AFF Cancer Survivors Thread

[tgh]

I have annual blood tests and the gp always asks if I want a psa test as well.
Q : Why would you ask me that ?
A: A lot of people don't want to know……

 

[JohnM]

I have annual blood tests and the gp always asks if I want a psa test as well.
Q : Why would you ask me that ?
A: A lot of people don't want to know……

Not quite as counter-intuitive as you may think: Let Sleeping Dogs Lie?

BTW, I've had prostate cancer. After seven years on 'active surveillance' (annual biopsies or MRIs) I had prostatectomy just over two years ago when the grade score went up a notch.

PSA was never extremely high and dropped to undetectable within 6 months of the operation, where it has stayed.

 

[rogerkambah]

Hopefully the 2 or 3 CT full body scans I have each year will show up any other cancer I have, besides the renal mets in the lung.
A recent PET scan showed no other.

 

[rogerkambah]

A recent biopsy on a dark patch just above an eyebrow has come back as a malignant melanoma. GP said it won't kill me, but I suppose I have to get it cut out.
A month to go until I find out if rad has worked on my lung.

 

[drross]

A recent biopsy on a dark patch just above an eyebrow has come back as a malignant melanoma. GP said it won't kill me, but I suppose I have to get it cut out.
A month to go until I find out if rad has worked on my lung.

Seems a rather flippant comment from your GP. Head and neck MM can be very aggressive and nasty..did they say what Clarke level or stage it is??

 

[Major]

Seems a rather flippant comment from your GP. Head and neck MM can be very aggressive and nasty..did they say what Clarke level or stage it is??

I tend to agree.
I was under the impression that an untreated malignant melanoma will kill.
If it was me I would be asking for it to be excised immediately

 

[QF WP]

I’m guessing the pathology of the biopsy was only Clarke Level 1 from the Drs comment, otherwise I agree with drross. As a “survivor” of a Clarke Level 3 Malignant Spreading Invasive Melanoma, I wouldn’t waste time in getting it excised. How’s Monday looking?

 

[QF WP]

Had a long time family friend die on Sunday (know him for 45 years), after battling late onset Leukaemia for many years - thankfully along came Altzheimers and then he lost the idea of what was happening. Sad that I couldn't go to funeral (private family only), but my parents are going to the Memorial on Friday (I can't due to work commitments). Like a cork on the tide, cancer just keeps re-appearing

 

[rogerkambah]

Tumours just keep coming.
A scan last month showed one on the right adrenal, so back on the chemo, with its attendant side effects.
I'm a bit over this.

 

[tgh]

Thanks for the update Roger, I was wondering how you were going, very sorry to hear that life is difficult.

 

[LinaLee]

Sorry to hear this latest news @rogerkambah; agree, chemo sucks. Sending you lots of positive vibes.

 

[rogerkambah]

Thanks again for all the support.
I sometimes feel like I'm having a bit of a whinge, whereas I should just suck it up, as I know there are a lot of people worse off than me in so many ways.
However it does get a bit wearing.

 

[Pushka]

Thanks again for all the support.
I sometimes feel like I'm having a bit of a whinge, whereas I should just suck it up, as I know there are a lot of people worse off than me in so many ways.
However it does get a bit wearing.

You must "whinge" away. Because anyone who has been through this kind of battle will never see this as a "whinge". Best wishes.

 

[straitman]

You must "whinge" away. Because anyone who has been through this kind of battle will never see this as a "whinge". Best wishes.

I agree with Pushka. Please “whinge” as much as you want.
Our thoughts are with you rogerkambah and many of us relate to your journey.

 

[LinaLee]

Thanks again for all the support.
I sometimes feel like I'm having a bit of a whinge, whereas I should just suck it up, as I know there are a lot of people worse off than me in so many ways.
However it does get a bit wearing.

Please feel free to whine, especially if it helps to take away even a little bit of the frustration. The chemo journey even if surrounded by loved ones is still at its core a lonely one as no one can absorb the pain of occasional multiple sticks when they can’t find a vein, the worry if the infusion leaks out when it starts, the allergic reactions, the sheer relief it does not, and the sheer mind boring hours sitting in that chair and staying sane by practicing breathing excercise when all you want is to be somewhere else Running out the hospital when it’s done . The high from the steroi_s dose then the lows coming off that and the side effects. My go to no fail therapy is gaviscon for stomach issues and pear and pear juice for other issue .I feel your pain.

 

[LinaLee]

Had my hole in the heart repaired finally after some suitable time post chemo and am on a number of anti coagulants and thinners which probably caused a bleed out of my thyroid causing a swelling and pain. That started a bit of a scare just last month that had to be further investigated as well. Ultrasound showed a number of nodules and the bleed. One large enough that I had to have a FNA. Luckily that’s all normal. No further action required unless the nodule swells and restrict breathing. Every lump is a worry .

 

[Pushka]

Had my hole in the heart repaired finally after some suitable time post chemo and am on a number of anti coagulants and thinners which probably caused a bleed out of my thyroid causing a swelling and pain. That started a bit of a scare just last month that had to be further investigated as well. Ultrasound showed a number of nodules and the bleed. One large enough that I had to have a FNA. Luckily that’s all normal. No further action required unless the nodule swells and restrict breathing. Every lump is a worry .

Agree. And every lump you feel you immediately check if there is a similar lump on the other side. I am off to the rheumatologist this week for a check up. I had the bloods taken last week and am also on Bloodthinners. Xeralto. My new GP has already called in that I need to see her. This was a test I was supposed to do in May and well, COVID. But I feel fine and moving furniture and painting yada yada so I think all is fine. Except - I am covered in bruises from all the bumps and just taking the blood gave me the largest bruise I have ever had, yet it was an easy blood draw. Sign.

 

[LinaLee]

Agree. And every lump you feel you immediately check if there is a similar lump on the other side. I am off to the rheumatologist this week for a check up. I had the bloods taken last week and am also on Bloodthinners. Xeralto. My new GP has already called in that I need to see her. This was a test I was supposed to do in May and well, COVID. But I feel fine and moving furniture and painting yada yada so I think all is fine. Except - I am covered in bruises from all the bumps and just taking the blood gave me the largest bruise I have ever had, yet it was an easy blood draw. Sign.

Blood thinners are terrible. I am covered in bruises that I’m don’t even remember knocking .

I am sure all will be well @Pushka

 

[Pushka]

Blood thinners are terrible. I am covered in bruises that I’m don’t even remember knocking .

I am sure all will be well @Pushka

Which one are you on? Warfarin seems so much more difficult to manage.

 

[drross]

Warfarin can be terrible to control. My cardiologist has me on Eliquis

Which one are you on? Warfarin seems so much more difficult to manage.