MARCHING Together

Sorry Rose, meant to say that I’m pleased to hear that your neck pain is not likely to be anything sinister. I know exactly how worried you feel. When all my glands swelled up I was convinced it was lymphoma, which my dad died from., but it was just them doing their job at fighting the infection. Your poor pussy cat. My old chap had a stroke when he was 17 and we decided to put him out of his misery, as he was unable to stand. I cried for weeks and still carry his name tag in my purse. My other cat lived a goodly number of years with kidney problems and special diet so I’m sure yours will too ??

Afternoon all :slight_smile:

 

Fuffs I don’t think I can advise you as it is such a personal decision but I really feel for you, it’s just so miserable when you feel too exhausted to even think properly never mind trying to function.  Awful position to be in so I hope you can reach a decision that feels right to you.

 

Rosemary that sounds more positive (although its a sad day when something like that counts as a positive!) I’m still sending every possible good vibe your way and trusting your GP is right.  Hope you don’t have to wait too long to hear.  Sad news about your little kitkat so I hope he is on the mend.  Emergency trips to the vet definitely aren’t cheap are they.

 

Got my annual follow-up on Thursday and the moment the appointment was confirmed earlier this week everything started to ache and I’ve since developed every single deadly disease known to man (all in my head of course) so I’ll be very pleased to get it over with.  

 

Love to you all

xx

Sharon

Hi all!
So sorry things are so bleak for you, Francine. I don’t feel qualified to offer any meaningful advice but would say to follow your instincts. There may be a point when you just have to say enough is enough and damn the consequences.
Sharon, good to hear you are still happy in your job. You’re not the only one who imagines that every little twinge is a sign of something sinister. I think my follow up will be on the anniversary of my 2nd op so that will be in late January.
Puddytat is still feeling sorry for himself. He doesn’t like the special food and has always been a big eater. He’s just going to have to get used to it though. Ordered about 10 varieties online so surely some of them will suit.
Spent the day with my heavily pregnant daughter and the twins. I played while she took a much needed nap (son in law away on business for a week )so I am now shattered. I had to be the naughty schoolgirl while they were teacher and teacher’s aide. Then we had a disco to the songs from Frozen - so tired of Let it Go!!!
Time for a nap myself I think.
Judi (Ollisj) and I are still hoping we can sort out a group meeting. As we are the Marchers could we maybe look to a date in March? What do you all think?
Thoughts are with you all
Love
Rose xxxx

Hi ladies,

 

Am getting myself into a panic today.  Patch on ribs, both elbows and inside of upper arm on the treated side has been aching for a few days and I put it down to my brain playing tricks as my annual check up is due.  But this morning I woke up to find a long thin bruise sort of thing running down the inside of my upper arm on the treated side, looks a bit like a vein that is bruised (sort of red, green, yellow with black blotches). So, clearly not all in my mind after all. Tried googling and got scary answers (DVT, cellulitis etc) so put the internet away sharpish! 

 

Should I try to get a GP appointment do you think even though that will probably take a few days, or just hang on until I see the surgical bods on Thursday? 

xx

Sharon

 

Hi Sharon
I would call your gp for an urgent appt. If need be cry down the phone and play the BC card. Failing that do you have any drop-in medical centres where GPs are available without appointment or registration? Best to get it checked even if it proves to be nothing.
Let us know how you get on xxx

Thanks Rosemary, think I’ll turn up at GP surgery as soon as they open tomorrow and see if they’ll squeeze me in, stupid to be this worried I’m sure, but you know what it’s like, am fearing the worst.

xx

Sharon

Do that. It’s probably nothing but best to set your mind at rest. We live in a weird fearful world post-BC. Xx

Hi Sharon,  it’s awful when we get something and then go through the self diagnosis,  but it’s normal for us all. Make sure you are seen as the self torment is horrible.  I had my check up last week and they are happy with how the healing is going. Still some time before niggly pain disappears.  Just waiting for the mammo appt for Dec.  Sending everyone good thoughts and hugs xx

Thanks Pandorra, will definitely get it checked tomorrow as I don’t want to spend the next 4 days fretting about it if it turns out to be something minor.  Really pleased to hear you’re healing well and survived your annual check OK.  Must be a relief.

xx

Sharon

Still have the mammo to go, dont we all spend our time worrying!   Let us know how you get on Sharon, thinking of you xxxxx

Sharon, old mate. Thinking of you. Please let us know how you get on. Xx

Hi lovely ladies,

 

Got to see my GP this morning and she tells me the ache/discoloured arm thing is to do with fibrosis from the radiation :womansad: but it seems to be on the mend now so I’ve stopped panicking, although I’ll raise it with the surgical bods when I see them at the end of the week.  

 

GP was quite insistent that I have a blood test there and then but, in my usual wussy way, I started to faint as she jabbed the vein in my hand so she couldn’t do it and I begged her not to try again! I’ve promised her I’ll get it done at the hospital later this week instead as they have a team who do nothing but take blood all day and are very skilled at it.  Looked on the blood test form she has given me and notice she is asking the blood to be tested for CA125 which is a marker for ovarian cancer (gulp!)

