WENT FOR ONE YEAR C-UP. DOC NO SCAN EVEN THOUGH I AM STILL HAVING ROVING PAINS IN STOMACH

nempark
nempark Member Posts: 681
Pap and pelvic exam no results one week ago. So I guess everything is okay. I mentioned to him that I have some belly pains and he said he would prefer not to do scan now. He examined me, my neck, abdomen and under arm. He said only if I find the pains most uncomfortable I should come and see him. So I am scheduled for four months check up. Should I go along with him or do I go for the scan? I will appreciate your input. Good health to all of you. j

Comments

  • daisy366
    daisy366 Member Posts: 1,458 Member
    HMMM
    J, Did your doc tell you why he preferred to wait? What does he think the pain is? I know that we can develop adhesions from hysterectomy surgery which can cause pain. If your Ca125 is stable maybe he/she thinks that pains are still your insides healing. But I would want to know the rationale of NOT doing scan.

    You can always request the scan and most docs I think would oblige. I hope your pain goes away!!!

    My best to you. Mary Ann
  • Always Hopeful
    Always Hopeful Member Posts: 234
    Good Advice, MaryAnn
    Dear J,

    I agree with MaryAnn. Find out why the doc did not want to scan yet. It you are still concerned, request one.

    Hope you feel better soon.

    Peace and hope, JJ
  • jazzy1
    jazzy1 Member Posts: 1,379

    Good Advice, MaryAnn
    Dear J,

    I agree with MaryAnn. Find out why the doc did not want to scan yet. It you are still concerned, request one.

    Hope you feel better soon.

    Peace and hope, JJ

    Advice
    Sorry about the pains, but do know once hearing "cancer" word, every little pain or ache we're alarmed. This might be simply just part of the healing...??

    I completed treatments and 5 months later started with lower back pains. I presented to my oncologist and he told me it's NO CANCER, as just had a CT scan 3 months prior and my CA 125 is great. He at that point, threw me to see my PCP. I even visited my radiologist who told me give it another year as that might be from many of the treatments and I'm not concerned as all testing and numbers are good.

    I was relieved to hear NO CANCER, but to this day not sure what's going on. It's better and my chiropractor suggests arthritis -- great I'm officially "old"!!

    Ask more questions of your doc and if you feel comfortable it's just part of the healing, etc, don't do the scan. On other hand, if you just can't feel comfortable, get the scan.....not worth the worry!!

    In my case since it's NOT CANCER, just learn to live with some pain. Crazy what cancer does to our minds...

    Good luck,
    Jan
  • kkstef
    kkstef Member Posts: 688 Member
    Abdominal Pain
    I periodically have abd pain etc. but it comes and go. My Gyn/onc told me not to worry about it unless: 1)I had it for 2 weeks straight 2)it got worse 3)I had nausea or vomiting or was losing weight.

    After reading more about the results of radiation on the intestinal tract I really think my periodic discomforts are probably from the radiation.

    If you aren't comfortable with what your Dr. said, you might want to inquire again. But I do agree with another post here that sometimes we worry about every pain and if we had a scan every time, we would be glowing!

    It is important to do what YOU think is best for you!

    Karen
  • hopeful girl 1
    hopeful girl 1 Member Posts: 454
    kkstef said:

    Abdominal Pain
    I periodically have abd pain etc. but it comes and go. My Gyn/onc told me not to worry about it unless: 1)I had it for 2 weeks straight 2)it got worse 3)I had nausea or vomiting or was losing weight.

    After reading more about the results of radiation on the intestinal tract I really think my periodic discomforts are probably from the radiation.

    If you aren't comfortable with what your Dr. said, you might want to inquire again. But I do agree with another post here that sometimes we worry about every pain and if we had a scan every time, we would be glowing!

    It is important to do what YOU think is best for you!

    Karen

    Nempark
    Nempark,

    I agree, you could ask your doctor why he feels no scan is needed.

    I know my oncologist said to me that he is not big on scans. He said that with the kind of surgery I had, scans too soon can be misleading. (I assume he means because of the adhesions and scar tissue from both surgery and radiation).

    My 6th chemo was Nov 2nd. I go for my 3 month follow up in February and he said that he will do an exam and CA125 test. I asked about a scan and he said we'll see. That's when he mentioned how they can sometimes be misleading.

    When was the last time you had a scan?

    Hugs!

