It's that time again....

lizdeli
lizdeli Member Posts: 569 Member
edited March 2014 in Anal Cancer #1
Scan time on Monday 8/9. My whole being changes a week to 10 days before CT scans. All of a sudden I have aches everywhere which of course I conclude are related to the cancer. Like a fool I go back and read all my radiology reports online and find something that makes me think will turn into something. You know, the tiny lung nodule that they say is probably from past inflection. I haven't given that a thought in months but now I'm obsessed over it. I turn into such a fool around this time. The cancer probably won't kill me, but the anxiety might! :-)

I do it to myself, but it's so hard not to worry about it. Oh well. Off to hot, humid, very hot, very humid Houston! Leaving on Saturday, tests on Mon, results on Tues and flight back on Tues night. Well my flight plan is at least optimistic!

Thanks for listening! Wishing everyone strength and healing no matter where you are at in this process.
Liz

Comments

  • z
    z Member Posts: 1,414 Member
    #2
    Liz
    Hi Liz

    I wish you a safe trip. I am the same way with scans. I will have a ct lung scan on the 11th for a 7mm lung nodule that was discovered with my last pet-ct scan. Because its so small all that can be done is to watch and see if it changes. I will have you in my prayers for a clean scan. Lori
  • mp327
    mp327 Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    #3
    Hi Liz!
    I know exactly what you mean regarding the "scan anxiety." I always get that way too. I'm surprised my husband doesn't ship me off to stay in a hotel for the week before getting a scan. I must get very difficult to live with! I think it's normal. I also think it's normal to imagine every little ache or pain is our body trying to tell us something is wrong. It always turns out that those aches and pains are because I slept crooked or wrenched my back or ate something a little too spicy, etc. I'm sure you are going to get all good news and it's great that you will get all your results before you return home. The waiting is the worst. I wish you a safe trip, all good results, and not too much heat and humidity (okay, that one's probably too much to hope for!). Please let us know what you find out.

    Martha
  • JDuke
    JDuke Member Posts: 438
    #4
    mp327 said:

    Hi Liz!
    I know exactly what you mean regarding the "scan anxiety." I always get that way too. I'm surprised my husband doesn't ship me off to stay in a hotel for the week before getting a scan. I must get very difficult to live with! I think it's normal. I also think it's normal to imagine every little ache or pain is our body trying to tell us something is wrong. It always turns out that those aches and pains are because I slept crooked or wrenched my back or ate something a little too spicy, etc. I'm sure you are going to get all good news and it's great that you will get all your results before you return home. The waiting is the worst. I wish you a safe trip, all good results, and not too much heat and humidity (okay, that one's probably too much to hope for!). Please let us know what you find out.

    Martha

    Liz
    It is hard not to worry. Try to find some fun, distracting activities so that the next seven days pass quickly. Have a save flight to and from Houston. Prayers for you that the nodule doesn't show up at all this time.
    Hugs,
    Joanne
  • JDuke
    JDuke Member Posts: 438
    #5
    mp327 said:

    Hi Liz!
    I know exactly what you mean regarding the "scan anxiety." I always get that way too. I'm surprised my husband doesn't ship me off to stay in a hotel for the week before getting a scan. I must get very difficult to live with! I think it's normal. I also think it's normal to imagine every little ache or pain is our body trying to tell us something is wrong. It always turns out that those aches and pains are because I slept crooked or wrenched my back or ate something a little too spicy, etc. I'm sure you are going to get all good news and it's great that you will get all your results before you return home. The waiting is the worst. I wish you a safe trip, all good results, and not too much heat and humidity (okay, that one's probably too much to hope for!). Please let us know what you find out.

