Been called in to the oncologist's office - terrified. Second recurrence?

zenmama
zenmama Member Posts: 29
Hi - I just joined, looking for hope, comfort, and information on-line. I was just called a couple of days ago by my oncologist's office to come in for an appointment. I was just there a couple of weeks ago for my 3-month check. I had had a CT scan before hand, and she said nothing while I was there. I had the usual routine on my way out: blood draw and 6-month chest x-ray. And I'm thinking this busy woman is not calling me in for a friendly little chat. And I am immobilzed by fear and anxiety, and sadness. I can hardly breathe. I have been lucky up to now. Over nine years since diagnosis with stage IIIc, only one small recurrence, three years ago, which was treated with laparoscopic surgery and radiation. I've been feeling well, but I have been experiencing indigestion for the past few months, which I guess is a symptom of recurrence (it seemed to go away when I stopped drinking coffee and cola, but I still get it fairly often).

My anxiety is exacerbated by the fact that I have a new oncologist, who is a general oncologist, not an gyn-onc, and she is rushed. I had a wonderful gyn-oncologist at Yale, but had to change when I split from my husband 23 months ago and moved back to Canada, an eleven-hour drive from Yale. Five months after I moved here, my mother passed away after an 11-month bout with OVCA. Then nine months later (just over nine months ago - hard to believe because it still seems so fresh), my father passed away suddendly and completely unexpectedly, of heart failure. I was very close to both of my parents. My father in particular was a great source of support, positivity, and good humour, during my marriage and its unravelling, as well as my illness. So I am kneecapped already by grief and anxiety. I don't see how I can muster the emotional strength to do this again.

Anyway, thanks for reading. Today I am taking off work, and trying to do something I enjoy. I have just under two weeks until my appointment, and plan to try to fill it with positive, healthy things. I'm nervous about how I am going to support myself and work during treatment, but I am going to blow my vacation time now, and try to shore up my resources.

T

Comments

  • stella65
    stella65 Member Posts: 152
    Tough times
    Goodness, you are really going through it, I am so sorry you have had so much heartache lately, I asssume you are in the US, I know things are done differently there, ( I am in the uk ) My mum recently had her 3 month check and it is normal to have an appt after to discuss the findings, is that not how it normally works with you? I hope you get positive news and your worry is unfounded, lots of love to you X
  • Radioactive34
    Radioactive34 Member Posts: 391 Member
    I would be beside myself
    I would be beside myself having to wait that long. Is there anyway they can bump your appointment up? Then again I find any wait with this is just anxiety city.

    I hope that the worry is for naught. I hope in this instance that it is something minor that just got overlooked. I will be praying.
  • zenmama
    zenmama Member Posts: 29
    stella65 said:

    Tough times
    Goodness, you are really going through it, I am so sorry you have had so much heartache lately, I asssume you are in the US, I know things are done differently there, ( I am in the uk ) My mum recently had her 3 month check and it is normal to have an appt after to discuss the findings, is that not how it normally works with you? I hope you get positive news and your worry is unfounded, lots of love to you X

    Thank you
    Thank you for your message Stella. I am actually in Canada - on the east coast. Up to now the process has been to go in every three months - just once. I don't get the results until the next appointment, or more specifically, the lack of results... So this is highly unusual to be called back in.

    Thank you for your wishes! I will be sure to write back what te ourcome was.
  • zenmama
    zenmama Member Posts: 29

    I would be beside myself
    I would be beside myself having to wait that long. Is there anyway they can bump your appointment up? Then again I find any wait with this is just anxiety city.

    I hope that the worry is for naught. I hope in this instance that it is something minor that just got overlooked. I will be praying.

    Thank you
    Thank you very much for your message. I am hoping too. Thank you for your wishes. I will post again when I know the results.
  • Lisa13Q
    Lisa13Q Member Posts: 677
    Dear T
    I am soo sorry to hear about your news.....I feel compelled to beg you to go back to YALE....Dr. Tom Rutherford there has been doing amazing things with OVCA..and even though my mother was treated at MSKCC, we chose to have donations in her name go to the YALE Discover to Cure because we have been so impressed with them..we have 2 friends who presented there with stage 4, who are now totally clear....Please, IF the news is recurrance, find a gyn/onc. This disease is very specialized and I think better to be treated with a gyn/onc....Please keep us posted and try not to borrow bad news....My prayers are with you.....Lisa