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.

I've always wondered when to count from in terms of recurrence risk - is it from diagnosis or the end of treatment? I suppose the latter would make more sense.

I am forever trying to smarten myself up but am never very successful, however much I try I always seem to gravitate towards the comfy and non-smart clothes...

Thanks for advice folks
@SierraSapphire same, it does feel like a bit of childhood/teenage unresolved trauma is coming through. I'm not especially anxious, more slightly high and v sensitive/snippy. I'm remembering hurtful things from years ago and keep saying to myself "let it go" frozen-style but they are all buried and popping up like dandelions
@MrsPengiuins definitely not up to being away on my own (even if I feel like it at times) I find it difficult enough to drive through my small town to the supermarket or to walk the dog. I'm definitely improving, doing "normal" activities like driving to the shops etc (without starting an argument or having a road rage incident , I feel it but don't act on it ). Hopefully my brain will return to "normal" eventually.

@TopOfTheCliff my slight "high" energy has meant I've done lots of clearing out this summer, several bags of good clothes that I either never wear or DS has grown out of, I have no desire to do the whole vinted palaver (and we are not skint so no need). I still have more bags and just have to psyche myself up to actually take them to the shop. I have been following lots of self-help style people on social media and one lady is very "just do it" about things you are worried about, trying to do that more to ease back into real life.

@Littlecaf I get the Zoledronic Acid stuff, its a weird feeling going back to the treatment room, lots of memories, still can't eat anything there (nausea and sick association too strong). Staff lovely though

Only just got back from work, but just dropping in to say there was a letter on my doorstep and my scan and CA125 results are clear. So relieved! After all this time, I didn’t expect there to be anything negative in a letter, but even so it’s bloody stressful opening those envelopes!

That is brilliant news!

I’’m very relieved for you @SierraSapphire I know you say you’d kind of assumed all was well but it must have been horrible to open that envelope

Well done @Catswithhats it does sound as though you are on the right track. I have a bipolar daughter so recognise the manic energy that can be really useful when harnessed for good. In this house nothing is ever wasted which is why bungalow clearing has been interminable. After my clothes sorting efforts DH has started chopping up the battered chest of drawers so last night I sat by the log burner listening to folk music and doing puzzles while the drawers burned 😂 On the plus side DH got £30 for sixty back annuals of Punch magazine dating back to 1864! And we had two van loads to the recycling centre yesterday as well. Today I am going to make the most of the lovely weather and go sailing for a few days. There is still a week in hand for the bungalow.

Hooray @SierraSapphire that's great news.

That was the other thing that happened to us yesterday @TopOfTheCliff, the conveyancer called and said the buyers want to complete on my mum’s house in two weeks, they didn’t even have a survey so we had no idea that they were anywhere near this. We need to sort out house clearance, my brother was supposed to be doing it, but he hasn’t, I’m really busy at work so initially I thought no chance, but on the other hand, I want the house sold so maybe a couple of very intense weeks is worth it. There’s still quite a bit of stuff I need to remove Then after that maybe I’ll have a little bit of headspace to process everything!

Great news on the results @SierraSapphire. Wishing you the best for the house clearance.

Great news @SierraSapphire and glad house sale is proceeding as well.

Builder has done last day in bathroom 😎We have a few final things to do ourselves and 1 short visit from electrician needed but pretty much done now.

Will be gardening tonight - putting out the RHS plant, 2 solar dandelions and raking the leaves with my new rake (hoping DS hasn't snaffled it, he already has 2 rakes). Tomorrow will be more painting of bathroom and have also ordered lots of fruit and veg from local farm - they had a £50 minimum so there are industrial quantities of fruit coming and also some coffee beans for DH which he was very happy about. DS eats so much fruit so he'll be very happy - have 2kgs of apples, 1 kg of pears, 500g of strawberries, posh orange juice and posh apple juice. Just got leeks and sweetcorn for the veg. I love that they exist but won't be doing this often with that minimum. I ordered my Christmas food as well from the butchers DS loves. The weather is so beautiful here this week.

Brilliant news @SierraSapphire.

Thank you for all the good wishes! Obviously, I told friends and what little family I have, but it’s great to also feel the support from people who have been there and done that and know what it feels like! Various of us have had scares and scans and other tests, but we’re doing okay!

A bit late to this, but great news @SierraSapphire !

Hope everyone is having a good weekend.

Been a lovely day here and did some gardening with DH for about 2.5 hours. Used my new rake and love it and very good at getting leaves and soil. We put the solar dandelions out a couple of evenings ago and they were so lovely first night like a Christmas lights garden but haven't worked since. Discovered today some film on the solar bit so will see if that helps now we took it off. DS seemed to love them. Veg and fruit and eggs etc from the local farm has been great and helps keep food healthier - DS has eaten apples and pears so far. We've had apples, pears, strawberries, corn on the cob, had the eggs at lunch and had the leek in leek and potato soup tonight, all excellent and we've had the Ellison orange juice which I thought would be orange juice but actually is apple. It's very nice anyway. Will order another order for next Friday. DS had a bath whilst we were gardening and was very careful, lots of rose bath foam again. 😂

Very late to it but fab news @SierraSapphire !

I’ve been taking the opportunity of having a dearth of work to do some jobs round the house and spend time with DD2 before she goes to uni at the weekend. All good but need another project or two soon, please.

