scared I had reoccurance

horsepad
horsepad Member Posts: 146 Member
in Anal Cancer #1

I have been having pain in my shoulder blade and ribs and breathing had become more labored.  When I googled my symptoms, lung cancer was one of the causes of my symptoms.  I called one of  my oncologist and asked if I could get a chest xray or move my CT scan up (scheduled for August).  His nurse called back and said he wants a CT scan asap!  I was scared.  The next day I went to Cleveland Clinic and had CT scan of chest and met with my other oncologist there to review results.  Everything was fine.  He said to me  "your cancer has been gone a long time, you really need to quit worrying."  Hard to do when I know there are others that have had reoccurances after being in remission for years (will be 4 years this summer for me) and I was stage 4 when diagnosed.

 

I think we all worry, especially when you have symptoms.  I try not to think about it much.  This is only the 2nd time in 4 years that I have asked for CT scan because I was worried.  Am I normal or have others been scared and requested CT scans be moved up  I had to sign a waiver to pay for scan if my insurance doesn't because it was done without authorization.

Praising God I remain cancer free!

 

Patti

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

  • Lorikat
    Lorikat Member Posts: 681 Member
    #2
    Normal!

    in my opinion that is VERY normal.  Sad that we worry like we do but normal!

     

  • pializ
    pializ Member Posts: 508 Member
    #3
    Lorikat said:

    Normal!

    in my opinion that is VERY normal.  Sad that we worry like we do but normal!

     

    Scared of reocurrence

    OhYes! I understand perfectly! When I saw my oncologist at the beginning of April, she felt something around original tumour site during DRE. Boy was I scared! She ordered an EUA, MRI & CT . First 2 done & no evidence of reoccurence there. I have the CT on Monday. I am almost 28 months post treatment. I hate the way cancer holds us hostage, never feeling entirely free of worry it may recur, no matter how far out from treatment. 

    So glad your CT was good! We need to know the results, but scary

    Stay well

    Liz

  • z
    z Member Posts: 1,414 Member
    #4
    horsepad

    I am so happy your ct scan was normal.  I had a follow up ct scan for the anal cancer and on the 2nd 6 month follow up a small lung nodule was found in the lower right lobe.  It was then rescanned 3 months later and it grew so it had to come out.  That was 9-23-10 that is was removed via vats lobectomy.  It was not a met there was no hpv in it.

    Because we are scanned at least once a year, any cancer that pops up will be at the earliest stage and handled asap, giving us a good chance for a cure.

    I wish you continued good news.  Lori Laughing

     

  • mp327
    mp327 Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    #5
    Hi Patti!

    I'm so glad your scan came back clean.  I can certainly understand why you requested one and I hope your insurance will pay for it.  Your fears are completely understandable.  I think at times a lot of us are just waiting for the other shoe to drop, but I think that's normal after what we've been through.  I'm so glad you got good news and I hope you can breathe easy for awhile.  Sending you big hugs!

    Martha

  • jbug2
    jbug2 Member Posts: 73
    #6
    My first CT scan didn't get

    My first CT scan didn't get precertified and some of it didn't get paid for.  Because of the contract with the insurance company that says Cleveland Clinic has to get the test precertified, I think they dropped what remains after a year and a half.  My second CT scan I scheduled 2 weeks after the doctor ordered it (a bit premature in response to my worries), I made sure that I had the precert number when I went in for the scan.  Once I made sure Cleveland Clinic had the scan precertified as my insurance requires, payment went smoothly.

  • Ouch_Ouch_Ouch
    Ouch_Ouch_Ouch Member Posts: 508 Member
    #7
    Whew!

    I'm glad your symptoms didn't result from cancer. Last year, I went to a seminar for cancer survivors in which a radiation oncologist from Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center spoke. She said a study was done in which it was found that fear of cancer recurrance commonly lasts at least 5 years. (Possibly for the rest of MY life!) So, you are not being abnormally concerned. and when one of our Anal Cancer Forum friends has a long-term recurrence or metastasis, it's really sobering news!

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