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)

Glad you had a nice holiday @Topofthecliffs and exciting your DS is getting married in August.

Hope you get the all clear soon @BatshitCrazyWoman and @PaperbackWrighter

I am also trying to lose a bit more weight and get BMI back to 22 from 23 now but its a very half hearted effort. I have lost 8lbs since mid January and have about 6lbs to go. It does mean my clothes size keeps changing again so more new clothes apart from dresses.

Had a nice time at the spa and it turned out to be excellent timing as DHs work announced redundancy plans that day so I could cheer up DH and discuss things out of the house. DH is older than me and nearly 60 so had been thinking about retiring early anyway. He is going to volunteer and I think should go through at some point in July. It will be nice to have him round all the time and are fortunate can afford to do that. DD is in university another year but we had that saved for anyway.

DD now thinks she will be spending the summer in Oxford though finds out at start of June. She's offered to come back for a week or two if we want to go on holiday which is nice though won't know dates until June. Just hoping flight prices don't go too crazy before then but will adjust if they do. It'll be strange not to have her home for the holidays but think its great for her to be able to stay the summer. Have the thatched shed coming round to quote later this week.

I had three polyps removed, plus an endometrial biopsy. I'll get the results at the beginning of June. Am home now and in bed. 🤞🏻 that the histology is ok.

Keeping my fingers crossed for you @BatshitCrazyWoman

good to hear everyone’s updates. I am back from my big trip to Australia which was a wonderful experience. Snorkelling for the first time on the Great Barrier Reef, walking in the rainforest, lazing under a thatched parasol on a beach, lots of swimming…I tried stand up paddle boarding (no actual standing but at least the water was warm when I fell off) and we spent lots of time with friends and family. As well as the pleasure of being there, it was good to have so long away, it took a long time for me to relax and silence all the cancer worries that fill my head when I’m not busy. Interestingly, DH was really well while we were away, he has early onset Parkinson’s and has been struggling with his symptoms before we went. We were both bracing ourselves for him not being v mobile but it was the opposite. My theory is that his normal pattern is an hour’s vigorous exercise a day, and nine hours at a desk. But being gently active all day is much better for him. He applied for voluntary redundancy earlier this year too, but was turned down, but I really think he needs to find a way to stop work. I would need to earn more though, so it’s a challenge.

another challenge is that I keep piling on weight. I blame letrozole, I just can’t get away with any indulgence any more. I’m heading towards a BMI of 30 if I don’t rein it in, so I’m trying v hard now I’m back to shift some lard. Feeling motivated though, for now at least. Sending strength to you all!

@BatshitCrazyWoman fingers crossed for a smooth recovery.

I follow Lauren Laverne on instagram and she posted this today. Interesting that it’s being talked about publicly- not something that celebrities usually mention (but I’ve always loved Lauren)

I've been blessed with very caring close friends, who've consistently shown up for me. My family are so toxic that I haven't spoken to them in years. But I'm still shocked that my mum didn't attempt to reach out when I got my diagnosis. There's not a cat in hell's chance I wouldn't do everything I could if it were my daughter. I deal with it by seeing a therapist and crying a lot. I don't think I'll ever forgive them.

Hello all, lovely to see some old friends and newer names! That’s great news about bone density @Topofthecliffs - all your exercise must contribute too? Your trips sound fun.
@MrsSPenguinz sounds like major changes for you and your family…. Leaving work through whichever way can be v unsettling. Your garden progress sounds fantastic.
Here we’ve been doing a fair bit of garden stuff with advice from a good friend who opens her garden for the ngs….. I was invited to raid her garden and have managed to raise about 20+ plants from cuttings.
we’ve also had a week on the mid Welsh coast which was glorious. Mountains, sea and steam trains…
hope you are recovering well @BatshitCrazyWoman .

Australia sounds wonderful @dotty2 We did a holiday like that in 2018 and it was our best holiday.

