Effing cancer is an effing effer, frankly
Discussion
FocusRS3 said:
Oddly enough a few years ago at the age of 46 my wife sent me to the docs to be checked out and he said then i was a bit young to be getting checked but all was in order .
The Argentine manager of Sevilla is 48 and has just returned to work after having prostate surgery. He was sacked after just one week back at work. So I think you are wise to have regular check ups. And thanks for the encouragement.
Tumbler said:
Following surgery and chemo I have a clear scan, oncologist is amazed how well my body has held up under the chemo, got told off for doing too much and to expect at least 12 months of recovery.
Next hurdle, to stay clear for two years.
Really great news. Wishing you a healthy cancer free 2018 and beyond.Next hurdle, to stay clear for two years.
After another 4 cycles of chemo, had a CT scan last week and the results are encouraging. Tumours are again reducing in size and the doctor's are pleased with my progress, so we are going to continue with another 4 cycles of chemo, one every two weeks. The side-effects are tough but not as tough as I'd expected but I'm not going to complain, as others have it much worse than me.
The only downside is a very unsupportive employer, who are trying to sack me because I'm off sick, which doesn't help the stress levels but I really don't like working there anyway, so I'll let them do what they want and give them enough rope to hang themselves.
Also good to read of others good news, so well done Tumbler.
The only downside is a very unsupportive employer, who are trying to sack me because I'm off sick, which doesn't help the stress levels but I really don't like working there anyway, so I'll let them do what they want and give them enough rope to hang themselves.
Also good to read of others good news, so well done Tumbler.
mp3manager said:
After another 4 cycles of chemo, had a CT scan last week and the results are encouraging. Tumours are again reducing in size and the doctor's are pleased with my progress, so we are going to continue with another 4 cycles of chemo, one every two weeks. The side-effects are tough but not as tough as I'd expected but I'm not going to complain, as others have it much worse than me.
The only downside is a very unsupportive employer, who are trying to sack me because I'm off sick, which doesn't help the stress levels but I really don't like working there anyway, so I'll let them do what they want and give them enough rope to hang themselves.
Also good to read of others good news, so well done Tumbler.
I fully appreciate it’s not the most important thing on your mind but an employer can’t sack someone for being off I’ll with cancer . The only downside is a very unsupportive employer, who are trying to sack me because I'm off sick, which doesn't help the stress levels but I really don't like working there anyway, so I'll let them do what they want and give them enough rope to hang themselves.
Also good to read of others good news, so well done Tumbler.
Let them go ahead and do then go to s solicitor .
That’s most definitely unfair dismissal at the very least .
Great news with the treatment more importantly
mp3manager said:
After another 4 cycles of chemo, had a CT scan last week and the results are encouraging. Tumours are again reducing in size and the doctor's are pleased with my progress, so we are going to continue with another 4 cycles of chemo, one every two weeks. The side-effects are tough but not as tough as I'd expected but I'm not going to complain, as others have it much worse than me.
The only downside is a very unsupportive employer, who are trying to sack me because I'm off sick, which doesn't help the stress levels but I really don't like working there anyway, so I'll let them do what they want and give them enough rope to hang themselves.
Also good to read of others good news, so well done Tumbler.
Good news - I have to say that as a father recently exposed to cancer I am so encouraged by all the positive people out there. For my son, as he is young, fit, strong and otherwise exceptionally healthy, I thought the side effects would be minimal - how wrong I was. He suffered. I hope as he progresses through these side effects lessen somewhat.The only downside is a very unsupportive employer, who are trying to sack me because I'm off sick, which doesn't help the stress levels but I really don't like working there anyway, so I'll let them do what they want and give them enough rope to hang themselves.
Also good to read of others good news, so well done Tumbler.
And I think this sums it up quite nicely:
This-isnt-real said:
Cancer is a cowardly disease that like all bullies doesn’t react well to being stood up to.
I am going to use this. Please be prepared, most people find the side effects increase with each cycle, I kept myself hidden away at home for the last two rounds and managed to,escape any infection or hospital stay.
