Worry Never Seems To Go Away

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I was diagnosed in 2004 and then went through lumpectomy and radiation.  I have days when I am certain I have it again although mammograms and blood work say otherwise.  Is it normal to be concerned like this?

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  • pupmom
    pupmom Member Posts: 5,068
    edited February 2012
    I was hoping the fear let up with time. Frown
  • Laurie08
    Laurie08 Member Posts: 2,891
    edited February 2012

    I was hoping it went away too.  I am about a year and a half out and have anxiety almost everyday that there is cancer somewhere in my body that we haven't found.  It drives me nuts.  The past couple of days I have been sick, ear infection and swollen glands low grade fever.  I keep thinking somehow it is BC related...stupid and I hate it.  Went to the Dr and was put on antibiotics.  While I was there she suggested we check my blood levels since it has been awhile....just makes me think "why is she checking it now?  Am I right?"

    Grrrr I hate BC.

  • LRM216
    LRM216 Member Posts: 2,115
    edited February 2012

    Laurie:

    Unfortunately, once we have a BC diagnose, any little thing that happens to us causes any doctor we are seeing to test just about everything they can.  I hate it too.  Just recently went through it myself.  Recently went to have my fibroids checked (do it yearly and always have, even prior to BC) and the pelvic MRI picked up a small tiny amount of fluid in my andexum (what ever the heck that is).  Of course, the gyno assured me, as did the rad, that this is nothing.  Fibroids were all unchanged (I just turned 65, but a young and other than BC, totally healthy).  Because of the BC - this then caused me to have an abd/pelvic CT.  Everything was fine with the small cyst of water.  But, that rad found a small spot on my T12 spine which was sclerotic (which means has healed itself).  My onc, my gyno and the rad again assured me that if I hadn't had BC three years ago, it would just be written off to age/wear and tear.  Then I had to have a freaking full body bone scan to rule out that tiny spot from being a met to the spine.  Countless blood tests later (all were totally normal as were tumor markers) and after the bone scan, my diagnose was no cancer, but I had wear and tear/age - degenerative change.  This has caused me out of pocket over $2,000 since Jan. 3.  While I am finally at ease that I am ok, I am broke, my anxiety levels for the last 6 weeks were off the chart, and I lived on ativan during all this time.  I dread ever having to go to another doctor again.  I hate BC with a passion.

  • spendygirl
    spendygirl Member Posts: 231
    edited February 2012

    I'm a little over a year and half out and I'll admit, I think about it every day.  And the Femara makes me hurt in places I've never hurt before, so that adds to the fear.  I think you're right, once we have had a BC diagnosis, either we or our doctors have mets in mind.  Part of our "new" normal.  Hugs to all.

  • BarbaraA
    BarbaraA Member Posts: 7,378
    edited February 2012

    Me too, being a little over a year and a half out.  My rib was/is killing me on my cancer side and I thought it might be costrochondritis and mentioned it to my onc in Dec. Next thing I knew, I was having a nuclear bone scan. Ugh. Got the all clear but this is my new normality. Sucks.

  • Laurie08
    Laurie08 Member Posts: 2,891
    edited February 2012

    NRM- That is awful!  I am so sorry you had to go through that.  These are the things no one can prepare us for.

    Barbara- I could not agree more that this no reality sucks, I am glad you got the all clear but sorry you had to go through it to get there.

    My anxiety has been on high all day.  I just want the Dr to call and tell me my levels are fine.  I have been on antibiotics for over 24 hours with almost no improvement.  Which just adds to it all.

  • voraciousreader
    voraciousreader Member Posts: 7,496
    edited February 2012

    I feel twangs of everyone's anxiety and  pain.  Our dear sister Jo1955 came up with help for all of us!  She created the Bonfire of the Goddesses thread!  You all should come down and join us and throw each and every thing that is bothering you into the bonfire!  Afterwards, I promise you, you will feel better!Kiss

    I can make a list of what's been thrown in already, but that might take all day!  Let's see...doctor appointment calendars have been thrown in, anxiety and pain have been thrown in multiple times....all those scan machines are burning....receptionists....oy...doctors who don't return calls...coworkers, family members, FORMER family members... people who tell us "Don't worry"....people who come to work sick and get us sick...they're REALLY burning......

    Sooo...why not come on down to the Bonfire and join us....we have marshmallows toasting...and I promise...once you throw something in...you'll feel better...that fire is MAGICAL!

    And Laurie...if you read the thread...I recently threw in my fungal ear infection, sinuses AND my vagina that REVOLTED from all the antibiotics and steriods that I was taking!!!! Like all the side effects from the meds I am taking for my breast cancer treatment wasn't enough.....  Hope you AND all of the sisters start feeling better soon!!!!!

    For sure, THAT worry never seems to go away...because for one reason or another, we are all reminded....However, if I can vicariously throw some of the worry into a magical bonfire...and feel a little bit better...perhaps you all should try it and see if you feel, at least, a tiny bit better....

    Thoughts and prayers too.. to everyone!

  • CherylinOhio
    CherylinOhio Member Posts: 623
    edited February 2012

    I am less than one year out from dx and I was getting hopeful that I would not be thinking about mets but I am back to thinking about it daily. And it SUX!!!  I have even consulted a pyschic.  I hate bc it totally sux and am I always left to wonder why me? I feel like the fear will never go away and for the next, God willing, 20 years I will continue to think about it. I hope that eventually it will not be in my thoughts everyday.

  • Wendyspet
    Wendyspet Member Posts: 246
    edited February 2012

    On another thread, a poster said just set aside 20 minutes a day to worry about it, then be done with it for the day.  I know-easier said than done. 

  • CherylinOhio
    CherylinOhio Member Posts: 623
    edited February 2012

    Yep that is a good idea! I have been having neck pain but I am hoping it is just from the tamoxifen. I am entering my 4th month taking it. I have an old neck injury and an xray in Oct 2011 showed some degeneration. I saw onc in January did bloodwork and all was normal.  I also have been working out lately doing some upper body weights and I have not done that in years so I may over worked myself.  thanks Wendy, that is good advice!!

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