Glad you've had a nice week in Wales @thesandwich love steam trains and your garden plans sound lovely.

Sorry about your Mum @MrTiddlesTheCat

DH has now put in for VR and looks like going through in a month or so time and will get about a years pay with notice period and tax difference and he's fairly happy about it now. Hope everyone has a good weekend.

@MrsSPengiuns were you pleased with the thatch roof company and quote. I have a flat roof and I can confirm this attracts much mud and leaves - an apex roof is a wise decision. The only sweet thing about the flat roof is I love the sound of the squirrels scampering across it!

I feel the same as you re Italy, and we are planning Ortegia then Taormina when we got Sicily in September. Have heard mixed reviews about Palermo.

It sounds like there are real positives for you and DH regarding his VR, but doubtless hard for him too. I'm glad you had the spa date fixed.

Wonderful news on your bone density scans @Topofthecliffs - fabulous to hear you have better bone density than pre treatment.

@BatshitCrazyWoman I hope you are recovering well and get your results soon.

@Littlecaf I saw that post from Lauren Laverne too and found reading the replies both useful and saddening plus maddening! Agree she is fab.

I got my biopsy results from the hysteroscopy and they were all clear, which was really good. I then spoke to a gynaecologist about what should do next as the bleeding is still the issue on tamoxifen. She has suggested one of: hysterectomy so I can carry on taking tamoxifen; endometrial ablation so I can carry on taking tamoxifen; hysterectomy + bilateral oopherectomy so I can switch to letrozole; monthly injections so I can switch to letrozole. Oh lucky me. I have a phone appt with the oncologist tomorrow and then I guess make my decision. How lovely! I'm leaning towards monthly injections.

Other than that I have had a nice enough birthday weekend with good food and some good friends!

Quick question for @dotty2 and @Littlecaf - how quickly did the menopausal symptoms come on from your first injection. I know the oncologist will be able to fill me in tomorrow, but a little forewarning wouldn't go amiss!

Happy Birthday @PaperbackWrighter Glad you had a nice time. Great you have Sicily to look forward to. Great news about all clear though the ongoing choices sound about as much fun as when I was given a choice of which chemo.

The thatch company were great - still awaiting quote. DH loved discussing it with the guy and they are making drawings and coming back with quotes. We also have a shed roof squirrel who is very cute but he is goes on our thatched house roof so think he'll be happy with either.

DH seems pretty happy with the VR now though wanted to work his notice and they said no, they are paying it out instead. I think that's better but it does make it very quick. I have ordered a mini tool store for the back garden which looks a bit like a small beach hut and some paint and DH was saying he could help with that first week he's off. DH and I were gardening today, I was just clearing and DH did the first mow of the new lawn and its fine, quite relieved. We've both had colds and lost sense of taste but going now, it came from his work so at least we won't have that issue soon. I have been eating lots of banana splits with the clotted cream ice cream and cream which are very nice and was quite sad when one I could not taste but tonight's one I could.

I did a Waitrose order with the giant chicken kiev and DS appears to have cooked and eaten one at 1am and then took a 4am bath this morning. The cat now keeps waking up during his 4am baths and demanding his first breakfast. DS took a second bath whilst we were gardening. He's also eaten both melt in the middle chocolate puddings.

@PaperbackWrighter I started getting hot flushes within a week or so but everything else has been more gradual. Three years in, the hot flushes are much less noticeable. Aching and brain fog definitely worse! I’m sure there’s a lot of variation in that though. Good luck

@PaperbackWrighter I had minor hot flushes after about a week - they took about six weeks to settle. I also had some anxiety, but again took about 6 weeks to settle. I don’t really have any now. The joint pain just grew over a few months and was worse at about 4 months - exercise helps - it’s now quite minimal except for the first 15 mins in the morning!

