Follow up anxiety

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Hey!

first time joining any of the forums, I was diagnosed when I was 22 so I’ve been 4 years clear now

i had an  isthmusectomy at the time and kept both lobes of my thyroid and have just had follow up blood tests and endoscopes following this

i had my last appointment for an endoscope and blood test last Thursday and I’ve had a call from the hospital asking if they can move my ultrasound follow up from the 3rd Jan to Boxing Day

now just super anxious, they said they just wanted to get me in sooner but it’s put me on edge that they’ve found something in my blood tests or something to cause concern 

I’ve always said the worst part of having cancer is the way it effected my loved ones and now I feel like I’m going to be causing everyone anxiety and god knows what else over Christmas at all times 

  • Hi  and a very warm welcome to the online community which I hope you'll both find is both an informative and supportive place to be.

    That's great that you've been cancer free for 4 years now. 
    I think we all recognise the worry that happens around follow-ups and it even has a name - scanxiety. You wouldn't be human if you didn't fear the worst because your appointment has been brought forward but, it could just be that an earlier slot has come free and be nothing to do with your blood test results.


    It would be great if you could put something about your diagnosis and treatment so far into your profile as it really helps others when replying to you and also when looking for someone on a similar pathway. It also means that you don't have to keep repeating yourself. To do this click on your username and then select 'Profile'. You can amend it at any time and if you're not sure what to write you can take a look at mine by clicking on my username.

    I hope that you are able to push the worry far enough to the back of your mind to enjoy Christmas.

    x

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     "Never regret a day in your life, good days give you happiness, bad days give you experience"

  • If anything bad were found, it really wouldn't make a difference if it was found one week earlier - especially with so many people off over Christmas.

    So, whilst it's tempting to catastrophise about the timing, it really is more likely that the ultrasonographer wants to take their kids to the panto on the 3rd to make up for having drawn the short straw of having to work on boxing day.

    In thyroid world, things grow and change very slowly. This change is highly unlikely to be prompted by anything they already tested. 

    Best wishes

    Barbara

    “Scars are tattoos with better stories.” – Anonymous