I could use some anti anxiety help, it's scan time

Hi Brit... you are not old

Hi Brit... you are not old enough to be here..!  And sorry you need to be here.. but of course welcome.  I read your info, you should be acing this exam, and every one there after..  How amazing it got caught that early..!!  Yes the scanxiety can make you a bit edgy... but it will pass....   Feel free to hang around... I for one love the smiling faces around here...   I suspect you will soon go to annual scans...

Ron

Hi Britt!  Aren't you a

Hi Britt!  Aren't you a beauty!  I saw from you bio that you were stage one and having six month scans.  Also got away with a half kidney removal. I would say you are one fortunate gal!  Young to have this issue but better to have found it at this stage.  You mentioned they watched it for a year. I am assuming that since it was so tiny that it didn't grow much in the year.  Scanxiety is normal, if you weren't scared then i would have to pinch you to see if you were breathing. Stage one, small size.  We would all here put our money on you being cured!  I am sure others will chime in.  Many on the boards who have had bigger and no return. Stage one is excellent. If you happen to find your path report you can jot down what it was exactly, etc.  But I am sure it won't change anything I would say.  So be nervous which is normal, and go get your scans.  Then when it comes back all clear you will feel better!  Just a side note. I get nervous when my mom goes for hers and I am the caregiver. What more can I expect from someone who has been there and done that! Stop worrying your pretty head off and go celebrate life!  Big hugs to you!  XXOO

Greetings Britt

I'm the guy who shows up until the smart folks get here.  Everyone gets scanxiety...everyone.  Your little nasty seems pretty small and I wonder what your Doc has suggested be done about it.

Just join in the flow of conversation and my apologies for your need to join our club... at least we don't charge dues...

 

2 minutes later

 

Oh sure, I post my comments and find out I'm late to the party...oh well, Britt I told you the smart folks would get here......

foxhd said:

Amazing

That you had pain from such a small lesion. Most of us have had much larger tumors without pain. You are lucky it was found. Good for you. I found out due to pain and hematuria, but many others found out from scans that were for something else.   Scanxiety exists. How could it not? For most of the last 3 years I had scans every 6 weeks. It is pretty routine now but you never know what might show, so you worry,..some.

Odds

Britt,

The odds of scans being negative for the rest of your life are pretty close to 98.500% if you worry constantly. Without worrying the odds of the scans being negative for the rest of your life are close to ninety eight and one/half percent.

 

You will do fine if you let the doctors do the worrying. They get paid more to do that.

 

So far they have been scanning me for more than 11 years and everything is fine. Cysts sometimes develope and they watch them. Benign cysts on your Kidney over the years are normal. 

 

Before you know it you will be helping me with the newbies. You know how they feel at first. Being told you have Cancer and then major surgery to boot. Welcome to our club which nobody wants to join.

 

Icemantoo

Welcome to the club...

Hi Brit,

WOW, ain't it a fun ride! A bit young to be joining here, but we have no age restrictions unfortunately. Let's see, small tumor, partial nephrectomy, the odds are far greater that old age will get you before RCC and you have a bunch of living to do between now and then, not like us old pharts. The best way to ease scanxiety is to reverse the thought process. Start looking forward to scans as a confirmation that you remain NED and know that if anything ever does show up you will have caught it very early and have time to deal with it. Think how lucky you are to be having scans now instead of years down the road with an undiscovered large tumor and a much worse prognosis. Its been over four years for me, tumor about twice your size and full nephrectomy, from experience I can tell you that, so far at least, it doesn't go completely away, but it does get easier with time. Thirty years from now you'll be telling your grandkids about having cancer before they found the cure, much like my generation and Polio.

Keep smiling,

Gary

Bakergirl said:

You guys are awesome!

Waking up to all these wonderful, positive, and encouraging comments have really made me feel better! It's so nice to know there are people out there to talk to. I'm feeling much more optimistic after your input and am sending positive vibes to all of you

You are Right

The guys and gals here are awesome and they will help you through all kinds of anxiety.  I was addicted to this board until I had my surgery.

-Diana

Assume all is well until told otherwise

Why assume the worst?  Assume everything is fine.  If it is not, deal with it when that news is conveyed.  Until then simply live evry moment on the basis of the presumption that nothing is amiss.  be superstitious - believing all is well will ensure that all is well!

PS While waiting for results rent the funniest movies you can find and laugh away the anxiety until report comes in.  Laughter destroys cancer cells!