Newly diagnosed and terrified

Hi Hedgemonkey,

Sorry you find yourself here, but its a good place to wait. 13 years ago my husband was diagnosed with throat cancer. There followed 3 years of operations, procedures and waiting for things to heal. 6 years ago my daughter had breast cancer. She had the full treatment, fortunately a lumpectomy, chemotherapy, radiotherapy. I nursed both of them back to health.

Then, 2 years ago I had a small bleed. Having spent some of my life looking for miscarriages, I think this was the worst bit!. My immediate reaction was 'oh another miscarriage', with a horrible sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach! I then came to my senses and thought it can't be a miscarriage. I'm certainly not pregnant at 72!!! I went straight to the doctor, who put his arm round me and said he thought it was cancer. I decided not to panic until we had test results back. I  think because I had been through all this twice before I was almost blasé when it came to my turn! I was most scared of having to have chemo, having seen how my daughter was. In the end, I only needed a hysterectomy done by keyhole, which was marvellous. All the procedures and operations are so much better than when I was last in hospital 40 years ago. Even the staff seemed to care more!

Until this happened my husband never lifted  a finger in the house, but now he washes up in the evening!!  Every cloud !!

XXX

Thank you for your kind words! I’m glad everything turned ok for you and your family. So many people are touched by cancer, I’m just going to have to keep my fingers crossed and hope it can be sorted 

xx

Hi Hedgemonkey, I'm sorry to hear your news and I'm shocked as to how long you had to wait for your appointment. Fingers crossed a hysterectomy is all you need tho that is bad enough. Your situation sounds like mine but I haven't got to diagnosis yet. I had a scan in February. My gynecology appt was booked for April 30th but ended up getting fast tracked. I had my first appointment on Tuesday where I had a biopsy and a hystocopy all done then. I've been told the lining is very thick and she didn't like the look of it. So now I'm waiting for my results. I really hope everything works out well for you with everything else your going through.xx

Hello Hedgemonkey,

Welcome, though I'm sorry for the reasons you find yourself here. A cancer diagnosis a nasty shock and takes time and work to process. I can understand  something of what you say about feeling as though you're reeling. Until I began the diagnostic journey that ultimately led to a cancer diagnosis I'd never been in hospital apart from having my children and rarely went to see the GP, so it was quite overwhelming to suddenly having to attend so many appointments for tests, scans, consultations, then later even more appointments for chemo and radiotherapy. It's very hard to go from being the one who is reasonably fit and healthy to being someone with a potentially serious illness. I found dealing with the enforced inactivity after my hysterectomy quite hard, and similarly with the restrictions that the adjuvant treatment temporarily placed on me. The emotional impact is often harder to deal with than the physical side of things. I agree that it can be very hard for our partners and families because often they can't do anything other than watch and wait and provide support as and when it's needed. 

Sometimes we can't make any sense of the situation we find ourselves in. Having said that we can choose how we deal with it. Some of the best advice I had just after diagnosis came from the specialist nurse who said concentrate on one day at a time and make sure you keep doing the things you enjoy. We chose to take a positive outlook and family and friends in the main followed our lead. The 8 months or so of treatment were hard at times but we got through it and 2 yrs on from the end of treatment it's so far so good. 

I'm sure that you already have lots if coping strategies to call on. I hope you have family and friends who support you, The specialist nurses are a good source of support too. These early stages are hard - very much like a rollercoaster ride that you just want to get off - but hopefully things won't look quite so bleak once you know exactly what you're dealing with and what the treatment plan is. Please let us know how things go and if you want to ask any questions about hysterectomy and recovery feel free to ask. Take care x

Hi 50Something

Looks like I am in the same boat as you, Waiting for my biopsy this coming Monday and then a wait again for the results ( oncologist did tell me it looks  95% like its cancer. The waiting is the worst bit - its torture really. My husband who is marvellous is very supportive, but he can not feel like I do. I am at work, but am very tired all the time. Holidays are now cancelled.

And the journey begins...

xx

Hi Photohappy.

Sorry to hear your in the same situation. Even worse for you as they have pretty much told you what they suspect it is. I've only seen the Gynecology consultant who wouldn't tell me for sure but said dont like the look of it. So I'm also thinking the worse. I have a holiday booked to Rhodes on the 17th May for a week im hoping I can still go, me and my partner are both looking forward to it but I know mu health comes first. If it is the worse case then hopefully they will think a nice break away will do me good before the journey commences. The biopsy isn't too bad it isn't painful just a little uncomfortable but doesn't take long. It's good you have a supportive husband we all need that when bad things are going on. 

I know what you mean about the tiredness I'm not sleeping very well keep waking about 2 and ending up on the sofa so I'm making that my excuse for being tired through the day. Hopefully we dont have long to wait for our results so we can plan and know what's ahead of us.

Take care xx

Hi Photohappy.

Hope all goes well with you today. Thinking of you xx

Thank you.xx

Hi

sorry I have only just read your reply. I hope you have got some answers now and you are ok. I had the hysterectomy 2 weeks ago and am now recuperating and waiting for histology results to see if I need further treatment. I had the hysterectomy via keyhole surgery and I have to say the experience wasn’t as bad as I dreaded it would be, no real pain at all just achiness that passed after a few days. I feel a bit battered and bruised and definitely have to rest a lot but not too bad, the worst thing is injecting blood thinner into my stomach every day for a month! I really things go well for you, take care xx

Hi Fairy cake Sorry I have only just read your message. Thank you it was very inspiring to hear your story. I’m so glad all is ok for you now.  I have had my hysterectomy, 2 weeks ago today. It wentk and I am recovering, it is very hard to adhere to the restrictions and poor husband has to do so much more. One of the worst things about this is seeing how tired and worried it is making some of the people close to me. But it’s right what you say about making the best of each day , and my husband and I have already learnt do this and one positive from this is 6 weeks together in the sunshine  As obviously I can’t work at the moment! Thanks again for your reply x