Yearly Check Up Time

nkern

Next Monday I go to Mayo Clinic for my yearly post op exam. I see my local Dr. at 6 months for a pap and Mayo at 6 months for CT Scan, blood work and chest x-ray. It seems when September 1st roles around I begin the panic phase. I ended up going to my local clinic last week due to kidney pain. I kind of freaked out because it is the same side as where the cancer was. Sadly I was hoping for a kidney infection because at least it would explain the pain instead of delaying an answer for 10 days. Ten days to think about worst case scenario...I am normally so positive and upbeat but these check ups just turn me upside down. Honestly it is probably psycho-somatic I tend to be a whiner!! Can anyone tell me how long it takes to stop being afraid that it will come back? I have been so blessed thus far and know how lucky I am, but I just start to freak out right before a Dr. visit.

blueyz53

Hi nkern - It probably takes each person a different amount of time to get over the panic of cancer returning. The first 5 years are probably the scariest. I also dreaded any unexplained pain for a few years. I've had some medical problems I feared were cancer but they turned out to be other ailments. I guess the big fear eventually lessens but positive thinking helps. Good luck!

nkern

blueyz53 said:

Hi nkern - It probably takes each person a different amount of time to get over the panic of cancer returning. The first 5 years are probably the scariest. I also dreaded any unexplained pain for a few years. I've had some medical problems I feared were cancer but they turned out to be other ailments. I guess the big fear eventually lessens but positive thinking helps. Good luck!

Thanks for the input. Everything did turn out to be fine, I am very lucky. I believe that positive thinking makes a big difference too. Again thanks for responding, knowing someone else has had these feelings really helps.