Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

General health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

The Great Recovery part 4

997 replies

TopOfTheCliff · 08/02/2025 19:24

Time for a new thread. Welcome aboard!

You may have finished active treatment for cancer, be in remission or NED. You want to look forward not dwell on the past. You know you ought to be eating well, exercising more and picking up the threads of your old life. Join us and share the ups and downs of recovery. We understand!
Here are some resources we found helpful:
The Mountain Lion
https://www.cancerpal.co.uk/post/what-it-s-really-like-to-receive-a-cancer-diagnosis
Peter Harvey on Psychology of recovery:
https://workingwithcancer.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/After-the-treatment-finishes-then-what.pdf
Resources from Penny Brohn:
https://pennybrohn.org.uk/our-approach/resources/
Breast Cancer Now Moving Forward:
https://breastcancernow.org/information-support/support-you/moving-forward
Get your Oomph Back with Carolyn Garritt
http://www.oomph.london/home.html
Charity providing treats for cancer patients:
https://somethingtolookforwardto.org.uk/
Exercise is good for you:
https://www.webmd.com/cancer/features/exercise-cancer-patients
Any more suggestions? Post them below
There is also a thread for those suspected to have cancer, or newly diagnosed and facing treatment, and also a thread for those with Stage IV cancer who want to talk to others in the same boat.

https://workingwithcancer.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/After-the-treatment-finishes-then-what.pdf

OP posts:
Thread gallery
50
MsPenguins · 13/05/2025 14:39

Thanks Sierra Hope you have a lovely holiday.

Littlecaf · 13/05/2025 17:40

Like everyone I’m still worrying about post cancer aches and pains. Although still on Phesgo which is notorious for aches - if you read all the posts on the herceptin Facebook group. This week I’ve done rather a lot of swimming and a few longer walks. Today I had my first Zoladex & cried on the nurse. Just feeling anxious about potential side effects as I had such an awful time on tamoxifen.

But I am going into the office tomorrow which I am looking forward to - up in the big smoke! Get to see the sights (it’s very central London so sometimes like being a tourist). Can’t log in to work laptop so need to take it physically to IT. A day out! And hopefully not thinking too much about cancer…..

BatshitCrazyWoman · 13/05/2025 18:19

I hope your aches are receding @MsPenguins . I've started tamoxifen and feel achy when I wake up, but fine once I'm up and about.

I had a lovely day today as I went with a friend to the Frameless exhibition near Marble Arch, which was fabulous.

MsPenguins · 13/05/2025 22:19

Hope going into the office and seeing London goes well LittleCaf and well done on the swimming and walks. Hope the med side effects are manageable.

Thanks Batshitcrazywoman Glad you had a lovely day.

I just did some gardening and clearing of shed with DH. Did reduce it to 1.45 hours. I'm still achy but think muscle ache is improving and will just see how it goes.

DS had rearranged the garden shed again and also left his ipad and a hairbrush in there. Important to look good in the garden shed. 😂

PollyCreo · 14/05/2025 22:27

The aches and pains are horrendous on Letrozole, getting better now but hot flushes...😡🤬

I've got one more boob op to go, hopefully it'll be next month. Straight swap - silicone for the expander but the plastic surgeon has to do some corrective work. FML 😂

TopOfTheCliff · 15/05/2025 17:55

@MsPenguins your DS is a quirky lad, it is great to hear he is thriving again.

I am home from holiday and thanks to @thesandwich I read Oliver Burkeman Four Thousand Weeks while I was away. This has helped me greatly. I shall now choose how to spend my time mindfully without worrying about all the areas of my life that are not perfect. Today I was on Safety Boat duty for my club beginners session, and tonight I am racing. The laundry is done, but not put away yet. The weeds needs culling and the bins filling but DSD and her future DH are here planning their wedding so there are more fun things to do. We just had a pasty tasting session!
Small celebration today as my muscle mass is now Normal again. Still have 2kg to lose but 13kg gone. That is heavier than my bicycle! I am happy that I know what to do, I just have to keep doing it!

