Hi Hannah,

Welcome to Cancer Chat. I'm glad you found the forum and I hope it is helpful for you, particularly at those times when you may feel more alone, as you have mentioned.

It's great to hear that you have a good support network around you, but as you say sometimes it is still good to talk to others - and to people who may understand or may be going through something similar. We're always here if ever you need it, and it's often helpful simply to write things down too.

Keep speaking to others and getting any support you may need.

Wishing you all the best,

Ben
Cancer Chat Moderator

Hi Hanna, i don't know if you're still on here but i wanted to reach out just incase you are. I'm going through this is my mum right now and came across your post x 

Hello, I haven’t actually been in here for months. Since then mum has had her surgery, 8 chemos sessions and is now on immunotherapy for a year (17 more sessions every 3 weeks through a cannula). Mum has, thankfully done incredibly well and must have a very strong body because she has coped well. We realise this isn’t going to always be this way but we’re riding the wave of positivity while it’s here…

How are things your side? How’s your mum doing? Is it the same cancer? 

x 

So nice to hear from you and i feel you on riding the wave of positivity!

My mum isnt doing so well, shes due chemo a week on monday but im fearful shes not strong enough. She has secondary peritoneal cancer stage 3. Shes not eating, hasn't eaten much in weeks now. been perscribed fortisip but not keeping it down. Shes loosing weight at an incredable speed :( worried shes already given up before we start.

I’m so sorry to hear, mum was very negative at the beginning, and probably still is now if I’m honest, we all had to try to keep her positive (while we were also struggling with the news and the road ahead).

Try and do your best to keep her positive and upbeat, there’s no getting away from it being a scary journey for everyone. Have you spoken to her Macmillan nurses? They may be able to help further, t ey’ve been incredible where we are. We’ve been told if this had happened a few years ago mum would have had a very different prospects and it would have been bleak. I hope your mum gets through it a d finds her fight

Hi Hannah, chemo is starting today and we have palliative care involved now. shes very weak aand struggling. They've scaled her chemo down to carboplatin ( originally paclitaxel & bevacizumab too) im worried sick about her.How is your mum with eating? yes ive spoken to her nurses but to be honest they've been very hit and miss :( the palliative team have been amazing though. How are you and how is your mum? x

Hi Ken, sorry to hear your mums not doing so well, how did her chemo go? Shame her nurses haven’t been as good as they could be, but glad the palliative care team have been good, you need support from somewhere. 

Mums eating did go down whilst she was in the chemo and she’s lost weight gradually through the process, dropping 2 dress sizes, whereas I’ve gained weight and gone up a dress size! She’s not a big eater anyway and her taste went very off with the chemo so she didn’t enjoy  much food, it all tasted funny, her appetite, I would say is back to normal and other than having stiff and painful joints she’s doing ok and I am also. 

I hope you’re coping ok and you have support around you, just be there for her but remember to look after yourself x

Hi Ken, how are things now? I hope you’re alright x