The Great Recovery part 4

[TopOfTheCliff]

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.

Sorry you are feeling anxious Zoopet I was told neuropathy peaks 3 months after chemo then should improve or at least not worsen so hopefully it will get better. I had bad neuropathy in chemo but now minimal. No pain just slight numbness and tingling feelings.

Thanks Fairywren Enjoy hot springs sounds great.

Had a lovely day out with DH at Kew Orchids then afternoon tea at their botanical brasserie. Hope everyone has a good weekend.

@zoopet that sounds really awful- can you contact your bc nurse to see if you can get to see a doc through them? Can you self refer via the self managed pathway?
@MsPenguins that looks like a glorious day! Orchids and cake- fabulous.

Thanks The sandwich

Zoopet I also found swimming helped neuropathy over time and once I got back to swimming 3 times a week after a while walking got much easier as well as it helping physical and mental health. Vitamins can sometimes help, I take Wellwoman50 sometimes. For me meds make symptoms worse so I only take Tamoxifen. I can get buzzy hands if anxious, can be breathing too fast. Something like gardening might help if not a swimmer and feet can manage.

Sorry for your trouble @Zoopet
I get buzzy hands and feet at bedtime, especially if I am tired and dehydrated. I find just paracetamol enough to calm it down.
I’ve made brownies and sweet corn chowder for 40 for tomorrow. All vegan but I won’t tell them that. I also went to see the Bridget Jones film (which was lovely but sad) and had a Japanese meal out with friends. Definitely a good day! I have a blistered hand from chopping vegetables. I am liking feeling useful again, serving my club mates.

‘Buzzy hands’ that’s exactly it! Mine have settled down a bit but they can spring into life if I get anxious!

@zoopet - hopefully it will start to settle down over the next few months. It’s such an odd feeling. My hands and feet are a lot better but the area around the armpits where my lymph nodes have been removed are pretty awful.

The massage yesterday has made me feel like I’ve been hit with a truck. I genuinely feel like I’m getting a cold/feel very run down so I made the mistake of googling it and it turns out that lymph drainage could be a thing after a deep tissue massage.

I’ve just walked the dog now considering if a swim might make me feel better.

I've just watched a programme on TV that featured an item about Women fly-fishing. Apparently it's recommended for women who've had upper body surgery, in particular surgery for breast cancer. I've never really thought of fly-fishing as a physical sport but I suppose with all that casting into the river it is. There's also all that peaceful meditation of watching the river flow by, hearing the birds etc.

At my clinic there are leaflets about free fly fishing sessions for breast cancer patients. It sounds like it’s becoming a thing to do like dragon boating. I am generally busy enough so won’t be taking up the offer .
Coffee, cake, and soup served to the troops this morning. Now recovering quietly.

Sorry to hear about the neuropathy @Zoopet That must be hard to live with. I hope you find some strategies to help.

thank you all for sharing your thoughts on joy and thongs (!) I’ve subscribed to The happiness lab podcast @thesandwich. (In fact I think I’ve heard Laurie Santos as a guest on a podcast previously. It might have been Cautionary Tales which is my absolute favourite podcast and full of wisdom. I recommend it to everyone but it certainly doesn’t bring joy). I’ve been mulling it over and I think part of the issue is that I’ve failed to find replacements for the things that used to bring me joy. I love being in the hills or by the sea and I live too far from both. Plus DH can’t reliably walk far enough for a proper hill walk so that joy is missing now. My teens are lovely and bring deep love and satisfaction but don’t bring joy and fun in the way small children do. Since cancer, I have prioritised relationships and invested a lot in maintaining friendships. And I’m very grateful for my friends but everyone in my immediate circle has their own challenges (elderly parents, health issues, relationships, job stress, teenagers etc) and catch ups become a bit of a therapy session a lot of the time. So an immediate resolution is not just to meet friends for a coffee or a drink but to do something fun together instead. With that in mind, I’m treating a lovely friend to a last minute theatre trip this coming week instead of having dinner.

in other news, I’m very pleased with myself as I ran 5k this morning for the first time in forever. It took me 35 mins which is vvv slow but I did it.

Thank you for all your support and ideas.
I like particularly the idea of swimming as even if my neuropathy doesn't improve I won't feel so post Christmas and flumpy!
Great idea to finding new joy after cancer@ dotty2.
I have booked to see a Coldplay tribute act.
It's not until next year but I love their music and can't afford the real band so this seems like a good compromise!
Interesting idea about flyfishing but I'm probably more likely to catch a cold or tangle the line in the trees!
Good idea too about being near water.
I don't live too far from the sea (10 minutes drive) and i got out of the habit of dog walks there as I was walking the local fields as it was too exhausting with my 2 dogs keeping them out of the sea and I struggled with cleaning them afterwards!
Feel a bit more positive today thank you all.
Well done all you energetic lot- you are inspirational! X

Thank you!

I haven't come across the Cautionary Tales podcast but I really enjoy Tim Harford's "More or Less" radio programme. Cautionary Tales sounds interesting.

Mammogram today, second annual check after TNBC diagnosis in January 2023. Feel calm, but full of foreboding. There are a couple of lumps and bumps which I think are cysts, based on previous reassurances from BCN. We will see.

Will spend some time in the garden, admiring the snowdrops and my cherry trees that were my birthday present during treatment year. Plant some peonies. Have a walk. Put the last batch of marmalade on. Keep my mind occupied and still

Good luck @GrannyGoggles - I know they're supposed to be there to help us, but check ups are so stressful

Thinking of you @GrannyGoggles and willing the time to pass quickly before you get the results.
I have calmed down after my recent fright but it took two weeks for the fear to subside. Now sleeping better and less anxious.
I have been for a bike ride, cleaned my bike afterwards, been for a woodland walk then cleaned my boots! There is a theme emerging I think 😂

I've been feeling a lot more energetic lately and went for a long walk this afternoon.

