Scares That Turned Out To Be Nothing

2019whatayear

ctmb-

I would say give a call to your MO just to be safe - it sounds like nothing but get it checked and then come back here and post

snorkeler

Hello everyone. I haven't been here for awhile but am glad that there is this thread. Never thought there would be a time when I didn't think every day about having had cancer, but it eventually happened. Then this year:

(1) On my annual MRI an enlarged lymph node showed up and a follow-up ultrasound was recommended. My oncologist said wait a second, let's think this through, and called me in for an exam. Turns out the enlarged node was on the non-cancer side, on which I had had the shingles vaccination injections, and the node had gone back down by the time the oncologist felt for it. Soon after that the warnings about the Covid shots affecting lymph nodes came out.

(2) At my regular oncologist follow-up appointment, labs came back with low potassium, which the onc thought was due to the diuretic I'm taking for high blood pressure. She was right about that, and I'm working with my PCP to tweak my hypertension medication. Most recent labs came back in the normal range.

Just a good reminder to keep an eye on the big picture and not to automatically assume the worst. It's hard, but as I get older I'm sure I'll be getting more and more chances to practice.

Best wishes to all.

KungFuKitty84

I'm currently awaiting bing scheduled for a CT Guided biopsy, due to some "slightly enlarged" lymph nodes in my chest.

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't terrified. I went off of my hormone meds back in April so my husband and I could try for a baby...now I'm fighting my life flashing before my eyes.

Reading this thread has helped a lot though.

Colt45

KingFuKitty84,

My wife had 21 nodes removed when she had ALND 9 years ago and experienced lymphadema on her cancer side for which she got therapy from a certified lymphadema specialist regularly. The therapist, who knows the lymphatic system A to Z told my wife that her "prominent nodes" were not really all that abnormally sized, even if larger (the bigger one was "up to" 2cm). Anyway, during her therapy, the therapist massaged the lymph away from her bad side and sometimes down the chest or across the chest to the good side. It's possible that those "prominent nodes" were reacting to 'working overtime' to compensate for 21 nodes missing on the other side. Turns out, all was fine.

Prayers to you for the best outcome.

lexie2002

Hi Brittanandherboobs

I was wondering what they do for arthritis in your back?

Thanks,

Lexoe

sillyoldrabbit

I'm here reporting a chain of scares that turned out to be nothing and caused SOMETHING as a side effect. Months ago, I began developing a very sharp pain in my upper arm that was noticeable whenever I had to reach behind my back. It gradually worsened until it also hurt to reach behind my head to put my hair up, and finally it became impossible to fasten a back closure bra. At about that point, it started to really scare me, and I thought I might have bone mets. Went to see my PCP who believed it was shoulder impingement syndrome, but ordered an x-ray "just to be safe." Yay, she was right! So, I started PT for that (it's very much better now). But because I couldn't fasten my old bras, I ordered some new front-closure versions. Not long after beginning to wear those, I began to notice considerable pain in my ribs. OK, you know where this going, right? After a couple of weeks, it dawned on me that these new pieces of misery were way too tight around the ribs and were probably the source of the pain, so decided to chuck bras altogether. The pain definitely lessened, but by then, I think I'd become over-aware of rib sensations. I continued to notice many little twinges, off and on. Left side, right side, around the back. Whack-a-mole. My semi-annual oncology follow-up was just a few weeks away, so I decided to wait until then to talk to my doc about it. But I really don't do waiting well at all! Even though logic and my superficial knowledge of anatomy told me these twinges were most likely gas pains, my old reptilian brain couldn't let go of the fear, terror, horror. My oncologist ordered a complete series of x-rays of all the bones between my neck and waist, again, "just to be safe." The results came back a little while ago, and sure enough, there's absolutely NOTHING WRONG. Here's the kicker: I had worked myself up into such a state of stress and anxiety over these rib pains that my blood pressure was through the roof AND then I came down with Shingles on my head. (Which, of course, I instantly mistook for a brain tumor.) Now, I need to see an opthalmologist to be sure it hasn't affected my eyes.

I'm looking for the life lesson here. I wish the lesson was that most of the time, our fears turn out to be irrational, but there was a time my fear that a suspicious lump might be cancer turned out to be very rational. I dunno. Life is hard. Life is full of absurdities.

Pi-Xi

sillyoldrabbit,

Wow! What a story. I’m glad for no mets, but stress can kill. Hugs.

sillyoldrabbit

Oh, thank you, Pi-Xi. Looks like you've really been through the real (as in not imaginary) wringer. It seems that some of us are hard-wired with an overly twitchy nervous system. Hugs back. Be well!

Akolmchen30

Hi there, I'm new to this community and this is my first post. I've been reading these forums and getting good info. But now I wanted to pay it forward in case my story helps someone else in the future. I was diagnosed with IDC in November and my surgeon ordered scans for staging ahead of neo-adjuvant chemo. Well I had an abdominal CT scan that came back showing a liver lesion and these were the radiology notes: "Solitary, peripheral hypoenhancing lesion in segment VI measuring 1.4cm, concerning for potential metastatic deposit." Well, if that didn't freak me right out. My surgeon orders a liver MRI for the next day. I couldn't bring myself to check MyChart after for the results because I was afraid that if the lesion was metastatic, I would be alone at home spiraling with no easy way to get questions answered. So I distracted myself and waited for a call. My doctor just called and confirmed the lesion is a hemangioma and there's no evidence of metastatic disease. I know these results very well could have gone the other way, and still could in the future, but for today I'm glad to be out of the woods on that scare!

7of9

My new lump just under sternum nearer left (breast cancer) side -.8mm x 4 mm x 7 mm. 5 days of attivan and ambien to get through to results on this one. One day off line, walking the dog, attending boy scout ceremony. What a f in roller coaster.

Biopsy results: Benign vascular lesion, most consistent with hemangioma. I've had 4 biopsies in my life. 1st - Cancer, 2nd (other breast same time - not cancer, chopped that one off too anyway because it was so dense they said they'd never be able to tell if / when it showed up on that side). 3rd - Recurrence cancer in axillary nodes. 4th (this one) clump of blood vessels or whatever the hell my body made but this time not more cancer. $!@#!^$#^ this disease.

PurpleCat

Happy to add a new story to this thread. 2 weeks ago I noticed a small patch of blotchy reddened skin near my incision site. When it hadn't faded after my shower, I touched it and noticed that the area underneath had turned a bit firm and lumpy. I got in at the surgeon's office the next day, and they were able to get me in for mammogram and ultrasound the same afternoon. Recommendation: biopsy. Long story short: it's scar tissue.

Both the PA at the surgeon's office and the radiologist had told me it was most likely scar tissue, but even so, in the days before the biopsy and during the wait for results I felt just as much dread and foreboding and general terror as I had during the diagnostics for the cancer. That surprised me. But even though I wasn't able to pull out of it, I've collected some anxiety management strategies over the past few years, and was able to use them to stay functional and productive and even calm at work. Even the fact that I was able to postpone this biopsy until a convenient time, instead of my usual "Take-time-off-work-and-cancel-fun-plans-to-get-answers-RIGHTNOWNOWNOW" seems like progress. So, maybe that's something to be celebrated too.

anotherNYCGirl

Purplecat, - Always such a relief to get that B9 report!! I'm so glad for you!!