3 month follow up

Hi hysteria,

Glad to hear all is well for you. I am on the other side of the coin, with no more appointments, and only a year  after the operation!! I sometimes feel I would be happier with them!! Guess you can't win!! I content myself with the thought that they must know what they are doing!!

All the best xxx

Hi Steph, I look forward to and dread my appointments in equal measure, it's great hearing everything is fine but the anxiety of what if would drive you up the pole. I have to have a MRI scan before my August appointment and I'm trying not to stress but the doubts always creep in a bit. My August appointment will be two years and after that they will leave me open for three years with no more appointments, I don't know how I'll feel about that, I might ask for a check after a year and then one after two years. 

Great news that you got the all clear today though, time to celebrate

xxx

Hi hysteria, so pleased your check up went well, it's such a relief isn't it!  I had one of my 3 month ones last week, it will be 2 years since surgery in June and 2 years completing radiotherapy and brachytherapy in October.  I have found that I get more and more anxious each time one is due!  I think my head is saying the more time passes the more likely it is to have come back and my luck can't hold out!  Even though I get into quite an anxious state leading up to the check ups I wouldn't decline them.

Hugs, Lesley xx

yes Arla, I wouldn't want to not have the appointments because its good to have the reassurance but it causes such anxiety in the weeks beforehand. I was very lucky today because I had the first appointment at the clinic so was seen promptly. Previous appointments have been later and sometimes well over an hour to wait. I hope your mri scan and final appointment in August goes well and after that you really will have cause for celebration. Xxx

Hi Lesley, I'm glad to hear you are doing so well too.  I know what you mean about each time being more anxious than the previous one.  I was more anxious this time than in January.  But I think it might be the case that the risk of recurrence decreases the more time passes. Xxxx. Steph

It's great to hear that you're doing so well, I guess you can contact your team if you have any worries but hopefully that won't be the case at all.   Xxxx

Hi Steph fab news hunnie, really pleased for you, I totally agree the anxiety before these appointments are quite bad, I’m very stressed Cos my check up in dec was not done properly, I could not take the pain so she could only see part but not the deeper bit, I’m going to insist on a man next time , I always find them more gentle, I have to have a internal ultrasound in May and then my next follow up in June, already I’m stressing Cos no one else has scans, I know arla is but most don’t, so that’s been playing on my mind as to why, it was suggested before the failed internal , anyway I used to think yeah keep checking is good , but to be honest for me I think it’s the thing that stops me moving forward Cos it is hanging over my head all the time, part of me thinks  I would prefer it like nannyanny and just look for signs myself, who knows with me I’m such a complex person I’ll probably feel totally opposite if you asked me again tomorrow lol, great news for you though Steph , you have come on so far bless you xx

Fabulous news? Steph. Just love starting the morning with a little happy dance!  

Two years on from the end of treatment, im not sure the anxiety about checkups ever goes away. I was told I’d just have an internal each time plus discussion (every 3/4 months for 2 yrs then every 6 months for 3yrs) but no scans unless I present with symptoms that suggest recurrence or can’t be explained. That approach has pros and cons depending on my emotional state at the time. It’s reassuring to know I can ring my CNS with any concern and she will speak to the consultant and  get me an urgent appointment if they feel it’s needed. So far, so good! I think maybe we get better at dealing with things because we hone our coping strategies and find what works for us. Either way, each checkup is a milestone and the further on we get, the chance of recurrence lessens. Worry doesn’t change anything for the better; it robs us of peace and stops us enjoying the gift of each new day. Gentle hugs to anyone who is experiencing “scanxiety” and here’s hoping everyone has good news at their next check up xx