Worried that "it" is back!

Over the past 5 1/2 years from the end of treatment, I don't know that I've ever had actual pain in the area, but I have had skin issues--mostly irritation from bouts of diarrhea.  I think cancer makes us have a heightened sense of pain and discomfort, but that's a good thing.  If I were you, I'd call and ask if that appt. could be moved up.  Peace of mind is wonderful and long-term anxiety is not.  I would make that call.  I hope it's nothing serious.

I felt really good for awhile. I can honestly say I felt normal.  My last treatment was over a year ago. I was Stage IV and also had lymph node involvement.  I had a bunch of complications from treatment but healed and felt REALLY good for awhile.  All of a sudden I started having all sorts of aches and pains.  Everything from cramps in my feet, pelvic pain, anal pain, hip pain, skin issues, I could keep on going.  I have my follow up Thursday and I too am worried about reoccurrance.  However, I also know from reading the posts on here that these are all very common side effects.  We may just be getting them later than sooner.  I'm glad I have the appointment on Thursday though.  Hopefully you can get your appointment sooner.  Hoping things go well for us both.

I was T2N1 and groin pain always scares me, but I get it a lot. Next comes leg heaviness and then spasms, limping. I call my Cancer Rehab Dr. at MSKCC who prescribes Lymphedema therapy and compression hose. I wear the compression hose and a very tight girdle that keeps me covered from under my breasts to my toes all year long. Compression does not work without the MLD treatments which is a gentle massage.

I was told I have primary and secondary Lymphedema. The first is what I was born with due to an immune deficiency called CVID I did not know I had and the second was likely caused by the cancer treatments in the pelvic area, both by my first and second diagnoses.

Good luck.

I hope this information is helpful.

I always think it's cancer in my bones when my groin hurts just like you. They can't assure me absolutely it's not, but the treatments relieve the pain and my legs always feel lighter, so I believe the Rehab doctor is right that it is far more likely I need to take care of this new chronic condition called Lymphedema. I think of it as something akin to a disease like Diabetes. You have to be vigilent to lead a normal life.

Sincerely,

Sandy

gabby_ca said:

Worry about recurance

Hi all,

I am 8 years NED of disease I remember for years always worrying about signs and symptoms of my cancer coming back.  I think this is our way of dealing with feeling so betrayed by your body. This cancer literally comes and kicks you in the '****' and sends you reeling.  I remember going into the hospital about 3 years NED and almost crying that my stomach hurt so bad.  I envisioned the cancer spreading to there.  No, it was not.  It was pulled stomach muscles from landscaping with boulders for 2 days.  Why didn't I think it was that?  lol

Last year, I broke both bones in my lower leg jumping off of the tailgate of my pickup truck.  Once I found out it was broken, I immediately thought that it was the cancer going into my bones and that made them weak and break.  No, I was wrong there too.  My bone density was fine.  I just landed wrong, tis all.

After 8 years, I have learned that yes, I need to pay attention to my body but I also need to be positive without keeping my head in the sand. I think I am at a point where I am finally in control and I know what is right with my body for the most part.

I am not really sure when I went from the person who 'has' cancer to one that 'had' it instead.  I know it's really hard to not jump to conclusions thinking that it's back again but one day I realized that I had indeed been changed by cancer and it made me stronger. 

This cancer is really a 'good' one to get if you indeed had to pick one and I know that sounds cold and callous but it's not intended to be that way.  There are WAY worse cancers to have than this one I think.

Gabby

 

We all have those from time to time.  Our brush with cancer has heightened our sense of awareness when we feel something different.  I am pretty good at giving myself a little time to see if those panges or sensations go away before I panic and call my doctor.  However, some pains should not be ignored, such as the wierd pains I began having in early January 2013.  On a Sunday afternoon, as my husband and I were out running errands and shopping, I became ill and had a sudden onset of pain under my right ribcage.  I had to leave the store and go sit in the car to wait for my husband.  I got home, laid down, and after awhile I felt better.  Later on, I ate some dinner, only to become very sick a couple of hours later.  After several times of vomiting, I felt much better and felt okay for the next couple of days until that Tuesday evening, when the severe pain came back.  I went to bed in pain and finally got up and laid on my bathroom floor where it was cool.  Soon the vomiting began and the pain just got worse.  I woke my husband up and asked him to take me to the ER.  It was a good thing I did, as I had a partial small bowel obstruction, which had it not finally cleared on its own after a couple of days in the hospital, I would have required emergency surgery or experienced a bowel rupture.

The reason I am sharing this is because there are some pains we become familiar with and can usually attribute to something minor and/or temporary.  However, if anyone who has ever had pelvic radiation experiences the kind of excruciating pain I had, do not ignore it!  Although it was never confirmed, the doctors' said the obstruction was most likely due to adhesions/scar tissue from the radiation treatment.  There's really no way to know for sure.  I have had a few less painful episodes since and am always prepared to dash to the ER if things get worse.

Most of the pains we feel are not a return of the cancer.  However, if something is new or doesn't seem right, a call to the doctor is always good.