    Martha

    Lori
    Distraction, distraction, distraction. It is the only way I can deal with the anxiety of upcoming scans. Do some fun things to keep your mind occupied on something other than the scan. I will be praying that your tiny little nodule is a thing of the past when they take a look. Best to you.
    Hugs,
    Joanne
  • mp327
    mp327 Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    #6
    z said:

    Liz
    Hi Liz

    I wish you a safe trip. I am the same way with scans. I will have a ct lung scan on the 11th for a 7mm lung nodule that was discovered with my last pet-ct scan. Because its so small all that can be done is to watch and see if it changes. I will have you in my prayers for a clean scan. Lori

    Lori--
    I want to wish you
    Lori--

    I want to wish you the very best with your upcoming scan. Your big day just so happens to be sandwiched between my two big days--on the 10th. I see my rad onc, and on the 12th. my med onc. May those three days provide all the best news for both of us! I'll be thinking of you and hope you'll let us know what you find out. May that lung nodule just have gone away all on its own, never to be seen again!

    Martha
  • cbs6931
    cbs6931 Member Posts: 63
    #7
    Wishing you a very good scan!
    Good news, and a safe trip... the worrying is one of the worst parts, definately hard not to do.

    Thoughts and prayers coming your way,

    Cathy
  • duckyann
    duckyann Member Posts: 159
    #8
    cbs6931 said:

    Wishing you a very good scan!
    Good news, and a safe trip... the worrying is one of the worst parts, definately hard not to do.

    Thoughts and prayers coming your way,

    Cathy

    Liz and Lori - Wishing you
    Liz and Lori - Wishing you both the best results on your upcoming scans. I also get out of control before my scans and exams. I don't even have a scan until October and my mind is working over time. It will get worse the closer I get. This is all normal I think! I will be praying that everything is clean for both of you. Keep us updated.

    Nancy
  • lizdeli
    lizdeli Member Posts: 569 Member
    #9
    duckyann said:

    Liz and Lori - Wishing you
    Liz and Lori - Wishing you both the best results on your upcoming scans. I also get out of control before my scans and exams. I don't even have a scan until October and my mind is working over time. It will get worse the closer I get. This is all normal I think! I will be praying that everything is clean for both of you. Keep us updated.

    Nancy

    Thank you
    Dear friends...I thank you for your support and understanding. I find that I try to be strong for those around me because if I show fear they get fearful and worried too. So I put up a brave front. Here, I can be me, strong or scared. Please know that it means a lot to me.

    I am taking my ativan again just to get through the next few days. Hopefully I be back to report good news, God willing. I went to a prayer service last night and all of you were in my prayers.

    Wishing all of you with upcoming follow ups and scans great results.

    Liz
  • SueRelays
    SueRelays Member Posts: 485
    #10
    lizdeli said:

    Thank you
    Dear friends...I thank you for your support and understanding. I find that I try to be strong for those around me because if I show fear they get fearful and worried too. So I put up a brave front. Here, I can be me, strong or scared. Please know that it means a lot to me.

    I am taking my ativan again just to get through the next few days. Hopefully I be back to report good news, God willing. I went to a prayer service last night and all of you were in my prayers.

    Wishing all of you with upcoming follow ups and scans great results.

    Liz

    WOW lots of scans coming up!
    WOW lots of scans coming up! Will be praying for you Liz, Lori and Martha!!!
    Someone needs to find a little pill that has no side effects, is not addicting, and completely lets us forget about these results til the day we get them right???? I have had soooo many scans, and hate to say, but they don't get any easier!!!!
    Sending positive energies your way ladies!!!
  • mp327
    mp327 Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    #11
    SueRelays said:

    WOW lots of scans coming up!
    WOW lots of scans coming up! Will be praying for you Liz, Lori and Martha!!!
    Someone needs to find a little pill that has no side effects, is not addicting, and completely lets us forget about these results til the day we get them right???? I have had soooo many scans, and hate to say, but they don't get any easier!!!!
    Sending positive energies your way ladies!!!

