18 month CT and not feeling lucky...
Today is my 40th Birthday and it is 1AM and I'm sitting here wide awake, thinking, wondering, what if's... while my wife of 16 years and my 15yr old daughter and 13 yr old son sleep.
PLEASE LET IT JUST BE SCANXIETY!!!!
Iceman and others - I'm sure you were here at one point over the years... Sage advice is welcome! Ripper
Comments
-
Next scan
Anxiety is understandable - most people experience it as their scans fall due. But what symptoms, exactly, are you feeling presently ripper?0 -
ScanxietyTexas_wedge said:Next scan
Anxiety is understandable - most people experience it as their scans fall due. But what symptoms, exactly, are you feeling presently ripper?
What a crappy helpless feeling. Sometimes I am encouraged. Others, I'm just waiting for the other shoe to fall. I get my scans every 6 weeks for a year now. Next one is this friday. This time I expect nothing but good news as I feel better now than in several months. It's too many scans but it keeps me from surprises.0 -
First of all...
Let me wish you a Happy Birthday! When life events come around, I think we all take extra time and contemplate the future. This is probably part of your anxiety. It's amazing what your mind can do! My advice to you is to stay busy doing things you enjoy, today, tomorrow, and right up until your next scan. This is a one day at a time affair. Make the best of each day. You didn't mention when your next scan is happening. Is it soon? I, like Fox, have scans every six weeks. I do think this desensitizes us to a lot of the anxiety you are feeling. But I do feel if the doctor thought a scan in a year was appropriate, then you should not worry. Believe me, many of us would like to hear "NED, come back in 12 months!"
Take deep breaths, my friend. Think good thoughts and hang in there. What you are feeling is common to ALL of us. We're here for you.
Paula
HAPPY BIRTHDAY AND MANY MORE!!!!!0 -
Lower backTexas_wedge said:Next scan
Anxiety is understandable - most people experience it as their scans fall due. But what symptoms, exactly, are you feeling presently ripper?
Wedge- It's the lower back ache that goes straight up through my kidney. For the last several months the "ache" from my bladder to exit is back.0 -
Back acheripper said:Lower back
Wedge- It's the lower back ache that goes straight up through my kidney. For the last several months the "ache" from my bladder to exit is back.
You had a scan at this time last year so I'm guessing you'll have your latest scan results in just a few days. If your aching is troubling you continuously, maybe you should see your GP meantime to consider possible other explanations?0 -
Praying For You
I've stayed up all night, worried and been absoulutley polorized with fear. My true desire to live is at the heart of all my unstable emotions. The problem is I can't control my emotions, they seem to have a life all their own. Fear and Anxiety though seems to me to be the worst of all the emotions I go through. I live through the word and Php. 4-7 always gives me the path to peace.
Hang in there Bro.0 -
Anxiety?Siler said:Praying For You
I've stayed up all night, worried and been absoulutley polorized with fear. My true desire to live is at the heart of all my unstable emotions. The problem is I can't control my emotions, they seem to have a life all their own. Fear and Anxiety though seems to me to be the worst of all the emotions I go through. I live through the word and Php. 4-7 always gives me the path to peace.
Hang in there Bro.
Turning 40 is enough to cause anxiety in itself. As for the symptoms check them out with your Doc. Probably nothing, but be on the safeside. Only 60 years to the big one.
Icemanto0 -
First of allpjune127 said:First of all...
Let me wish you a Happy Birthday! When life events come around, I think we all take extra time and contemplate the future. This is probably part of your anxiety. It's amazing what your mind can do! My advice to you is to stay busy doing things you enjoy, today, tomorrow, and right up until your next scan. This is a one day at a time affair. Make the best of each day. You didn't mention when your next scan is happening. Is it soon? I, like Fox, have scans every six weeks. I do think this desensitizes us to a lot of the anxiety you are feeling. But I do feel if the doctor thought a scan in a year was appropriate, then you should not worry. Believe me, many of us would like to hear "NED, come back in 12 months!"
Take deep breaths, my friend. Think good thoughts and hang in there. What you are feeling is common to ALL of us. We're here for you.
