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Dr's just told me I might have cancer and to wait 3 months???

Posted , 4 users are following.

robtuck
robtuck

I had an appointment with my Dr 3 days ago, he told me I may have Polycythaemia, my Hemoglobin (is it?) on a recent blood result showed over 300 (30?)..  I'd never even heard of this before what he told me was totally unexpected, he basically said "You might have bone marrow cancer" after that I only took in so much of what he said, we finished with him saying to make an appointment for another blood test in 3 months. Having now read about what this is etc, and had time for it to sink in. 3 months seems a long time to me, to wait for another test, if for no other reason than preserving my state of anxiety, and now typically he is on leave all this week.  Any recomendations please! should I be doing something sooner? like now?

I'm a 37 year old man, I've had health problems over last 2 or 3 years, prolapsed disc in my back (2 operations), the pain I've had from my back, I think I may have been ignoring other pains, or just blaming them on my back problem. I've lost a stone and a half in 18 months. Had bleeding 'per rectum (always seems a lot) for years with the only diagnosis being piles, again because of my back trouble this was kind of ignored, or put on hold. I've also started to bruise very easyily in the last 2 ish years, I can never eat much food even if I havent eaten for ages and am really hungry, In a lot of ways I feel just not quiet right, if that makes any sense?

I do smoke.

The blood tests were routine to check if I was suitable for viagra, as also been having trouble there.

Should I be worried, been having anxiety attacks, manic ones ever since I saw my Dr and he told me. This 3 month thing makes no sense to me. Any advice at all is much appreciated everyone.

Thanks..   Rob

0 likes, 3 replies

3 Replies

  • angela_o..o
    angela_o..o robtuck

    Posted

    Hello Rob

    You have given us a lot of information there. Firstly, none of us is medically qualified (I believe) so what you will hear from us is just opinions and ideas.

    Secondly, if (and it is a big if) you have polycythaemia don't worry about it. It is really not the end of the world.

    There are several types of polycythaemia. Without knowing why you went for a blood test and a whole load of other things it is very difficult to tell you very much but, if you smoke, you might have the type called secondary polycythaemia. That is caused by your body being deprived of oxygen for a long period of time. Like by smoking. But that is not to say that I am speaking with any amount of authority. Just my idea. 

    Do you live in UK? Was your blood test done by your GP and did your GP say to wait for three months? If so, I would ask to be referred to a haematologist, a specialist, for another test and a more informed opinion. No criticism of your GP it is just a rare and unusual condition this polycythaemia and not many doctors come across it.

    Can't comment on your loss of appetite unless it is caused by stress. Weight loss would follow on from not eating of course. Baxk pain and blood in stools can be constipation. So many possibilities none of which is life threatening.

    I am female so can't offer anything on the need for viagra.

    You sound stressed. Any chance of doing some meditation, relaxation, yoga type things? Not being funny, we all need time out.

    All the best.

  • Zapamania
    Zapamania robtuck

    Posted

    Hi Rob I think you need to give us more info.  What are your platelets and what is your hematocrit?  If you don't know it, you need to find out.  Some of your symptoms lean towards polycythemia Vera the easy bruising and feeling full after eating as that might indicate an enlarged spleen which can be part of Pv.  And you need more blood work to see if you have the jak2 mutation.  Smoking is bad for Pv as are alcohol and foods high in iron.  I'm not a dr so I'm just throwing out what I know.  I would try to see a hematologist sooner than 3 months just to ease your anxiety.  Zap

  • ItchyChris
    ItchyChris robtuck

    Posted

    Robtuck

    Zap has made some sound points. I have problems with spontaneous bleeding if my platelet count falls below 70 so I agree that you need to know what your count is. My spleen, at one time, was so large that I could only eat small amounts but I had another complaint that caused me to lose a large amount of weight. I also agree that 3 months sounds a long time for further tests and though I do not agree with causing a fuss I think you do need to query that to get the blood test for the JAK2 done, it is virtually no work for your doctor. Incidentally, I had my spleen measured yesterday and it was down to 20 cm which is big but not enormous.

    ItchyChris

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