Smell cancer?

Hi youngmum35 and welcome to the group.

I’m sorry I don’t have any relevant experience to draw on about this as it wasn’t something I went through either during treatment or beyond, and it isn’t something I’ve heard mentioned before in the group, except the metallic taste when going through chemo. 

I’m not sure if anyone will come along with anything similar, but did you mention it to your consultant when you had your appointment to see if they had any advice to add?

It’s hard to wait for results, and especially when you’re in pain-have you been given anything in the meantime to relieve that?

Please come back and let us know how you get on-we have a number of stage 3 ladies who have been through treatment who may be able to help.

Sarah xx

Hello Sarah, 

thank you so much for your reply. Unfortunetly i didnt really get a chance to mention it to my consultant, my appointment this time round felt very rushed and almost like she didnt listen to me just assured me il be sent for scans to get to the bottom of whatever is causing the pain. she is on 2 weeks leave at the moment so I am assuming il get results when she is back. She is normally very good with me dont want this to come across in a bad way. 

Yes im on oramorph to manage my pain at the moment has took the edge of it for the time being.  I suppose i just wondered if anyone had any similar experiences or if im loosing my mind lol xx

It’s horrible when you don’t know what’s causing symptoms and our minds always go to the worst place, so I don’t think you’re losing your mind-you’re just worried and in pain. 

And it’s never good having a rushed appointment when you don’t feel you’re being listened too-I get that they’re very busy, but it’s hard when you feel they can’t wait to get rid of you. I get phone appointment follow ups now which last around 1.5 minutes once every 4 months. Barely time for her to ask anything, and I’m always left feeling she can’t wait to get me off the phone! 

I hope you’ll find out as soon as your consultant is back and it’s something that can be dealt with.

Sarah xx

It is very frustrating. I'm not even due for my first 3 monthly check up yet, that isn't until the end of the month and I'm not really one for going to the Dr's  alot. It needs to be unbearable for me to go to my GP, probably how i ended up in this situation in the first place if I'm honest. I guess the fear sets in that its came back so quickly (hopefully not) I was told with it being in my lymphnodes it will be back at some point. 

Debbie x

I completely get the fear. And I completely get the not going to the doctor as that’s exactly where I ended up where I did. Gave myself a lot more grief that I perhaps might have had to deal with if I’d gone when symptoms started. 

I notice you said you got the “all clear” after treatment. Do you mind me asking if this is exactly what was said? I’ve had 2 different consultants and neither will ever use that phrase-they will only say “no evidence of disease”. 

Sarah xx

No I was advised that i would need surgery after all 3 treatments  to remove the main 5cm tumour = radiotherapy, chemotherapy and Brachytherapy.

The cancer was in my vagina, cervix, womb & lymthnodes. 

However when i went back she told me that she couldnt even see the tumour anymore so no surgery was needed and that the treatment had worked and be back for 3 monthly check ups xx

Gosh, surgery is very unusual with stage 3 after treatment because of the radiotherapy damage, and especially when the cancer has spread and is in lymphnodes.  I’m presuming you had a scan after treatment ended which showed the tumour was no longer visible? The radio and brachytherapy hits the tumour hard, so you had a good result.

I had no symptoms at all when my cancer recurred, which was about 6 months after I got my Ned result-microscopic cells which couldn’t be seen on a scan must have remained and grown again, but I was warned that this might be the case. I hope it’s not the same for you.

Sarah xx

Oh Sarah that's awful I hope your all well and good now? Xxx

I’m doing pretty well thank you. You can read my story in my bio if you click on my name. I was just unlucky with a few things! 

Sarah xx