Please help

[Ma-le]

Hello

My name is Catherine. I'm 32 married with 2 little boys aged 4 and 7. I was diagnosed with stage 3b bowel cancer in 2017. I had most of my bowel removed and 3 months of chemotherapy. I have been trying my best to enjoy my life and consider myself lucky that I'm here today.

Last month I found a lump in my neck. The dr said my lymph node may be swallon after having had chicken pox. I was on antibiotics in November as well for a chest infection and then came down with another cold after the chicken pox . I'm going back to my gp tomorrow because the lump is still there possibly a little worse (according to my husband). I'll probably contact my oncologist too but I just needed to say this. I'm freaking out of it's a secondary cancer. I've been tired and my appetite has changed. I hope I'm just being paranoid but I can't help stress over any new symptoms I experience.  All my bloods and ct scans have been clear although bone density looks low for my age (perhaps due to the chemotherapy). I just don't know what I will do if it is the worst case. Any words would be appreciated right now 😞

[RJG]

Hi @Ma-le,

I realise that it is easier to sing than do, but "Always look on the bright side of life... "

All of the clinical information available points to there not being any major problem. All sorts of things could result in a lump on your neck. The fact that it is a lump should be reassuring that it is a very localised condition and not a systemic problem. Try not to let your nightmares take over your reality.

You have done the right thing in arranging a consult with your GP. Given your medical history, they may refer you to a specialist for a biopsy. But that does not mean that it is anything really sinister (ie, cancer), it is all about getting the right person with the right specialist training to make the right assessment.

In the mean time, be positive and trust that there is no way that anything really nasty could have slipped through the net of care that has been there for you throughout your journey to date.

Let us know what the GP says.

Hugs and best wishes,

Rick

[sch]

Hi Catherine,

I was 40 when I was diagnosed with bowel cancer, and I had a total colectomy. At the time my boys were the same age as yours.

About 12 months ago I started having similar pains in my stomach area again. I got quite anxious about it. I went and saw my GP who organised a CT scan.

And guess what they found? Nothing.

I think it's expected to be anxious about it.

Good luck and many hugs!

-sch

[Ma-le]

What a relief for you 🙂

[Ma-le]

Thanks Rick.
I'm having a blood test tomorrow and an ultrasound.
Fingers crossed

[sch]

My point was that after all the treatment that you've previously been through and all the tests you've been had, chances are that you're probably OK.

Here on the online community you have people who have been through similar situations to yourself. 

Please let us know the results from your tests.

-sch

[Colin81]

Hi Ma-le,

Many, many of us have the same issue, I still drive my GP crazy with little aches and pains, she is very patient with me as she knows my history as does yours. It's quite natural to harbor these type of fears and they do effect you physically and mentally, they can become quite debilitating. Just remember most of our fears are unfounded, like you lots of issues with antibiotics, other infections etc, always thought they were a precursor to something else.

After all of my treatments I was diagnosed with PTSD and spent a fair bit of time seeing a physiologist. I still have the same fears but I handle it much better now.

p.s. my bone density also took a hit from the chemo, have an infusion once a year, takes about an hour.

Take care

Colin81

[Ma-le]

Thanks i hope so. Spoke to another dr today who is relieving my usual oncologist. Made an appointment to see her next week when she returns. He recommended having a ct on my neck. Funny that. The xray ultrasound i had before my ct scan didn't even pick up my bowel cancer. He's recommended the ct scan straight away. I'll see my usual gp on Thursday. See what he says too. If I have to have the ct before hand I'm going to push it. Why don't the ct scan the entire body during routine scans? They only scan my chest and pelvis

[Ma-le]

Do you take regular tablets for bone density? I wonder if I should have the infusion as well 

[sch]

I'm not a doctor, but I imagine that because a CT scan is a relatively high dose of radiation.

If they exposed your body to increased levels of radiation during one test, that might limit other diagnositics or treatment options further down the track.

-sch