Diagnosed with stage 4 cancer - the long winding road it has become

[gtr1]

Sorry to hear. Please keep us all up to date.

If one positive from all your hardship is that someone recognises your symptoms and gets tested. I'd say that'd be huge.

 

I for one am absolutely terrified of cancer. As mentioned before, you could be the fittest and healthiest oke around and bam!

I have a number of lipomas that I got checked a while back. After a bit of prodding, the GP said it's all good and if any cancerous ones appear that it would show signs in my blood tests? This is the part I'm not sure of. How does one do a hypochondriac-style test for cancer? Do general blood tests work? or do you just have to be lucky/smart enough to act early on warning signs?

The **** thing with cancer is it doesn't discriminate :-(. I am a competitive masters cyclist. Thought I as bulletproof. Had a crash a year ago and broke collarbone. Early is year while doing rehab noticed some lumps in my neck. Thought it was related to crash. Eventually decided to go to dr. They were swollen lymph nodes.

 

Blood tests do not reveal Lymphoma :-( my bloods were clear. A scan showed the swollen nodes. Had to do a biopsy ( under surgery) which when tested revealed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

 

I was lucky as I think I caught it early. 3 nodes in neck and 1 in stomach. None too big yet.

 

My suggestion, not sure what the lump is. Go get it tested.

 

Today was my final treatment. Now to see if all clear !!

[Spoke101]

Sorry to hear, been through and am currently going through it with family.

 

Holding thumbs for you!!!

[Frosty]

All the best, Cois, with the road forward. Have no advice to offer, only encouragement.

[Harryn]

@Cois, I am really sorry to hear of your diagnosis. I think your’e going through everyone’s worst nightmare

 

I wish you strength, comfort and resolve in your journey to **** cancer.

[Cois]

Not a cure, but go read up on the Kefir thread here on Bikehub.

 

Some of your symptoms sounded frighteningly similar to what I experienced some time back, to the extent that I thought to get myself tested for Crohn's or had IBS or something.

 

I started drinking a Kefir mix on a daily basis and my gut health improved remarkably. 

 

Do some research on the topic, ask the specialist, but anything that could make the smallest difference should be an option.

 

Best of luck to you!!

Hi Chingy182

 

I think I know the Kefir tread.  I started it

 

I use the kefir in my smoothy every morning.  I mix a little plain yogurt, about half a cup of kefir and some blueberries as my breakfast.

[Cois]

On a lighter note, did you enjoy prepping for the colonoscopy?

 

Cheers

Daryl

Hi Daryl.

That was the worst experience.  I passed out at one stage, plus point on that... I have a very clean bathroom now

[the nerd]

sorry to hear about the diagnosis Cois!

 

My dad was diagnosed the end of last year (different cancer)

 

In my experience with my dads diagnosis get some opinions, his first doc told him the readings were too low to worry about it...

 

Second doc (a very well respected doc) started treatment that same week and now he's got the all clear!

[MarcBurger]

Who is the said second well respected doc? If you don't mind sharing.

sorry to hear about the diagnosis Cois!

 

My dad was diagnosed the end of last year (different cancer)

 

In my experience with my dads diagnosis get some opinions, his first doc told him the readings were too low to worry about it...

 

Second doc (a very well respected doc) started treatment that same week and now he's got the all clear!

[Cois]

I just want to thank everyone for their good wishes and all the messages. 

 

Some days are better than others.  Today is a very bad and painful day.

 

One glimmer of hope.  I am allowed to cycle and it is advised to keep active and going to keep this stupid brain busy.

 

I say stupid brain because the thoughts and ideas it concocts is the worst.

[Kenty]

Thanks MadMarc

 

The symptoms was baffling.  Sorry for the overshare, but maybe it will help someone else to see the warning signs.

 

I had a prolonged time of stomach problems.  Runny stool, but I did account that to stress as I started a new job in April this year, and the problem started in July.

I took an antibiotic and that helped, but as soon as I stopped drinking the antibiotics it returned.  The other curve ball was that the city of Tshwane or (however you spell that) sent out a notice of problems with the water supply so that was a bit of false hope.  I started seeing some blood after cleaning, but with the amount of times that I had to visit the loo, bleeding was prone to happen.

