I'm male, 79 years old and I've just (July 2022) finished my second course of treatment after being diagnosed in June/July 2020.
The first treatment was five cycles of cap/tem stopped one cycle early (January 2021) due to chest pains, but CT scans showed everything to be stable, so great. CT Scan December 2021 showed cancer starting up again, so was put on six cycles of intravenous Carboplatin and Etoposide. There followed seven months of purgatory, as practically every session sent me to A&E and the GP made up for one that didn't by sending me to the DVT Clinic - positive diagnosis.
Anyway, CT scan showed cancer stable again, so now on three months wait for next CT scan - supposedly!
During this second course of treatment, one of the reasons I ended up in A&E was agonising pains under my right ribs (RUQ). The hospital issued me with Oral Morphine and told me to take regular daily doses of Paracetamol. These pains continued throughout treatment. I asked the Oncologists about them several times and, to my mind, given vague reasons. The pain still continues, generally when attempting activity and has been joined by back, hip and leg pains. A bad session coincided with bowel problems (damn PERT Creon 25000 capsules), so, in desperation, I telephoned the Cancer Centre Specialist nurses; left a message and got a reply later the same day. Next day, a Community Nurse turned up in the morning (coincidence she assured me), I got a GP appointment in the afternoon and, the day after, an appointment for an early CT scan (next week) - amazing.
Finally, yesterday (and, I suspect, the main reason for this post) I also had a telephone call from a gentleman who told me I'd been referred to "Community MacMillan". I have to admit that this bothers me slightly, in that my only contact with MacMillan was whilst my baby sister was dying of lung cancer, about three years ago.
What's coming?!
Hi IDontByte and a very warm welcome to the online community which I hope you'll find is both an informative and supportive place to be.
It sounds like you've been through a lot over the last couple of years but it's good to read that your cancer was stable after your last scan.
I'm sorry but I don't know what the gentleman who called you a few days ago meant when he said that "you'd been referred to Community Macmillan". Do you have a cancer nurse specialist (CNS), sometimes also referred to as a keyworker? If so, you could give her a call to see what the proposed plan is.
Wishing you all the best
"Never regret a day in your life, good days give you happiness, bad days give you experience"
I'm sorry to read that your cancer has restarted WeDontByte but, as you say, it's not over till it's over.
Sending a big ((hug))
"Never regret a day in your life, good days give you happiness, bad days give you experience"
