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Thread #7, living with incurable cancer. Taking ALL the drugs and remembering our lovely friends

137 replies

sellotapechicken · 05/03/2026 01:54

The other thread was full! I am waiting for the oncology assessment unit to decide what to do with me tonight. I keep spiking temps but it goes after paracetamol so they can’t decide if it’s a reaction to immunotherapy or not..

Hoping this works!

OP posts:
BetweenAppointments · 11/04/2026 23:30

Sorry to hear about your new symptoms @SewingBees. Let us know how your get on with your scans…. Im Glad to hear you age them! When are they booked for? X

scorpiogirly · 12/04/2026 00:54

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Enigma54 · 12/04/2026 01:17

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Ivercare which kills parasites in horses??

sellotapechicken · 12/04/2026 02:55

Enigma54 · 12/04/2026 01:17

Ivercare which kills parasites in horses??

Oh goody the ivermectin people have found this thread. If horse wormer killed cancer mate we’d be snorting it like crack and I’m pretty sure the American pharmaceutical industry wouldnt let it be sold in tractor supply for $22.99. As soon as Tractor Supply start selling it for $1200 per gram I’ll give it a go..

OP posts:
Mothrasstillmoshing · 13/04/2026 19:28

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KentishMama · 13/04/2026 19:52

Another lurker here. All quiet on the cancer front right now. Stable scan in November, and the next one isn't till May...

BUT! I came here to rant. I get a few insurance type benefits through my work. Usually, you just need to tick a few boxes and all is fine. For some reason this year they sent me a huuuuuge medical form to fill in for the income protection policy. So I spent over two hours detailing my medical history, and somewhere between breast cancer and bone cancer and residual tumour burden, I started to spiral for the first time in months. And now what - will they turn me down? This is supposed to be an employment benefit for all employees, so can they refuse to give it to me? Wouldn't that basically amount to discrimination?

sigh

I don't need an answer to this. Just wanted to rant in a safe space.

Sending love to all of you. xxx

sellotapechicken · 22/04/2026 01:33

KentishMama · 13/04/2026 19:52

Another lurker here. All quiet on the cancer front right now. Stable scan in November, and the next one isn't till May...

BUT! I came here to rant. I get a few insurance type benefits through my work. Usually, you just need to tick a few boxes and all is fine. For some reason this year they sent me a huuuuuge medical form to fill in for the income protection policy. So I spent over two hours detailing my medical history, and somewhere between breast cancer and bone cancer and residual tumour burden, I started to spiral for the first time in months. And now what - will they turn me down? This is supposed to be an employment benefit for all employees, so can they refuse to give it to me? Wouldn't that basically amount to discrimination?

sigh

I don't need an answer to this. Just wanted to rant in a safe space.

Sending love to all of you. xxx

That’s so frustrating!!

How is everyone ? We’re currently on a magical mystery tour of Newcastle, York, Leeds and North Yorkshire. It’s fun :) it’s also bloody tiring but it’s so nice to spend time with DH and reconnect

I Hope you’re all doing ok.

Thread #7, living with incurable cancer. Taking ALL the drugs and remembering our lovely friends
OP posts:
SewingBees · 23/04/2026 13:33

Ugh. Still shit here. Had my 4th blood transfusion yesterday, platelets now critically low.

Just seen my oncologist. Still no answers, the head CT showed a little bit of suspect area in the left frontal lobe but could be just bleeding due to the low platelets. Nothing linked to the hypoglossal nerve (which would cause the tongue issues) but it wasn't specifically flagged for the radiology team doing the CT and write up which is frustrating.

I'm being sent for a head MRI and a bone marrow biopsy, both will likely be a couple of weeks wait for the appointment and then more time for the write up.

I discussed treatment options. If the bone marrow issue is due to cancer then I'll likely have an 18 week course of IV chemo (paclitaxel, bye bye hair). If there are any head/brain tumours then it would be most likely targeted radiotherapy. But it's all very uncertain at the moment as to whether the two things are linked or completely separate. My oncologist says what I'm experiencing is quite unusual so he's not being drawn on what's likely to happen treatment wise until he has more info.

I've been prescribed steroids for a fortnight to help with the headaches in case they're being caused by inflammation. I had them before when I had IV chemo and they're horrible, cause a racing brain in the middle of the night and so on. I can also up the morphine to deal with the pain, so I might try that first.

Feeling very sorry for myself but trying to look on the bright side - the wait for further tests and write ups means I should still be able to take my daughter on our planned trip to London in May half term, and then start whatever treatment I need after that.

BetweenAppointments · 23/04/2026 14:26

Sorry @SewingBees that sounds a bit crap… until
you get results and scan dates etc! Hopefully you’ll get them through soon.

you sound similar to me with symptoms etc.
I’ve had brain scans galore and radiotherapy. so far so good
I’ve just started taken Avastin which helps with brain swelling. Something to keep in the bag if you mri brain scan shows something.
steroids are the devil. Bloody hate them. On them at the moment too 😭
always here to chat if needed xx

SewingBees · 23/04/2026 17:18

@BetweenAppointments can you remind me what type of cancer you have? I can't remember.

BetweenAppointments · 23/04/2026 18:58

@SewingBees breast cancer originally diagnosed a few years ago ER+ PR4 HER2- then brain mets last year x

balkanscot · 24/04/2026 18:05

@SewingBees sorry to hear you have had a rough time lately. Waiting for scans/tests is always shit-nerve wracking. I do hope there is a non cancerous explanation for it all, although my mind would be racing as well. In my mind, everything is down to the cancer bastard.

Steroids are work of the devil: tiny, powdery little shits that won’t go down my throat, starting to dissolve in my mouth instead (usually at the roof on my mouth), making me gag. As for the insomnia, moon face and an urge to eat everything in sight… Argh!

My consultant phoned me with scan results (instead of leaving me hanging on until 6th May), apparently the results are “very impressive”. Another 12 weeks added on to my life. Although it can change so flipping fast and go in the other direction. Still can’t plan anything for Summer holidays as my next scan/results are due around then.

@Enigma54, @EachandEveryone, how are you both doing? And anyone else?

Off to polish off a block of chocolate.

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