These real helped with the pain form the swelling (steroid induced) http://www.dunelm.com/product/teddy-luxury-taupe-h...
I was reprimanded by my oncologist for overdoing it and warned that I can expect a further 12 months of side effects, I have ones now which I didn't have during and I still have side effects from the steroids. I am back at work and have been since 2 weeks after my last chemo bit I'm not back full time, I'm finding the fatigue hard to manage.
I bought a mini rebound trampoline as apparently this kind of exercise helps the lymph system, I also drank mainly warm clear fluids and elderflower cordial, I have no idea if these created a placebo effect, but it certainly made me feel like I was doing something to help myself. Oh and I cut out alcohol, I will be continuing with this for the foreseeable.
These real helped with the pain form the swelling (steroid induced) http://www.dunelm.com/product/teddy-luxury-taupe-h...
I was reprimanded by my oncologist for overdoing it and warned that I can expect a further 12 months of side effects, I have ones now which I didn't have during and I still have side effects from the steroids. I am back at work and have been since 2 weeks after my last chemo bit I'm not back full time, I'm finding the fatigue hard to manage.
I bought a mini rebound trampoline as apparently this kind of exercise helps the lymph system, I also drank mainly warm clear fluids and elderflower cordial, I have no idea if these created a placebo effect, but it certainly made me feel like I was doing something to help myself. Oh and I cut out alcohol, I will be continuing with this for the foreseeable.
mattyn1 said:
mp3manager said:
After another 4 cycles of chemo, had a CT scan last week and the results are encouraging. Tumours are again reducing in size and the doctor's are pleased with my progress, so we are going to continue with another 4 cycles of chemo, one every two weeks. The side-effects are tough but not as tough as I'd expected but I'm not going to complain, as others have it much worse than me.
The only downside is a very unsupportive employer, who are trying to sack me because I'm off sick, which doesn't help the stress levels but I really don't like working there anyway, so I'll let them do what they want and give them enough rope to hang themselves.
Also good to read of others good news, so well done Tumbler.
Good news - I have to say that as a father recently exposed to cancer I am so encouraged by all the positive people out there. For my son, as he is young, fit, strong and otherwise exceptionally healthy, I thought the side effects would be minimal - how wrong I was. He suffered. I hope as he progresses through these side effects lessen somewhat.The only downside is a very unsupportive employer, who are trying to sack me because I'm off sick, which doesn't help the stress levels but I really don't like working there anyway, so I'll let them do what they want and give them enough rope to hang themselves.
Also good to read of others good news, so well done Tumbler.
And I think this sums it up quite nicely:
This-isnt-real said:
Cancer is a cowardly disease that like all bullies doesn’t react well to being stood up to.
I am going to use this. 
koffcancer, do what you want when you want, life's too short to worry about st you can't change, did I mention fkoffcancerLast July at the tender age of 64 I had a melena. This happened whilst I was on the loo and was accompanied by me almost passing out when i tried to stand up. I managed to stagger the 4 meters to my bed where I layed down. My breathing was very shallow and I thought I might have had a stroke. I live on my own in a very long bungalow and both my cellphone and my landline are at the opposite end of the house to my bedroom. I thought I was going to die. I didn’t feel any fear or panic, rather just a feeling of resignation. After a few hours my breathing went back to normal, though I was still too weak to stand up. I fell asleep and in the morning I felt pretty normal but quite weak. The only symptom was that my stools were a tarry black and my energy levels were low. After a good deal of nagging from my girlfriend, I rang my gp’s surgery. I was told they could fit me in a couple f weeks. I rang the NHS non-emergency number 111 and went through a telephone triage. They said they would email my GP and guaranteed I would be seen within 3 days. I decided to go to his surgery the next morning and demand an emergency appointment, this I got and was seen later on that morning. I had my bp taken and the finger up the rear and he said he didn’t think it was cancer but couldn’t be sure. He said he would try and get me accepted onto the “2 week pathway”, although due to the time elapsed since my melena, I might not be accepted.
