I might have cancer- two week referral- scared!

[Emsie]

1 hour ago, Lynz said:

You're right Emsie. My partner is only 31 and he's had shingles twice in the past 5 years. He's fit and healthy and there's nothing wrong with his immune system or anything like that. It's rare for someone so young to get shingles especially twice but it's just one of those things the GP says.

Bless your partner Lynz, that's rotten for them. I hope your partner is fully recovered now. Thank you for letting us know. I hope that helps you BelAnna. X

Edited October 29, 2018 by Emsie

[BelAnna]

Aw sorry to hear that Lynz. I hope he's OK! 

 

[BelAnna]

I am so scared at the moment.

My chest doesn't feel normal and my throat is swollen.

I feel so concerned that I could have IBC especially as 1 in every 3 people who are diagnosed with this particular form of BC have distant spread of cancer at the time of diagnosis and I've convinced myself that I have lung mets, which sounds daft but I don't think it is as my chest feels compressed and my breathing is different (I haven't had asthma for years but I've had to take ventolin to help a bit and have mucus in my cough too).

I keep writing diary entries where I ask my future self (in January 2019) whether I am OK or very ill, as a sort of compulsion I guess and I cannot stop looking up breast cancer forums  

 

Edited October 31, 2018 by BelAnna

[orange]

On 28/10/2018 at 18:34, BelAnna said:

I have also got shingles and have had a sore throat for 3 weeks now, which is all really odd!

Could this be from all the stress you are feeling? Are you sleeping enough? Last time I got really worried about something, I didn't sleep well plus super-stressed and then I had two or three weird skin things pop up suddenly. Two have gone away, the other mostly has. Your breathing thing could be anxiety.

On 28/10/2018 at 18:34, BelAnna said:

I will look in to cannabis if I get any sort of cancer diagnosis and I have been drinking exclusively green tea, swallowing curcumin supplements and omega 3 capsules, eating lots of cruciferous vegetables and dark purple fruit and cutting down on sugar for the last few days.

I see you are drinking green tea, be careful of green tea extract, it is not safe for the liver. The extract is the problem, the tea should be okay I think. Great you are making sure your diet is extra healthy. 

What you are writing sounds like you are already sure that something bad will happen. That is not for sure, it's only an extremely tiny possibility, so remote it's not worth worrying about other than getting it seen to. Like DragonFly says, comedy can be really helpful.

I think that one can do a lot of healing in the meantime while waiting for an appointment. Including diet you can visualize yourself healthy instead of imagining the worst. I went to a couple of workshops by this man who started writing books as a teenager. I don't usually believe in this stuff but he appears to really have a gift but says we can learn to help heal ourselves and explains what he does with quantum physics. He helped a musician who had a mass on his pancreas. People have tried to discredit him but the musician is still around fifteen years later.  He now helps people heal through integrated medicine (allopathic plus alternative medicine together). http://www.dreamhealer.com/

So anything positive, works by Louise Hay are also good. (She had cancer that she healed from on her own). This is her video with the title, Stop Scaring Yourself. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EVqWakD5mQ

I wonder if your GP could book you an ultrasound now so you don't have to wait. Not sure what the specialist would order. x

 

Edited November 1, 2018 by orange
Wasn't finished writing

[BelAnna]

1 hour ago, orange said:

Could this be from all the stress you are feeling? Are you sleeping enough? Last time I got really worried about something, I didn't sleep well plus super-stressed and then I had two or three weird skin things pop up suddenly. Two have gone away, the other mostly has. Your breathing thing could be anxiety.

I see you are drinking green tea, be careful of green tea extract, it is not safe for the liver. The extract is the problem, the tea should be okay I think. Great you are making sure your diet is extra healthy. 

What you are writing sounds like you are already sure that something bad will happen. That is not for sure, it's only an extremely tiny possibility, so remote it's not worth worrying about other than getting it seen to. Like DragonFly says, comedy can be really helpful.

