So the basically there were some uncertainties on the mri. The lymph nodes come back indeterminate as they were not big enough to confirm cancer. Also it says on the mri the 4.8cm mass is encroaching on the rectum but no definite involvment. So this is why I need a pet ct scan. At the hospital they said its looking like late 2/3 but I'm terrified after the pet ct scan it's going to go up to 4. I don't want to die. I never in my life thought I'd have to be dealing with this at 27. Is this a death sentence if it does go up to 4a. Does it mean I need to plan a funeral
Hi Kimberley8
This is so difficult for you right now to deal with, but my main advice would be to focus on what you actually know at the moment and try to stop the question of “what if” because that only serves to ramp up your anxiety.
It is extra hard where there is uncertainty about the mri findings, but the petscan gives different images and potentially different information which should help confirm everything.
No-one can guess what the results of the petscan will be, and it may or may not change the assumed staging of late stage 2/3. There are ladies in the group with stage 4 cervical cancer who are on treatment and I have a friend with stage 4 who has been on treatment for about 8 years now with no evidence of disease who is doing very well.
Another personal friend had a tumour of 7cms and was stage 2b- she was diagnosed just before me in 2018 and is well-it has never come back.
You are very young to be going through this and I can’t imagine how much more difficult that makes it for you, but please try and focus on where you are right now, which is that you still need more information. No-one wants to die, even someone at my age of nearly 63, but I refuse to let myself think about that while I am well. Obviously because I’m much older and had recurrent cervical cancer I have plans in place with a will and funeral plan, but that’s sensible given my age, the fact I have family. I wouldn’t have done it at your age because it wouldn’t have entered my head that I might die.
Even stage 4, but you don’t know if it is yet, isn’t an automatic death sentence. There are treatments available, even though the cancer may be incurable. With stages 2 and 3 your team are normally treating you with an intent to cure.
No amount of fear and worry will change whatever the scans show, but it’s how you deal with it that’s important. Whatever the result is, you are going to need to face treatment, which many of us have been through successfully. Please don’t give up now before you have all the information you need and a plan of action.
Sarah xx