2 days later I had an appointment for a Gastroscopy. I was the last patient on a Friday afternoon and they “forgot” to give me the requested sedative. Those of you who have suffered this procedure, will share the horror I felt when they started stuffing the tube down my throat. The consultant doing the gastroscopy went home immediately after my procedure and it was left to a nurse to explain the findings. They had found a growth on my stomach which they had labelled a suspected GIST. It was immediately clear she had no idea what a GIST was. She floundered while trying to explain their findings and so it was left to me and Google to decipher the findings. A GIST (Gastro Intestinal Stroma Tumour) is a rare form of sarcoma, approx 1 in 60,000 people are given this “gift”. 20 years ago it wasn’t even an identified condition and was often misdiagnosed as a more straightforward sarcoma. Chemo and radiotherapy do not work on this condition. Because of the location of the tumour, they couldn’t take a biopsy, so their interpretation of its seriousness was limited to its size and location. It was approx 2cms and was on the outer stomach wall - both good signs, if you can use that description for cancer. The missing bit was the mitotic (MTR) rate - the most important element.
I was booked in for a CT scan and this I underwent in fairly short order. This showed up the tumour, but didn’t really move forward the diagnosis/prognosis. Two weeks later I met the MDT (Multi Disciplinary Team) they explained that the prefered treatment was surgery for small tumours in the location of mine and I was booked in for a resection 6 weeks later. Before surgery they wanted a PET scan and this took place 2 days later. After this scan I waited two weeks for the results - thankfully no metastasis had occured.
The surgery went ahead as planned and the tumour was successfully removed. The tumour went to the path lab and the MTR was 2 - a low count. The follow up meeting with the MDT was just before Christmas and they informed me that the likelyhood of it coming back was very low. Bloody marvellous Christmas present. I have been given no drugs to take and I will be having a CT scan in a few months. Ongoing monitoring will happen for several years, but it looks like I’ve dodged a bullet.
In conclusion, the NHS was brilliant, let down by the byzantine admin. Medical care was first rate. An issue I saw up close was the “storage” of Dementia/Alzheimer patients in the surgical wards. This looks like becoming a tidal wave of demand. I have read many of the posts on this thread and I hope you all get a positive result. Cancer treatments are improving, so don't give up hope.
I am a long term PH'er, but I hope you'll forgive me for using a new id This whole experience is very personal and I've probably gone through the same fears and depression as other posters/sufferers - good luck and happy New Year to all of you
2 days later I had an appointment for a Gastroscopy. I was the last patient on a Friday afternoon and they “forgot” to give me the requested sedative. Those of you who have suffered this procedure, will share the horror I felt when they started stuffing the tube down my throat. The consultant doing the gastroscopy went home immediately after my procedure and it was left to a nurse to explain the findings. They had found a growth on my stomach which they had labelled a suspected GIST. It was immediately clear she had no idea what a GIST was. She floundered while trying to explain their findings and so it was left to me and Google to decipher the findings. A GIST (Gastro Intestinal Stroma Tumour) is a rare form of sarcoma, approx 1 in 60,000 people are given this “gift”. 20 years ago it wasn’t even an identified condition and was often misdiagnosed as a more straightforward sarcoma. Chemo and radiotherapy do not work on this condition. Because of the location of the tumour, they couldn’t take a biopsy, so their interpretation of its seriousness was limited to its size and location. It was approx 2cms and was on the outer stomach wall - both good signs, if you can use that description for cancer. The missing bit was the mitotic (MTR) rate - the most important element.
I was booked in for a CT scan and this I underwent in fairly short order. This showed up the tumour, but didn’t really move forward the diagnosis/prognosis. Two weeks later I met the MDT (Multi Disciplinary Team) they explained that the prefered treatment was surgery for small tumours in the location of mine and I was booked in for a resection 6 weeks later. Before surgery they wanted a PET scan and this took place 2 days later. After this scan I waited two weeks for the results - thankfully no metastasis had occured.
