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.

Oh and to add to the AI discussion I had a painful year on anastrozole then switched to exemestane which seems better. But I feel sick and dizzy a lot of the time and hope it’s due to that. Also I think the joint pain probably settles whatever you are on after the joints have dried out to a stable state. Exercise definitely helps a lot whatever drugs I take. Five more months!

Sorry @TopOfTheCliff I wish I hadn't shared it as Liz O'Riordan has suggested it's not as it sounds in the articles - and other scientists have pointed to the fact it was a mouse study, not human. So fear not! And I'm glad you're feeling better too.

Fantastic news @dotty2 - so pleased for DD and you! What will she be reading?

On the AI front, I keep hoping to be able to switch to LZ from tamoxifen asap (but only missed one period since started taking them last Sept, am 51). LZ I think, and AIs generally, are much more effective than TX but it does seem the side effects are harder than those I'm experiencing with the TX. I've joined the local gym and had my induction session this morning - the trainer has devised a bone-strengthening programme for me. My upper body strength is awful tho - I had to lie down for half an hour when I came back!

Checking in and how lovely to hear the good things around all our aches and pains. I hope you’ve picked up now, @ememem84
Lovely weddings and baby news too - life goes on beautifully although I hadn’t quite expected to look like the granny at these events at my age!

I’m struggling with joint pain, sciatica and now aching/ swollen fingers. I’ve only just switched from letrozole to anastrozole and need to give it a chance. I have to say though, I haven’t felt quite right on it and am definitely more emotional. I understand that these things take time.

I may see you soon in the Isles of Scilly if you are still off there @TopOfTheCliff We are off there for a week soon.

Hope everyone is having a good weekend and enjoying the sunshine. DH and I were gardening for 3 hours this morning and got a fair amount done with the 3 silkies out. Then went to a neighbours garden party lunch and just back from that. Everyone brought homemade food and cakes and we had pimms and lemonade, it was very nice though we are the youngest by some years.

I thought there were other studies that showed that cancer was sometimes set off by a virus anyway? My friend who had non Hodgkin lymphoma when she was 11 (1991) was told it was probably set off from a virus - Is that something that is within general medical theory? Interesting though.

I had to unfollow Dr Liz, she’s great - but too much cancer stuff was seeping into my social media. I willl watch her reel on that study though.

@BG2015 I don’t think I’ll swap to Letrozole or Anastrazole, the oncologist said I only have a 1-2% benefit to take it, so if the side effects are too much on exemestane, then I think they’ll be worse on the others. I’m just glad I don’t feel as awful as I did on tamoxifen. Evil drug! BCN said to try glucosamine & cod liver oil. So I’ll give that a go.

@MsPengiuns i want your lifestyle! Gardening then a garden party sounds fab.

Ps I love the Isles of Scilly. Have stayed on St Martins, St Agnes & St Marys. Years ago. Must go back.

I have a cancer Instagram account that I set up when I was diagnosed back in 2021 but I rarely go on it now because like you @Littlecaf it's just too much cancer. It sits in my own head enough as it is without it being in my social media.

I empathise about the social media, and following 'cancer' accounts. Once the algorithm gets hold of that, Instagram stops being artists, cats and comedians (my usual feed!) and turns into a horrible cancer fest 🙁

I'm on tamoxifen and feel absolutely fine, just to offer another experience.

Thank you for all the responses 😻 I was gutted the implant didn't work on my right side, the left side was fine right from the start. I got my chicken fillet last week for my bra, it made me laugh a bit as it has a slight nipple 🤣 It also doesn't quite match my left boob (that one is ultra perky) but hey.... 😂

It's been a shit two years, I think the reconstruction has been more traumatic than the chemo tbh. And of course, because you don't tell most people the gruesome ins and outs they assume you're ok. They see your hair growing back and tell you look great, also the most asked question of 'Have you got the all clear?' Only my closest friends and family know about the scan appointments and the hell of the hormone 'therapy'. Therapy my arse 😡 🤣

I read the newspaper a few times a week and there’s also something that causes cancer, doesn’t cause cancer, a celebrity who has been diagnosed with cancer or has “beaten” (yuck) cancer or has succumbed to cancer, or some sort of new treatment for a cancer that is very specific and definitely not the cancer that you had, which you can expect to be available on the national health service in another 20 years! I also thought that I once read that having an infection actually helped because it kicked your immune system into overdrive which also could find rogue cancer cells, but who knows, maybe I imagined that!

I’m away for the weekend at my daughter’s flat, as her boyfriend has travelled home for a party. I love a weekend in the city! I’ve got my CT scan on Thursday though, so I’m not looking forward to going home and having to deal with all the associated anxiety. I actually don’t really think my bloating is a recurrence, but who knows what other thing they might find!

I agree on the algorithm front. I also had to unfollow the wonderful Liz, although look in on her content to catch up from time to time.

I was out with a friend tonight and we did talk about things in depth. I’ve told him I’m looking forward future convos where cancer doesn’t feature, although at the moment I feel I’m having to push through a bit of “stuff”.

We have an amazing Cancer group in our area, it's run by an amazing lady inspired to set up a support group up after her breast cancer diagnosis over 10 years ago. Ive met some amazing people through this group and 4 of us clicked and supported each other massively, one of our group was only in her early 30's, the other 40's and me and my other friend 50's. The 40 year old has brain mets and we believe is slowly going downhill, she no longer texts as I believe she's lost her sight ☹️ the 30 yr old is busy buying houses and getting on with her life which leaves me and my other friend who keep in touch. She's still a regular attendant of the support group whereas I'm trying to just get on with it now and live my life. When we get together our conversations are becoming less and less about cancer, which I welcome.

I just don't want that constant cancer reminder if I can avoid it.

It’s been a long while since I posted and my treatment is done. However for my DH it’s a whole different story and he’s in ITU following surgery and we were told yesterday that they can do no more and we will lose him shortly. I know there’s a different thread for that but they don’t “know” me and some of you do.

We are devastated and bewildered and the thought of a future without him is unthinkable. In this fucking awful cancer lottery we have lost.

I am so sorry that you will lose your lovely DH soon @frostyfingers and after a difficult treatment yourself. Thinking of you all.

Good luck for Thursday @SierraSapphire

Thanks @Littlecaf I also tend to switch off cancer things as they can lead to ruminating whereas when off barely think about it now.

I’m so sorry to read this @frostyfingers 🌺

I am so sorry @frostyfingers x

Very sad and difficult for you all @frostyfingers. Holding you in my thoughts

So sorry @frostyfingers

Oh @frostyfingers that is devastating. I used to think life was good but the last five years have taught me it is capricious and random and cruel. Sending love and strength for what you have to get through.

I’m so sorry @frostyfingers We’ve rumbled through our treatment together and it feels so bloody unfair for your dh to have to go through it with this outcome. Much love to you all. Xxx

I'm so sorry @frostyfingers .

@frostyfingers I’m so sorry. Please do be kind to yourself.

I'm so sorry @frostyfingers - sending love xx

He fought so hard but we lost him yesterday afternoon, I don’t know how to go on. I will but right now I don’t want to.