Dx new, health problem, unrelated to breast cancer anyone?

pod1257 · July 2008

Hi Ladies,

I am trying to move "beyond cancer," and illness but it just keeps chasing me down. I was dx stage 1 in May 06 and have a very good prognosis and feel fairly good about my future re breast cancer. Then this year I developed a health problem totally unrelated. - I was soooo ready to move on and feel like my old healthy self, and except for my onc and internist, stay as far away from Dr's as possible.

Now I feel so sad, upset, panicky that my body has betrayed me again and that I will have to make a bunch of phone calls, go through another round of referrals, dragging my tests to a couple of more Dr.s, not knowing for sure who will be the right Dr. or who to trust. - Most likely need another procedure or surgery. Does it ever end? And to think I was so healthy up until age 48. - I've tried so hard to live a healthy life and want so much to get on with it. - My husband said tonight, "we need closure," on all these health concerns. I am starting to question if my body is basically healthy afterall?

Can anyone relate to how I feel or been through this? I know I am "whining" in light of some of the sad news we have had on these boards, but thanks for letting me vent.

By the way, it doesn't matter what my health problem is but I will just mention it anyway, to give an idea of what i'm worried about. - I was having some bowel problems back in January, that have since cleared up. Had a colonoscopy and all was fine, but told the GI doc. I'm still concerned. She recommended a CAT scan, if I wanted to go further with it. Well I did the CT and they found a "mass" abuting the stomach wall (outside the stomach) and slightly touching the edge of the liver and spleen.- Not contained in any organ but just floating around - Do you know how much the words we found a "mass" strikes terror in the hearts of any cancer pt??!! So I have been scoped from top to bottom with all fine, which IS a blessing. Then another Dr. did a noninvasive upper GI with ultrasound and extracted a few cells for cytology.

Well apparently he didn't get quite enough- Great!! that was done for nothing!! What he DID get appeared to be OK with fibrotic connective tissue BUT he now suggests a laproscopic surgical biopsy, to see more tissue. Like I said, I am so sick of Dr.s and making phone calls, appointments, researching 'beneign tumors of the GI.' I'm also scared our 11yr old boy will hear some of my conversations as he is often with me in the car or elsewhere, when the cell phone rings.

I'm sorry this is long but appreciate any thoughts or reassurance that my feelings are normal or am I just a worrier or starting to be a hypochondriac??

Thanks,

Julie

iodine · July 2008

Hi Julie, I feel for you. I had some of the same things. first, my knees gave out and had bilat scopes, 3rd one on the left. Holding off on a knee replacement. But, learned to work out in the pool and have delayed it for 18mos and holding.

Had back pain and numbness radiating down my thigh and over my pubes. MRI, mass between the spinal cord and vertabrae. Neurosurgeon wanted to biopsy it to rule out cancer. Oh, yeah, right! Lots of second opinons from neurosurgeons and radiologists. Decided to wait 6 mos and redo MRI to ruleout just a bleed from an unknown cause. Pain and numbness lessened and at 6 mos the mass was smaller. For once I listened to my gut and wouldn't let them biopsy.

The summer before: microcals found in the good boob: finally agreed to wait 6 mos and see if they changed. They didn't! Dodged another bullet.

So---yeah, it all sucks. Keep in mind that not only YOU think of cancer every time something gets out of whack, but the docs do too! Had I not been a survivor, my docs wouldn't have jumped to the cancer thoughts so quickly.

Personally, I'd have the lap and get the thing removed if I were you. It just ends the worry and you know one way or the other what's going on.

I've had a bowel cancer scare, gall bladder removed and cardiac cath to rule out major heart problems since I was diagnosed. Plus the above, it does keep going on and on and I believe it's cause we're followed so closely----no one wants to chance missing a diagnosis on us.

You are prefectly normal, hopefully I've offered a tiny bit of reassurance. HUGS

pod1257 · July 2008

Thanks so much for the reassurance Dottie! Looks like you have been through quite a bit yourself.

I so agree with you, that it makes sense to remove the whole thing. - Why go through a surgical biopsy when there is a good chance they may say remove it anyway? And I agree, I don't want something sitting in there, even if beneign, to have further CTs/MRIs over the years and wonder if it is growing.

If you don't mind me asking, I know you are a nurse. - They refered me to a couple of laproscopic general surgeons, however, I think, and a nurse here also suggested, that a GI surgeon might be more appropriate? This makes sense to me, as they would know more about conditions of the GI and risk/benefits of taking something out in the abdominal area. What would you advise? (I am going to ask, GI doc here, as well).

