Hi Evelyn,

Of course no one can give you an answer except the doctor. I will say that your mom is doing the right thing and getting checked out, rather than ignoring symptoms. There is so much that can be "wrong" with the human body and we just need to rule things out, one test, one appointment at a time. Take comfort in the fact that your mom will be able to move forward and get the care she needs. Keep us posted on how she is doing.

Laura xx

Being told in the manner your mum was, is every bit as bad as those people who get their cancer symptoms shrugged off initially like it's all in their head. Two sides of the same coin.

No idea why some doctors state it's categorically cancer when they have nothing but symptoms to back this claim up. There are other conditions with the exact same symptoms in many cases. Fair enough, tell people they have to rule out cancer, but to say it's cancer straight off the bat, leaving no wiggle room, without so much as a scan or even a specialist seeing the patient is awful. Puts a lot of needless worries upon the patient, family and friends.

Aye, some doctors are just awful when it comes to dealing with actual people. I had one like that. When i was 21 (now 48), i had a cancer scare. My doctor told me i had polycythaemia Vera [PV] when my bloods came back high. It's a chronic blood cancer. Then the same doctor called me at 6.30pm on a Friday and left a message on my house phone (before mobiles lol) saying i had to call the surgery urgently first thing on Monday. I sweated it out all weekend, barely slept or ate. The appointment? To be told my bloods were returning to normal. I was like wt-actual-f. Could he not have just said that? After that, i switched doctors, and after 2 or 3 haematologist appointments, i was told i didn't have PV, but something secondary caused by chronic dehydration, and it would disappear on its own. My initial doctor had me dead and buried without next to no evidence whatsoever. To this day i always state to my doctor never to give me blood test results on a Friday, and i'll call in when i know they're back. Good or bad.  Bad doctors change you.

Hi Laura,

Thanks for your reply. I know you are right, one test one appointment at a time, it's the waiting that's the hard part. Positive thoughts, I am sure all will be well.

Thanks again 

You are right, it would have been better if the Dr had just said we need to rule cancer out, not give a definitive response. 

Sorry to hear you had such a bad experience, I hope you have now found a good GP.

Thanks