Paula
HAPPY BIRTHDAY AND MANY MORE!!!!!
Paula, I've always thought of you as a straight up sort of gal, now I'm worried about what this trial's done to you! Please tell me you're up-right again!0 -
Gosh, I feel that.
I know
Gosh, I feel that.
I know precisely what you are saying. My last scan's evaluation day eve, I sat up all night myself, with the same pulling at my emotion strings, thinking of my kids. No amount of people saying "Chin up pal, it'll be fine" will quiet those feelings.
I am with you ripper, understand completely. Keep the positive outlook best you can and hang tough. My next scan is in March 2013, so I am sure I'll be joining the Scanxiety parade then too. In the meantime, know we're all pulling for your results.0 -
Sideways...Texas_wedge said:First of all
Paula, I've always thought of you as a straight up sort of gal, now I'm worried about what this trial's done to you! Please tell me you're up-right again!
I figured Paula was just laying down on the job or resting per Dr's orders...0 -
AnxietyJoe_fh said:Gosh, I feel that.
I know
Gosh, I feel that.
I know precisely what you are saying. My last scan's evaluation day eve, I sat up all night myself, with the same pulling at my emotion strings, thinking of my kids. No amount of people saying "Chin up pal, it'll be fine" will quiet those feelings.
I am with you ripper, understand completely. Keep the positive outlook best you can and hang tough. My next scan is in March 2013, so I am sure I'll be joining the Scanxiety parade then too. In the meantime, know we're all pulling for your results.
iceman - are you claiming you can remember what it felt like to turn 40? ;-)
Ripper, Siler and Joe - if you're so badly affected by the anxiety (which all of us probably feel to varying degrees) it's probably worth doing something about it, either via counselling or CBT (cognitive behaviour therapy from a clinical psychologist) or by using methods with which you can control it yourself. Meditation techniques are one way and close to this are mind-body practices like yoga and tai chi. There's a good brief comment on this from M.D.Anderson on their OncoLog at:
http://www2.mdanderson.org/depts/oncolog/articles/11/3-mar/3-11-hc.html
Also from M.D.Anderson is a related article:
http://www2.mdanderson.org/depts/oncolog/articles/11/3-mar/3-11-2.html
from which the following excerpt gives some interesting insights:
"Stress management
The negative biological effects of chronic stress may also be countered by stress management techniques. Very little research has been done in this area. Dr. Cohen is working to elucidate the impact that behavior-based forms of stress management have on the biology of cancer and on clinical outcomes.
At MD Anderson’s Integrative Medicine Center, patients are provided with resources to help manage their cancer-related stress, including conventional methods such as psychotherapy and cognitive behavioral therapy as well as traditional Eastern mind-body practices such as yoga, meditation, and tai chi. Research conducted at MD Anderson and elsewhere has shown that these types of mind-body practices affect stress hormones and other aspects of the immune system. “All these stress management techniques,” Dr. Cohen said, “are offered on the basic premise of trying to dampen the sympathetic nervous system response, giving the person a chance to calm his or her mind, which in turn will help get the body back to equilibrium.”
Such techniques, which can be implemented at any point of treatment, from early diagnosis through cancer survivorship, show promise in not only improving patients’ quality of life but also tempering their bodies’ biological responses to chronic stress. For example, Dr. Cohen and his colleagues found in one study that prostate cancer patients who were taught stress management skills had lower stress levels before undergoing radical prostatectomy and had better physical functioning 1 year after surgery than did prostate cancer patients who received supportive attention or standard care. They also found that the men in the stress management group had significantly higher immune function 48 hours after surgery than did the men in the supportive attention and standard care groups.
“We have a basic understanding that patients who are effectively able to manage stress in their lives are going to have better quality of life outcomes at minimum, and perhaps better clinical outcomes,” Dr. Cohen said. “One question that remains is: What form of stress management is most effective? For example, is something like yoga—a quintessential mind-body practice made up of meditation, special breathing exercises, and special movements all put together in a systematic, cohesive approach—actually better than gentle stretching exercises and some simple relaxation techniques?”
