New to the Online Community - some help in getting started

hi i am Anna i am new here i have never posted i was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in January i have had my mastectomy and reconstruction and go for my first session of chemo today and just wanted to introduce myself i will tell you more about my story as this has been quite a year at a later stage.  Could i ask a question with regards to the chemo can you eat anything whilst you are having your chemo or is that a nono i was going to take some snacks nice speaking with you all 

1. Hi. My husband was diagnosed with Merkel Cell Carcinoma in April. The lump has been removed, the PET scan was clear and secondary biopsies of the lump and the sentinel node he had removed, are also clear. We are currently waiting for radiotherapy. 
   We have bought lots of UPF50 clothing, hats and gallons of sunscreen. 
   My question is - should he be able, with all the precautions listed, be able to go for walks in the sun, or should he avoid it totally? Obviously if the UV is high, we would stay in. 
   Just trying to get a new lifestyle sorted without taking risks in the sun, but not becoming scared! 
   thanks in advance for any experiences with this. 

1. Bring snacks but dont be surprised if your usual things dont taste the same. Watermelon was great when everything else tasted wrong. Lemon electrolytes in your water help and small and often is the best way when you've no appetite.  Im just finished  8 rounds and my appetite is coming back now. Best of luck 

Hi all I’m a now 73 year old man who until 6 Monty ago was what I thought fit and active walking 4 miles a day volunteering 2 days a week then wham fell on the beach one of those trips where you pick yourself up look around and feel good that nobody else was around well it turned into back ache eventually diagnosed as sciatica pain continued psyio made it worse referred to osteopath who put me on 14 day pathway to mri found I had spinal nets by reading notes on NHS app before consultant could tell me 

apparently they can’t after numerous scans say where primary is but believe from 2019 removed encapsulated kidney end result I now have spinal nets to pelvis legions on back and shoulder and suspected spread of nodules to one lung high dose meds are keeping me relatively pain free but I’m not me help me I need answers and questions to what’s next I’ve had radio therapy to back pelvis shoulder pain still there and fatique like I’ve never known 

Hi Forgetmeknot,

Welcome to the Online Community, and thanks for sharing some of your story with us. I'm sorry to hear about your diagnosis, but I am glad to hear that you've completed your surgical stage, and that you're now getting on with your chemotherapy treatment.

If you'd like to update the Community on how your first session went, you might like to start a new discussion thread over on the Breast cancer forum. I can see you've already joined that forum, so if you need any tips on how to start a new discussion there, feel to check out our handy instructional video.

Best wishes,

Matthew
Macmillan Online Community Team