First scan results tomorrow. How to mentally prepare for bad news?

Had question, and how does one answer that,  i usually think i have done my bit had the scan, what  ever it shows the oncologist, i cannot change it.

On one phone call, i was told, it had started to grow, and first question so what is the next plan,

On last scan which was June, phone call, cancer is stable, though we have found two fractures in your pelvis, i did not even know, thought i had lifted some thing to heavy, So next question could this have been caused by the treatment i have been on, yes, right,

So really for me i jst want to know the next step, with fingers crossed, another scan this Monday.

I hope it good for you tomorrow.

Thank you Ellie 

Good idea to ask What's the next step!

My Oncologist says we always have some thing, but over the course of time we may run out, unless some thing new appears.

When i started this journey immunotherapy, was not even licensed for lung cancer, so i had chemo and 10 months  later it came along, So it does show you, and they use immunotherapy a lot now. and there are a few of them.

Hi Harebellle, well done on getting through the chemo and radiotherapy.

I really wasn't expecting the news that my cancer had spread as I was plodding along nicely with the immunotherapy and had been stable for a while. It felt like a kick in the stomach that I just wasn't prepared for.

It seems like you've already prepared yourself mentally that it can go either way. I will be thinking of you today and hope your Oncologist has good news for you!

Please let us know how you get on.

Big hugs

Fiona x

I'd suggest an open minded approach.  It might be good, it might be inconclusive  (a frequent occurrence with first scans after immunotherapy starts) or it might be a bit disappointing.  But even if the latter, it's nothing you have control over or have done wrong.  You'll have tried a course of treatment and the monitoring CT scan is essential in order to determine the optimal long term approach.  So, if disappointing, it will mean you know that treatment is not doing its thing and time to move onto a new approach (new drugs perhaps) and better to do that sooner rather than later.   There's plenty of people on here on no treatment plan, just monitoring and they are doing just fine.  Try and see all the positives in every possible outcome.  It's better knowing than wondering if it's working or not.  

Expect the unexpected with a few surprises inbetween is my mindset. If we think the best or the worst doesnt change the CT scan but maybe focus on this moment. Because, realistically its the only moment we really have.

Guess what?

The Oncologist phoned. The results of the scan aren't back yet and probably won't be for at least another week. So all that worry for nothing!

My main worrry now is whether my bloods are OK to go ahead with Round 4.

Does anybody else have that? Where you get one level right, only for something else to be out of whack.

So far, over the last couple of months, ive had low whites, low reds and low kidney function (not all at the same time), which in one case caused delays of a week.

I never know until the day before whether or not its alright to go ahead with treatment. Everything  seems to depend on these blooming blood tests.  I try to do everything  right, making sure i eat right, drink enough water, take the folic acid etc, but it doesn't seem to make a blind bit of differnce. 

There's always something that's 'off'.

This whole business is definitely a roller coaster and not the fun type.

And thanks to everybody for the handhold. Xxx

Yeah, I've had treatment suspended because of bloods.  eGFR = kidney function was well down because I was responding too well to the immunotherapy.  Too much inflammation in the kidney tubules so they couldn't do their job properly.  It took 3 months to sort out and get back on track.  It was a very uncertain time.  I couldn't stop thinking about it all the time.  I've got a new coping strategy in place now but I won't know whether it's working unless another adverse event occurs.  

That's interesting info to know Mmum.

Did they stop the chemo as well as the immunotherapy?

My kidneys dont seem to like the immunotherapy either. 

I hate that treatment can be delayed just because some numbers are a bit 'out'  When you're incurable every treatment session Is precious. Delays are stressful and could mean less time to live.

I hate that the oncologists seem so blaze about it as well.  We don't have the luxury of 'waiting a couple of months to see whether the kidneys recover'

What I don't get is this:

Supposing, with treatment, I have two years left, maybe 3.

Well if thats the case, surely it's best to crack on with treatment, even if in the long run it does end up damaging  my kidneys?

From a morbid point of view, I'm hardly going to need to go on dialysis  in a few years, am I? Because I won't be here.

I wish they'd just crack on with things and stop dithering.