Need some positive stories!!
lgray3911
Member Posts: 207 ✭
Hi Ladies,
I need some advice and reassurance!! This is a LONG story so grab a cuppa! So was home in Ireland over Christmas and was having pain in my chest. (I had just completed a 10 week metafit bootcamp before I left) had put it down to getting back into exercise properly and probably muscle pain etc... Went to see my fabulous oncologist and he said that I should do MRI and CT scan just to rule anything out! Scans came back all clear except for an enlarged thymus gland (which was also enlarged in 2017 before I started treatment so probably just my genetic make up) So he took it to a team meeting and 7 other said it was insignificant change and no need for further investigation. BUT my onc is very thorough and sent me for PET scan yesterday. He rang me this evening to say the thymus gland is all good but there was a slight yellow colour under my left arm (cancer was that side also axillary clearance on that side) He is now bringing it back to the team on Thursday to see if we need to do an ultrasound or biopsy!!!! So finally my questions....... sorry if they seem like stupid ones but I’m shitting myself! if the other scans were all clear is there still a chance this is cancer??? What else may it be? I have cording in the armpit and down my arm would that light up with the tracer? Is it always cancer if it shows colour?? Does scar tissues light up?? I’m a mess because 4 weeks ago we were celebrating 2 years clear and now this!!
I need some advice and reassurance!! This is a LONG story so grab a cuppa! So was home in Ireland over Christmas and was having pain in my chest. (I had just completed a 10 week metafit bootcamp before I left) had put it down to getting back into exercise properly and probably muscle pain etc... Went to see my fabulous oncologist and he said that I should do MRI and CT scan just to rule anything out! Scans came back all clear except for an enlarged thymus gland (which was also enlarged in 2017 before I started treatment so probably just my genetic make up) So he took it to a team meeting and 7 other said it was insignificant change and no need for further investigation. BUT my onc is very thorough and sent me for PET scan yesterday. He rang me this evening to say the thymus gland is all good but there was a slight yellow colour under my left arm (cancer was that side also axillary clearance on that side) He is now bringing it back to the team on Thursday to see if we need to do an ultrasound or biopsy!!!! So finally my questions....... sorry if they seem like stupid ones but I’m shitting myself! if the other scans were all clear is there still a chance this is cancer??? What else may it be? I have cording in the armpit and down my arm would that light up with the tracer? Is it always cancer if it shows colour?? Does scar tissues light up?? I’m a mess because 4 weeks ago we were celebrating 2 years clear and now this!!
Tagged:
0
Comments
-
oh I have no idea Igray3911
I agree with kmakm advice above call your BC Nurse .....
I pray it something simple
hugs
soldiercrab
0 -
@lgray3911 I can only imagine your anguish and rightfully so, there just isnt any way of settling how you feel without your Oncologist and his trusted opinion by you. I've not heard that cording shows up in scans, and not sure about yellow? color, not heard of that either. It doesnt necessarily mean Cancer I'm with you. I know it's so incredibly hard to not drive yourself crazy trying to work everything little thing out, your Oncologist is the best way to ease your mind. Step at a time.
I know how you are feeling, I've been down this path, but this does not mean you have a recurrence at all, just remember that. Slow and steady.
Sending you good vibes, that it is absolutely nothing to worry about! xx M2 -
Hi @Igray3911. Sux this thing doesn't it?
Surgical changes show up, radiation changes show up and scar tissue, trauma areas can show up. I often read my reports and think with all that going on in there how on earth does it look reasonably normal from the outside. Nothing looks the same on the scans after all this.
These machines are designed to be super sensitive so can show up a lot of things that are not really a problem or have disappeared on a rescan.
I had my two year MRI come back with a change that wasn't there on the 12month one. A neon white eliptical shape thingy right behind the nipple. Got a call back for targetted U/S that afternoon. I felt that instant sick, leg shaking feeling again. Panic stations of course.
I have had two MR'sI since then and go back in three weeks for another targetted U/S. So far there has been no changes in whatever it is and nobody seems to want to poke it with a needle. The findings still come back as indeterminate and it's only the MRI that picks it up. The ultra sounds and mammograms all keep coming back clear so there is no way to target it for a biopsy.
Fingers and toes crossed for you that it's just surgical changes which is a good possibility.
xoxoxoxox
2 -
I don't know about lighting up a scan but when I was on the phych's happy pills they made my nodes under the unaffected arm swell up. It sent my surgeon and oncology doc scurrying for an ultrasound and they told me to get off the pills. The nodes went down and there was no probs.
I have a protruding bit of bone in the front of my chest so my surgeon did and xray but that turned out to be a quirky thickening of the rib where I only have 3mm of skin over it and it bruises easily. I just have to be careful of it.
For years they have been observing a cyst in my unaffected breast when it is scanned and measured. Nothing has ever come of it.
I do get thickening under the axillary clearance arm but on lymph massage and sometimes a compression sleeve, that goes away by itself.
It's all a bit worrying but no word on the big C so I am happy.3 -
Hi @lgray3911 , I can completely understand how upset and scared you would be especially having to wait another few days for an answer. I guess one positive you can take from all this is that the other tests were all clear and that your Onc is just being extremely thorough. It could also be damage from the Rads, so many things have been thrown at our bodies. What ifs and maybes would be doing your head in right now but hold onto the fact that your Dr is so thorough. I am thinking of you and hopefully we get to raise a glass and celebrate that all is clear tomorrow xx2
-
All the best for your results @lgray3911 Deep breaths ... it may well be scarring from everything you've had done. Sounds like your Onc is really on the ball and got you covered. Thinking of you ... the waiting just sucks. Big hugs coming to you xxx1
-
@lgray3911 thinking of u and good luck for the results xoxo1
-
Thanks everyone for all your lovely words of encouragement I need every one of them! So my oncologist rang just now and he said that he took the scan to the team today but my surgeon who was supposed be there had been called away so it was her opinion he really wanted. He said the other specialists who were there were organ and gland people so felt they weren’t in a position to comment. He said he is going to speak to my surgeon tomorrow and she may want to examine me herself either way he is going to send me for an ultrasound and biopsy. I asked if he was doing this to find cancer he said he was doing it to confirm that it’s not. He will not leave anything to chance. So now I wait for the referral and get that done next week!! Will let you know when I get results. Xxx2
-
No matter what, it's clear you are in excellent hands. K xox1
-
It sounds as if he's being very thorough which is what you want.1
-
Well Laura, I guess our raising of the glasses will now have to wait til next week! Thinking a sneaky glass or 2 over the weekend though might be in order to calm your nerves. Thinking of you
Kat xx
3 -
So here’s the update:: We got down there I was in bits! Bawling when I went in there. Same sonographer same Dr same room as when I was diagnosed 2 years ago!! It was horrific. They were both amazing and got the result we needed thank fuck!! ALL CLEAR!! Woooohhhhhhoooo!! Thank you all for your lovely words of support. They really helped me get through the last week! Xxx
9 -
Wonderful!! Have a fabulous weekend! K xox
0 -
Good news, @lgray3911. The tests and waiting is so stressful but it is over and you can relax. Go and buy yourself a treat (my 'go to' would be some nice hand or face cream or some flowers) !
Keep on keeping well.
Anne1