That's a positive @MissMarplesNiece and soon it will be spring and going outside will be more of a pleasure than it is currently.
I love Tim Harford. While I was having chemo my son wangled me an invite to a works Zoom call where he was addressing the firm and talking about his career. I lurked with camera and mike off happily feeling very privileged. Surprisingly he isn't a confident speaker, but seems a really nice man.

Hope you got the all clear Grannygoggles

Just been swimming which was nice though half term so some hyper kids in there but had a nice chat to some ladies there, one of whom told me I was incredibly thin and asked how. Hmm breast cancer surgery. 🤣

Hope you enjoy swimming Zoopet I love it and done me so much good. We go to a local private pool with jacuzzi, steam room and sauna and it's pretty good value, warm and nice and know the other regulars now as well. I will be so tired though by end of this week, swimming on Monday after work, after walking 3 hours or so at the weekend. All good though.

Hello everyone - a quick intro for anyone new joining. I’m 2 years post diagnosis of stage 3 bowel cancer and Lynch Sydrome. I’ve had a total colectomy (colon removed) and 3 months of chemotherapy- Oxaliplatin and Capecitabine. Then a risk reduction hysterectomy and oophorectomy about 10 months ago.

Sorry I’ve been absent for a while. We were settling DD into Uni in Canberra which is 3 hrs from home. She had quite a few wobbles before leaving, and a few more since arriving but is doing well overall. DH has a conference there this week so he’ll catch up with her tonight.

@Zoopet I’m sorry to hear about your neuropathy. I had some success with acupuncture in treating mine. Now just slight numbness in my feet but no pain.

@FairyWren7 happy belated birthday! Your getaway looked gorgeous.

@MsPenguins welcome home! What an adventure you have had!

Is anyone working on reducing inflammation? For all the downsides of chemo, its anti inflammatory effects were brilliant for me. My lungs were clear for the first time in decades, my chronic indigestion disappeared and my joints were pain free. Now gradually those problems are returning and I hate it. Plus I know that inflammation isn’t good for cancer recurrence. But where to start? I do still have issues with my bowels so becoming vegan or even vegetarian isn’t an option but I can definitely experiment with my diet. Any suggestions gratefully received.

@Remaker I am glad you got DD launched and hope she settles quickly. It’s a bit nerve wracking when they are homesick and you just want them to be happy.
I hear your frustration with the inflammation. I found all my arthritic pain melted away with chemotherapy. My joints were quiet and pain free. When the pain returned first time round I blamed the hormone blockers but in hindsight it was just the chemo wearing off. Now I get virtually no side effects from AIs but my joints are grumbling away. I have tried to eat a healthy low sugar diet and take turmeric which possibly helps. The weather makes a difference too. Regular moderate exercise helps with stiffness, pain, and strength but too much and I am immobilised. To be honest I think I would be the same at 64 even if I hadn’t had cancer, my DGM and DM and DSis all had/ have the same.
Off now for a bedtime hot tub session. That helps the joints!

Hello all, I had totally missed that a new thread had happened as had an influx of work then family funeral to take DM to which involved a stayover. Quick, rather belated intro from me is 8 months on from diagnosis of stage 1 lobular breast cancer, surgery (WLE) and radiotherapy done, tamoxifen for 5 years or until I go through menopause and swap to an AI. I work full time, or as much as I can as I'm freelance. Trying to up my exercise, eat clean most of the time and manage my overriding fears of getting cancer again. In a weird way, it still doesn't 100% feel like I even had cancer. But I hit 50, felt a lump a few days later and the whole shenanigans started up. But though I don't always compute that I had it, I have a very real anxiety at times about whether it will come back. On a completely different note, I had reflexology for the first time last week (1/4 sessions) at a local cancer centre. Stupid me thought it was basically a foot massage!! Hadn't realised affects different parts of your body. I felt pretty rough digestion wise for a couple of days after, probably didn't drink enough water to get all the toxins out the day after. Next session is tomorrow (and I'll tell her how I felt) but will make sure to get the water down me after! Anyone else found that?
On a completely different note, I had reflexology for the first time last week (1/4 sessions) at a local cancer centre. Stupid me thought it was basically a foot massage!! Hadn't realised affects different parts of your body. I felt pretty rough digestion wise for a couple of days after, probably didn't drink enough water to get all the toxins out the day after. Next session is tomorrow (and I'll tell her how I felt) but will make sure to get the water down me after! Anyone else found that?

[Title edited by MNHQ at poster's request]

@PaperbackWrighter Reflexology always leaves me feeling exhausted afterwards.

Relieved to report all well from the mammogram on Monday. The wonderful BCN v kindly emailed within 24 hours as she knew how anxious I was.

I do find it difficult to be ‘vigilent’ as advised without tipping into heightened anxiety. How do I differentiate between benign bumps/changes and those of concern? Scar tissue does alter, post radiotherapy breast tissue changes. I’ve been left with long term discomfort which serves as an unwelcome, niggling reminder.

However, I’m taking the win this week, focussing on the positive, and most appreciative of the excellent after care I am fortunate to receive.

@TopOfTheCliff @Remaker Interesting about joint pain and chemotherapy. My experience comes with yours

Fabulous news @GrannyGoggles - that will certainly put a spring in your step. I hear you on the vigilance tipping into anxiety, and I am pretty early on in that. Have my first mammogram June (tho arguing for MRI as I had lobular which didn't show up on mammo as 1 in 2 don't) June. Tennis season for some, anxiety for me.

Your BCN sounds lovely. Great to have good people like that behind you.