Scanxiety

Options
Srashedb
Srashedb Member Posts: 482 Member
in Kidney Cancer #1

my husband is having his 3 month scans tomorrow; full body bone and chest scan with and without contrast. The contrast part is conditioned on his creatinine level so I have been pushing the drinking water.

Todd, I know you are scheduled for Wednesday and I am hoping that both of you will have clean scans and that by the end of the week, we will get another reprieve. We shared some issues with the sons; this round, I didn't even let them know about the upcoming tests.

One has asked me not to mention them until his dad has met with the oncologist and the other (who lives down your way) has a one-week old son and is pretty involved with that.

so, this support group will hopefully ease some of the stress and anxiety.

Sarah

Comments

  • sblairc
    sblairc Member Posts: 585 Member
    #2
    Options
    Thinking of you both

    The scanxiety is overwhelming beyond belief, isn't it? I will keep you and your husband in my thoughts in the upcoming days.

  • Srashedb
    Srashedb Member Posts: 482 Member
    #3
    Options
    sblairc said:

    Thinking of you both

    The scanxiety is overwhelming beyond belief, isn't it? I will keep you and your husband in my thoughts in the upcoming days.

    thank you; much appreciated

    thank you; much appreciated and yes, the anxiety is horrible.

    Sarah

  • Phredswife
    Phredswife Member Posts: 162
    #4
    Options
    Scanxiety

    Sarah wishing for good news for your husbands scans. Waiting sux!

    Also good luck to Todd as well!

    Take care, MelissaSmile

     

  • aamdsi
    aamdsi Member Posts: 284
    #5
    Options
    Wishing the best!

    For both of you.  I go in for my 6 month, 9/9.  Am already a bit freaked out.

  • Srashedb
    Srashedb Member Posts: 482 Member
    #6
    Options
    Phredswife said:

    Scanxiety

    Sarah wishing for good news for your husbands scans. Waiting sux!

    Also good luck to Todd as well!

    Take care, MelissaSmile

     

    And, now the wait....

    I have been spoiled in getting the scan results as soon as they are read; today, the oncologist's office had two newish staff members who stuck to their "we are not clinicians" and were reluctant to give me the info.

    at the end of the day, I wore one of them out and was able to coax some info out on the bone scan which is a final report. Unchanged.

    the pelvic scan was in preliminary form and the chest scan not yet ready but will be in the morning. He did tell me that neither the bone scan nor the pelvic scan should be a source of concern but "I am not a clinician".

    the creatinine was slightly elevated 1.52) and the GFR low (46) so he was given an IV for hydration after the contrast. Wish I could say that he returned to tell me to keep nagging about water but the man is stubborn. Hoping the onc will impress it on him at his appointment thursday.

    the anxiety has decreased but obviously not gone until I speak to the "clinician" tomorrow. i suspect that there has been some degeneration but likely no mets which would be excellent news.

    this group is such a source of information and I am so grateful.

    Sarah

  • Jojo61
    Jojo61 Member Posts: 1,309 Member
    #7
    Options
    Srashedb said:

    And, now the wait....

    I have been spoiled in getting the scan results as soon as they are read; today, the oncologist's office had two newish staff members who stuck to their "we are not clinicians" and were reluctant to give me the info.

    at the end of the day, I wore one of them out and was able to coax some info out on the bone scan which is a final report. Unchanged.

    the pelvic scan was in preliminary form and the chest scan not yet ready but will be in the morning. He did tell me that neither the bone scan nor the pelvic scan should be a source of concern but "I am not a clinician".

    the creatinine was slightly elevated 1.52) and the GFR low (46) so he was given an IV for hydration after the contrast. Wish I could say that he returned to tell me to keep nagging about water but the man is stubborn. Hoping the onc will impress it on him at his appointment thursday.

    the anxiety has decreased but obviously not gone until I speak to the "clinician" tomorrow. i suspect that there has been some degeneration but likely no mets which would be excellent news.

    this group is such a source of information and I am so grateful.

    Sarah

    Sarah - I'd love to have you in my corner

    You rock!!

    I will be thinking of you and keep you guys in my prayers - and of course Todd too!!

    I have to say that I am impressed by all the caregivers in this group. Incredible people.

    Big Hugs

    Jojo

  • Srashedb
    Srashedb Member Posts: 482 Member
    #8
    Options
    Jojo61 said:

    Sarah - I'd love to have you in my corner

    You rock!!

    I will be thinking of you and keep you guys in my prayers - and of course Todd too!!

    I have to say that I am impressed by all the caregivers in this group. Incredible people.

    Big Hugs

    Jojo

    Thanks

    Jojo:

    i appreciate your comment and I wish that stress and anxiety resulted in weight loss! 

    When I went through breast cancer 22 years ago, my oncologist didn't do scans as was common practice; unlike kidney cancer, breast cancer scans (at least back then) picked up cancer cells but not where they were so you could know it was there yet not know where.

    i am thinking now that my oncologist didn't want to deal with my high anxiety; that's what is driving me now. Unlike my more youthful bludgeon approach, I have become more into destroying the "logic" while seeming to praise the ones expressing it. But, inside, my anxiety tears me up.

    but tomorrow morning, it will be calls and I expect to have all of the information before I leave for work.  

