I hate blood tests!

mamaof3bugs

I am coming up on my 3 month blood test and appointment with my onc. at the end of the month and I am scared.  I have had numerous tumor marker test and although my numbers are 'normal' range they seem to go up everytime, I am scared that this will be the time they are not normal.  It has been over a year since my lumpectomy but the pain in my breast is still horrible, I know I have truncal lymphodema but this is ridiculous.  I can't even lay on my stomach   I have been so tired lately, like I was before my diagnosis and I am worried that I am having a recurrence of some sort.  I know we all worry about recurrence so I feel silly for posting but I needed to vent and of course because I am "cured" no one wants to hear about BC anymore.  I can usually keep my emotions in check but tonight I am overwhelmed so thank you to BCO for giving me a place to cry and whine!

xoxo, Angi

chrissyb

Whine away Angi you have earned the right.  Yes we all have a tendancy to worry ourselves silly long before we know if we have anything to worry about.  As time passes, I have found that we tend to stress less.  Prayers for good blood tests.

Love n hugs.  Chrissyb

whatRstatsanyway

((((Angi)))

The fear of reoccurrence is the elephant in the room that lurks - we put it out of our minds, but scans, follow up appointments and routine blood work are triggers to some very powerful memories. People who have had cancer get "sick" with other things, just like "normal" people. Your fatigue could be any one of a number of things including stress or response to chronic pain. Look at your upcoming appointment like something everyone else would do. You are getting things checked out, period. Maybe talk with your doc regarding better pain management and addressing the lymphedema . Hope that your blood work is pristine and that you get some relief! Again, ((hugs))

LRM216

Angi:

No magic words to quell your anxiety, but I just want you to know you are not alone.  My tumor markers have been 30 (first one prior to chemo), 11, 11, 13 and last one 19!!!!  I was freaking over it, even though PA said not to even worry about it.  Easy for her to say.  I too go for my next "3 month" on the 16th of this month, and although my blood work has always been excellent, I too am so afraid of my tumor marker going up again.  I know it's still within normal, but it bothers me and freaks me out that it went up to 19.  So hang in there Angi, I'm hanging right next to you.

Linda

mamaof3bugs

Thanks for the understanding everyone   The 31st can't come soon enough so I can just get it over with!!  xoxo, Angi

Binney4

Angi, are you treating the truncal lymphedema? Untreated it progresses, and the pain gets worse. Arm lymphedema is rarely painful, but in the chest and breast it can be extremely painful. It's a nerve pain, not usually responsive to pain meds. If you don't have a well-trained lymphedema therapist, do consider getting a referral to one soon for an evaluation and help controlling both swelling and pain (and the risk of serious infection as well).

Information about truncal lymphedema and about finding therapists here:
http://www.StepUp-SpeakOut.org

I can sure feel for your anxiety -- hope the time passes quickly!
Binney

LuvRVing

I can relate.  I had my first CA 27-29 test in September and it was 37.  Then in January it went up to 39, so I had to go back in 8 weeks (which was today).  Now I will worry until tomorrow when hopefully I'll learn that the increase was "a fluke" as they had suggested.  On top of that, I have a painful seroma which needs to be drained/removed/something. 

It's always something these days.

Michelle

dinamarca

Never worried about my blood markers until last month. They went up from 20 to 40. I was diagnosed in 2006 and was sooooo hoping to make it to the 5 year mark! Just had the followup blood test today and will have another in a month when I see my onc. I'm nervous!!!! My onc asked if I had any inflamation?? I've had a sinus infection.....hoping the increase is a fluke. Just wondering how common this is.

mamaof3bugs

Hi ladies thank you so very much for the kind words.  My tumor markers came back at 20, lower than they have ever been   I did talk to my onc about my truncal lympodema and I have a call into a specialist.  Thanks again, Angi