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New Joiner and Very Worried

thisisrobbo
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Hi everyone, as a member of various forums over the years I never thought that I would be joining this one!

Just after some reassurance really about my condition.

Here is the story so far:

At the end of May I noticed a small lump on the left side of my neck but didn't think much about it. Like most people, if you search hard enough there are insignificant lumps all over your body. Went on holiday, and when I came back went to see the doctor. "Don't worry" she said "it is probably just a lipoma, but we will send you for a scan just to be on the safe side". I didn't worry about it at all.

Fast forward 5 weeks and said scan happens (7th August). Thats when the preverbial hit the fan and everything went into overdrive. The next day I was getting told that I might have cancer, and giving blood tests 2 days after that. One week later I had a CT scan on my neck and chest and had an emergency referral to see the ENT specialist. He examined my throat with an endescope but didn't really examine my lump, which i found strange. Next week I have another CT scan and a biopsy on the lump.

To say I am worried is an understatement.

So, from other peoples experiences, how long after a biopsy do you usually find out the news that you do/dont have cancer?

Thanks.

 

  • Offline

    Hi Robbo,

    Welcome to the forum that no-one wanted to join.

    I can only relate my own experience but I've had two cancer scares - the first a false alarm and a decade later the real deal. In both cases I received the initial results of my biopsies about two weeks after they were taken. This seems about the usual timescale, give or take a few days. 

    On both occasions I was given the results as part of a meeting with the consultant. Good news or bad, you should expect to receive the news face to face as you will have questions to ask.

    Good luck!

    Dave

     

  • Offline in reply to davek

    Hi Dave,

    Thanks for your reply.

    Hopefully this is just a small hump in the road on my journey through life.

    Robbo

  • Offline in reply to thisisrobbo

    An update, 8 months later but good news.

    After my initial scans I was finally diagnosed with Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL), Stage 3, on the 12th September. Although by then I had been told that I had lymphoma, but didn't know which type. My treatment (R-CHOP) started the very next day so I didn't have to worry too much about when that was going to start. Six months and eight treatment sessions later my PET-CT scan showed that the cancer had fully gone away. Some of the side effects were not very pleasant. Feeling nauseous for a week after each treatment, tingly fingers and toes (now subsided), the usual hairloss, really bad constipation, insomnia whilst taking the steroids and a week in hospital with sepsis. Also had six months signed off work whilst unbdergoing the treatment but have now been back there for a few weeks. I now have blood tests and a consultation every 3 months to make sure everything is OK. 1st one is in a few weeks time. It's been a long 12 months (and there are days when I wonder if the DLBCL will return) but I feel like I have now got my life back. :)

  • Offline in reply to thisisrobbo

    Hi Robbo,

    Thanks for coming back to update us and for sharing what is, after a long and hard journey, good news!

    All the best

    Dave

  • Offline in reply to davek

    Thanks Dave,

    I have just had a read of your profile page and it would seem that I have been very lucky compared to what you had to go through.

    Robbo

  • Offline in reply to thisisrobbo

    Hi; this is good news and it is so kind of you to come back and give us an update.  I always worry a bit when people simply disappear but hope that it may be that they just don't need us any more, which is great.  It is heartwarming to hear a success story such as yours.  I see that you suffered from the unpleasantnesses of the treatment but with a successful outcome they will hopefully be forgotten.  Annie

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