As I was stage IV at diagnosis with metastasis to the lungs, my treatment was over quite a long period and the last active treatment was March 22 when I had two lung ablations. The specialist hospital I am under has been amazing, with regular MRI (until March this year, now annually) and CT scans every three months.
Over 20 months ago I was told I had inflammation in one of my lungs which prompted scans every six weeks for a period, this was so stressful, not only for me but my family. However, early this year I saw a young oncologist who flicked through my scans, laughed and said the inflammation has been there since you had the ablations, but it hasn't changed and cancer does. I asked what it was and he replied, we don't know. This is my only...criticism is far too strong but observation if you like, if I had been told how long the inflammation had been present, it would have saved so much stress. Maybe they all thought I knew.
The three month scans continued, the last being early September. The oncologist rang me in Spain (really) to hold my follow-on appointment. The inflammation is still there, they are confident it is not cancer and my next scans are - drumroll - March! Six months. I can hardly believe it. No scanxiety this Christmas and March 2026 will be the fourth anniversary since any treatment at all. The word remission has never been mentioned to me but I think four years isn't bad going.
And of course I know there are others on here where their news hasn't been so positive, and I really don't mean to be insensitive to them. But many others have followed my history and been so supportive I just had to share.
Keep celebrating the wins, no matter how small. A three-month scan period extension is huge to me!
Irene xx
Hi Irene
This is wonderful news and SO good to read. I understand that you don’t want to be insensitive to others who don’t have such positive news, but the hope that you give others is very important, and everyone here will want to share in your happiness.
Remission was never mentioned to me either my own cancer at any point until I got past 5 years and asked the question. My surgeon was clear-she doesn’t consider me in remission, but cured!
I wish you many more years of good health and no scanxiety-and thank you for sharing this for everyone to read.
Sarah xx