A $4.5 million grant from the U.S. National Cancer Institute may help Dr. Cohen and his colleagues answer such questions. The grant, the largest awarded for the study of yoga and cancer, will enable the researchers to determine the benefit of incorporating yoga into treatment plans for breast cancer patients. Documenting the potential psychological and biological rewards of this and other types of programs in a rigorous scientific fashion is essential to changing the standard of care.
“Stress management needs to become much more a part of the standard of care,” Dr. Cohen said. “It’s not that all patients will be required to undergo stress management, but it needs to be something that is offered up front and that health care professionals encourage patients to participate in. And it needs to be made available across the cancer care continuum, from early diagnosis to long-term survivorship.” "0 -
Here's how SLOW I am!!!Texas_wedge said:First of all
Paula, I've always thought of you as a straight up sort of gal, now I'm worried about what this trial's done to you! Please tell me you're up-right again!
I read and reread my post wondering why you were saying that about me! All of a sudden I realized what you were referring to. I tried without success to rotate that picture. It is on my desktop perfectly, but when I send it to CSN it rotates, I'll keep trying as it is actually a picture of me sitting on my headstone at the cemetery! Cheating death, I call it. It is a pretty sort of place though!0 -
RIP Paula...pjune127 said:Here's how SLOW I am!!!
I read and reread my post wondering why you were saying that about me! All of a sudden I realized what you were referring to. I tried without success to rotate that picture. It is on my desktop perfectly, but when I send it to CSN it rotates, I'll keep trying as it is actually a picture of me sitting on my headstone at the cemetery! Cheating death, I call it. It is a pretty sort of place though!
That's "Rotate It Please" of course, and hurry, we miss seeing you.0 -
RIPgarym said:RIP Paula...
That's "Rotate It Please" of course, and hurry, we miss seeing you.
Great catch Gary! (not Paula - she was a great catch for another guy, Ed)0 -
Try to Chill Ripper
I get an extra bonus i get my bladder scoped on the 27th which is a procedure which keeps giving for the next 24 hours or so,i try not to consume any fluids unless i get real thirsty.Hey Ripper one thing i have noticed since i have had surgery is that even us tough guys notice every pain and ache in our bodies after being told we have cancer with that voice in our heads telling us it must be really some bad news so try not to think about it to much but at the same time do not ignore anything who knows 99 percent of the time its nothing to be concearned about.0 -
Tough GuyLimelife50 said:Try to Chill Ripper
I get an extra bonus i get my bladder scoped on the 27th which is a procedure which keeps giving for the next 24 hours or so,i try not to consume any fluids unless i get real thirsty.Hey Ripper one thing i have noticed since i have had surgery is that even us tough guys notice every pain and ache in our bodies after being told we have cancer with that voice in our heads telling us it must be really some bad news so try not to think about it to much but at the same time do not ignore anything who knows 99 percent of the time its nothing to be concearned about.
Your comment about the "Tough Guy" mentality hit home. By the way, my CT is on the 27th and I'll be thinking of you. I grew up in a copper mining town, been shot at twice (Montana by the way, go figure) played college footbsll, and "manage" 100+ employees. I've been through it, lived it, seen it, felt it, and dealt it. I'm just not able a shake the feeling...0 -
Counselling not gonna happenTexas_wedge said:Anxiety
iceman - are you claiming you can remember what it felt like to turn 40? ;-)
Ripper, Siler and Joe - if you're so badly affected by the anxiety (which all of us probably feel to varying degrees) it's probably worth doing something about it, either via counselling or CBT (cognitive behaviour therapy from a clinical psychologist) or by using methods with which you can control it yourself. Meditation techniques are one way and close to this are mind-body practices like yoga and tai chi. There's a good brief comment on this from M.D.Anderson on their OncoLog at:
http://www2.mdanderson.org/depts/oncolog/articles/11/3-mar/3-11-hc.html
Also from M.D.Anderson is a related article:
http://www2.mdanderson.org/depts/oncolog/articles/11/3-mar/3-11-2.html
from which the following excerpt gives some interesting insights:
"Stress management
The negative biological effects of chronic stress may also be countered by stress management techniques. Very little research has been done in this area. Dr. Cohen is working to elucidate the impact that behavior-based forms of stress management have on the biology of cancer and on clinical outcomes.
