Even more difficult with a nervous dog that needs looking after..

I was diagnosed with skin cancer last year, had 2 surgeries, luckily at an early stage, but consultant had said I needed surgery in 2-3 weeks yet the waiting list was months long which was stressful and upsetting, I really expect a cancer consultant to be aware of delays / wait lists 

Then I had numerous procedures for what had all the symptoms of appendix cancer, I wen private for this as I wasn't coping & felt suicidal tbh. I'm so lucky it wasn't 

I don't know how I coped, I certainly didn't sleep, just shut myself away 

My thoughts are with you

Sorry to hear about your medical history but sounds as tho' the worst is behind you:) Finally, of course, you did cope! Odd - you have a nervous dog - have a cat who would, if allowed, spend 24/7 sitting on my lap! At least we have another 'being' to think about other than ourselves (at least for a little while each day).

Thankyou again.

Kind regards

Hi Purrfect

I really wish doctors wouldn’t put us through this extra stress of not telling us things, and I’m so sorry you are in this position-it’s awful. Don’t immediately assume it’s bad news-it’s  just your doctor following guidelines. It’s impossible not to worry, but things might not be as bad as you think.

I found my cats brilliant when I was waiting for results-they are very calming. I told my little black cat all my fears and found great comfort in cuddles! 

If there is no-one who can come to the consultant with you, I would suggest taking a notebook and writing things down. I went alone to my appointment and I feel I missed lots of what was said. The fear takes over and you can’t take things in, so I take my partner to every appointment now as a second pair of ears. 

I hope you get some answers from your doctor-it honestly starts to feel better once you know what’s going on and can get back some sense of control.

I wish you all the best, and do let us know how you get on. xx

Thank you Minska - it's so good to get replies like yours. I tell myself it will feel better once I know what's what, but of course fear the worst & wonder how I'll cope with bad news & then how I'll cope with any treatment. I'm sure of course that everyone feels the same way & no-one has a magic wand to wave to make things better.

I'll keep in touch of course.

Thank you again

Purrfect x

The thing is, no matter what-you WILL cope. You don’t know that now, but I am speaking from experience. Whatever happens, you will do it. Getting bad news is awful, there’s no getting away from it, but a positive mindset is hugely helpful. For me, once I knew what my diagnosis and treatment was, I focused on getting through and dealing with it, trying as much as possible not to have any negative thoughts. Every day when I woke up I had my mantra to say-I will be well, I will get better. I kept repeating that to myself, and it helped. xx

Being honest Minska I really feel I'll be told there isn't any treatment. I realise this is probably overly pessimistic but when my aunt was diagnosed with lung cancer that's what she was told & she died 3 months later. One hears similar stories & fear the worst. I'm normally a very optimistic person but I'm finding it hard to put that 'hat on' at the moment. 

If I'm right it sounds as tho' you are coping/healing - I certainly hope so.

Thanks again

How old are you Purrfect? 

Hi there - I'm 67 - 68 in September.

I was convinced I would have cancer throughout my body and there would be nothing they could do. Turned out that although I do have cancer, it hadn’t spread anywhere, I completed all my treatment and was free of disease at my last scan/check up. 

My mum had metastatic lung cancer and she received radiotherapy and chemotherapy. She died almost 3 years after her diagnosis, BUT those years were of a good quality-she was still going to her exercise class, going shopping and just about everything she used to do. Bear in mind too that new treatments are coming into play all the time with immunotherapy and targeted therapy. Lung cancer is not the death sentence it once was. There are lots of options for treatment of all sorts of cancers nowadays. xx