Hi - and what an amazing place this forum is. I have just been reading a few threads and am taking big breath and buckling in for whatever happens next.
I am a 65 year old man and have just retired after a 32 year career in the fire service and the next 15 years as a fire safety consultant. Recent scientific research has shown that firefighters are a high risk occupation group for contracting cancer. It does not surprise me as so many colleagues are suffering or have suffered. Now - perhaps - its my turn??????
I presented to my GP with a very swollen calf on my right leg a few weeks ago. No pain, no marks - just a leg that would not have looked out of place on Popeye!! The only potential symptom is a very numb foot on the same leg. That's been causing me problems for months
GP No 1 (as I never see the same one) suspected DVT and organised bloods and an urgent Doppler ultrasound - all proved negative.
GP No 2 scratched his head and honestly didnt have a clue. He said I should 'monitor' the leg and come back if there was any further issues. He was presumably hoping I would come back and see a competent colleague as he clearly wasnt
I did return and GP No3 was much more clued up. She examined my leg much more thoroughly and basically took her time. She ruled out all the suggestions that Dr Google had presented me with and said the swelling was firm and probably muscular. She would send me to the 'Muscle Clinic'. I had never heard of that, in fact I thought that it sounded like a tacky name for a High Street gym!
Then a text saying that I would recent a call from a colonal rectal clinic last week. I was confused and didnt really tie up this message with my GP referral. I thought it was some kind of random research. But no, it was a cancer unit in a central London hospital 20 miles away from my home.
It turns out that GP No 3 felt lumps deep in my calf muscles (But didnt tell me) - so referred me to this cancer unit (She called it a 'Muscle Clinic) as she suspected soft tissue sarcoma. Frankly I was shocked, as despite my occupation group being at a high risk, I had not considered cancer at all so this was all new and a bit scary.
This clinic are to organise a second ultrasound and hopefully the investigations will happen as soon as possible
So nothing is confirmed and it may all be a false alarm - but I would like to be prepared mentally for what may come next. So has anyone any experience of a painless swelling in a calf that has led to a diagnosis of a soft tissue sarcoma?
Any information, experiences, advice or anecdotes would be very useful and gratefully received.
I have decided - at this time - not to share my cancer investigations with my wife as she has lots going on at the moment including a very poorly Mum. So I will hang on and see what the results of the tests are. I am hoping this forum could be a useful place for me to find out information and share thoughts as I cant do this elsewhere at the moment
Thank you
Hi SOT
Sarcomas are sufficiently rare that many GP's will only see one in their own lifetime so not totally surprised with the history above. As a result of this there has been a lot of awareness raising to make sure people do get referred.
While I do know about the increase risk of cancer for firefighters I think it tends to be linked to a number of subtypes including as you might expect lung but also to cancers linked to exposure to certain chemicals.
Dr Google tends to have rather a poor bedside manner, hopefully though you may have found our page all about soft tissue sarcoma.
Of course even if what you have is not sarcoma you still have some issue that took you to the GP in the first place but it is great for now that you are on the route to find out, hope you do not have a long wait.
<<hugs>>
Steve