Thank you

Julie

wackyjackie · July 2008

Julie and Dotti,

Wow. Not that I'm happy to hear your scary stories, but I'm glad I'm not alone!!! I am 47 went for colonoscopy and they found a polyp and that I have diverticulosis. Went to PCP for bloodwork and my sugar is high, thyroid is high and my tryglycerides are through the roof!!!!! What the heck? Now ob/gyn wants me to go for vaginal ultrasound because of tamoxifen. I guess this will never end. Good luck, ladies.

Hugs, Jackie

Harley44 · July 2008

Jackie,

I have the vaginal u/s, also, because I have fibroids and I am also taking Tamoxifen. Tomorrow, I am having an endometrial biopsy. Fun Fun! My endometrial stripe is getting thick! But, Tamoxifen is a "weak" estrogen, so I am not surprised. Now what? Friday, I have another onc appt., my SIX month appt.

July is the month from HELL, with all these 'catch up' appts., and all the tests to monitor the effects of the Tamoxifen, like the eye appt, for cataracts - possible, and the biopsy tomorrow. Just the word biopsy strikes terror in my soul!!

I also had high borderline cholesterol levels, and I have an ophthalmologist appt., because of the Tamoxifen...it can cause vision problems and cataracts. I have dentist appts., because I missed a bunch, from moving to NC, and then bc... I hear that things will smooth out, eventually.

A friend told me "you can get through these routine appts., you got through chemo, right?" yea, but this is getting OLD!!

Harley

wackyjackie · July 2008

Hi Harley,

Sorry you have to go for an endometrial biopsy. That sucks. I will pray for you. It is hell. I already went to eye doc this month, just had my teeth cleaned yesterday. It never, ever ends!!!

Maybe next year will be better.

Hugs, Jackie

magsandmattsmom · July 2008

((((hugs))))) I can completely relate! Since being dx with BC in 2003 I've also been dx with hypothryodism, had to have repeat paps because of cervical changes and the big one - just this past year I was dx with an aortic aneryism (and I still can't spell that one! Undecided ) and had open heart surgery in April to repair it. I keep wondering "what's next"! I keep telling myself I'm just getting it all out of the way now so i can enjoy my 40's more

Quit frankly I'm sick of drs and tests. I can't really laugh anymore when I have a new test - ya know the "hey I haven't had this test before" laugh. It's just old. I shouldn't have this many drs in my life. And bummer - not one is cute! Part of me wants to not tell any drs anything that might be wrong cuz I don't want any more tests. I'll still tell them because I know better than to hide anything about my health but sometimes I'm tempted!

One last (hug)

iodine · July 2008

Personally, I would choose a general surgeon. A GI guy likely doesn't have as much experience with the whole abdomen. Super specialists are good in a lot of ways, but a gen surg who operates regularly is better at "eyeballing" for any other problems not identified on testing---and WILL look for them.

Keep in mind that some GI do not do surgery and that any GI surgeon had to become a general surgeon, before they decided to superspecialize. I simply prefer a surgeon who knows his way around my whole abdomen, and I've had a lap tubal and a lap gallbladder, plus abdominal hyst.

straykat · July 2008

Hi, everyone!

Last night I started a thread on this forum, "Three Years for Me Too!" to go along with Fumi's good news and I'm a little heartsick that I got only one reply. For some reason "New" hasn't appeared alongside the thread so I think I'll blame the lack of response on that. But I digress...

As I explained in the other thread, I was diagnosed with tonsil cancer in January of this year, completed treatment on April 4. So far the checkups have been fine and since the cancer was caught early (stage 2, no node involvement, no surgery, no chemo - just the standard 35 rads), I feel I have a good prognosis. I sure didn't expect another primary cancer though!

Other than that I've only had minor problems but haven't had the flu or colds or sinus infections or other things that bothered me year-to-year pre-cancer. Odd, huh?

In my nearly dead thread I inserted a poem written by a member of my mouth cancer board shortly before she passed away. I really hope you take the time to read it - another precious woman has been taken from us by cancer.

Good luck to everyone!

Mimi

pod1257 · July 2008

Well, I don't feel so alone either, after hearing our stories.- I'm sorry though, that so many of us are going through different health issues, but I realize that I need to handle my health issues as best I can and stop whining!

