The Great Cancer Recovery part 5

[Topofthecliffs]

Amazingly we have now filled four threads and are ready to start again. How time flies when you are being purposeful! Come and join in.

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 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, and you are welcome on any or all of these)

Just had my first post cancer mammogram, all clear!

Thanks @demivolt

Great news @MrTiddlesTheCat

Hooray @MrTiddlesTheCat that is great news!

Glad you had a nice holiday @MrsSqPenguins

I recovered from the traumatic dental session and had a sociable weekend then went on a mini cycle tour with my buddies down to Plymouth where we saw the Beryl Cook 100th birthday exhibition. The statues round the city centre were fun to visit. I got home last night and have been busy preparing a celebration meal for my DC who are here tonight but away over Easter so this was my day for cuddles and giving them Easter eggs. It is lovely just doing normal family stuff and feeling well. I’ve got some arm nerve pain from the hard cycling up hills but that will settle in a few days. I have learned that since my first operation in 2020.
The aftermath of treatment is annoying but bearable.

@MrTiddlesTheCat yay, nice to know it’s all clear!

@MrsSqPenguins sounds like a fab holiday.

@Topofthecliffs is Beryl Cook still alive? Love her work. Both my aunt and mum have her prints around the house. Also love Simon Drew (another West Country connection) we have his Tequila print in the office. I’ve als still
got nerve pain in my arm. I think it’s a combination of surgery, cording, mild lymphadema & neuropathy. It’s frustrating rather than stops me from doing anything. I also saw the menopause clinic this week. Sort of useful. Good to chat it all through. I also had an appointment to check that the tongue lump that came up while I was on Phesgo has gone. It has which is good.

Easter hols are upon us and I’ve entertained the children this week mostly - parks, friends, cricket & football - I did take the kids on a day to London where we had a Roman themed day and ate Shake Shack burgers which are their favourite. We’re off to the Lake District tomorrow for a week. The kids are moaning about the 7 hr drive already!

Have a good bank holiday weekend everyone.

Have a lovely time in the Lake District @Littlecaf

Hope you had a lovely time with your DD @Topofthecliffs

Collected the Easter cakes from the bakers and Waitrose order today and getting house sorted and washing done. Pretty much all done now. Will be gardening with DH tomorrow and will finish the final path and prepare for turf which we have arriving next Friday plus chicken flooring. DH goes to France for a few days to see his Mum and his French classic car. DD is working punting a lot and off to boat race party and 2nd then possibly 3rd rowing camp. We have had the upstairs bathroom sink tap leak and plumber has disconnected the sink so having to use bath instead and as tap is only 6 months old trying to get it replaced. Leak went into vanity worktop and kitchen ceiling. Drying out now. I expect lots of Easter cakes will disappear in the night via DS.

Lovely holiday photos @MrsSqPenguins

That's good news @MrTiddlesTheCat it sounds like you got the news quickly!! Our hospital takes average 4-5 months to let us know our mammo results after cancer treatment. Tbh I am more worried about mets in my brain, lungs, liver etc than in my remaining breast although there presumably is the risk of that too which would horrible. I hope you get the same good result every time now.

@Topofthecliffs Sounds like you're enjoying Easter, your expanding family and being active. The distances you cycle are amazing! I hope the nerve pain settles soon.

@Littlecaf Hope you're all enjoying the Lake District.

@MrsSqPenguins Incredible how much your DS eats yet stays slim. It must be nice to see him have such a good appetite. I'm sure you ordered extra cakes from the Baker. Hope you're having a lovely Easter.

We are going to have turkey and chips for our Easter meal this evening. Then Waitrose "Crunchy Carrots" with our coffee / tea 😂See attached image

Happy Easter all. xxx

@SummerCyclingthey gave me the results straight away, but did say they only do that for the first one. The next one will be the usual 3/4 week wait.

Crunchy carrots sounds good @SummerCycling Hope you are all having a good Easter.

DH and I did 4 hours gardening and cleaning rest of downstairs so whole house has been cleaned since we got back from holiday. We got the final garden path finished, cleared some leaves and things from the garden and started to prepare for turf. 48 sq metres for the back of the garden is arriving on Friday. We have about 40 square metres still to prepare (dig to 20cms then add compost) and we think we may have been ambitious with our turf timetable, has to be down within 24 hours. DH is in France for a few days seeing MIL and his French classic car. DH has calculated it will take about 20 hours to prepare or 10 hours each. Its also really heavy work. Though lovely to be out in the garden with all the flowers out and the silkies wandering around.

Had a roast dinner today and DS has been eating lots of cakes whilst staying stick thin, its walking round the garden 4 hours a day. DD has been doing her punting job and went down to London to see Oxford/Cambridge boat race and then to an all night boat race party in London which she arrived back from late this afternoon.

We went kayaking today in the Lake District. Felt like a massive FU cancer! What with post radio shoulder pain, post MX lymphodema & post chemo neutropathy I could still kayak across lake Windermere! I even kept up with DP who has had kayaking lessons! The kids loved it. Their first time ever. Super pleased with myself. Will probably hurt tomorrow but I still did it!