 

I was feeling weak and at the height of it, I could not cycle more than 20 km without having to make a dash to the nearest loo.

 

I started showing blood and mucus in my stool, and that was when warning bells started sounding.  I could not get to a Dr as we were busy with a huge project at work, but the one Tuesday morning, I could not take the pain anymore.  We did not have water at the office, and I thought I injured my bladder holding out to take a wee, and then bumping into a table.

 

So on the visit the doctor pressed here and there, and I told him of the blood, and he pressed some more and I almost pooped his table from the pain.  He found some blood in my urine, but it was nominal.  Gave me some antibiotics and pain meds (the pain meds does not help for the pain) and off I went and was to see him on the Thursday.

 

So Thursday breaks and there is a crap load of blood in the loo.  So decided not to skip the doctors visit.

 

Get there, he asks me a few questions and gives me a letter to go for a colonoscopy.

 

Few other details that pissed me off at the doctor, but went for the colonoscopy last week.  While I was still in recovery the Dr spoke to my wife and scared the **** out of her (I do not have medical aid) and his first words were, "it is going to cost a lot of money"

 

So if you see any blood, where there is suppose to be no blood...  GO SEE A DOCTOR.  Do not take a chance with it!

HUGE respect for this candid reply...many thanks

[the nerd]

Who is the said second well respected doc? If you don't mind sharing.

 

Dr Peter Harden at Donald Gordon.

[RobertWhitehead]

I've stumbled across this discussion purely because I'm scared "s***less" of something like this happening to me. I suppose one just take it one step at a time, just another hurdle to clear and it kinda puts life into perspective. One can get all emotional and negative about why it happened to you / or oneself but does that help? 

 

The answer is a resounding no and mother nature or the universe doesn't discriminate, your body is an amazing machine that can withstand massive amounts of pressure and I am 100% sure that you being a cyclist know that already  . 

 

My advice even though not medical is this: 

 

"We are ruled by what we believe whether it's true or not" 

 

So keep up the positive thoughts through this tough time and don't be "proud / strong / stupid / hard headed" - to ask for help where ever you can get it. This is not something which you can face on your own

 

All the best and if there is anything I can do please feel free to shout. 

Edited November 29, 2018 by RobertWhitehead

[Dazshell]

Dr Peter Harden at Donald Gordon.

A good mate of ours.  Couldn't find a more solid oke anywhere!

[sunchaser]

Hang in there son!

[gtr1]

I just want to thank everyone for their good wishes and all the messages. 

 

Some days are better than others.  Today is a very bad and painful day.

 

One glimmer of hope.  I am allowed to cycle and it is advised to keep active and going to keep this stupid brain busy.

 

I say stupid brain because the thoughts and ideas it concocts is the worst.

Cois, this is he toughest time, when you know you have Cancer and before you know what treatment you require. As you say, your mind goes crazy. And as much as people say stay positive, not always the easiest thing to do. I conjured up images of how I would look bald etc? But it helps if the people around you are positive and supportive. My daughter promised me she would get me a nice wig.

 

In the end, when I saw the dr! and had a plan! it was much better. My GP said, it is a process and we just have to go through it.

 

People without cancer don't quite understand the feelings. I was one of those, and now I am on the other side of the fence. A whole different reality.

 

As for treatment, once you know, ask about any clinical trials on the go. If you can get on one they cover all the costs.

[Shebeen]

I don't want to post this but received the dreaded phone call yesterday with the confirmation.

I have been diagnosed with colon cancer. They found a 10cm tumour

 

Currently, I am still a little shocked, but it is one of those things. And all the signs were there the past weeks.

 

 

My father got esophagus cancer, had the op to get it out, lost half his stomach but 8 years later is doing just fine. he even rides a bike now and then, I can't convince him yet that there's no shame being a 76year old ebike rider.

 

While it is a terrible call to get, the later it comes the worse it could have got.

We used the power of positive thinking, for what it's worth.

 

I would go 100% with what your doc says, over any 2c from us!