Hello from a new member of the family

Today I joined the army of people sitting around different waiting areas, carrying my belongings and my "gown" as we went through the various tests to find out if we had breast cancer. Some were, like me, totally new to the routine, others were at various stages in the journey and one lady was given the great news that she was still clear of her cancer five years since her treatment ended. 

I already suspected that my symptoms of strange lump, pain and puckering were caused by the big C, so I wasn't surprised when the lovely consultant showed me the first ultra sound scan with its big black area where there should have been breast tissue, saying it was pretty definitely cancer, and proceeded to tell me what would happen next. 

What did happen over the next two hours was quite unpleasant and painful and I now have a 12 day wait to find out exactly what we are looking at regarding type of cancer and treatment. Strangely enough I have no feelings of fear for the future, although twenty years ago I had a scare that saw me fearful and tearful, now I'm an old dear I'm just cheesed off that I will have quite a lot more unpleasantness to face. I'm one of those boring people who don't often get ill, so when I do I'm the patient from hell, or so my daughter tells me. I admit to being grumpy if I'm ill for more than two days. 

I have read a lot of the posts, here, during my wait to go for the tests, feeling like an outsider looking in, but now I'm in, too!   I suspect future posts from me will be less upbeat, but I would like to record my experiences here, and to share others' experiences, too.

Parents
  • I have just been diagnosed with stage 4 secondary liver cancer. I felt I was in free fall whe I was told a few ago. I want to run but I can't.  We are a member of a club we do not want to be in and yet more that a third of people will get cancer. It's terrifying. I'm finding hard it to be the sick one too. I'm the fixer and doer in my family and I can't get used to not being that person any more. 

    I wish you good luck with treatment. I also find Maggie's centre invaluable for counseling at the moment they have save me a few times ️

  • Hello 747, my heart goes out to you, I can feel the free fall you are feeling. Thank you for taking the time to write to me. I wish you the strength to bear this without such anguish and hope you find the support you need. x

  • C&C

    Cheers ladies, thanks for the wishes, really nice.  Especially on the back of a full day at the hospital, a near fainting incident (apparently it happens quite often) and one boob with wire in it (and outside of it too...its a bit painful when I use LHS) and the other with radiation in it (injection made me swear...so unlike me...yeah right).

    So am well pooped after a full on day, on the plus side should hopefully sleep well.  In at 11 for surgery in the afternoon (no idea what time...what's new?).

    The next time I write I will be down a DD!  And good blummin riddance. Bring on the morphine (I can but hope).

    Sam X

  • Best of luck.  Have been following you but haven't contributed to chat.  I was lucky, lump found last July. Op to remove just the lump in August.  All clear and limph nodes clear too.  4 weeks of radiotherapy November/December.  Now on Letrozole with no ill effects.  See Consultant next Monday to be hopefully signed off all clear.  Stay positive.

  • Just a quick note to let you know it all went swimmingly, am now 614 grams lighter!

    Pain negligible, drain very annoying as is cold that I have and glad to say constipation appears to be easing (green poo was an interesting development!).

    Will write more soon when Mother clears off later on today.

    Sam X

  • Yay!!! Glad to hear it went well. Rest now and we'll catch up soon!

    Christine

  • Oh brilliant to hear from you!!! And that all is going well. I'm sure the drain will be gone soon enough!

    Caroline x

  • Hope your recovery goes well.  I have just go back from hospital after check up.  I am all clear and have been discharged.  Just yearly mammograms and letrozole.

  • Oh that's brilliant news! You must be feeling very relieved! Got my first check up in April.

    Caroline x

  • Good news Pandy - well done to you & your body!  Will be joining you on the big L very soon.

    So its my first day home alone, I wonder what damage I can do eh?  Still on regular paracetamol here which seems to be doing the trick.  Under arm does feel a little painful today (like there's a lump of lego stabbing me in the side) but am off for drain removal at 4pm so they can check for any lego pieces I guess.  I will be SOOO glad to be rid of this drain, given the level of yuck has not increased hardly at all since leaving hospital I'm not sure I have as much fluid circulating around my body compared to the average...I think its my bodies way of saying it needs the reintroduction of alcohol (still not fancying it, along with pizza...end of Feb maybe?).