    Thanks Sue!
    I appreciate the positive energy! Since my scan was clean last week, I'm pretty sure the appts. next week will be only formalities (well as much as a formality they can be when a rectal exam is involved!). I hope the other gals get good news on their scans!

    Martha
  • Chris3
    Chris3 Member Posts: 58
    #12
    duckyann said:

    Liz and Lori - Wishing you
    Liz and Lori - Wishing you both the best results on your upcoming scans. I also get out of control before my scans and exams. I don't even have a scan until October and my mind is working over time. It will get worse the closer I get. This is all normal I think! I will be praying that everything is clean for both of you. Keep us updated.

    Nancy

    Liz and Lori - best wishes on your scan results
    It is hard to shut off our brains from all the "what ifs" - its maddening.

    Wishing you both the best on your upcoming scans.

    Chris
  • lizdeli
    lizdeli Member Posts: 569 Member
    #13
    Chris3 said:

    Liz and Lori - best wishes on your scan results
    It is hard to shut off our brains from all the "what ifs" - its maddening.

    Wishing you both the best on your upcoming scans.

    Chris

    All is well...
    Returned from Houston last night. All is well. Lung, pelvic and abdomen CT scans all came out good. No suspicious nodules on lungs, just some scarring which doctors told me was normal. No changes in size to any of the nodules they attribute to scarring. That would be a year of no change so I'm feeling good about that. Site of original tumor very good and doctor said scope not necessary every 3 months, we can go to 6 months. But I will see oncologist every 3 months for now since I had a lymph node involved. Blood work all came out great.

    Of course my regular doctor calls and tells me my cholestrol is high! So I need to pay attention to that. I can deal with that!

    Feeling quite relieved......thanks for all your support.

    Liz
  • SueRelays
    SueRelays Member Posts: 485
    #14
    lizdeli said:

    All is well...
    Returned from Houston last night. All is well. Lung, pelvic and abdomen CT scans all came out good. No suspicious nodules on lungs, just some scarring which doctors told me was normal. No changes in size to any of the nodules they attribute to scarring. That would be a year of no change so I'm feeling good about that. Site of original tumor very good and doctor said scope not necessary every 3 months, we can go to 6 months. But I will see oncologist every 3 months for now since I had a lymph node involved. Blood work all came out great.

    Of course my regular doctor calls and tells me my cholestrol is high! So I need to pay attention to that. I can deal with that!

    Feeling quite relieved......thanks for all your support.

    Liz

    EXCELLENT NEWS LIZ!!!!
    EXCELLENT NEWS LIZ!!!! CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!
  • z
    z Member Posts: 1,414 Member
    #15
    SueRelays said:

    EXCELLENT NEWS LIZ!!!!
    EXCELLENT NEWS LIZ!!!! CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!

    Liz
    Hi Liz,

    Great News! I wish you continued good news. Lori
  • pjjenkins
    pjjenkins Member Posts: 173
    #16
    Chris3 said:

    Liz and Lori - best wishes on your scan results
    It is hard to shut off our brains from all the "what ifs" - its maddening.

    Wishing you both the best on your upcoming scans.

    Chris

    Oh, Liz, that is fantastic
    Take a deep breath of relief ... and gratitude! We rejoice with you,
    Priscilla
  • pcdragonfly
    pcdragonfly Member Posts: 2
    #17
    know the feeling
    I just had my first of 5 MRI's, I refuse to do the CT because I almose coded with the mapping one. Some kind of weird reaction to the dye. Anyway, I have a couple hemangiomas on my liver and I get parinoid every time I have a scan that they will have grown. Fact is, they are benign, probably have had them forever and if I had never had cancer, I would never have known they were there! LOL so I just have to tell myself that they say I am currently cancer free and that's that. I think we all don't want to go through it again and the scans, visits, tests for the next 5 years are necessary and it is normal, I feel, to be a little nervous each time we go. Maybe there should be celebritory shopping or something involved. Then each clear check up would be a little more palatable!!

Discussion Boards