The surgery went ahead as planned and the tumour was successfully removed. The tumour went to the path lab and the MTR was 2 - a low count. The follow up meeting with the MDT was just before Christmas and they informed me that the likelyhood of it coming back was very low. Bloody marvellous Christmas present. I have been given no drugs to take and I will be having a CT scan in a few months. Ongoing monitoring will happen for several years, but it looks like I’ve dodged a bullet.
In conclusion, the NHS was brilliant, let down by the byzantine admin. Medical care was first rate. An issue I saw up close was the “storage” of Dementia/Alzheimer patients in the surgical wards. This looks like becoming a tidal wave of demand. I have read many of the posts on this thread and I hope you all get a positive result. Cancer treatments are improving, so don't give up hope.
I am a long term PH'er, but I hope you'll forgive me for using a new id This whole experience is very personal and I've probably gone through the same fears and depression as other posters/sufferers - good luck and happy New Year to all of you
Really wish I was posting here as an outsider looking in, rather than a Grandson who's Grandma is in the grasp of grade 4b Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma 
.
To say she's taken a turn for the worst over the past six months is an understatement and to make things worse there's a vicious case of COPD thown into the mix.
She's been in a specialist oncology hospital for the past 2 weeks which has been absolutely fking fantastic and I'm in awe of the work they do. As it currently stands she's 'critically balanced' (doctors words) over the next 48 hours.
To repeat the title of this thread, cancer is indeed an 'effing effer'.
The biggest thing I'm struggling with at the minute is witnessing the impact on my Mum, Auntie, Uncle etc. Absolutely soul destroying.
. To say she's taken a turn for the worst over the past six months is an understatement and to make things worse there's a vicious case of COPD thown into the mix.
She's been in a specialist oncology hospital for the past 2 weeks which has been absolutely f
king fantastic and I'm in awe of the work they do. As it currently stands she's 'critically balanced' (doctors words) over the next 48 hours. To repeat the title of this thread, cancer is indeed an 'effing effer'
. The biggest thing I'm struggling with at the minute is witnessing the impact on my Mum, Auntie, Uncle etc. Absolutely soul destroying.
Pete102 said:
Really wish I was posting here as an outsider looking in, rather than a Grandson who's Grandma is in the grasp of grade 4b Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma .
To say she's taken a turn for the worst over the past six months is an understatement and to make things worse there's a vicious case of COPD thown into the mix.
She's been in a specialist oncology hospital for the past 2 weeks which has been absolutely fking fantastic and I'm in awe of the work they do. As it currently stands she's 'critically balanced' (doctors words) over the next 48 hours.
To repeat the title of this thread, cancer is indeed an 'effing effer'.
The biggest thing I'm struggling with at the minute is witnessing the impact on my Mum, Auntie, Uncle etc. Absolutely soul destroying.
Really sorry to hear this . . To say she's taken a turn for the worst over the past six months is an understatement and to make things worse there's a vicious case of COPD thown into the mix.
She's been in a specialist oncology hospital for the past 2 weeks which has been absolutely f
king fantastic and I'm in awe of the work they do. As it currently stands she's 'critically balanced' (doctors words) over the next 48 hours. To repeat the title of this thread, cancer is indeed an 'effing effer'
. The biggest thing I'm struggling with at the minute is witnessing the impact on my Mum, Auntie, Uncle etc. Absolutely soul destroying.
The impact on others must be terrible for them too . It’s often those left behind that suffer for long periods too .
Mum was diagnosed boxing day 2016, her closest sister diagnosed january 3rd 2018. Mum is more upset about my aunt than about her own stuff, feels like we are doing it all over again. For 26 years there was no cancer in our family, now in 1 year the two closest both have it. What a kick in the nuts.
