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Waiting for biopsy results - agony

Jessicarabbit
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Hi guys, 

I had an endoscopy yesterday to diagnose an ulcer and was told they found a sub mucosal lesion which they took a biopsy of. I had a Google and tumours and cancer came up so now I'm in a horrible anxious state.

I have a small child and I don't want to leave her. I have a two-three week wait for the results and I don't know how I can do it.

The endoscopist said he wasn't overly concerned but that doesn't help me. It's now on the table when it wasn't before. 

I'm a mess. 

  • Online

    Hello Jessicarabbit, 

    I just wanted to welcome you to our forum. I hope you won't have to wait too long for your biopsy results. I can imagine it must be a very stressful time for you while waiting for these important results. 

    I know it is really hard but try not to worry too much or anticipate what it might be. What the endoscopist said to you is rather reassuring.  The best thing to do to avoid thinking too much about this is to keep busy and distracted if you can and avoid looking things up online. I can imagine it is hard for you to do this at the moment but it will help you feel a little less anxious. There are useful tips on this page to help you cope while waiting for important news. 

    I hope you will also hear from others here who have been through all this before and that they will be along soon to share their story with you. 

    Keeping everything crossed for you that everything turns out fine. 

    Best wishes, 

    Lucie, Cancer Chat Moderator

  • Offline in reply to Moderator Lucie

    Thanks Lucie. 

     

    I've been told the majority of the lesions found are not cancerous but that doesn't make me feel better. I did some maths earlier and it says that submucosal lesions are found in 1 in 300 endoscopies.

     

    There are 2million endoscopies a year so dividing that by the 300 gives pretty much the same number of cases diagnosed every year reported by cancer research (18 a day). So I really don't think it's looking good.

     

    I've noticed more and more symptoms, bloating, weight loss (26lbs since Christmas but I haven't been eating well this year due ro a sinus infection, the "ulcer" stress of a new job and now this).

    I'm lost. I don't see how it can be anything other than cancer and everyone keeps saying that they really don't think I should be oeeiwd especially with what the endoscopist said. But what if he was lying to make me feel better? 

  • Online in reply to Jessicarabbit

    Hello Jessicarabbit, 

    Don't worry, endoscopists definitely wouldn't lie to make you feel better. He has given you his honest opinion and it's reassuring that the majority of lesions found are not cancerous. Try not to do the maths and statistics to work out your risk or it will drive you a bit insane and you may end up convincing yourself of the worst (or doing the wrong maths if you're like me!). 

    If there are new symptoms you have noticed that you haven't mentioned to your doctor, make sure to flag them so that they are aware of these. 

    Everything crossed for you that it all turns out to be fine! 

    Best wishes, 

    Lucie, Cancer Chat Moderator

     

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