I’ve also been swimming lots but think I am
developing carpal tunnel syndrome in my right hand. It kicks in at my desk, driving, sleeping and in bed. I know it can be a letrozole side effect (and my mum had it and had surgery for it around my age) but am a bit fed up about the swimming in particular. I think I might redo Couch to 5k for the millionth time and try to get back into running to mix things up as bit.

That’s annoying @dotty2 I hope it settles.
I’m back from my mini boaty adventure and into the last 48 hours of house clearing. Last night I took DH out for a birthday meal to a fabulous pub and the decor was just what I want for my house. (Dark painted rooms, old mirrors and William Morris fabric) I decided to keep some of MILs Victorian bits for our house.
I’ve booked my flu, Covid and shingles jabs but all on different days for a change to see if I feel less ill afterwards.

Hi @demivolte

Thanks xxx nice to 'see' you here too.

Yes, it was scary and very stressful - and ultimately unnecessary. Poor medical care basically: consultants without the necessary knowledge who apparently couldn't be bothered to do a couple of minutes research. I have much better care now at the new hospital.

How are you? I seem to remember we both have (had 🙏) the same breast cancer disease ie HER2+++ ER-0 and PR-0. Grade 3. Mine was T3-N3-M0 although never had a PET scan.

I also often wonder what the starting point is for counting how long we have lived NED. I am assuming starting from my final Phesgo, which was the end of my treatment.

Can anyone recommend a pretty bikini with a top that is high enough to cover a breast that is now flat post full mastectomy with lymph node clearance?

The ones I have and have seen online all go too low, so it shows that I only have one breast. I wear an Amoena swimming prothesis, but it still shows above.

Thanks x

@SummerCycling - I have a Nicola Jane swimsuit - they do bikinis too I think.

@dotty2 - I have carpal tunnel from exemestane. I have been wearing a wrist brace at night which actually helps during the day - I tapped up work for all the wrist supports/mouse mat thingies I could get. If it gets worse I’ll have to consider changing my car to an automatic as changing gear isn’t great.

@SierraSapphire pleased for your results!

Work has suggested I put in a flexible working request for 1 day a week in the office and the rest WFH - we are supposed to be 50% or more. I could probably do two days but they suggested it so I’m going for it. I get tired on travel days but they are a bit risk adverse (I travel in from the south coast to London) so I appreciate their suggestion!

Thats good to know @Littlecaf I will order myself a wrist brace

@SummerCycling I'm generally doing well thanks, am feeling a bit tired and the digestive issues rumble on, but overall I feel okay. Yes I had the same subtype, high grade with a Ki-67 of 70, but no lymph node involvement.

Your experience sounds very upsetting, it's good to hear you're getting better care now.

I'm glad your work are supportive @Littlecaf, mine have been really good which does help.

Hope your DD2 has a great start to university @dotty2 Sorry you have carpal tunnel.

Good your work are being supportive @Littlecaf

Glad care is better now @SummerCycling

Just continuing work on house and garden. The garden is largely done for the year now apart from some bulbs to be planted when the RHS post them. Have got the solar dandelions working again, had to remove film on them and they are lovely though it depends on sunlight hours how long they go on for. DS loves dandelions and lights. We have a squirrel that runs across the garden and lots of little birds eating the berries on our trees and more flowers than I expected are still out like honeysuckle, lavender, dianthus, rose etc. DH and I will do an hour or two there this evening.

House work on the bathroom the younger builders work has been exceptionally good but the old builder's work has been quite variable - luckily the older builder chats a lot so younger one did 3/4s of things. Having to do a lot of cleaning as they've been in DDs room, bathroom, my open walk in clothes cupboard and dust got everywhere. And the older builders sexist jokes, a month of them. But I am very glad we have had it done and it does look so much better, well 9/10s of it look massively better and 1/2 a wall looks like its been done by a 14 year old on work experience. It has been useful as DH insisted we only use them and wanted to use them if we got a much bigger job and now he can see some issues. I am getting electrician in next week to do electrics.

While work have been great in one respect, they haven’t been in another. My pay is performance based, in that my pay grade includes 8 increments. I didn’t get an increment last year because I didn’t meet the performance requirements because I was on long term sick (chemo, surgery etc). I checked with my (lovely) boss who said he couldn’t award one because of this. My union (Unison) have told me I wouldn’t win an appeal.

All feels a bit unfair.

We (local gov officers) did get 3.2% ish through the NJC negotiations and my department has just got a 10% retention award for the year - we were haemorrhaging staff like nobodies business due to pay (and a crap senior manager) - so I can’t really complain overall - but it feels unfair to miss out on something I was headed for (my statistics were on track before being diagnosed) because I was having life saving treatment. Grrrr.

@SummerCycling I think it is reasonable to count from the time you have surgery when hopefully the nasties are all removed. Everything after that is to mop up and prevent recurrence, whether it’s phesgo or zoladex or tamoxifen or radiotherapy. That’s my theory anyway.

Annoyingly in the supreme effort to finish house clearing before completion today I have managed to hurt my knee. I think it’s just a small cartilage tear but it hurts and I can’t walk far. I’m resting up with ibuprofen and a hot wheat bag surrounded by bags of last minute unsorted house contents. Joy!
Weather here is shocking, no chance of planting bulbs even if I could kneel down.

Hope your knee improves @TopOfTheCliff and you can get some rest.

Weather was quite wild here today and same again tomorrow before going sunny again. Have bulbs on their way.

Did some gardening yesterday with DH and a couple of hours cleaning in the house. The solar dandelions came on just as we were finishing.