OP posts:
dancingwhilstfacingthemusic · 15/05/2025 20:50

Checking in and good to hear of positives. I’m also creaking badly from the letrozole. Been on it almost two months and hoping that these will decrease. I can hardly move if I try to stand having sat for a little while. I’m joining a gym with a warm swimming pool and a steam room next week.

I’m off to London for the first time in a year tomorrow to see a couple of shows. We will take it very easy indeed as everything is still so tiring.

MsPenguins · 15/05/2025 21:55

Just done 2hrs15 gardening with DH and DH was so proud of it, saying look how much better it is. I was thinking it didn't look much different but was still lots of things that needed doing. I cleaned the shed a bit as DS seems to be using it now, swept up a lot of leaves etc, got 1 thing ready for the special collection, pruned a few things and weeded.

Sorry to hear about the letrozole aches. My oncologist kept me on Tamoxifen as she said it has less aches but think its success rate is marginally lower. I think my aches are improving though need to be careful not to restart them again.

Thanks Top and glad you are getting so much done and a nice holiday. DS has a very long way to go but his quirky behaviour is reappearing and I missed it. He seems to be in the garden a lot now and has now moved on to grapefruit foam bath, taking a bath whilst we gardened. He's watching a lot of Netflix.

Hope everyone has a good weekend.

MissMarplesNiece · 16/05/2025 06:25

Yesterday went for a Barium meal and follow through to check if food is going from my small intestines to my liver and causing infection. I had surgery last year to try and correct it but it seems the surgery didn't work and food is still going to where it shouldn't.

As well as feeling disappointed that the surgery didn't work, I had an "emotional turn" when I got to the scanning department and burst into tears in the waiting room. I think it was all those memories of being diagnosed with cancer then the subsequent surgeries with their long recoveries. I'm a pragmatic sort of person and usually just try and get on with it, but these things are obviously there in my psyche somewhere.

It was fascinating though, watching on a screen in the x-ray room as the Barium made its way through my guts.

SierraSapphire · 16/05/2025 06:45

I think medical trauma is massively underrated @MissMarplesNiece- I find it difficult to even drive past the hospital, let alone go in. I do find I get weird flashbacks as well sometimes, not even connected to the hospital, just when I’m at home, I feel like I’m still in the middle of it again, it’s only a moment to reveal and when it goes, but it’s horrible. I don’t know whether it’s connected to certain times of the year when the worst things happened (which was about now).

We’re off to Majorca tomorrow, one more sleep for me, but two for my daughter who’s on nights! So that means work is really stressful getting everything finished. And despite being a local authority, we just don’t have proper systems for anything so it all takes much longer to do than it should do as everyone’s just reinventing the wheel all the time and then you can’t get anything through legal Without a month or two delay, so that’s frustrating. Also, my mum‘s house still hasn’t sold so we reduced it yesterday. I just want it gone now.

The not gardening didn’t last very long then @MsPenguinsGrin. Obviously, it’s supposed to be really good for you though, if it doesn’t give you aches!

I’ve not got much food in the house either, as running it down before we go away, and I can’t be bothered to eat, though I guess that’s good for getting the last few pounds off 😂.

SierraSapphire · 16/05/2025 06:46

I’m not sure I phrase the thing about medical trauma quite right, it makes it sound a bit like I think it’s a good thing to get medical trauma, I think I meant under recognised!

MsPenguins · 16/05/2025 15:50

Have a great time in Majorca Sierra and yes not gardening didn't last long 😂

Sorry surgery didn't work MissMarples

MsPenguins · 16/05/2025 21:12

And guess what I was doing tonight, yes gardening with dh for 3rd time this week. 😂

FairyWren7 · 18/05/2025 06:51

Well everything was going well. Had a checkup a week afterwards and finished my antibiotics. Did my week’s training for the new job. Everything was going well.

Then this morning I went to change the dressing. I seem to have an infection so I’m now in emergency and looking at another surgery.

I’m not happy. Everything was going really well and I was feeling so happy if very tired from a week’s training in my new job.

FairyWren7 · 18/05/2025 06:56

It’s still two steps forward and one back.