    Cindy
  • nempark
    nempark Member Posts: 681

    Nempark
    Nempark,

    I agree, you could ask your doctor why he feels no scan is needed.

    I know my oncologist said to me that he is not big on scans. He said that with the kind of surgery I had, scans too soon can be misleading. (I assume he means because of the adhesions and scar tissue from both surgery and radiation).

    My 6th chemo was Nov 2nd. I go for my 3 month follow up in February and he said that he will do an exam and CA125 test. I asked about a scan and he said we'll see. That's when he mentioned how they can sometimes be misleading.

    When was the last time you had a scan?

    Hugs!

    Cindy

    Cindy
    I had a scan in March immediately after my last chemo. I had robotic surgery. Thanks for asking. J.
  • hopeful girl 1
    hopeful girl 1 Member Posts: 454
    nempark said:

    Cindy
    I had a scan in March immediately after my last chemo. I had robotic surgery. Thanks for asking. J.

    Nempark
    Hi.

    Your last scan was in March right after last chemo? Was that March of this year?

    Cindy
  • lociee
    lociee Member Posts: 102

    Nempark
    Hi.

    Your last scan was in March right after last chemo? Was that March of this year?

    Cindy

    constant pain
    I stopped chemo and radiation over a year ago. I am in almost constant pain, especially at night. My pelvis throbs and burns all night. I take percocet and lorazapam - they help, but still too much pain to sleep. The regular oncologist and the radiologist deny any treatment damage. I think it was the radiation. I felt burning - but continued because everyone encouraged me to do so - I'm now paying for not listening to my own body and making my own decisions. I'm an idiot! I would rather be dead than to continue going through this constant pain. If I feel like this now - at 62 - what is ahead. I only get worse each day. I have not had a CA125 done in 5 months - felt i needed to stay away since I wasn't getting any reasonable answers for my pain - but have an appointment for this coming monday - I'm hoping the #'s are up. At least then there would be something substantial to work with.
  • nempark
    nempark Member Posts: 681
    nempark said:

    Cindy
    I had a scan in March immediately after my last chemo. I had robotic surgery. Thanks for asking. J.

    Yes Cindy: Surgery 12/2009. Last chemo March 2010 last scan March 2010. All Clear. Every two months pap and rectal. Every thing okay. This last visit he said he will see me in four months. I did ask about a marker and he said for the MMMT cancer there is no marker, so the ca125 is not a marker for me. I guess it is symptoms for me. I still go for blood work every two months and that is also okay. It it means anything at all my ca125 in September 2010 was 2. Thanks Cindy. Love you guys. June By the way just got back from Florida-----unbelievably cold. No fishing, no beach no walking around -- bummer. We got ripped off. LOL. J.
  • nempark
    nempark Member Posts: 681
    lociee said:

    constant pain
    I stopped chemo and radiation over a year ago. I am in almost constant pain, especially at night. My pelvis throbs and burns all night. I take percocet and lorazapam - they help, but still too much pain to sleep. The regular oncologist and the radiologist deny any treatment damage. I think it was the radiation. I felt burning - but continued because everyone encouraged me to do so - I'm now paying for not listening to my own body and making my own decisions. I'm an idiot! I would rather be dead than to continue going through this constant pain. If I feel like this now - at 62 - what is ahead. I only get worse each day. I have not had a CA125 done in 5 months - felt i needed to stay away since I wasn't getting any reasonable answers for my pain - but have an appointment for this coming monday - I'm hoping the #'s are up. At least then there would be something substantial to work with.

    lociee-about those pains
    My Darling, Please do not speak like that.. You are not an idiot. What if it was worse if you did not do the radiation. We never know what the outcome of situations would, we just take chances. I too wondered if I didn't take chemo what the outcome would have been, we never know. So my dear at 62 which is the new 52 with more rest and care you will surely start to feel better. I am 61 and even though I have the pains constantly I don't regret the chemo. I had a friend who did not want the chemo and exactly on her year's anniversary she started to feel sick and when she went to the doctor it was too lake cancer had already spreak to her back and brain, doc said it was unsual for it to spread to the brain. She passed four months later. On the other end of the spectrum, I have another friend who did not do chemo and although still have symtoms periodiacally is doing well she was dx 16 years ago. I do see a herbalist and I am taking alot of herbs as a preventative measure. I know how you feel, but with all of us here standing strong together will fight this monster. Feel better lociee and just a little suggestion, try a herbalist--the herbs won't hurt. My best wishes to you. Please keep in touch. Love J.
  • maggie_wilson
    maggie_wilson Member Posts: 596
    roving pains
    for what it's worth, i still have roving pains a year and a half after surgery. especially the first year. my med onc finally said, in a loving way, that she was "inimpressed" with my pains, and that really helped. i just stopped worrying about them, esp. if they came and went. if i had pains that really became bad, or lasted a long time, i would certainly revisit this issue with your doctor.