 

Still, on the plus side I am much calmer today and she did manage to inflict a flu jab on me before I could protest so at least I’m unlikely to get that!  

 

Annual hospital check up has been moved from this Thursday to Friday, which is my birthday, so I hope it’ll be celebrations all round *casts a pleading look heavenwards*

 

Sorry to be going on about myself the whole time, cancer has made me self-obsessed!  Hope you’re all doing OK?  Francine, have you made a decision about the radiotherapy yet?

 

love to all

xx

Sharon

 

 

Well I have good news. Never thought I’d be so happy to be told that I have curvature of the spine and lots of arthritis hot spots. But NO SIGN OF METS!!!
Sharon , I’m surprised at you! After all you’ve endured over the last year and a blood test makes you faint!!
Seriously though if I’ve learnt anything over the last couple of weeks it’s that we expect the worst from every little symptom but it isn’t necessarily so. And that the NHS is brilliant. Two weeks from first presenting at the GP’s with neck pain and I have had xrays, bone scan and cleanse. Isn’t that amazing?
Francine how did your discussion go? Have you come to a decision which you’re at peace with?
Love to all
Rose xxx

Oh Rose what great news, how ridiculous that sounds! The weird world of breast cancer makes us grateful for being told we have something wrong with us! Sharon, good news for you too then. It’s a dangerous game to look at your blood test forms! I went to see the rads consultant today with my husband and had a very good discussion. He was very sympathetic but made it quite clear that my Grade 3 invasive tumour made it imperative I continue. We agree that I would recommence next Monday, so I could have this week to fully recover and they would add the missing ones on. As I haven’t had too long a break, they won’t need to add any extras on, hooray. Feeling a lot better now I’ve agreed a plan with them. Xx Francine

Woohoo Rosemary!  Does it sound horrible if I say how pleased I am that you’ve ‘only’ got a curved spine and arthritis? Delighted for you that it wasn’t the news we feared and I’ll join you in applauding the NHS when it comes to dealing with the serious stuff.

 

And yes, totally ashamed of myself re the blood test but I think it’s a family thing - both my brother and my Dad faint every time they have a jab!  At least I manage to stay upright SOME of the time :womanlol:

 

EDIT

Think our posts crossed Francine, just wanted to say I’m so pleased you’ve decided to carry on, means you’ll never have to wonder ‘what if…’ and I hope you start feeling a bit better soon

xx

Sharon

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hi Ladies!
Sorry to hear all the struggles! I can certainly had to…haha! But I too am grateful I will be wrapping up my cancer treatment on Wed the 18th this will be my final Herceptin infusion! !!! Time to celebrate! !!!
Hang Tough Ladies…as my dad would have said.
Sue

Nearly at the finish line then Sue, you might actually get to sleep in a bed again one day, ha ha. Starting my rads again on Monday, delayed after my recent stay in hospital. Sharon, got my carol concert tickets today, have you had yours? Will be on the 24 day of my rads now, so you may have to whelk me around, only joking I refuse to miss it, so will ask for morning appt and go up after. Should be there in time for a spot of lunch! Love to all xx

Not sure what whelking means! Dyslexic fingers tonight and using an iPhone doesn’t help. I meant wheel me around!

Hi All!
Me too Francine, I meant “add to” not “had to”! Lol. A bit of a game/something to figure out! Haha.
So I now have a new issue…my nails! They seem to be white and weak and I don’t know how to describe it but pulling away from underneath so it looks like my nails have grown long but really just the nail is off the skin. Good grief. I won’t even ask what’s next?!? Strange. Grateful it’s not painful. Nothing is normal anymore but everything is ok for today.
Bless you all!
Sue

Afternoon all,

 

Just back from annual check up: swollen lymph nodes under both arms and collarbone so I’ve been referred back for more tests on Monday.  The fact that they’ve bumped someone from Monday to make room for me is scary in itself but, much to my surprise, I’m not panicking as yet, just fed up. Not the best birthday present I’ve ever had…

 

Phoned my friend to say that I didn’t feel like going on my planned birthday outing with her tomorrow given the news and her reaction was not to worry, the weather forecast for tomorrow was grim so she didn’t want to go anyway.  No offer of support of course.  Same friend who I used to see/speak to pretty much every day and went on holiday with just before my original diagnosis who then didn’t speak to me for over a month because she found it all too difficult…poor thing, must have been so hard on her. Grrrrrr!

 

Got my Candlelight Concert ticket too Francine, so hopefully will meet you there (no hugs for you though by the sounds of it, you’ll be too sore and peely-skinned!)

 

Lovely to hear from you SueBee, so glad you’ve nearly got to the end of the treatment road, albeit with dodgy sounding fingernails!

 

xx

Sharon