Hello!   This is not my first visit to this page as my mother is a cancer survivor which was briefly discussed here (in 2020/21, could be found on my profile). This time it is about me. I do want to note that currently there has been no talks of cancer and I hope it will stay that way but knowing my family history it is always on my mind. Plus I am not from Australia, I am from Estonia and I hope it is not big of an issue, and sickness has no borders so I hope it is fine to share it among more international forum.    I am a 23-year-old who during spring visited a neurologist due to migraines and tremor and I was sent to MRI just in case. Neither I or the doctor were expecting anything until the results came. The pictures showed well defined mass 2,2x1,8cm in size right below the occipital bone deep in the neck (initially I did not know the exact location and was only told it was located somewhere in the back of the head). I had a similar scan back in 2016 and then it was not there. The MRI specialists assumed it is perhaps a neuroma or some other sort of benign nerve tumour. I was immediately given an appointment for ultrasound. The ultrasound specialist was very kind to show me the tumour on screen as well. It was visible and indeed very circular in shape. It is located pretty deep between muscles right below the bone. She also checked if the tumour has blood circulation or any bigger vessels inside of it and it does- good circulation in outer layers and one main vessel going through it. Yet she was very baffled as what it could be and said that neuroma sounds very unlikely as it would appear different. She also said that it is in fact a very strange location for a tumour to grow at all. So she called in another specialist from the department to have a look as well. He was just as confused and they were not even able to agree if it has a substantial blood circulation or not. Initially they were thinking of taking a biopsy right away but then decided it should be up to the neurosurgeon. So I was sent off with almost zero new information and I was given a neurosurgeon appointment end of September. Initial diagnosis of benign nerve tumour has been changed to unknown tumour of unknown severity. Any experience, stories, ideas what kind of creature I got in my neck?   I do not feel it, I have not noticed any changes in health, there is no stiffness or neck pain. Migraines and tremor are not caused by the tumour explained by doctor. I sweat profusely, get tired very easily and have no stamina but due to me being on antidepressants for years now (no worries, I am doing all good in that department!) it is probably the medication issue and not linked to the mass in the neck.  I am not as worried but my mother is extremely worried because as mentioned in the beginning she almost lost her life to cancer so understandably it is triggering topic for her.    I hope it is alright to post despite me not having any official diagnosis and it could very well be a benign tumour but since I have hard time finding any sort of sources or experiences from other people I am putting this out there.   Thank you!    ... View more

Hello to everyone, I am writing this from far north in Estonia, I am 20 years old and my 53 year old mother was diagnosed with 3rd stage endometrial cancer in early December of 2020. She had complained about lower abdominal pain month prior and visited several doctors until a tumour was discovered in her left ovary. More tests were done, including biopsy to determine the cancer type, also several scans across the entire body.  Initial diagnose was bit more positive, tumours were located in the left ovary and the uterus. Unfortunately after few more scans it was clear that the cancer has spread further- left ovary, uterus, surrounding lymph nodes and lower part of abdominal cavity. No upper body metastasis. Current plan is rather minimal, previous plan included surgery but now they have decided to start with chemotherapy (she had her first treatment today). She is feeling okay currently (just few hours after first therapy ended), treatment lasted more than five hours and she received two different types of medication (that I cant name). She will receive another dose in 3 weeks and third dose 3 weeks after second time. Then they decide further steps. Of course news like this always shock everyone, my mother was slightly upset but held up quite nicely. Me and my brother's family immediately tried to look out for positive sides and outlooks. Rather shy and seemingly cold reactions as it is usual for northern europeans, nothing new here. Dark humour is common among estonians and so it is among our family, so that is lightening up the mood a bit. But yes, I think we all have cried by now in the family. I try my best not to do it in front of my mother because I like to maintain a mentality that cancer diagnosis does not equal a death sentence, which I know is true. I like to take it as any other disease, which has much higher survival rates as ever before. Although sometimes I do feel like I might be fooling myself.  I have battled with depression since last year and was recently diagnosed with bipolar disorder, which sometimes does play role in the way I see the whole situation. But most of the times I try to see it as realistically as possible. And keep myself in check. She seems to worry about how others go through these difficult times more than about herself. She has plenty of loving family and friends around her, with the only negative side being the ongoing pandemic which makes meeting with friends impossible.    My questions mostly would be: 1. How severe can the chemotherapy side effects get? She was given quite a long list of possible effects and prescribed medication for nausea and muscle/bone pain. 2. If anyone has gone through similar situation themselves, what might be some advice that is important and often not spoken about.  3. What is the outlook for this type of cancer and stage? I do realize that every person is different and every body reacts differently. She is otherwise healthy woman. How likely is that she does come out of this as a cancer free person (I am not scared of unlikeliness).   Thank you!! ... View more