    sisterhood,
    maggie
  • nempark
    nempark Member Posts: 681

    roving pains
    for what it's worth, i still have roving pains a year and a half after surgery. especially the first year. my med onc finally said, in a loving way, that she was "inimpressed" with my pains, and that really helped. i just stopped worrying about them, esp. if they came and went. if i had pains that really became bad, or lasted a long time, i would certainly revisit this issue with your doctor.

    sisterhood,
    maggie

    Maggie - Thanks
    Maggie, now that you have mentioned about your pains one and a half years later, I will just do like you. Stop worrying. And yes, it comes and goes. What a life? Love you Mags. June.
  • RoseyR
    RoseyR Member Posts: 471 Member
    lociee said:

    constant pain
    I stopped chemo and radiation over a year ago. I am in almost constant pain, especially at night. My pelvis throbs and burns all night. I take percocet and lorazapam - they help, but still too much pain to sleep. The regular oncologist and the radiologist deny any treatment damage. I think it was the radiation. I felt burning - but continued because everyone encouraged me to do so - I'm now paying for not listening to my own body and making my own decisions. I'm an idiot! I would rather be dead than to continue going through this constant pain. If I feel like this now - at 62 - what is ahead. I only get worse each day. I have not had a CA125 done in 5 months - felt i needed to stay away since I wasn't getting any reasonable answers for my pain - but have an appointment for this coming monday - I'm hoping the #'s are up. At least then there would be something substantial to work with.

    Pelvic Pain


    Dear Linda,

    So you're pretty sure your pelvic pain is from radiaton. Am so sorry to hear you're enduring that right now.

    Did you have IMRT plus brachytherapy--at a major cancer treatment center?

    Did your radiological oncologist warn that pelvic bone pain was among the possible late-onset effects for a small percentage of people? (Mine didn't; I had to ask about it and then she said she sees it in perhaps "three percent" of her patients.)

    Finally: doesyour pelvic "burning" seem to be bone pain or nerve pain (neuropathy); is it possible to tell? If it's neuropathy, there are some likely helps from alpha-lipoic acid (600 mgs a day) and other substances.

    Have any others of us who had pelvic radiation a year or two ago begun to experience aching in the hips?

    In support,
    Rosey R
  • RoseyR
    RoseyR Member Posts: 471 Member
    lociee said:

    constant pain
    I stopped chemo and radiation over a year ago. I am in almost constant pain, especially at night. My pelvis throbs and burns all night. I take percocet and lorazapam - they help, but still too much pain to sleep. The regular oncologist and the radiologist deny any treatment damage. I think it was the radiation. I felt burning - but continued because everyone encouraged me to do so - I'm now paying for not listening to my own body and making my own decisions. I'm an idiot! I would rather be dead than to continue going through this constant pain. If I feel like this now - at 62 - what is ahead. I only get worse each day. I have not had a CA125 done in 5 months - felt i needed to stay away since I wasn't getting any reasonable answers for my pain - but have an appointment for this coming monday - I'm hoping the #'s are up. At least then there would be something substantial to work with.

    Pelvic Pain


    Dear Linda,

    So you're pretty sure your pelvic pain is from radiaton. Am so sorry to hear you're enduring that right now.

    Did you have IMRT plus brachytherapy--at a major cancer treatment center?

    Did your radiological oncologist warn that pelvic bone pain was among the possible late-onset effects for a small percentage of people? (Mine didn't; I had to ask about it and then she said she sees it in perhaps "three percent" of her patients.)

    Finally: doesyour pelvic "burning" seem to be bone pain or nerve pain (neuropathy); is it possible to tell? If it's neuropathy, there are some likely helps from alpha-lipoic acid (600 mgs a day) and other substances.

    Have any others of us who had pelvic radiation a year or two ago begun to experience aching in the hips?

    In support,
    Rosey R