CT scan after initial surgery - trying not to panic

Hi, sorry you have had this further news. I can't tell you how to keep calm waiting for ct scan and results because I was a bag of nerves.  I was so anxious going for my ct results.  What I can tell you is that getting my post op results was a shock for me as a 3.5cm cancer turned out to be 12cm and 7/14 lymp nodes positive, but my ct scan and bone scan were negative.  Hopefully the wait for you scan and results won't be too long xx

Hi Geordiegirl
Im sorry things haven’t been as straightforward as you first thought .

There is no easy answer to the waiting game except distraction ..I had the cleanest most organised cupboards ever. My profile contains a bio of my treatment .

Write down any questions you have ie Spread? I was diagnosed with DCIS AND DC Lymph nodes clear . So MX and sentinel node 5/6 removed with a good possibility of no further treatment . After op was told cancer gone no spread but Her2+ so chemo ,not as bad as your imagination tells you it is doable not pleasant at times but doable .

then HER treatment meaning 3yr finish this June .

So yes take comfort from Her - . 

Everyone’s cancer is different because we all are different so it’s difficult to answer your query re experience your team seem to be reacting swiftly so hopefully you won’t have long to wait .

Others will post with luck someone with same situation 

take care 

Hi Geordiegirl

Sorry to hear that there was cancer in 10 out the 18 nodes they took.

After my lumpectomy nearly a year ago there was still cancer in one of the two nodes my surgeon took.  As a result like you I had to have a CT Scan and a Bone Scan to see if there was any further spread.  Luckily the scans were clear so hopefully yours will be as well.

As for Chemo though I won't say it's easy it is doable.  Your medical team will make sure that you stay well during treatment by giving you meds to take to counteract any possible side effects.  You will also be given the contact number of your oncology ward to ring if any side effect becomes too much for you.  You should also be given an out of hours telephone no.

Try to keep the panic at bay by doing the things that you love to do to take your mind off things.  I found that reading and going for walks helped when things became too much.  You could also try guided meditation.  There are some good ones out there like Breathe, Calm Radio and Headspace.  I did meditation as well when I wasn't feeling great and I found that it helped.

Wishing you the best of luck with your CT Scan and results.

Best wishes

Daisy53

Thanks for this everyone, I actually just went for a big walk with my hubbie and feel better already. Just got to concentrate on getting through step by step and staying positive. Thanks for your kind thoughts though it means a lot to hear from amazing women like you who have been through this too x

Thanks Mel, feeling better after reading your replies and knowing others have been in the same boat xx

I do love a bit of cleaning! I'll take you up on that idea, thanks Margaret x

Very true Geordiegirl just concentrate on each step don’t waste energy on what might happen . Trust your  team to do their job if you feel they are not making best decisions then question they won’t mind . 

I am sorry to hear that you are going through this too. I also had to have a CT because of affected nodes. It is mentally tough and scanxiety is a thing! Keeping busy, having company was a big one for me, its routine if nodes are affected and managed to convince myself of its normality as a procedure. Oh and also going for some very long walks helped too. 

Some people pointed me to breathing exercises if I felt in a panic and meditation or yoga if thats your thing too. And talking on the Macmillan helpline was really useful too. It was good just to empty my head of my anxiety and fears - abut like a pensieve from Harry Potter if you have ever seen those films!

I am not saying I didn't feel like you, and I definitely felt the anxiety but some things I listed definitely helped ease it for me. 

PS - my scan was negative too despite my much bigger than expected tumour, more advanced stage and lymph nodes positive.

Thanks for this Zephyr, it’s so helpful to hear positive stories from people like yourself. I also keep telling myself that my surgery has probably cleared the cancer - this next stuff is all about making sure it doesn’t come back. Normally I’m very positive but feel like the wind has been knocked out of me a bit today xx

Its tough but you can do this. Its normal to wobble, but you've had big and unexpected news thats super fresh. I am so glad that your walk today helped. Keep going with those walks and blowing away the cobwebs. Sending you a hug