I think that one can do a lot of healing in the meantime while waiting for an appointment. Including diet you can visualize yourself healthy instead of imagining the worst. I went to a couple of workshops by this man who started writing books as a teenager. I don't usually believe in this stuff but he appears to really have a gift but says we can learn to help heal ourselves and explains what he does with quantum physics. He helped a musician who had a mass on his pancreas. People have tried to discredit him but the musician is still around fifteen years later.  He now helps people heal through integrated medicine (allopathic plus alternative medicine together). http://www.dreamhealer.com/

So anything positive, works by Louise Hay are also good. (She had cancer that she healed from on her own). This is her video with the title, Stop Scaring Yourself. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EVqWakD5mQ

I wonder if your GP could book you an ultrasound now so you don't have to wait. Not sure what the specialist would order. x

 

Hi Orange,

Thank you for the supportive reply!  

No I don't think it's from stress or lack of sleep as (and sorry this is grose!) I have a visible layer of phlegm at the back of my throat and my chest just feels similar to that BUT I don't even have a cold. I've had a sore throat for three weeks and kept getting a feeling of pressure in my chest but put it down to anxiety- now I really don't think it's that any longer. The raised lymph nodes and swelling on my neck are really worrying me. 

Thanks I'm trying to do some healing but I will try the healthy visualization too. All I can picture at the moment is dying at 31 (30 now) and never getting married/having kids/having a career/living life. 

I will have a look at the video- thanks! 

I don't think my GP can book a separate ultrasound but I'm going to see if I can get a cancellation appointment at the breast clinic because I ideally don't want to wait until next week. Otherwise I think I'll use my credit card to go private to a breast clinic next Monday. 

I am so scared but I will try to calm down! x

[PolarBear]

You've got to stop going to csncer forums. You know it's a compulsion. It's only dragging you down.

[BelAnna]

Thanks Polar- you're right.

I have had a much better day today mainly because I've been busy and stayed away from cancer websites and from google! 

[PolarBear]

Good deal!

[Bodger]

In my case Belanna the internet was All wrong!!! So why Get yourself in a mess reading.

[BelAnna]

5 hours ago, Bodger said:

In my case Belanna the internet was All wrong!!! So why Get yourself in a mess reading.

Thanks Bodger, that's true! I half believe that I do have IBC but it won't help me to keep looking it up/googling! 

I received my appointment letter today (I got a phone call yesterday too) so I see the breast surgeon/consultant next Wednesday afternoon so at least there's not long to wait now.

Edited November 2, 2018 by BelAnna

[Bodger]

Things move really quickly for anything that has even a remote risk. Try to make the most of appoints with consultants, write all your questions and take them with you.

I was reassured by my GP it was likely to be nothing. I went for a scan the next day which was inconclusive, so I went to a hospital consultant the day after who also reassured me it was likely nothing but he arranged for one of his surgeons to scan it the next day. It was in this scan I was told there was a tumor but they could not say if it was cancerous but I would lose the testical. My operation was 2 weeks later on Christmas eve. 4 weeks later it was confirmed stage 1 seminoma but then in another scan they found a unrelated Tumor in my bowel. I had major surgery to remove it, it was benign.

The other way to look at it, if it wasnt for OCD checking I wouldn't of found it at stage 1 and things could of had a very different outcome.

I also had a weirdly lump in my throat and difficulty swallowing, it was perfectly normal and turned out to be caused understandable stress.

Edited November 3, 2018 by Bodger

[BelAnna]

3 hours ago, Bodger said:

Things move really quickly for anything that has even a remote risk. Try to make the most of appoints with consultants, write all your questions and take them with you.

I was reassured by my GP it was likely to be nothing. I went for a scan the next day which was inconclusive, so I went to a hospital consultant the day after who also reassured me it was likely nothing but he arranged for one of his surgeons to scan it the next day. It was in this scan I was told there was a tumor but they could not say if it was cancerous but I would lose the testical. My operation was 2 weeks later on Christmas eve. 4 weeks later it was confirmed stage 1 seminoma but then in another scan they found a unrelated Tumor in my bowel. I had major surgery to remove it, it was benign.

