggy sensation. As a side win I could also taste my food so much better last night.

I'm glad you found something that helps with the claggy feeling @dancingwhilstfacingthemusic I tend to have 7 days of claggy, and not eating much, a day of okay, then sore mouth and lips with a few ulcers starts, which lasts a few days, then okay. Then the next cycle happens! Will ask about those things.

Snotty. But ok.

Oh bugger @ememem84 Tis the season tho I guess. Hope it soon clears.

@BatshitCrazyWoman that sounds uncomfortable. Definitely ask for something. The gel puts a coating on the mouth and tongue, helping healing. I felt that my tongue was going to crack out of my mouth at the weekend and was so glad to have something to help.

Still snotzilla here but no sore throat and no temperature. So that’s a bonus.

im having a morning in bed and drinking a shit ton of water to flush it out.

took kids to local kids theatre production of SpongeBob the musical yesterday. So fun

Lazy morning and hydration sounds good. Hopefully it’s on the way out now. Glad you got out to the theatre and it was fun.

Rest up @ememem84 and I hope it passes.

Called the chemo number. I can take meds for colds.

thankfully they don’t think it’s an infection (based on the colour of my snot….so gross!) so I should be good to go on Tuesday depending on blood results.

Fingers crossed @ememem84 Much as it’s not a pleasant experience we just want to be through it. Glad you can take meds, hope you’re managing to rest.

Had my op on Weds (4 hours of it) and I am completely wiped out by it all. Not sure if it's mostly the anaesthetic or what but I feel really out of sorts - and it hurts more than I expected. I also have horrendous oral thrush still which doesn't help, I have to admit to feeling very sorry for myself at the moment.

Sorry to hear you're not well too @ememem84 , fingers crossed it clears for you in good time.

@frostyfingers I'm sure 4 hours of anaesthetic is going to make you feel out of it. I hope you have painkillers, and are taking them regularly? I hope you're able to rest and start to feel better 💐

@frostyfingers you’ve been under for some time and it will knock you about. Take the painkillers - have they given you anything extra?

I’m sorry to hear about the oral thrush too, it’s been a haul and quite likely to run you down.

I hope you’re well supported at home and can at least rest as much as possible. Small steps.

@frostyfingers sending you lots of support and solidarity. I had my op too - on Monday. I don't know how long I was under, but I arrived in the ward after recovery later than we thought I would. I had mastectomy with immediate (but temporary - as radiotherapy still to come) reconstruction (silicone implants). No sentinel node business as I'd already had that (with non-ideal results - hence the radiotherapy).

I am resting a lot! I was feeling dizzy and lightheaded if I was up for too long, but that seems to be getting better now. The drain has become a problem... I didn't realise there would be solids as well as liquids coming out, but I have long stringy things... (sorry tmi). have emailed breast care nurse but google (sorry) seems to think it is normal.
I am really needing people to visit and be nice to me! An incredibly lovely friend brought me a voucher for 'cook' so we could do that if unable to make anything. We've already enjoyed just looking through the options...

@frostyfingers I should add that I had a GA before fairly recently (about 3 years ago) and then I remember I was really surprised by how tired I was for days and days (weeks actually I think) afterwards. I started a mumsnet thread about it, and everyone told me that is normal for GA! So this time I knew more to expect the tiredness. Honestly, the tiredness is normal and I hope you are being really kind to yourself and not trying to carry on like normal.

@breastcancerpanic glad at least you’re on the other side of the op. I had a drain and it was erm, interesting. The consultant said that the body tends to react to the foreign body (our implants as well as the drain tube). I know what you mean about the solid content, which I think is possibly the platelets doing their job. I had to lock off the tube and “milk it” at one point as there was a blockage which caused the drain to leak in the night (fortunately had pee pads down). Not what you need when sleep is uncomfortable anyway. It was such a relief to be free of it - hopefully not too much longer before yours comes out.

I’m concerned about having elevated liver readings pre chemo and onwards. I’ve not had issues before and am putting it down to having had three GAs and then a load of painkillers afterwards for weeks - more for a frozen shoulder than wound pain. Hopefully that will resolve itself - our bodies are remarkable things, although malfunctioning.

This was my 8th g.a, but none have hit me quite so hard, although the others haven’t been for anything as major and I’m lucky enough not to have a drain, that sounds a lot to deal with. Everyone is being very kind and helpful but it’s hard being dependent when I’m usually the capable one!

What we’re having to contend with is truly horrible and I’m grateful for the kind words and support from everyone here. Onwards…….

The anaesthetic made me very tearful.

Wishing those recovering from surgery and nasty colds all the very best.....

I have my MRI tomorrow and am quite nervous (even though I know I won't get the results for another week or so).

And thanks (I think!) for the warnings about drain tubes 🤢 As and when I get to the surgery stage!

I'm heading for surgery on Wednesday, it's be

Sorry about that!!
As I said, I'm having my surgery on Wednesday, so it's been helpful to read others experiences.

My consultant did express to me about the tiredness so I'm prepared for that.
Not quite prepared for what kind of pain to expect.
Luckily I'm not having a full mastectomy but a rather large lumpectomy, sentinel node biopsy and a deep biopsy on my other breast.
I have to go in the day before for the nuclear injection thingy and have two wires will be inserted into my left just before surgery.

It's been a three month journey to get to this point. I was so happy to be going ahead last week but starting to think about the realities.

We have a very boisterous 22 month old Weimaraner pup who is probably my biggest concern. Trying to get him to understand that I still love him but won't be able to play with him for a while 😞