At MD Anderson’s Integrative Medicine Center, patients are provided with resources to help manage their cancer-related stress, including conventional methods such as psychotherapy and cognitive behavioral therapy as well as traditional Eastern mind-body practices such as yoga, meditation, and tai chi. Research conducted at MD Anderson and elsewhere has shown that these types of mind-body practices affect stress hormones and other aspects of the immune system. “All these stress management techniques,” Dr. Cohen said, “are offered on the basic premise of trying to dampen the sympathetic nervous system response, giving the person a chance to calm his or her mind, which in turn will help get the body back to equilibrium.”
Such techniques, which can be implemented at any point of treatment, from early diagnosis through cancer survivorship, show promise in not only improving patients’ quality of life but also tempering their bodies’ biological responses to chronic stress. For example, Dr. Cohen and his colleagues found in one study that prostate cancer patients who were taught stress management skills had lower stress levels before undergoing radical prostatectomy and had better physical functioning 1 year after surgery than did prostate cancer patients who received supportive attention or standard care. They also found that the men in the stress management group had significantly higher immune function 48 hours after surgery than did the men in the supportive attention and standard care groups.
“We have a basic understanding that patients who are effectively able to manage stress in their lives are going to have better quality of life outcomes at minimum, and perhaps better clinical outcomes,” Dr. Cohen said. “One question that remains is: What form of stress management is most effective? For example, is something like yoga—a quintessential mind-body practice made up of meditation, special breathing exercises, and special movements all put together in a systematic, cohesive approach—actually better than gentle stretching exercises and some simple relaxation techniques?”
A $4.5 million grant from the U.S. National Cancer Institute may help Dr. Cohen and his colleagues answer such questions. The grant, the largest awarded for the study of yoga and cancer, will enable the researchers to determine the benefit of incorporating yoga into treatment plans for breast cancer patients. Documenting the potential psychological and biological rewards of this and other types of programs in a rigorous scientific fashion is essential to changing the standard of care.
“Stress management needs to become much more a part of the standard of care,” Dr. Cohen said. “It’s not that all patients will be required to undergo stress management, but it needs to be something that is offered up front and that health care professionals encourage patients to participate in. And it needs to be made available across the cancer care continuum, from early diagnosis to long-term survivorship.” "
Wedge,
Although the advice and links are respected. Sometimes complaining blindly online is enough. The scanxiety is a result of BDay, XMas, CT and any other accronym.
My answer = Golf, Vodka, Football, and a lot of work will do the trick.0 -
Man aging anxietyripper said:Counselling not gonna happen
Wedge,
Although the advice and links are respected. Sometimes complaining blindly online is enough. The scanxiety is a result of BDay, XMas, CT and any other accronym.
My answer = Golf, Vodka, Football, and a lot of work will do the trick.
ripper, I hope your formula is right for you (mine = golf, whisky and wine, rowing and as much of everything as I can pack into the day and I haven't lost a single night's sleep to anxiety ever since I first figured I might have cancer). However, even tough guys can be anxious and if your formula turns out not to be enough, you might want to think about the suggestions in my previous post. Hope that's not necessary and good luck with the scan on 27th (to you and "tough guy" Mike). Have you had that back pain checked out yet?0 -
scansripper said:Tough Guy
Your comment about the "Tough Guy" mentality hit home. By the way, my CT is on the 27th and I'll be thinking of you. I grew up in a copper mining town, been shot at twice (Montana by the way, go figure) played college footbsll, and "manage" 100+ employees. I've been through it, lived it, seen it, felt it, and dealt it. I'm just not able a shake the feeling...
I get mine tomorrow. I think it is my 9th this year. That does not count the ones before my radiation visits. Add another 9 of those before radiation. That makes at least 18 in 2012. That also doesn't count the ones prior to getting in the MDX study in nov. 2011. I feel real good going into this one, so my fingers are crossed for good news. Results day after Christmas.0
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