The other way to look at it, if it wasnt for OCD checking I wouldn't of found it at stage 1 and things could of had a very different outcome.

I also had a weirdly lump in my throat and difficulty swallowing, it was perfectly normal and turned out to be caused understandable stress.

Thank you for your reply Bodger. I'm so sorry to hear about what you went through- that must have been so incredibly stressful- that Christmas must have been a difficult one. 

It's great that you caught it at stage 1 though.

One of the things which is worrying me about this health scare is that if it is IBC then that is only ever diagnosed at stage 3 (spread locally) or stage 4 (spread distally) and IBC is very aggressive and spreads more quickly in younger people (i.e. under 40, I'm 30). Who knows though I might just have a benign breast condition! 

Edited November 3, 2018 by BelAnna

[Angst]

I think that Bodger’s posts provide a valuable reassurance that the NHS acted speedily. I think that reassurance that the cancer service is fit for purpose is a different kind of reassurance to the type typically asked for on the forum.

Though I think that there is a difference between compulsive checking and regular checks for health. As a diabetic, I take blood tests daily. I do this on a systematic and evidenced based basis. Thank God that it has not deteriorated to compulsive checking!!!!

Belanna, as Bodger says do not check the internet, wait until the appointment on Wednesday. You have done well. Remember a week or two ago you would not even go to your GP!

[BelAnna]

1 hour ago, Angst said:

I think that Bodger’s posts provide a valuable reassurance that the NHS acted speedily. I think that reassurance that the cancer service is fit for purpose is a different kind of reassurance to the type typically asked for on the forum.

Though I think that there is a difference between compulsive checking and regular checks for health. As a diabetic, I take blood tests daily. I do this on a systematic and evidenced based basis. Thank God that it has not deteriorated to compulsive checking!!!!

Belanna, as Bodger says do not check the internet, wait until the appointment on Wednesday. You have done well. Remember a week or two ago you would not even go to your GP!

Thanks so much for your support Angst! I had resisted going to the GP for three/four years for other health concerns so I was glad that I managed to go! 

I agree with you about there being a difference between health monitoring and checking. I hope your diabetes is under control at the moment. My Dad works in diabetes research and it can at times be underfunded compared to research for other medical conditions. 

I will try to wait until 2.20 on Wednesday now and I'm trying hard to avoid google and to avoid catastrophising! 

 

 

[BelAnna]

I'm struggling a little bit tonight but in less than 48 hours I will know one way or the other unless I have to wait for biopsy results. 

Thank you so much for all the support and help with this. x

Edited November 5, 2018 by BelAnna

[taurean]

Not long to go now. Try and keep your focus elsewhere, keep busy rest well. 

Roy 

 

[daja]

12 minutes ago, taurean said:

Not long to go now. Try and keep your focus elsewhere, keep busy rest well. 

Roy 

 

Yes. *hug*

 

[BelAnna]

10 hours ago, taurean said:

Not long to go now. Try and keep your focus elsewhere, keep busy rest well. 

Roy 

 

Thank you Roy 

10 hours ago, daja said:

Yes. *hug*

 

Thank you Daja, hug to you too. Did you get an appointment for your lump to be looked at? 