SierraSapphire · 18/05/2025 07:55

Oh no, sorry @FairyWren7- that’s rubbish. I hope it’s something that they can sort without more surgery ❤️ - keep us updated.

thesandwich · 18/05/2025 12:10

@FairyWren7 so sorry to read that. Sending good wishes

MsPenguins · 18/05/2025 12:39

So sorry about the infection Fairywren hope they can get that resolved quickly. Good to hear you enjoyed the new job.

Hope you are enjoying your holiday Sierra and hope everyone is having a good weekend. Nothing too exciting here, just watched Netflix yesterday Four Seasons and did my UK tax return and my foreign one. DH took his classic car to a friend's as a surprise but they were watching the football so he just had a coffee there and drove without them and came back very indignant that people can prefer football over his beloved car. At least my tax return I should pay a lot less UK tax than I thought as they do the foreign tax credit last earnings not first.

FairyWren7 · 18/05/2025 15:09

Lots of antibiotics by iv and Im looking at a surgery tomorrow. It took seven goes to get the canula in and nine hours stuck in emergency.

I need Netflix recommendations, tea and prayers.

I’m now on the ward.

I think I’m just going to take the insurance money and hit the road when this is sorted.

MsPenguins · 18/05/2025 15:44

Hope the surgery goes as well as it can Fairywren and recovery after goes well.

I am not sure if our Netflix will have same as yours and I don't watch that much on there but just watched Four Seasons which was great. Though the couples were early 50s, same age as me, might be too old for you. If can get the BBC out there Race Around the World is really good, this one is China / Nepal / India. I also love Below Deck especially the Australian captain one, get that on Hayu.

Hitting the road sounds good fun. Maybe you could plan that. I love watching travel videos.

DH and I woke up so late today at around 12.45 and the cat was judging us! Though I could not sleep around 4am to 8am so glad I caught it up. I did give cat tuna, cuddle him, praise him and turn his heater on so he was very happy with me then and replied each time I said I loved him like he was saying it back. We have just had home made cottage pie and will have Sunday roast. Other than that a little cleaning and tidying of house. Next week I ordered a special collection of rubbish, really living the dream this month! 😀 Though it is lovely when things look nice. And gives exercise. Bone ache does seem to have eased.

MissMarplesNiece · 18/05/2025 18:02

@FairyWren7 so sorry to read your post. Hope everything goes well in surgery and that your recovery is a swift one.

Littlecaf · 18/05/2025 19:28

@FairyWren7 Ah oh no! It does feel like two steps forward one step back. I’m sorry you’re in that situation. Fingers crossed any surgery goes well.

On Netflix - something a bit different - America’s Sweethearts - Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders - oddly addictive!

If you want some travel vlogs for some escapism I like Simon Wilson, Walk with me Tim & Cruise with Ben and David all on YouTube. For house renovations Duncombe House Diaries is rather fun too.

demivolte · 18/05/2025 21:58

So sorry to read your update @FairyWren7 I hope surgery goes well and you have a quick recovery.

TopOfTheCliff · 18/05/2025 22:19

Oh @FairyWren7 that is so unfair and bad luck. Sending hugs and totally understand you want to run away.

I have come back from my holiday with raging toothache so will be trying to get an urgent dental appointment tomorrow. I think I need a root canal filling as I have a dying nerve that has set off trigeminal neuralgia. As a result I took it easy once the book launch was done. (That was surprisingly fun, and I look quite lovely in the photos which is very rare for me!) I have been buying delicious bedding plants and herbs and have filled up 9 planters today. I won’t be rivalling @MsPenguins for perfection but the garden is looking better. The allotment is doing okay too although I couldn’t face going up tonight to water it. Oliver Burkeman has given me permission to do things badly 😂

OP posts:
MsPenguins · 19/05/2025 16:35

Hope you are out of surgery now Fairywren and in recovery.

Hope you can get your teeth sorted Top and well done on book launch. Our garden still has a lot to do, reckon every year its going to get near perfect in the autumn just as weather turns. 😂And by spring all needs redoing again. Still its good exercise as long as I remember posture and DS is out there a lot now and turned the shed into a manshed.