    The really annoying thing about my Mother not being here anymore is that I will have to do my own washing up (boo!), cooking I don't mind too much but washing up is quite a chore...may just leave it till the boyfriend comes round to check that I've not managed to strangle myself on my drain tube or fall asleep with a mouthful of strepsils (he really doesn't trust me at all!).

    Am still doing well on the exercises, find the last one with arms out to side & behind head the most challenging one and am sure am providing a regular source of great amusement to those smoking outside the pub opposite when doing said exercises (I should be charging you know).

    You'll all be glad to know that the green poo has gone and the dulcoease has done its trick, always nice for me & my bowels to be harmonised once again!

    Am also doing well on the daily walks, which today will be to the train station & hospital & back...I like a boobless adventure, am at the ready to bat anybody who gets too close to the missing boob site and already find myself wandering along with my right arm at an angle ready to slap those who may get too close! Amazing the things you need to think about with new body challenges...am having to rethink the whole handbag set-up...

    I do hope you are all loving the onset of spring, am keeping a close eye on my lovely croci which didn't get too battered by Dennis (as I hope you all didn't), daffs about to pop and can't even recall what I did re tulips so that will be a nice surprise.

    And talking of nature sprouting my head hair is growing lots (its about 1/2 cm now), eyebrows are nearly at full capacity and chin hairs are certainly making up for lost time...interesting that all hairs are much whiter than they used to be.

    Am still not sure I trust my waterproof dressings to attempt a full shower yet, been having prison washed and lower body showers to far but may go further (get me!), once blummin drain is out.  It will be interesting to see how the drain is affixed as its got caught on doors and things and despite good yanks has managed to stay attached, although I don't want another fainting incident!

    Christine - how the knee & are the new hearing aids still free of Archie DNA?

    Caroline - hope you're still feeling more chipper.

     

    Sam X

  • I love your positivity and sense of humour!  I'm sure everything is going to be fine with your attitude to life.  You sound good fun to be around.   All the best with the Hospital trip today.  Will keep following you to see your progress.

  • Hi Sam!!

    So good to hear from you!!! All seems to be going well - hair, poo and removal of drain today!! Have to say I hated the drain as much as you! Like you - I kept getting it caught o various pieces of furniture. I would take some pain killers before you go to have it removed. It's not a pleasant experience!! It's amazing how much pipe they have stuffed inside you!! 
    Well done in doing your exercises - they do get easier but don't push it. 
    Ive been accepted on to a research trial that has developed an app which is aiming to help give you more guidence/ information and remind you to take your hormone medication.  Be interesting to see how it works!! I'm thinking unless it sends someone round to put the pill in my mouth, it might still be hit and miss with me taking it!! 
    Mood wise - ok. Still a bit up and down and still constantly exhausted!

    Hope your jolly to the hospital goes ok!!! 
    Caroline xx
     

Reply
  • Hi Sam!!

    So good to hear from you!!! All seems to be going well - hair, poo and removal of drain today!! Have to say I hated the drain as much as you! Like you - I kept getting it caught o various pieces of furniture. I would take some pain killers before you go to have it removed. It's not a pleasant experience!! It's amazing how much pipe they have stuffed inside you!! 
    Well done in doing your exercises - they do get easier but don't push it. 
    Ive been accepted on to a research trial that has developed an app which is aiming to help give you more guidence/ information and remind you to take your hormone medication.  Be interesting to see how it works!! I'm thinking unless it sends someone round to put the pill in my mouth, it might still be hit and miss with me taking it!! 
    Mood wise - ok. Still a bit up and down and still constantly exhausted!

    Hope your jolly to the hospital goes ok!!! 
    Caroline xx
     

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