Secondary Cancer confirmed I dont know what to

[EachandEveryone]

Im numb. I went to the haemotolgist with a lump in my groin 5cm. He really thought it was lymphoma and was direct that it would be cancer. The biopsy was sent off a week ago. And hes just rang its mestatic. Its like a dream. I feel fine. Thats it for me isnt it? Im only 55 where could it be from?

So sorry to hear your news. Have you been given a treatment plan or date to discuss one?

I had a friend where they only ever found a secondary and never a primary. I think they concluded it was probably initially testicular. He had treatment after that diagnosis and lived another 30 years.

No i will have a scan then oncology

Oh wow, I’m so sorry to hear that. Have they discussed next steps?

So sorry to hear this. Secondary cancer is by no means a death sentence these days. I know a woman who has lived with secondary liver cancer for the past 25 years. You need to talk with your consultant and hear your treatment plan.

Just these OP {{{{oooo}}}}

Do they know where the primary is op? Many cancers are still curable or controllable for many years even if they have metastasized.

My sister recently found a lump, which turned out to be a melanoma metastasised from elsewhere. On further investigation there were numerous small tumours in lymph nodes etc.

I am not exaggerating when I say that she started immunotherapy a week or so later, and after one dose the tumours disappeared. She has had some side effects which have needed steroid treatment etc but nothing like chemo. She will now be scanned every 3 months for the next few years.

Metastases isn't necessarily the end, but the waiting period must be hell.

@EachandEveryone

Make a list of all your questions so you can go through them when you go to your appointments. My Mum also recorded her appointments having asked permission, as.it helped her remember what was said when she got home.

What a terrible shock. Do you have supportive friends or family?

I havent told anyone yet they are all expecting me to have lymphoma. Now do I stay in London or go home up north?

Sorry, that's shit news. Do you know what sort of scan you will be having?

So sorry for what you are going through. I would stay in London at least initially until you know what the primary is. A lot of the clinical trials are London based which might be an option. Can you get someone to come down and be with you for the appointment, hopefully it's good news and they can locate and treat the primary 🤞🏻

I'm sorry that you've had this news. I would stay in London until you've had more tests I think.

So sorry to hear this. Do you have family or close friends in London you can see this weekend, or is everyone in the North?

I'm very sorry to hear this OP, what awful news for you.

You will have a lot of questions and the answers don't come soon enough. Your mind will be racing.

It may or may not help to know that I know of people who have overcome secondary (in their case lymph nodes), so there are happy stories (even if they are the fewer cases). I have a relative who has been living many more years due to chemo and targeted drugs (they have secondary cancer). Wishing you healing 💐

I hope you can be close to your support network

For the moment, I'd stay in London, but only if you feel OK in yourself to do this.

I found a lump in my groin and trotted off to the GP's - I had lymphoma. I felt fine throughout all of it so it was a big shock.

I've been treated and now on immunotherapy, but I got a possible 2 for 1 as on scan they found another tumour which needed investigating.

It's scary as fuck hearing the news it is a secondary, but take it from me, step away from Google, the studies quoted there are all outdated and take it a day at a time. You're going to have says where you are up and down, roll with it. If you want to cry, do so.

Steroids send me a bit crazy when I was having chemo 🙃, but I'm out the other side and having immunotherapy now.

Many many friends have had secondaries and responded well, we're not talking 2 - 3 years and doing OK but 15 - 25 years and still going, many had secondary cancers.

Deep breathe, come join the Cancer support thread if you want too, but also there are a lot of cancer support charities out there who can help if you need it.

You're in the system now and this is a good thing, things will start to happen and once you get a plan it's gives you a clear path.

All the best OP. x

So sorry to hear your news. There's a cancer support thread 84 under general health where quite a few of us with cancer are who can help support you. I would ask the hospital about further tests, if you live a distance away it may be better to go back and get tests done there but would make sure aren't delays.

I would ask the hospital for the likely prognosis and treatment. I have breast cancer and that at stage 4 is treatable but not curable.

So sorry to hear this. Slightly different but I've just been diagnosed with an aggressive grade 3 breast cancer. I'm 34 and very shocked. I have been scared by all the recent talk of NHS cancer backlogs but that hasn't been my experience so far. I only got the results of my biopsy a week ago and have had a MRI already and have an appointment with an oncologist on Monday to discuss and agree to my treatment. Hopefully you will be able to get some answers soon.
Not knowing is the hardest bit because your mind fills in the blanks with the worst case scenario.

I just distracted myself as much as possible and in as many ways as possible until I knew anything for definite. It sounds as though some other posters have been able to give you some reassurance about secondary cancer. Don't Google what it could be. I wasn't expecting as bad a diagnosis as I got and I googled something and threw up. I now only ask the nurses all of my questions.

So sorry. As to whether to go up north, depends where, Manchester has the Christie which is world class, don't know about others. I would personally wait until you know what you are facing, some specialists are only in major centres

So sorry to hear this. Please call Macmillan if you need to talk through things. It’s what they are there for.

So sorry to hear this OP.

I would go wherever you have the best support, that's absolutely vital at this point, we have excellent hospitals and oncologists up north. Come and join the cancer thread.

My local hospital would be Barnet/Royal Free/UCLH i have many dear friends from work here. Im torturing myself wondering where the primary is.

So sorry to hear this OP