Forum Discussion

Cara_maree's avatar
Cara_maree
Member
5 years ago

Growth during chemo??

I have had a lumpectomy, finished 16 rounds of chemo and 1 week post mastectomy. Prior to my mastectomy I had a CT scan on my back after a week of severe pain. This was 1 week after chemo finished.  After seeing surgeon post op today they have concerns about something that showed up on scan. It wasn’t there in April before I started treatment so if it is a tumour, it grew whilst on chemo?  I am miffed as to how this could happen? I have a PET scan on Wednesday and I am so scared! Has this happened to anyone else?
anxiety
chemotherapy
pain
scans
  • Cara_maree's avatar
    Cara_maree
    Member
    5 years ago
    ddon said:
    Are you still in pain or has it settled down? We automatically think that everything that shows up is nasty once we’ve had a cancer diagnosis and the doctors check everything out rigorously but oftentimes it has a much more innocent explanation so try to breathe deep and get through the anxious days of waiting. We all understand on this forum how the tests,and the waiting for results, are hard to deal with. 
    I’m not in pain anymore. I had a bulging disc and it showed facet joint degeneration.  I think I just have “scan-xiety”. Thanks xx
  • ddon's avatar
    ddon
    Member
    5 years ago
    Are you still in pain or has it settled down? We automatically think that everything that shows up is nasty once we’ve had a cancer diagnosis and the doctors check everything out rigorously but oftentimes it has a much more innocent explanation so try to breathe deep and get through the anxious days of waiting. We all understand on this forum how the tests,and the waiting for results, are hard to deal with. 
  • Cara_maree's avatar
    Cara_maree
    Member
    5 years ago
    Thank you. I’m really hoping it’s nothing and trying not to worry. 
  • ddon's avatar
    ddon
    Member
    5 years ago
    I understand your fear and wondering how could this be after chemo. 3 weeks after I finished I had my planning CT for radiation and got a call a week later to say an enlarged lymph node on my internal mammary chain had shown up that wasn’t there prior to chemo. I was petrified - if it could grow during chemo what hope did I have? My PET scan was clear but I am now having 3 monthly CT’s and it is very stressful. I just try to take one day at a time. 
    I have my fingers and toes crossed that all is well with you. Best wishes xx
  • Afraser's avatar
    Afraser
    Member
    5 years ago
    I understand your alarm - almost two thirds of the way through chemo, I found a lump under my right (non affected) arm! All I could think is how is this possible? Long story short, it had nothing to do with my bc. It was a schwannoma, a benign tumour, may have been there for some time but is a bit mobile! So the ‘something’ might be almost anything. It’s ridiculous to say don’t worry but try to find as much calm as possible. I hope you have the same dizzy sense of relief I had! Best wishes.