Ah @Littlecaf these are the golden moments when you realise you have made it through and can now enjoy life again! The kayaking sounds fabulous.

@SummerCycling 4-5 months! Presumably if they found something significant they would call sooner... Your carrots sound very wholesome 😂

@MrsSqPenguins the turf laying sounds exhausting. I hope your DH does his half before he goes to France. Your DD sounds like she is loving life!

Here at Tops Towers life is as usual a bit chaotic. DH was hit by a car on Friday while cycling. Happily he isn't badly hurt, just bruised and cross. It has prompted me to sort out his Power of Attorney forms in case he is rendered senseless. We actually had a lovely Easter Weekend, seeing the family and also going to an old friend's wedding. I popped over and cooked Sunday lunch for DM and took her chocolate and flowers. I ate my body weight in chocolate so am now on a clean eating spree trying to rid myself of the extra 10000 calories. I have been making lots of veggie curries and soups.

One long lasting side effect of chemo has been my dry eyes. I have heard of a new technique called Intermittent Pulsed Laser which treats the condition. I am trying to find out whether it is evidence based or not. I don't want to waste my money if it is a fad.
Thursday is the final chapter of the Tooth Battle. I am hoping it will be brief and victorious! I shall have a treat once that is done.
It seems to take more of my time staying healthy than it ever used to. This must be what old age is like!

Well done on the kayaking @Littlecaf. We all love kayaking too, especially the kids and I. We went in La Gomera. Its partly what got DD into rowing and she's off to a weeks rowing camp soon.

Sorry about your DH @Topofthecliffs. Glad you had a nice Easter. I haven't eaten much chocolate but we had lovely food in La Gomera and lots of cakes from the bakers on return.

DH is back today and then we have the turf project to do now the 3 paths are done. Bit of a race against time to get it done by Saturday, was somewhat ambitious with my ordering. Lots of lovely bulbs and flowers out and nice weather. DS is wandering the garden and amused DD by getting her clean washing out of the machine and wrapping it in a blanket and bringing it for her. She was impressed.

Quick question for anyone who has/has had neuropathy in their feet.
What kind of summer footwear e.g sandals would you recommend?
I've been buying my winter shoes a size larger to accomodate my tingly feet but I'm not sure which style to go with.
Not heels ( I'll fall off) and preferably leather.
Been browsing online but all I can see are sliders- not sure they'd stay on my feet!
Any recommendations gratefully received! Thanks.

@Zoopet I have minimal neuropathy in my feet. I do struggle to wear heels now, can only do so for something very close by with minimal walking. I take same size as pre chemo now though initially was up a size half the time. I tend to wear either slip on trainers like sketchers with memory foam (excellent) or ballet shoes as preferred toes covered. I did take some cheap sliders on holiday but they turned out to be men's size 11/12 😂so obviously they didn't stay on. DH then got me some in my size cheap ones which also didn't stay on but do have narrow feet. Hopefully someone else wears sandals.

Thank you@ MrsSqPenguins.
That's helpful to know.
Pre-cancer I lived in flipflops in the summer with the toe bar but I don't think they'll give adequate support to my feet.
I'll keep looking!

@Zoopet I have numb toes. I found some really comfortable Timberland sandals and even some in silver which I wore for my DDs wedding. You have reminded me I will need to get my feet out soon. They have been hidden away all winter. The nails have never recovered from chemo sadly.

Thank you @Topofthecliffs!
Have ordered some Timberland sandals today.

Went to dentist for me and had teeth cleaned as well, prices have gone up so much was £169 and had already given £30 deposit. I had to go private when had cancer treatment to get seen quickly but it was similar price to nhs before, well it was slightly more but lovely dentist gave me lots of free things. Luckily my teeth are fine and not been for 2 years.

Then DH and I did 2.5 hours more gardening and are feeling rather worn out as did a similar amount of gardening yesterday. But we need to be gardening tomorrow and Saturday to get turf down. DS took a bath whilst we were at the dentist, no mud on floor or in bath but bottles knocked over and overflowing conditioner. Does love conditioner. DD says he has hair like a female model.😂

DD is off at rowing camp. I wish I had her energy levels. So many bulbs out and silkies following me round.

Hi All,

Fairy Wren here! (I thought I could use two usernames but maybe not).

Glad to hear of holidays, progress and gardening.

Teva sandles have been good for me @Zoopet - lots of issues with feet. They have decent arch support and velcro at the front and back so are good for walking can also be got wet.

Sorry about the dentist @Topofthecliffs my dental pain/sinus pain has settled after having a crown replaced - no root canal thank goodness!

We’ve just got back from 15 days in New Zealand South Island which was fabulous but exhausting. We were in a camper van…It was great in that we got to stay and wake up to incredible views but logistically with all our stuff and from a comfort perspective was challenging. It also meant I was on husband’s insane timetable. Just stunning scenery - Milford Sound was stunning - it rained so the waterfalls were running so fast. The scale of it is unimaginable, Mt Cook and the glaciers, Queenstown - every place we went was lovely. I will add some pics.