[Wonderer]

Hi belanna, I too have recently gone through the two week referral process and had a scan which proved that my lump was nothing sinister, the doctor told me they will make that referral no matter wether they think it’s cancer or not as it’s better to be safe than sorry and the only way to know for sure is by doing the scan, I am 34 and was told by my gp she wasn’t worried given my age, my mother had breast cancer at 49 so even though my scan was fine I have now been referred into the family breast cancer history clinic and will be going through background checks and genetic testing to see what my chances are of developing the disease. I did not work myself into a spin about it at all, even when during the scan they weren’t quite sure and had to get a higher up radiologist in to confirm there wasn’t a cancer, the difference between u and I is that my anxiety did not latch onto it, so I had a “what will be will be” attitude rather than panic stations. I’m sure all will be fine with you, try to relax and be kind to yourself, it’s natural to have a normal degree of worry but cancer forums etc are a big NO for people with anxiety. Good luck.xx

[BelAnna]

25 minutes ago, Wonderer said:

Hi belanna, I too have recently gone through the two week referral process and had a scan which proved that my lump was nothing sinister, the doctor told me they will make that referral no matter wether they think it’s cancer or not as it’s better to be safe than sorry and the only way to know for sure is by doing the scan, I am 34 and was told by my gp she wasn’t worried given my age, my mother had breast cancer at 49 so even though my scan was fine I have now been referred into the family breast cancer history clinic and will be going through background checks and genetic testing to see what my chances are of developing the disease. I did not work myself into a spin about it at all, even when during the scan they weren’t quite sure and had to get a higher up radiologist in to confirm there wasn’t a cancer, the difference between u and I is that my anxiety did not latch onto it, so I had a “what will be will be” attitude rather than panic stations. I’m sure all will be fine with you, try to relax and be kind to yourself, it’s natural to have a normal degree of worry but cancer forums etc are a big NO for people with anxiety. Good luck.xx

Thank you Wonderer, it's so good to hear that you are OK and that you handled the referral so well too! It must be a bit more concerning with your family history. I hope the checks and genetic testing don't show any suspect genes but it's good that you're in the system as a preventative action.

You did so well with the 'what will be' attitude! 

I have never been worried about my own health before and had not seen a GP for 4 years until this, so this is not typical for me but the tiny doubt over whether I have a very serious form of cancer (if my symptoms are cancer then they could only be Inflammatory breast cancer, which is only diagnosed at stage 3 [spread to lymph nodes] or 4 [spread distally]) is definitely making me anxious. Even more so because I really want to meet someone and have kids and an IBC diagnosis would definitely prevent that and shorten my life.

I've read posts by people who do not have OCD who have also struggled with this so I don't think it's all that silly but of course if it all turns out fine then I'll know not to freak out in the future! xx

 

Edited November 6, 2018 by BelAnna

[daja]

Yes BelAnna the GP said it was either an in growing hair or a blackhead.

[BelAnna]

3 hours ago, daja said:

Yes BelAnna the GP said it was either an in growing hair or a blackhead.

Oh that's really good Daja  

[freya196]

Hi BelAnna,

Im 17 and I'm going through the same as you. I've booked a drs appointment for next week but safe to say i'm absolutely petrified it's going to be cancer in my right bust. There's other factors from my ocd about going to the doctors too especially if they have to perform a breast exam. Hope everything is going ok with you  

[BelAnna]

Hi Freya, 

I'm really sorry you're facing a similar concern- it's so anxiety provoking!

It's great that you're planning to face some of your OCD and go to the GP!  It takes a lot of courage. They will do a breast exam but you can take a family member with you if that helps and sometimes they can rule out anything nasty just by looking.

Breast cancer is less likely the younger you are so it's quite rare under 40, very rare under 30 and incredibly rare under 20. I'm not sure if that helps because I know that it's still a very worrying time when you find a lump or breast change and it's always best to get it checked out. If you do get referred to the breast clinic then just try to keep as busy as you can and remember that 90% of people referred under the two-week suspected breast cancer referral do not have cancer. I really should take my own advice (and that of everyone else on this forum!).

Thinking of you and I hope your GP appointment goes well!  

 

[Wonderer]

Hey, I meant to say belanna that it was a mark on my breast and a rash on my nipple that provoked me to doing a breast examination and finding the lump so u can imagine that I had symptoms of IBC, pageats disease AND a tumour and despite having all 3 symptoms I did not have BC at all so please don’t overthink things, the doctors will know and u need to take their word for it! Good luck x