AWAKE.........

Managed to get some sleep, but still tired today so there will be napping!

I've got to wait in for the nurse today as she, yet again, had me down for the wrong time yesterday so then couldn't come! She's nice, but seems a bit scatty and puts the wrong thing onto the computer despite me watching her write it down on her work sheet! She also keeps trying to push me towards watching the healing programmes on the God channel as they will help me! She offered to give me books to teach me about Jesus and God. Hmm, I was brought up in a very religious household, rebelled and made my choices long ago - I don't really appreciate being 'sold' God, I'm not sure it's really her job. I think I've managed to close her down now, so let's hope that's the end of it! 

We had to laugh a few days ago at my pre-op assessment for the cataract. The nurses obviously have all their paperwork to fill in and one part of it was a risk assessment for diabetes - apparently I'm medium risk, so she was advising me on making lifestyle changes so that I don't become diabetic later in life - not making light of diabetes in any way, but I think that's the least of my problems at the moment! 

Managed to get my Christmas cake fruit soaking in rum yesterday - I finally remembered! Now all I've got to do is remember to actually make the cake! 

I've not really thought about Christmas yet apart from that, but we are being invaded by garden Christmas decorations in our road now, so I can't get away with ignoring it any longer! We came back from Mum's the other day to find that one of the houses down the road has a large inflatable Sant in their garden. By large, I mean 20 foot tall at least! Totally OTT in my opinion. Can you spot him in the photo? 

He's so big that they've had to park their cars on the road as he takes up the whole of their drive! 

Have a happy day everyone - go careful out there, it could be slippy! 

Wow, you've had a bit of a baptism of fire into the club that none of us wanted to be in! You're very welcome here among lots of mad people who are all at different stages into the roller coaster that is cancer.

Seeing as we're introducing ourselves, I'm Cathy. My initial diagnosis was in October 2013 after the 50+ screening mammogram. Had mastectomy, chemo and radiotherapy first time around and was fine until October 2016, when I developed a cough. 

I was eventually diagnosed with secondaries in lungs and bones in June 2017 and have been on various chemos since then. At present, I have widespread bone mets, but I'm lucky in the fact that they don't give me a huge amount of problems or pain. My lungs are not great and I have a permanent chest drain in now to pull off fluid from my right lung twice a week. I'm on oral chemo, although the oncologist is not optimistic that it will work - it's fairly new to me, so we shall see! 

I'm medically retired now, so spend a lot of time napping and knitting!!! 

toxophilite - sorry to hear that you're back into the system - what a load of poop! Hopefully the coming investigations will prove all clear and that it's something that can be dealt with easily. 

Fingers crossed you can get past the target panic - we used to call it being 'gold-shy'! It's a complete pain in the bum! 

Thanks for the knitting gnome Judith ( ) 

Hope you feel a bit better today and the dreaded heartburn has done one! Fingers crossed that you feel more and more human before the next chemo round! 

Hey Cathy=)

Oh wow you have been through a roller-coaster ride of diagnosis followed by various treatments I'm er positive not sure about progesterone but I'm hp negative.

What treatment you on now for bones and lungs? Im unfortunate and get quite bit pain from bone mets in have crushed vertebrae caused by my cancer so I'm on regular paracetamol 30mg slow release morphine 250mg per gablin twice day and sometimes that not enough and need oral morphine. Depending on my results from ct scan I'm going to pain be referred to spinal about my crushed vertebrae as there procedure they could do which could ease some pain from my crushed vertebrae.

My job as care assistant let me go on health grounds unfortunately but I unseefsrsnd it with pain and fatigue I can't physically do it and I'm going have think realistically as may not be able to work are care assistant due physical side of things so was thinking of counselling however need me emotional better soon as waiting here from my local macmillan nurse referring me to therapist with them

Did you knit before diagnosis I need hobby other thsn napping 

Xxx

Hi Grogg,

when daughter got married her fathers multitude of brothers sisters and offspring were invited ( 8 siblings ) they all had a wonderful time mostly at our expense . Spend the time between wedding breakfast and evening do in bar and don't really think they spoke to bride all day. So lesson learnt 

Sons wedding unless they could pick adult son out of an identity parade they weren't invited to wedding breakfast Lol but were invited to evening reception . Reason given only small intimate wedding wanted with close family and friends

Then Bride and groom booked wedding night in sister hotel so they could leave early if they wished . 

Half didn't come to evening do their choice one brother came and chose to challenge 'Family" not being invited . So told him real family are people who knew my son and would recognise him in town lol.