    Sarah

  • sblairc
    sblairc Member Posts: 585 Member
    #9
    Options
    Srashedb said:

    Thanks

    Jojo:

    i appreciate your comment and I wish that stress and anxiety resulted in weight loss! 

    When I went through breast cancer 22 years ago, my oncologist didn't do scans as was common practice; unlike kidney cancer, breast cancer scans (at least back then) picked up cancer cells but not where they were so you could know it was there yet not know where.

    i am thinking now that my oncologist didn't want to deal with my high anxiety; that's what is driving me now. Unlike my more youthful bludgeon approach, I have become more into destroying the "logic" while seeming to praise the ones expressing it. But, inside, my anxiety tears me up.

    but tomorrow morning, it will be calls and I expect to have all of the information before I leave for work.  

    Sarah

    Sounds like good news so far.

    You are a trooper. I know what it feels like, being the caretaker of a stubborn man as well. My husband is 2 months away from his 1 year and I already have scanxiety ABOUT the scanxiety!!!! Looking forward to all the good news for you both tomorrow. 

  • Jojo61
    Jojo61 Member Posts: 1,309 Member
    #10
    Options
    Srashedb said:

    Thanks

    Jojo:

    i appreciate your comment and I wish that stress and anxiety resulted in weight loss! 

    When I went through breast cancer 22 years ago, my oncologist didn't do scans as was common practice; unlike kidney cancer, breast cancer scans (at least back then) picked up cancer cells but not where they were so you could know it was there yet not know where.

    i am thinking now that my oncologist didn't want to deal with my high anxiety; that's what is driving me now. Unlike my more youthful bludgeon approach, I have become more into destroying the "logic" while seeming to praise the ones expressing it. But, inside, my anxiety tears me up.

    but tomorrow morning, it will be calls and I expect to have all of the information before I leave for work.  

    Sarah

    Sarah - I, too, do not lose

    Sarah - I, too, do not lose weight when I am stressed! In fact, iI usually gain weight. Which just adds to more stress! But at least your stress level is driving you to be a fantastic support to your husband.

    You have been through a lot yourself and it probably feels like it just keeps coming at you. Stay strong! You are doing great!

    Hugs

    Jojo

  • todd121
    todd121 Member Posts: 1,448 Member
    #11
    Options
    Thanks Sarah

    At City of Hope this morning as scheduled. CT scans and blood work are done. Will see oncologist after lunch. Hopefully the scans will be ready.

    It sounds like your husband's scans were good. Glad to hear it.

    I ran into a woman in the CT waiting room. She was waiting for her scan and mentioned to the technician she wasn't sure if she could have the contrast and wanted him to check her blood work. She was worried about her creatinine. I asked if she had kidney issues. Turns out she's a ccRCC survivor. Had Stage 1 9 years ago and it had just recurred in January. She wasn't being followed any more, but it was caught on a mammogram (had developed a tumor in her breast and also pancreas). Both were surgically removed and now she was cancer free again. No drugs.

    I guess they have to stop following us at some point, but I keep running into people that found recurrences after 5 years that it bugs me that they stop following us at all. On the other hand, there's a lot of radiation in a CT scan...

    Best wishes to everyone here for clear scans.

    Todd

  • Srashedb
    Srashedb Member Posts: 482 Member
    #12
    Options
    todd121 said:

    Thanks Sarah

    At City of Hope this morning as scheduled. CT scans and blood work are done. Will see oncologist after lunch. Hopefully the scans will be ready.

    It sounds like your husband's scans were good. Glad to hear it.

    I ran into a woman in the CT waiting room. She was waiting for her scan and mentioned to the technician she wasn't sure if she could have the contrast and wanted him to check her blood work. She was worried about her creatinine. I asked if she had kidney issues. Turns out she's a ccRCC survivor. Had Stage 1 9 years ago and it had just recurred in January. She wasn't being followed any more, but it was caught on a mammogram (had developed a tumor in her breast and also pancreas). Both were surgically removed and now she was cancer free again. No drugs.

    I guess they have to stop following us at some point, but I keep running into people that found recurrences after 5 years that it bugs me that they stop following us at all. On the other hand, there's a lot of radiation in a CT scan...

    Best wishes to everyone here for clear scans.

    Todd

    Scan results

    Todd:

    by now, you have your results and a reprieve; my husband's scans were all good. There was a small uptake on his left rib too tiny to characterize and with no responding sighting on the chest scans.

    he has his appointment tomorrow and then scans every 4 months instead of three.

    The devious nature of kidney cancer is the story for that woman you encountered. Given the unpredictable nature, an occasional follow up scan would not be unreasonable. The oncologist told us that a patient with stage 1 returned 10 years later with a met on his palate discovered during a tooth cleaning.

    Please post after your visit.

    Sarah

Discussion Boards