Dgr90 said:
Mum was diagnosed boxing day 2016, her closest sister diagnosed january 3rd 2018. Mum is more upset about my aunt than about her own stuff, feels like we are doing it all over again. For 26 years there was no cancer in our family, now in 1 year the two closest both have it. What a kick in the nuts.
Totally again sorry to hear . Didn't realise that colon cancer affects so many men too although after my father died 20yrs ago at the age of 68 from a huge heart attach they discovered he had the early onset of it.
Cancer is definitely an Effer!
oilinmyblood said:
Last July at the tender age of 64 I had a melena. This happened whilst I was on the loo and was accompanied by me almost passing out when i tried to stand up. I managed to stagger the 4 meters to my bed where I layed down. My breathing was very shallow and I thought I might have had a stroke. I live on my own in a very long bungalow and both my cellphone and my landline are at the opposite end of the house to my bedroom. I thought I was going to die. I didn’t feel any fear or panic, rather just a feeling of resignation. After a few hours my breathing went back to normal, though I was still too weak to stand up. I fell asleep and in the morning I felt pretty normal but quite weak. The only symptom was that my stools were a tarry black and my energy levels were low. After a good deal of nagging from my girlfriend, I rang my gp’s surgery. I was told they could fit me in a couple f weeks. I rang the NHS non-emergency number 111 and went through a telephone triage. They said they would email my GP and guaranteed I would be seen within 3 days. I decided to go to his surgery the next morning and demand an emergency appointment, this I got and was seen later on that morning. I had my bp taken and the finger up the rear and he said he didn’t think it was cancer but couldn’t be sure. He said he would try and get me accepted onto the “2 week pathway”, although due to the time elapsed since my melena, I might not be accepted.
2 days later I had an appointment for a Gastroscopy. I was the last patient on a Friday afternoon and they “forgot” to give me the requested sedative. Those of you who have suffered this procedure, will share the horror I felt when they started stuffing the tube down my throat. The consultant doing the gastroscopy went home immediately after my procedure and it was left to a nurse to explain the findings. They had found a growth on my stomach which they had labelled a suspected GIST. It was immediately clear she had no idea what a GIST was. She floundered while trying to explain their findings and so it was left to me and Google to decipher the findings. A GIST (Gastro Intestinal Stroma Tumour) is a rare form of sarcoma, approx 1 in 60,000 people are given this “gift”. 20 years ago it wasn’t even an identified condition and was often misdiagnosed as a more straightforward sarcoma. Chemo and radiotherapy do not work on this condition. Because of the location of the tumour, they couldn’t take a biopsy, so their interpretation of its seriousness was limited to its size and location. It was approx 2cms and was on the outer stomach wall - both good signs, if you can use that description for cancer. The missing bit was the mitotic (MTR) rate - the most important element.
I was booked in for a CT scan and this I underwent in fairly short order. This showed up the tumour, but didn’t really move forward the diagnosis/prognosis. Two weeks later I met the MDT (Multi Disciplinary Team) they explained that the prefered treatment was surgery for small tumours in the location of mine and I was booked in for a resection 6 weeks later. Before surgery they wanted a PET scan and this took place 2 days later. After this scan I waited two weeks for the results - thankfully no metastasis had occured.
The surgery went ahead as planned and the tumour was successfully removed. The tumour went to the path lab and the MTR was 2 - a low count. The follow up meeting with the MDT was just before Christmas and they informed me that the likelyhood of it coming back was very low. Bloody marvellous Christmas present. I have been given no drugs to take and I will be having a CT scan in a few months. Ongoing monitoring will happen for several years, but it looks like I’ve dodged a bullet.
In conclusion, the NHS was brilliant, let down by the byzantine admin. Medical care was first rate. An issue I saw up close was the “storage” of Dementia/Alzheimer patients in the surgical wards. This looks like becoming a tidal wave of demand. I have read many of the posts on this thread and I hope you all get a positive result. Cancer treatments are improving, so don't give up hope.
