Hi everyone, I am new to this group, new to cancer and new to everything about it. After 3 months of what I thought was very painful sciatica, I did an e-consult to my GP, (only way to do it) She sent me to A&E….. twice, with 3 weeks of each other. The second time I went to Southampton University hospital where the Dr after chatting to me felt my tummy and suggested I had an MRI, which I had a week later, was then called back to have a full spine MRI and a CT scan.. 3 weeks later was called in to see the oncologist. This was my first clue that it may be cancer.
By then, my left leg was numb including my foot. The oncologist showed me my MRI and CT scan results and I have a medium size sarcoma in my lower left abdomen. It is compressing my sciatic nerve and also compromising my left kidney and he spoke about the possibility of a stent being inserted just above or below the kidney.. Was told a biopsy needs to be done in order to find out exactly what kind of sarcoma it is.
This is why I am getting afraid. My biopsy has just been put back a week, which will make it 30 days since I saw the oncologist. Now it’s 21 days since I saw the oncologist. SINCE THEN, my leg is completely numb from buttock down to my whole foot.. I can barely walk now and have bought a portable mobility buggy or I can’t go out. I am an 81 yr old widow but even the Drs thought I was 60. I have been fit and active and healthy my whole life and am a happy optimistic person. I can now feel a large lump in my abdomen, bearing in mind, apart from my leg, I had no symptoms or lumps etc.
I am very worried that Gladys, my sarcoma, is aggressive as I can now feel it all over my left side and middle. It is affecting my saddle region, my bladder continually feels full when it isn’t. I have no feeling in my genitals but bowels are more or less ok. I phoned my oncologist nurse and she spoke to the oncologist and I have now been prescribed steroids. I already take 60mg co codamol, 4 times a day and 5 mg Pregabalin twice a day. And can barely walk and use a buggy
The biopsy results will take between 3 and 5 weeks then radiotherapy will commence. Now that will make it at least 7 months since I first had the sciatica and about 6 months since my diagnosis and I feel Gladys is rapidly growing. I know I have to be patient, other people are worse and usually am very patient but I feel that maybe I’ll be too ill and in too much pain by then. But at least I can sort out my affairs and plan things.
I am happy and upbeat about my life, my 2 sons died of muscular dystrophy and my beloved husband died of a heart attack 10 yrs ago whilst during home. I am strong and can cope, I’m calm and practical and want to beat this but am afraid of the long wait.
Thank you for reading this.
Hi MarionB
Welcome to our community, I hope you find it both informative and supportive.
I am Steve, one of the community champions and my experience of cancer is via my wife who has Leiomyosarcoma.
I am glad to hear you are being seen in Southampton as that is part of the London and South East Sarcoma network so will have specialist in this area. We are quite lucky to live close to Oxford and that is the Thames Valley Centre.
With my wife her diagnois took several months though sometimes things can be quicker if the sancer is more aggresive - there can be perhaps some benefit there!
Sorrry to hear about your family too, do you have anyone who is supporting you now?
<<hugs>>
Steve
