Im so shocked......

Hi everyone - sat at work and everyone else has left and feeling just sick to the pit of my tummy.

Im 51 , Post menopausal and had a very slight bleed last week. I googled it and had a telephone consultation with my GP on Friday at lunchtime.

She mentioned Ovarian Cancer and Womb Cancer in the first 30 secs. I like to be told the truth and Im a tough gal but its rocked me to the core. I didnt think I had any other symptoms but now every slight thing is a symptom.

It doesnt help that I had a premonition a few weeks agao that I was going to become ill.

So I got a call at 9.30 monday morning with a date back at the surgery for a scan next Thursday. I have told my brothers and my close friends but I live with my elderly dad and he will fall apart if he thinks it cancer after losing mum suddenely 15 years ago so am putting a brave face on it all but inside I am in bits.

What can they tell from the first ultrasound they do? She ran so much info past me that I just didnt take any of it in at all. What happens after that ? Ive stopped googling as its confusing me and scaring me at the same time.

How do you all cope during these early days - Im scared , frightened and dont know what to so with myself.

I feel so weak feeling like this and Im angry with myself for thinking the worse but any advice on how to keep it together would be greatfully recieved.

 

Thank you all so much 

Love from a scared Newbie to the forum x

 

 

  • Hi MellyWelly,

    Firstly, don't beat yourself up for however you feel. Try to accept your emotions, and treat yourself kindly. I bet you wouldn't be telling a friend some of the things you're saying to yourself.

    Now''s a good time to think about how you've dealt with stress in the past. Do you like going for a walk, or reading, or craftwork for instance. Maybe baking, or painting. I find relaxation CDs helpful, and try to live in the moment. 

    I was in a similar position to you starting mid December 2017. Post menopausal bleed, trip to the GP. I think it was probably easier face to face than over the phone. Yes, endometrial cancer was discussed, but no mention of ovarian. She said 1 in 10 women with that kind of bleed would prove to have endometrial cancer, so urgent investigation made sense, Of course that means 9 in 10 women didn't have cancer. 

    During the stages of diagnosis I took one step at a time, and didn't look too far ahead. An ultrasound, in my case, showed abnormal thickening of womb lining. Next came a hysteroscopy then D&C with biopsies taken. Some abnormal pre-cancerous cells were found, so I agreed to a full hysterectomy. (Mid February 2018.) Post op reports showed a small grade 1 cancer, sorted by the op. Just as well I agreed to it!

    The surgeon said patients who report a bleed promptly have the best outcomes. He said some women wait months and months before seeing a doctor, so you've done the right thing. And keep in mind things like polyps or hormonal imbalance could be the culprit.

    Hope you feel more settled soon, and that things can be sorted for you.

    regards, gamechanger

     

  • Hi hun

    I'm waiting for throat biopsy and I'm terrified.  Crying all the time & struggling to get through each day.  It's the wait. It's the worst thing. I'd rather just know what I was dealing with. Not much help but wanted you to know you're not alone xx

  • Gamechanger - thank you so much for your kind words. they have really helped and thank you for sharing your experience. I have decided to knock it all off one bit at a time rather than go from 0 - 10 and straight into panic mode which I have done - Thursday is not far away and I have started writinfg things down to ask as google is just scaring me .

    Love to you Gamechanger and thank you again x

  • Thank you Hollis - that means a lot - I do feel very alone tbh - people keep saying quite flippantly " oh you'll be ok " and then change the subject !!

    I know exactly what you mean - I cant cry though - I feel like Im walking on a different level to everyone else ! I want to know what is going on rather than pondering on what it might be.

    Im thinking of you too - let me know how it goes - love to you xxx

     

  • Hi I am going through the same thing was wondering how you got on . Thinking of you . 

  • Hi Luc50,

    Thank you so much for your message and hope this reply finds you OK too?

    I had my biopsy under general as previous surgeries mean any exam is unbearable. It all happened so quickly - It was days so the urgency really worried me as well. 

    The care I got was simply outstanding - I was so well looked after but then the waiting........I can honestly say it was hell.Felt like I was walking through glue. So lucky to have fantastic support from friends but went through the whole spectrum of emotions from elation feeling " its all going to be OK " to the worst case. The results came through 6 weeks later - Im one of the lucky ones - Im very very aware of being so lucky.

    Im on a health kick , Im exercising and Im enjoying every single moment of my precious life. Im going to think how blessed I am every day and will say a quiet prayer to all who are not so lucky to get good news.

    How are you bearing up ? Always here if you need a chat and Im sending you my very best - Thank you for thinking of me and I am thinking of you too xxxx

  • Hi there, 

    I am so sorry to hear you're feeling like this. It's awful but completely natural. I'm a tough girl too but this is different. It really is. 

    The not knowing and the waiting is by far the worst part of this. Fearing the worst and googling for info is what we all do if we're honest. You're not alone! Even the strongest people have their limits and there's no shame in admitting this has knocked you, you're frightened and it's something you're not used to feeling. 

    Youre a strong person and you already know you have to find a new way of coping. The most important thing is to google how to breathe correctly. You'll be surprised that you don't do it and what a difference it makes when you do. When your anxious you don't take in enough oxygen and it makes you feel more panicky and out of control almost. It's a really good time to focus on yourself too. Being kind to yourself sounds really cliche but I do it and it works for me. Simple things like really enjoying your bath, putting extra oils in it. 

    People do tend to say you'll be fine and change the subject, I'm not sure why that is. Maybe because the chances are you will be fine but also I think people are uncomfortable talking about it. It's not helpful because there's a chance things aren't ok and that's your awful awful worry. Nobody can take away that worry and until you know what's going on you'll feel in limbo and scared BUT we are all here for you to chat to and we will help as much as you want us to just sharing our experiences etc... I do know a lot of people who have had scares like this and I don't know many who have actually been diagnosed with cancer. As women our bits are complex and things happen. I've seen it with my mum, my daughter and myself. We've all been ok so far and everything could be ok for you. Let's keep our fingers and toes crossed hey? Lots of love to you. 

    Xxxxxxxxxxx

  • Hi I am so glad your results were clear . I got my results on Tuesday and all my byopsies were clear . I felt the exact same as you throughout it waiting on results I couldn’t sleep or eat or even talk to my family it was like I was another me . Did you get discharged . Did they say what it was to you . I was told it was probably a flurry of hormones can happen and can seemingly happen again . It certainly jas made me appreciate things in life and what is important . Take care and I wish you all the best . 

  • Thankfully discharged Luc50 - told the same and funny enough my mood and weight etc have been all over the place since the intila bleed - good old hormaones eh?

    I send all my very best to you Luc and take care of yourself xxxxx

  • Yeah hormones have a lot to answer for . Take Caren it has been good talking now with you and everyone else who have given me support x