I am a long term PH'er, but I hope you'll forgive me for using a new id This whole experience is very personal and I've probably gone through the same fears and depression as other posters/sufferers - good luck and happy New Year to all of you
That's a lot to have gone through but what a relief that you did seek help and not just put up with your symptoms as many can be tempted to do. I hope it is all good health from here on in and understandable to feel the range of emotions that you have had. 2 days later I had an appointment for a Gastroscopy. I was the last patient on a Friday afternoon and they “forgot” to give me the requested sedative. Those of you who have suffered this procedure, will share the horror I felt when they started stuffing the tube down my throat. The consultant doing the gastroscopy went home immediately after my procedure and it was left to a nurse to explain the findings. They had found a growth on my stomach which they had labelled a suspected GIST. It was immediately clear she had no idea what a GIST was. She floundered while trying to explain their findings and so it was left to me and Google to decipher the findings. A GIST (Gastro Intestinal Stroma Tumour) is a rare form of sarcoma, approx 1 in 60,000 people are given this “gift”. 20 years ago it wasn’t even an identified condition and was often misdiagnosed as a more straightforward sarcoma. Chemo and radiotherapy do not work on this condition. Because of the location of the tumour, they couldn’t take a biopsy, so their interpretation of its seriousness was limited to its size and location. It was approx 2cms and was on the outer stomach wall - both good signs, if you can use that description for cancer. The missing bit was the mitotic (MTR) rate - the most important element.
I was booked in for a CT scan and this I underwent in fairly short order. This showed up the tumour, but didn’t really move forward the diagnosis/prognosis. Two weeks later I met the MDT (Multi Disciplinary Team) they explained that the prefered treatment was surgery for small tumours in the location of mine and I was booked in for a resection 6 weeks later. Before surgery they wanted a PET scan and this took place 2 days later. After this scan I waited two weeks for the results - thankfully no metastasis had occured.
The surgery went ahead as planned and the tumour was successfully removed. The tumour went to the path lab and the MTR was 2 - a low count. The follow up meeting with the MDT was just before Christmas and they informed me that the likelyhood of it coming back was very low. Bloody marvellous Christmas present. I have been given no drugs to take and I will be having a CT scan in a few months. Ongoing monitoring will happen for several years, but it looks like I’ve dodged a bullet.
In conclusion, the NHS was brilliant, let down by the byzantine admin. Medical care was first rate. An issue I saw up close was the “storage” of Dementia/Alzheimer patients in the surgical wards. This looks like becoming a tidal wave of demand. I have read many of the posts on this thread and I hope you all get a positive result. Cancer treatments are improving, so don't give up hope.
I am a long term PH'er, but I hope you'll forgive me for using a new id This whole experience is very personal and I've probably gone through the same fears and depression as other posters/sufferers - good luck and happy New Year to all of you
FocusRS3 said:
Watched a programme last week called 'surgeons on the edge'.,
The tumour they took from a 71 years olds stomach was incredible !
Question is prevention of this stuff
The first time I was diagnosed with advanced cancer I had been told by my local hospital for 2 1/2 years that there was nothing wrong with me. I then pushed for further investigation and guess what, I had a massive complex mass with a very poor prognosis. I have had further joys of cancer but have been diagnosed and treated quickly.The tumour they took from a 71 years olds stomach was incredible !
Question is prevention of this stuff
Been on my hols this week and went to the Royal College of Surgeons to the Surgeons Hall in Edinburgh. There are thousands of exhibits in jars of formaldehyde and stuff so I had a good look at everything.
There were some jars with bladders dissected showing prostate glands that had tumours, and some enlarged, and exactly how they acted on the various surrounding tissue. I can finally understand clearly how it all works and where everything is.
There were examples of many cancers and well worth a visit if only to 'see' the tumours and understand your body.
There were some jars with bladders dissected showing prostate glands that had tumours, and some enlarged, and exactly how they acted on the various surrounding tissue. I can finally understand clearly how it all works and where everything is.
There were examples of many cancers and well worth a visit if only to 'see' the tumours and understand your body.
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