Its your daughters day it is about what she needs and wants . You both should be enjoying the run up to it not stressing about others .

margaret x

Oh, poor you - that sounds horrid! I'm very lucky that my bones appear to be pretty strong - I apparently have evidence of previous pathological rib fractures, and I think that might have been before I was diagnosed as I went through a period of really severe rib pain which they thought was pleurisy - I might have broken my ribs by coughing so much! 

My last bone scan showed  multiple mets in spine, sternum, ribs, shoulders and pelvis. I was on Denosumab (an antibody) injections every four weeks to strengthen the bones, but that has been reduced to every 12 weeks now as I've been on it over 2 years and apparently the risk of severe side effects, particularly jaw necrosis, increases a lot after that time. I also take calcium and Vitamin D tablets to ensure that my calcium levels stay okay. 

As for the lungs - I have lymphangitis carcinomatosis (I wouldn't Google it!) that has been controlled by long term steroid use and various chemo treatments. The last chemo failed a couple of months ago, which was when my right lung started to fill with fluid, hence the chest drain. The left lung hasn't really been a problem up until now as I had a pleurodesis performed a couple of years ago which sticks the linings of the lung together to prevent the fluid building up. However, I'm a lot more breathless than I should be, so I'm awaiting results of another xray to see whether that is starting to fill as well! I'm on oral cyclophosphamide at the moment - early days yet, but doc doesn't think it will work as I've 'had all the good drugs' now! This is the last drug available and then it will just be symptom control and hoping that my body is up to fighting it off for as long as possible! I have ballet tickets up until September next year, so I'm pushing the boundaries (the doc gave me less than a year in July 2018, so I'm pushing the envelope already...) and hoping that I get there! 

I did knit before diagnosis, although hadn't done any for ages. I generally knit toys now, and some baby things as I haven't got the concentration to do big stuff. I have picked up quite a few commissions recently as when I was on IV chemo, I used to take my knitting to the unit and everyone played the 'what's Cathy knitting this week?' game! 

When I haven't got the energy to knit, I also do adult colouring books - the more complex the better! I also discovered 5D diamond painting kits, which are a bit like painting buy numbers but use small coloured crystals that stick to the background picture. I do still like a good nap though! Not sure how I'll get on for a few weeks after next week though as I'm having a cataract op  - cataracts courtesy of long term steroid use...

I was very lucky with my medical retirement - I worked for the NHS for over 30 years, so got quite a generous package and don't have to worry about finances. I know that's not the same for everyone, but it sounds like you're going to need to think really hard about retiring from the caring post - that's really hard and you don't want to risk even more severe issues with your spine. 

Big hugs to you! 

Hey hey Cathy

You are very fortunate have strong bones =) and I have heard of thst injection you are on I'm unfortunately calcium has been low my vitamin d levels were not that bad but that was because my dad tried make me have it every day before diagnoses he too used work in NHS as consultant In elderly care like my sister. But yes I had injection once they tried me on calcium d3 but that didn't rise my calcium do discussion with dad and oncologist they tried me on cacit see if my body absorbs it better we will see next Wednesday with my bloods.

I'm on hormone treatment atm my csncer is very much oesgtion fed so I'm on lethzole which ain't bad for side effects wl saying this I was on accord brand and that was fine they changed my brand to Glen Mark and the pains in joints been rediclous.

I know what you mean about concentration mine isn't as good I've only just got into reading on my kindle which my sister bought me. She has been on the telephone this morning everything has caught up on her last six months with me diagnosis my mums and working as consultant and got family life so the gp given her two weeks in the sick.

So was the cataracts caused by long term steroid use you say? I was on steriods when first diagnosis high dose coming of them was horrible I've lost my moon face so to speak an all weight as I loved all the food three course lunch three course tea and then the opposite of extreme when I had radiotherapy to skull I lost taste buds had oral thrush and sores ha. 

Well officially now I'm on sick by government in few days I receive pip and one last Paynent of ssp in January. I have I'm going to think outside the bkx

What is everyone's plans for today =)

I'm going to go Costa for gingerbread latte with my friend followed by an Italian lunch 

Love hugs 

Cazzy xxx

Hi Cazzy  

I am on my way to see Lymphoedema ( NHS) nurse to get my op side checked as have a tendency to have Lymph build up in upper arm. Then I’m going to try to walk back from hospital or as far as I can idark

Enjoy the Gingerbread Latte. ️ 

Lister is gorgeous

Cathy

Glad you like little knitting man!

Here is a friend of his