Cancer Support Thread

vintagebrighton

Oh, I hope you manage better today GV. It saps all your energy being in pain (((x)))

VB x

Gigervamp

Feeling better today thanks. It did get worse last night, with my kidney aching too, but eventually it eased off with the help of painkillers.

The cystitis like symptoms are something I live with every day. It's been nearly 3 years since I was able to have a wee that didn't sting. But some days it's mild, and other days are like yesterday.

Sillyvixen, that's terrible. I don't suppose the thieves care why the lead was there, they just see money.

Today, I've got packing to do as husband and I are going on holiday! Yay!
We're going back to Swanage for a week (went there in June). I love Dorset and I have lots of happy memories of holidays in Swanage when my parents took my brother and I.
My dad used to do metal detecting and when we were on holiday in Swanage, he used to go down to the beach in the early morning with his metal detector and find our pocket money for the day! He said the area where the deckchairs were, was the best place because when men sat on them, the loose change would roll out of their pockets into the sand!

There won't be any metal detecting, but I'm looking forward to good food and relaxing on the terrace of our flat above the beach. Just hope the weather's good!

Oh, and the chocolate shop! I got some chocolates last time we were there, but I didn't get enough! I especially love the dark chocolate buttons. Going to stock up.:)

Gigervamp

Hi VB, that's carp news. When you come back for treatment, where will you stay, do you have family to stay with?

I know what you mean about the fighting rhetoric, it annoys the heck out of me. Like it's some kind of sentient army that you can beat if only you try hard enough. Grr.

Try to do something nice for yourself this weekend. (hugs)

Indie_Kid

vintagebrighton wrote: »

*Hugs* to all who need/want them

I never really know how much to post.... I'm a very 'private' person in real life. But as this is a thread for cancer support and as anyone who has had cancer will know what I mean, I'm going to post.

As with every thread, it's really your chice. My friend is very open about her cancer. She often talks about the hair loss, the issues she has in regards to the medication, etc. Whereas with Granddad, he didn't want to discuss it. He also didn't like being asked how he was. Which is rather awkward when it's what you'd normally ask someone.

I hope both yo and GV are feeling better.

GlasweJen

In terms of this forum you can pretty much post what you want. I was on a few days after a transplant (they couldn't keep me asleep any longer) so I was out my face on pain killers and midazolam posting about the pain, the weird feelings, the giant hole in my chest that hadn't been closed yet (there was a method to that madness), missing my family, missing home, hating hospital food etc. I don't know anyone on here in real life (that I know of) so I didn't care how much I posted, in fact I found it easier as people could respond to me and help me through things without me worrying my family who had been put through enough by that stage.

Loolah

My husband joined a facebook group and has had a great deal,of help from the other men on there. He has testicular Cancer. It's very matey with lots of lads speak but very supportive, Survivors have to have scans and check ups for ten years and if someone posts they are due then they have a lot of responses wishing them luck

Although he says I really support him, it's a different vibe talking to this lot.

He's just had his first SCsn following a three month chemo regime, results on Tuesday.

GlasweJen

I think there's comfort in speaking to people who've been through it. My family are amazing but none of them have had anything like what I've been through so they can't imagine the weird things that go along with being so ill.

It's like my sister, the one who had the cervical cancer. They put a burny thing in her lady bits to try get the cells before they spread (that's as technical as I could understand). I've never had anything remotely like that done never mind the rest (partial removal of the cervix). She doesn't speak to us about it but I know she's a member of a group on facebook who have all had cervical cancer and can chat about things like that.

74jax

I have posted various threads over the last 5 years regarding my beloved dad, he started with Bowel Cancel 5 years ago. He had part of his bowel cut away in a very long operation and all was ok. This then progressed to Liver Cancer, he was on Chemo for this. This then progressed to Non Hodgkin Lymphoma, again chemo for this. This then progressed to Kidney Cancer, he had a 9 hour operation to remove part of his kidney. He then got skin cancer, become very unwell with leukemia. He started blanking out about 18 months ago.

My brother and I have been called in the middle of the night saying he only has an hour to live (we both live 1.5 hours away, in oposite directions). He was in hospital at the longest for around 4 months, I visited every night after after work.

Throughout he has remained the most positive person i know. He has put everything into overcoming this.

He remained my mums main carer - yep you read tha right, she had a double stroke about 8 years ago and thorughout the last 5 years - apart from when in hospital - he did all the cleaning, cooking, did not want any help whatsoever.

Mum has a social worker and carers go in, but they always say they don't want anything doing.

We were called again on Saturday night to be told Dad now had 5 tumours that they can see, and many more that won't show up, in his brain. The cance ris now also in his leg so he can't walk. The brain cancer is slowing signs of bleeding. if they bleed badly he has hours live, if they don't he has 4-8 weeks.

He may never get out of hospital this time, I'm looking at getting him transfered to a hospice near me.

I always thought dad would die of a heart attack - that against all the odds the cancer wouldn't kill him, something else would...

Watching someone for 5 years go through this is horrendous, but I also think in the 5 years he's seen his grandkids grow up, one buy his own home and be successful in his career, another grandchild be the only one in the family to go to university, he's seen my daughter finish school and be at college, he's watched me get married, hes' got see all his family (very very big) numerous times, he's visited his childhood memories - we even got his old school to open up so he could look around one last time.

We've been told he has 6 months to live, about 4 times in the last 3 years, being told it's in his brain and he has hours if it bleeds to 4-8 week max is still a shock. An empty feeling. yes the suffering is over, but why now, why not 5 years ago. Why draw it out.

It's right up there with the most horrid, uncaring, frustrating and drawn out illnesses to die from.

And that's just me witnessing it. To have to live through this, for it to be you that this happens to, well I can't even imagine.

I don't know if they'll ever be a cure in my lifetime at least, but I hope there will be at some point.

JadedAngel88

I have been reading this thread and am thinking of you all.

Just wanted to update on my daughters progress, she has just started cycle 3 of 6 and had her 2nd PET scan on Monday, and she's all clear..it's gone. Obviously we have the checks for the next 5 years etc etc and she still has the chemo to get through but it's gone. I am so pleased.

I am grateful to Gigervamp for starting this post, it has helped me so much.

Gigervamp

That's great news JadedAngel! You both must be so relieved.