3 year checkup coming up....

Gulamin
Gulamin Member Posts: 134
in Anal Cancer #1

Hi fellow cancer survivors and those in treatment:

I am due for my 3 year checkup (Pet scan) and am getting anxious. You would think this gets easier, and it does, but a week before the check up I am just as nervous. It is this feeling of not knowing and thinking it will be ok but then... constantly questioning. I feel good and don't have many complaints. My main issue is that I am now pre menopausal and don't have my period. I can do everything I did before. I am definetley more tired and sleep more. Of course, before the check up, I have all kinds of sensations and notice this and that. Wish me luck. I am hopeful and look forward to celebrating 3 years out. A big milestone... but I am not there yet. I am anxious. I tell my husband and he says you will be fine. Of course what I want to hear. 

 

Life is beautiful. But, what has changed forever is that, once confronted with the possibility of death, it will forever remain in your head and heart. It is strange how I feel at times that I am so lucky to be here. There is more of an appreciation of life having been exposed to the possibility and the fragility of it. I don't think anybody can really understand this until you are faced with it. 

 

I wonder how Martha feels about checkups... is this getting any easier of time? 

Comments

  • mp327
    mp327 Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    #2
    Gulamin

    I SO know how you feel about the anxiety prior to a follow-up--I've been there so many times in the last 5 years.  However, I will tell you that it does definitely get easier.  I guess I'm the old-timer here and I can truly say that I don't stress about it nearly as much as I used to. 

    Three years is a huge milestone!  That is wonderful and it's so good to hear that you don't have any major issues to deal with.  Thinking about our mortality is normal, especially having gone through cancer diagnosis and treatment.  But in a way, I think it's good, as it has made me appreciate so much more than I used to each and every day.

    I wish you all the best with your upcoming scan and look forward to you posting all good news!

  • Marynb
    Marynb Member Posts: 1,118
    #3
    Gulamin
    I hope and pray your 3 year check up goes well. I think we can all understand your anxiety. It sounds like you have been doing so well. I hope this continues. Life is beautiful and precious! We have been blessed with each new day! Let us know how it went!
  • Lorikat
    Lorikat Member Posts: 681 Member
    #4
    Fixing to have two year

    Fixing to have two year checkup and feel the same as you do!  Wishing you the best at 3 Years!

  • qv62
    qv62 Member Posts: 434 Member
    #5
    Gulamin

    Wishing you the best on your checkup, hope all your news is good and you can then take a deep breath and celebrate ! Keep us posted

     

  • Gulamin
    Gulamin Member Posts: 134
    #6
    Lorikat said:

    Fixing to have two year

    Fixing to have two year checkup and feel the same as you do!  Wishing you the best at 3 Years!

    Will definetely keep you posted

    Feel so blessed to have you all. Yes, Lorikat... all my best for the 2 year check up. All will be good!!!! My checkup with the surgeon and the PET scan is coming up. Also, another pap smear as my last one was not normal. That is what worries me probably the most right now. Thank you so much for your wishes. It means so much.

     

    And yes Martha... a big celebration once I know I am 3 years out. And also YES to life. It has changed all of our outlooks on life... and truly appreciate it so much. Never before did I ever think about it as we all never do until faces with it head on. In a way a huge blessing. I look at my soon 5 year old and feel so wonderful being here for him. Love you all. 

  • sandysp
    sandysp Member Posts: 868 Member
    #7
    Good luck with your checkup!

    From what I understand, everyone who has had cancer feels anxious about their checkups. Some people have the treatment and never go back, which I believe is a huge mistake. Those of us who go through these checkups, in spite of the anxiety they cause are truly courageous and we should all pat ourselves on the back.

    It sounds like you are in a good place right now. Did they say why the pap smear was abnormal? What did it say?

    They started giving HPV tests at the same time as pap smears about six months ago at Sloan Kettering. No one has mentioned anything "wrong" with mine.   It seems incredible that this virus doesn't show up after my having had cervical and anal cancers.

    Good luck with the scan. You know the drill. Do you have anyone to go with you?

    All the best,

    Sandy

  • Gulamin
    Gulamin Member Posts: 134
    #8
    sandysp said:

    Good luck with your checkup!

    From what I understand, everyone who has had cancer feels anxious about their checkups. Some people have the treatment and never go back, which I believe is a huge mistake. Those of us who go through these checkups, in spite of the anxiety they cause are truly courageous and we should all pat ourselves on the back.

    It sounds like you are in a good place right now. Did they say why the pap smear was abnormal? What did it say?

    They started giving HPV tests at the same time as pap smears about six months ago at Sloan Kettering. No one has mentioned anything "wrong" with mine.   It seems incredible that this virus doesn't show up after my having had cervical and anal cancers.

    Good luck with the scan. You know the drill. Do you have anyone to go with you?

    All the best,

    Sandy

    Still going

    Thank you for your good wishes!! Surgeon checkup complete! All good!! Pap smear and HPV test done, waiting for results. PET scan coming up. My pap smear was abnormal and showed a very small amount of cancercells. My gynocologist was not worried. Said to come back in 6 months. So, now it has been 6 months and I am hoping for good news. 

  • mp327
    mp327 Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    #9
    Gulamin said:

    Still going

    Thank you for your good wishes!! Surgeon checkup complete! All good!! Pap smear and HPV test done, waiting for results. PET scan coming up. My pap smear was abnormal and showed a very small amount of cancercells. My gynocologist was not worried. Said to come back in 6 months. So, now it has been 6 months and I am hoping for good news. 

    Gulamin

    Good news about the surgeon checkup!  I hope your Pap and HPV results come back all clear and I wish you good results on the PET!

  • TraceyUSA
    TraceyUSA Member Posts: 316
    #10
    Gulamin said:

    Still going

    Thank you for your good wishes!! Surgeon checkup complete! All good!! Pap smear and HPV test done, waiting for results. PET scan coming up. My pap smear was abnormal and showed a very small amount of cancercells. My gynocologist was not worried. Said to come back in 6 months. So, now it has been 6 months and I am hoping for good news. 

    Gulamin

    Glad your checkup was good.  I finished treatment in March 2013 and don't need a checkup to be anxious and worried about the cancer returning.  I swear a day does not go by that I don't think about it.  I try to be positive and realize that most of my worry is  unecessary but it's always in the back of my head.  Wishing you luck on your PAP results & PET scan (I will add you to my pray list). 

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