cancer fears, lumps and bumps

Thanks for your reply Shannon, I did see the doctor last Friday and she has sent me for blood tests today which I have had, due for an X-ray next wed too so hopefully I might get some peace of mind if they come back ok, just can't stand the waiting game, will let you know how I get on xx

Thanks degsy, hopefully it's something less sinister, just gave that gut feeling but I'm sure lots of people do and turn out ok, hopefully I will find out soon enough x

THanks so much for your reply, this makes a lot of sense, I am going to ask her for a biopsy as you say as I think this would be the only way to put my mind at rest I have had low folates come back on my blood test but I have to serve the doctor tomorrow to discuss all of my results, is a low folate something you ar familiar with, I will let you know what she says when I see her tomorrow, I am in the uk, something else I suffer with also is extremely itchy shins and calves at night, should I mention this to her also, thanks x

Also can I ask what your symptoms were and how you were diagnosed if you don't mind x

Hi. Itching is a symptom of Lymphoma but probably a symptom of many other things as well. Folate is vitamin B12/anaemia - iron deficiency, which has several different causes. Sweating associated with cancer is drenching night sweats, literally soaking the bed and night clothes. As you're in the UK if you aren't happy with your doctor's handling of your case you can ask for a second opinion or change doctors surgery. The fact that your doctor has let this go on for a year appalls me, this should have been investigated properly months ago. Get that referral for a biopsy.

I found a painless pea sized lump behind my ear so went to my doctor. Being a good doctor he immediately admitted that he wasn't sure what it was so referred me to ENT at hospital. A biopsy was carried out and I was diagnosed with stage 1a Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma. I had 3 rounds of R-chop chemotherapy and 17 days of radiotherapy. The treatment finished a year ago. During a routine CT scan a meningioma was found (small brain tumour) so I now have an appointment with neurology at King's Hospital in London later this month. If I hadn't have had the cancer I wouldn't have had the CT scan and the tumour wouldn't have been found until it was much bigger, causing problems and more difficult to treat, so I guess I'm one of the lucky ones lol.

Thankyou so much, I'm sorry you to hear that you have to go throughout this, I hope everything works out for you, thanks so much for your feedback I am certainly going to take your advice and get this sorted once and for all, let me know how you get on, I will keep you in my thoughts xx

The only thing we have to fear is fear itself. Medical treatment has never been better, I consider myself very fortunate to have excellent G.P.s and a lovely oncologist. My treatment to date has been fantastic - God bless our NHS. Please let me know if you manage to get a biopsy, I do think it is the only thing that will reassure you.

I definitely will! Your positivity is amazing and you are right we do have great medical equipment now and we are fortunate to have the NHS! I will let you know as soon as I do x

Hiya I thought I'd let you know all my bloods came back fine apart from the folate which she is not concerned about, I have made an appointment for a different gp so when I see him I'm going to ask him straight for a biopsy and maybe an ultrasound in my groin area since there are so many there, I had a new lump pop up on my neck yesterday, have a chest X-ray tomorrow, will let you know how it all goes x

Thank you for letting me know, I'll be thinking of you tomorrow, you're doing absolutely all the right things. Good luck and keep in touch. I'm here to support you x

Thanks so much it really means a lot xx

Hello, I had an appointment today with another doctor, he was very nice and he said he was very puzzled as to what is going on with me but there is definitely something, he said he will have to think about it and see what the best option is to do next, my chest X-ray was fine but my bloods he said had been up and down fir a long time, my white blood cells have been high numerous times, which is the first I have heard about this as far as I'm aware my white blood count has been high only one time but he said it has been lots of times, I suggested an ultrasound and he said that wasn't a bad idea, he felt all of my lumps and asked for a whole list of symptoms, he mentioned referring me to haematology which I'm unsure what it means , I do feel like I'm now getting somewhere xx

Hi. Well this doctor sounds more competent than the other one so at last it sounds as though you're getting somewhere. A hematologist is a doctor who specialises in diseases of the blood, not just cancer but all blood related conditions so don't go thinking the worst. For example, if your red blood cell count is low you could have anaemia which is a lack of iron. Let me know what the next move is, is he definitely referring you?

Thankyou! Yes he is definitely referring me to haematology and possibly ultrasound but he said he has to think about it for a while to see what the best options are for me next, I definitely feel much more relaxed about it now, and now I know I'm being taken seriously, my X-ray came back fine also, I will let you k ow what gappens nex, how have you been? Have pu come any further with the Tumour in your head? X

Hi. It's funny how a decent doctor can make you feel so much better about everything just by not making you feel like your wasting his time isn't it,? I'm so glad you're feeling more upbeat. I'm at King's hospital in London Monday week to see neurologist to discuss my options for treatment, then I'll know exactly what's happening. Do fingers crossed for me that it's not grown too much. Keep in touch, I'd like to know how you get on.

Yes it's strange just him saying he k owe there is something is such a relief, waiting game for you I guess, hopefully they have caught it nice and early so they can be gone with it! Such a shame you have to go through this after all you have been through already, i really hope it works out for you, I'll let you lniw how o get on with haematology, let me know what happens next with you too x

Will do, good luck x

Will do, good luck x

Hi, I just thought I would see how it went with your neurologist, hope you are well and things are under control x

Hi. Saw the neurologist at King's yesterday. The tumour hasn't grown very much, if at all, it doesn't appear to be malignant and they are going to scan me again in 6 months instead of the usual year to keep my stress levels down as I have had cancer. Thank you so much for asking.

Oh wow I am so pleased to hear this, thanks for getting back to me, I have my appointment with the hospital on Friday, I am hoping they will do something there, I also have an ultrasound on the 6th December so I am hoping between the appointments I will have some clarity, I have unfortunately got new lumps also now in the neck and also around my elbows so hopefully this should speed thing up since they are constantly popping up all the time, I will let you know what happens, do you have any idea what might happen at a general surgery appointment and weather it's likely they will do any tests/ scans there and then, thanks, Nikky x

Hi. If this is your first hospital appt they will ask you lots of question and probably give you a physical examination, feeling for swollen lymph nodes. You may have blood taken. You will probably be given a follow-up appt. Any tests such as MRI or CT scan you will be given another appointment for, either there and then or in the post. Good luck, keep me informed.