Interesting that you think your symptoms have mostly subsided @Littlecaf I think the thing is that lots of my symptoms could be side effects/exaggerated menopause symptoms. Or they might have happened anyway. For example, at the moment, I’ve got mild carpal tunnel syndrome and a sore Achilles tendon. Both are potentially letrozole side effects but lots of other people have them too. I also agree that exercise helps. I swim most mornings and the 15min walk to the pool always feels achey but the way home doesn’t.

Thanks @dotty2 and @Littlecaf for sharing this. And to @MrsSPenguinz for good wishes. Glad your sense of taste has returned and you can enjoy delicious deserts again!

Well, the medical menopause has been set in motion. Might even have first Zolodex injection end of the week - eek!

@dotty2 @PaperbackWrighter

i think I’ve got some carpal tunnel too from exemestane. My left arm, from the shoulder to the wrist is generally stiff and heavy - combination of neuropathy from chemo, surgery, mild lymphodema, cording, radiotherapy and then joint pain from the exemstane. It doesn’t hurt all the time but is made worse by driving (changing gear) or lifting heavy objects. Sometimes leaning on that arm when I type is painful. But it’s not a sharp “ouch” pain, just a heavy ache. It’s been scanned and has nothing suspicious. I exercise, take supplements etc - it’s got better over the last year but still painful occasionally.

@Littlecaf sorry to hear that about the carpal tunnel, that sounds horrible. Which supplements do you take if you don't mind my asking? The oncologist today suggested Vitamin D for starters, maybe calcium. I know you had trouble with tamoxifen too, and I am glad to see the back of it. But also worrying I have done the right thing. I was absolutely fine on it for 13 months, then no periods for 5, but only then the drama started with bleeding. Had that two times, admittedly hospital both times, and I haven't taken it for 6 weeks now. The period I've had since coming off tamoxifen was much more manageable.

Hi everyone
Glad to hear that everyone is reasonably ok.
Just a quick update- had my 2nd annual mammogram last week and it was very painful.
The nurse said it was due to scar tissue.
Results in 4-6 weeks.
Went to the doctors to have a meds review and have been swapped from high ( ineffective) gabapentin to lower dose pregbalin(sp?)
Have been taking it for 2 weeks so early doors but I'm wiped out by lunchtime.
Keeping on life as normal as possible, walking my dogs ( distance depends on how my feet are.)
Still learning the keyboard and I do enjoy that, also pottering around in my little yard garden.
Have been diagnosed with PTSD and am waiting for counselling.
Life feels very odd at the moment.

Hi @Zoopet nice to hear from you. Sorry to hear that your MG was so painful - my first-year one was, and am not looking forward to my second-year one next month. It's something they don't warn you about but when I looked it up, it's very much a thing experienced by many.

It's a shame you're wiped out by the new meds, but I'm glad you're still able to walk your dogs. What dogs do you have? (I have a big soppy labradoodle, but I think of her more as a Labrador cross as she's a half and half, she isn't curly, moults everywhere and definitely got the Lab greed and sweet nature!)

Sorry to hear about the PTSD diagnosis and I hope the counselling wait isn't long. I've been having counselling for a while now and find it invaluable. Hope the same for you x

Thanks for the reply@ paperback writer, it's much appreciated.
Here is a photo of my dogs.
I also have a siamese cat who thinks he is topdog.

Here they are.

@Zoopet Aww they are all gorgeous! I think one of your dogs is a cocker spaniel - what's the other? My friend has a Siamese so I know all about their topdog tendencies! I will attach my dog

Theo is a cocker cross cavalier and Noah is a maltese cross cocker.
Not posh breeds but great company. X

They are really lovely @Zoopet here is mine - I've attached 2 pics: happy and serious with snake!

Aaaw gorgeous! X

Awww cute dogs, and cat! My cat has been my little shadow through everything.

I'm still feeling quite sore, and not really up to doing much, which is annoying, so I've planned a trip to the garden centre this week, and a little light gardening to follow, plus a trip to a nearby place that has really good charity shops, for a rootle around.