I can't believe this has happened to us. Last December we were involved in a RTA, when my husband sustained 3 brain haemorrhages and broke almost every bone his face. He was in ITU/hospital for 6 weeks and had massive surgery to repair the damage and has been making a great recovery since with his tremendous fighting spirit, We even managed a week away, but during this week away he noticed a lump in his neck. As we were due to see his MFU surgeon for follow up of his injuries we mentioned it to him the lump expecting him to dismiss it as nothing, but he said ultrasound and FNA were needed of what he felt was a lymph node, which as we were seeing him privately we had done the next day. He did also do a nasendoscopy to check on the facial injuries and said he couldn't see any problem that might account for the swollen lymph node. The result shows cancer cells in the FNA biopsy, but when I asked him if he thought they had originated there, he said he thought they had come from elsewhere. We are now so anxious that this represents a secondary. He arranged further scans, he was going to just ask for chest and neck, but husband has had a little back pain for a couple of weeks which goes off when he gets up, so he has included abdomen and chest. It may or may not be related.My husband has had NO other symptoms, was feeling better than he had since the accident and looking forward to getting back to normal, so this is a bolt out of the blue He is an extremely fit and normally well 77 year old who walks the dog miles every day, has lost no weight and has a good appetite. He won't discuss how he is feeling at all - just says he's "fed up". It is all so, so unfair as he recovered so well from his accident and as this was only a few months ago, it has all been a very traumatic 5 months already.
He had the CTs this week and the consultant is seeing us in his MDT clinic on Tuesday and we are absolutely terrified about this. I want to be the best support possible to him, but having nursed him back to health and the trauma of being in the car when he was injured, I am finding it very difficult. My family are all great support, and are very local but I wish he would talk to me about it. I have read that things are a little easier to deal with once you have a clear diagnosis and plan, but I am so afraid of what they are going to tell us. The hospital is quite a distance away and our daughter is coming with us to take notes. Really just feeling shell shocked and tearful, especially as we have lost a couple of people with cancer over the past 12 months.
Really just looking for a bit of reassurance. I have read some inspiring stories on this site and feel better for writing this all down. Out of interest has anybody had experience of this thing surfacing after a major trauma? The Consultant says not related but our GP says there has been some research into this. I wonder if his immune system was compromised after the accident which allowed something which was dormant to accelerate. I suppose I am looking for an answer and there probably isn't one.
Thank you for listening.
Hi madaboutmutts, welcome to the community though sorry you have this worry.
In my wifes case they were absolutly sure she had cancer so much so they disreagarded other significant symptoms - until she suffered a major trauma - coma in ITU for a week - long story but finally they managed to get her cancer under control.
Many cancers grow really quite slowly and it is not unusal for them to be found almost by accident when the doctors are looking for something else, it may well be that the RTA was a blessing in disguise that you have found this earlier and that is a good thing. All cancers are different as are people and while I am really sorry to hear about the people you have lost there a lots of peope being cured of even just living with cancer.
Worries on the course to treatment, scans etc is so common we even have a name for it scanxiety, however no matter how much we worry is not going to change the result; most just try to live day to day and mindfulness can be a useful skill to pick up on this.
Glad you have read some of the stories here and glad you have some support at the appointments it can be hard to take everything in, generally we find the better informed people are the easier it is to cope.
<<hugs>>
Steve
Thank you Steve
I am so glad your wife's cancer was controlled. We are so hoping it will be treatable - he looks so well and is coping brilliantly - on the surface. Our two daughters are being so supportive and Im trying to be upbeat for their sake - but I'm absolutely terrified. He went through hell to battle to live after his RTA. The police are prosecuting the other driver so we have a court case to deal with as well as a personal injury claim. So lots going on. Thank you again
Whatever cancer throws your way, we’re right there with you.
We’re here to provide physical, financial and emotional support.
© Macmillan Cancer Support 2025 © Macmillan Cancer Support, registered charity in England and Wales (261017), Scotland (SC039907) and the Isle of Man (604). Also operating in Northern Ireland. A company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales company number 2400969. Isle of Man company number 4694F. Registered office: 3rd Floor, Bronze Building, The Forge, 105 Sumner Street, London, SE1 9HZ. VAT no: 668265007