waiting for test results

bettygee
bettygee Member Posts: 40
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
trying to wait without trying to guess what results will be is very difficult. I know I have some spread to lymph node, ct scan showed no spread to organs, still waiting for results of bone scan. I am trying to take it a day at a time and manage pretty well through the day but find myself awake during the night trying to guess how far it has spread and what if anything can be done about it. Has anyone found a way to handle this?

Comments

  • krisrey
    krisrey Member Posts: 194
    #2
    Hi bettygee,
    I hope all the results come out ok. To me the waiting is one of the worst parts of the whole cancer thing. Before, getting results for tests didn't seem any big deal, but now...whole different story. I can so relate to your awakeness at night..I call those the nightime demons, I hate when they come knocking..
    Take care
    Kris
  • DeeNY711
    DeeNY711 Member Posts: 476 Member
    #3
    Anticipation is the worst part. Once you know what is what, you will be able to deal with it. Try to keep in mind that no matter what the results are, there are effective treatments for you to choose from, and you are being cared for by people who have devoted their lives to finding your best options. I had five positive lymph nodes and am now in complete remission. Keep that happy thought close to heart.
    Love,
    Denise
  • hummingbyrd
    hummingbyrd Member Posts: 950 Member
    #4
    DeeNY711 said:

    Anticipation is the worst part. Once you know what is what, you will be able to deal with it. Try to keep in mind that no matter what the results are, there are effective treatments for you to choose from, and you are being cared for by people who have devoted their lives to finding your best options. I had five positive lymph nodes and am now in complete remission. Keep that happy thought close to heart.
    Love,
    Denise

    Prayers for you Betty for peace. Waiting can be the hardest thing to do. As you know my answer is prayer and a xanex, sleep like a baby! Take heart I've had bone mets since 8/01 and still doing well. God is good and cancer or not you are going to be here till it's time to go. That may be 20 years from now or it may be tomorrow, point is worrying won't help. I would pray for the Lord to protect me from attack, particularly at night, because being asleep I was most vulnerable. It helped me, I pray this helps you.
    God bless (((HUGS))) hummer
  • billandpatty
    billandpatty Member Posts: 86
    #5
    bettygee --
    Anyone that has been through this knows exactly what you're feeling right now. It can be so overwhelming. Once you have the results, the doctors get down to prescribing treatments for you. I don't know any magic that can get you through this "limbo" period, but agree with you that it's probably the hardest part of the whole process. I think once you know what it is you're fighting you can concentrate your energies to what it is you have to do. In the meantime, please know that there are many of us sending you our positive energy and hope your way. And that whatever it is that you have to do -- YOU CAN DO IT! It may be tough, but you will get through it. Stay in the moment, even the painful ones and your life will open like a flower ... all of us that have had cancer know that it's an experience that opens new parts of you that you never knew you had.

    Take care. Patty
  • Mich1417
    Mich1417 Member Posts: 37 Member
    #6
    Hi bettygee,
    I just went through all of that. I somehow knew it would be o.k., and just left it in the hands of God. All my tests turned out o.k. I just started chemo 2 weeks ago. One hard night before my tests, I had to chant a montra over and over to get to sleep....it was, "I love God and God loves me." I think I fell asleep in about 20 minutes. I'll pray that you have a clean test too! We'll be here waiting to hear and help you deal however it turns out!!
  • bettygee
    bettygee Member Posts: 40
    #7
    Mich1417 said:

    Hi bettygee,
    I just went through all of that. I somehow knew it would be o.k., and just left it in the hands of God. All my tests turned out o.k. I just started chemo 2 weeks ago. One hard night before my tests, I had to chant a montra over and over to get to sleep....it was, "I love God and God loves me." I think I fell asleep in about 20 minutes. I'll pray that you have a clean test too! We'll be here waiting to hear and help you deal however it turns out!!

    I thank all of you for taking time to offer encouragement. It means a lot to me to know you understand and care. Betty
  • lindatn
    lindatn Member Posts: 229
    #8
    prayers and thoughts are with you from all of us. Let us know how the tests turn out. Those days of waiting were some of the worst for me also. Hopefully from here on out it will be easier. Linda
  • HollyTraci
    HollyTraci Member Posts: 18
    #9
    bettygee, I finally got the results of all my tests this past Monday. I had been waiting since Feb. 23. I tried reading, crying, praying, getting mad--nothing worked for long. My oncologist told me to let all the feelings out. What I was feeling was just like a death in the family. I already know what that feels like since our 33-year daughter died during my first battle with breast cancer. It has now moved into several places in my bones. Lower back, lower right rib, upper right arm and nodes in my right neck. I told myself it could be worse. So far it is not in any major organs. I do have some pain in my back and side. I had my port-a-cath put in today and will start treatment next week. I'm trying to become part of a clinical trial, but I only have a 50% chance. Along with taxol I would be getting an experimental drug. My doctor was encouraging and said we treat this metastatic breast cancer like a chronic disease. It can't be cured but it can be controlled. By the way, I was cancer free for almost 5 years until now. Hope your scans and tests are all clear. But, if not, remember there is still hope. Good Luck
  • HollyTraci
    HollyTraci Member Posts: 18
    #10
    bettygee, I was sitting here reading messages and wondered if you had heard the results of your bone scan. I'll start chemo (taxol) on Wed. Don't know what else I'll be on yet. Have to wait on another test pertaining to Her2. I'm not even sure I know what that is. I just know that my original breast cancer was not estrogen receptive. Hope all is going well. Love and hope.
  • HollyTraci
    HollyTraci Member Posts: 18
    #11
    bettygee said:

    I thank all of you for taking time to offer encouragement. It means a lot to me to know you understand and care. Betty

    Betty, I keeping goofing up on my computer. Just got back from Chicago visiting my granddaughter. It was great to see her. She is 6. Her Mother, my daughter, died when Lauren was only 2. Start my chemo on Wed. if all goes well. Still don't know if I'm part of the clinical trial yet. Good luck to you on Wed. I tried to answer your e-mail but hit the wrong key somewhere along the line. I seem to have a lot of trouble concentrating lately. Jane

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