I got back and then had to go back to work for the following five days and I’ve ended up having to take more leave to cover the last two because I feel exhausted and know if I push it I will end up in a worse position. Husband has got a sore throat and cough and I just feel exhausted. I knew it was going to be pushing it - he doesn’t listen to me. But that’s the last time we do it ‘his way’. It has however made me think I need to work on the exercise and weight some more. I did manage a couple of big walks but I struggled with anything too uphill - bungalow legs.

Plans to move back to the UK are on hold due to the orange peril’s expansionist policies. I may come back for a holiday if things settle down. Very, very homesick and New Zealand didn’t help.

Happy belated Easter!

That looks amazing FairyWren, though sorry to hear it was so tiring and also about the disruption to your plans to move. Fingers crossed you can get back at least for a visit soon.

I'm getting my scan results next week, it's a routine appointment so I assume nothing significant has been found.

I seem to have collapsed arches/foot pain post chemo so will look into the sandal recommendations too, thanks.

Have a good weekend all.

Lovely to hear from you Fairwren and love the New Zealand pictures. They remind me of the Norwegian fjords.

Sorry to hear your move back to UK is postponed. Flights are tricky at the moment, either going via Middle East or doubled in price though you may be able to go the other way round from Australia, don't know if that helps. I would still move back here as it seems it what you want. Obviously the world is very turbulent at the moment but the UK is trying to mostly stay out of it and from our press it seems Russia is still seen as the biggest threat but that's often more via things like internet issues. Fuel etc will obviously go up and we may get shortages but that's a global problem and at least its the better weather for 6 months now.

Hope your scan results are fine @demivolt Good its a routine appointment. I have always been told same day since cancer treatment but have gone with symptoms and not done the regular checks but symptoms have given me equivalent checks now.

Turf has arrived so day 3 of heavy gardening here and already worn out but we need to get soil cleared to 20cms put compost down and lay turf by end Saturday. So may well be tomorrow as well. DH has this afternoon off. Chicken flooring arriving soon.

Am loving Race Around the World. Also have a resolution on our bathroom tap which leaked and been offered new tap or refund. Will obviously have to see goes through and see how we can sort kitchen ceiling and worktop but they are improving.

Day 4 of turf and digging and clearing soil to 20cms, DH and I did 7.5 hours today but we are still not finished. So guess we will be on day 5 tomorrow. I watched lots of videos of how to do it and they kept hiring a machine and I thought no you don't need that for 48 square metres. I think I may have been wrong but it's good exercise and using lots of calories and silkies are very happy accompanying us. Lots of lovely flowers out. Hope everyone is having a good weekend.

Wow @MrsSqPenguins that is a major effort! I hope you finish soon and are not too sore. Hopefully the results will be worthwhile!
I bought some nice bedding for the garden today and a new type of Italian climbing bean for my allotment. I need to spend some time planting them but will probably go cycling tomorrow instead.
I’ve got heartburn again. I am getting a little worried about it as it keeps me awake. Because we have a couple of holidays coming up I plan to take acid suppressants for a fortnight. If it doesn’t settle I will have to do something about it when I get back. Perhaps it relates to the radiotherapy I had.
My GS was round today. He is adorable and a very happy baby. He has brought a lot of joy to us all!

Thanks @Topofthecliffs I hope we will finish tomorrow. It looks good, hope it roots in and survives DS and silkies though DS is being good and sticking to paths. We are worn out but turf only lasts 24-48 hours so we have to press on. DH or I maybe the first case of dying from gardening. 🤣 The silkies are loving it and it's good exercise and good for calories. So many flowers out. Also cleaned the silkies coop so that's done but need to change their flooring.

Enjoy cycling. I don't get heartburn but wonder if it's one of the many joys of menopause? I probably have it to come.

Sorted this years ISA so that is done. DD back from rowing camp 2 on Monday.

We have finally finished the lawn, 7 days in a row of hours of heavy gardening / carrying soil and we are both shattered but very happy and hope it lasts and good exercise and I am 2 pounds lighter. DS is being careful. Silkies not so much but they are light.

I have now had a bath and a cup of tea and have collapsed in bed for a rest and Below Deck. Tonight DH has volunteered to sort the green bins out as I think we maybe at double the weight limit for a bin though nobody at the council knows what the weight limit for the council lorry is. They have said some councils its 30kgs. Cleaned kitchen floor. DS had bath, he's having one a day. DD back home from rowing camp, week with us and back to uni. DD said to me that DH is exhausted from gardening. I said I know we are both exhausted and have done same amount. She said I need to remember DH isn't as fit as me as he is 10 years older. He's less than that and in his 50s. Its nice though as she viewed me as the weaker one with cancer and now its reversed.

Just hope turf stays like this.

Wow!
Well done for all your hard work.
I think it looks amazing!
Have a well deserved rest this evening.
P.S. I am insanely jealous of your silkies.
I used to keep them years ago but now I only have a little yarden ,filled with plants but sadly no room for hens.
Please will you post a picture of them?
They sound so cute !