Dottie, thanks for the info on surgeons. -I keep getting one surgeon's name coming up alot and he is a general surgeon, so he is definitely on my list.

Harley- I have fibroids too and I think the tamox has made them flare up a bit.

Jill - I tend to not want to tell my Dr's when something is bothering me, either,for fear of more tests. With this GI mass, I didn't really want to keep my onc in the loop. - the other docs kept saying who is your onc and shouldn't we send results to her as well? - I actually said to one of them. -" I wish you wouldn't. - it will just get her all riled up." Of course all the tests results were forwarded to her. I don't visit my onc until Sept.

Mimi- So sorry you were dxed with anothr cancer but glad it was caught early. - I will make sure to read the poem.

Julie

Harley44 · July 2008

Julie,

So maybe this uncomfortable bloated feeling I have is just from the fibroids? That is what I am thinking... Thanks for letting me know.

Mimi

Sorry you had to deal with another cancer, but glad that you got it early, and are getting tx for it!

Jackie,

Thanks! I posted on the August chemo thread, about my biopsy that didn't happen... I am thinking that everything is fine, and I wish we didn't get so scared and worried at EVERY thing!!

I have been told that these dr. appts. will slow down eventually, but for now, it's the new NORMAL...

Now I remember what I wanted to tell you... I read on my patient info. for the Tamoxifen, that our blood tests can be affected by this drug... you may get false results, especially the thyroid blood tests. What ARE we to do?? I have decided that my cholesterol tests were ALSO affected by the Tamoxifen, and my levels are just fine... Wink

Hugs,

Harley

wackyjackie · July 2008

Ladies,

Just to make you laugh......does tamoxifen cause a broken air conditioner?? Mine just died. What's next??? LOL Yell

Hugs Jackie

wackyjackie · July 2008

Harley,

I love you. Thanks so much for the information on the blood and tamoxifen. I started doing research and yes, it can cause hyperlipedemia and high triglycerides and so on. I feel relieved to know I'm not crazy (well, that's a matter of opinion). I have been trying to eat so good. I am going to discuss this with my PCP tomm morning. Thank you so much for helping me out.

Hugs, Jackie

Harley44 · July 2008

Jackie,

Sorry your A/C is on the fritz! If your weather is as HOT as mine is, the A/C is a very necessary tool, especially for battling those darn HOT FLASHES, or as I like to call mine, NIGHT FLASHES, since I get them MOSTLY at night, when I am trying to sleep!

How did your pcp appt go?? Thinking about you, and praying that all went well.

I saw my onc's P.A. today, and she thinks that there is nothing to worry about, but agreed that maybe it's time to get a hysterectomy, because these old parts never worked properly, so it's time they go bye bye!

I'm still kinda worried though, because my u/s report said that I have a "complex" endometrial lining, and in speaking to others, I learned that 'complex' is a bad thing! I am wondering what LAST YEAR's report said, because, Dang it, I can't find my report from last year, and I wasn't too concerned last year, because I was too consumed with this bc business, and I figured that if there was anything to be concerned about, the dr. would have told me... However, I have learned that this just isn't true. So it worries me that maybe it's been there for an entire year... YIKES!

Well, there is nothing I can do about it, so I guess I just have to wait til I see my gyn onc, and my appt isn't til July 22nd, so I'll consult with him and see what he thinks. For now though, I have been given a vacation from Tamoxifen, til I meet with the gyn onc. YAHOO!

HUGS,
Harley

carolsd · July 2008

Sorry to hear about your health troubles. I can relate to your feeling of "why is my body betraying me?" and the despair health problems can cause. I was a very healthy person for the first 40 years of my life -- active, strong. I started having weird joint pains at age 40 that went on and on, and I tried to ignore them but they didn't go away. Finally diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis. Later the same year diagnosed with BC. Now I feel pretty good about the BC (aside from I think I might be getting contracture in one of my implants) but my arthritis gets worse and worse. One IV med that worked for me stopped working. I am taking bi-weekly shots of humira now and it's working, but it's very expensive. I tried stretching the shots out to every 3 weeks to save $$ but my symptoms returned overnight, so I am back to trying to stay on schedule. I have to get regular bloodwork and see the doctor for this condition. I'm worried this med will stop working like the last one. I don't want to be crippled.

Anyway enough about me. I just wanted to let you know I understand your despair.

Dx new, health problem, unrelated to breast cancer anyone?

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