Been investigated for cancer - how 'relaxed' would you be?

[BonyT]

I have a pain, on going for some time, thought I'd better find out what it is. The first time I've been to the GP in 5/6 years, so I'm not generally anxious about health, just trying to be sensible.

She's sending me for blood tests to rule out ovarian cancer, and a scan to check for abnormalities in my womb and ovaries. I got the impression she thinks it's more likely to be cysts than cancer.

So would you be mildly concerned but get on with life with it barely passing your mind apart from attending the appointments, or fearing the worst and unable to focus on anything, or something else in-between?

I ask because I'm not sure whether to tell anyone for fear of setting off panic especially in my parents .

I don't think there's a right way to be - you feel how you feel, and that's fine. If you are able to get on with distracting things, that's probably helpful. Is there someone you can tell who isn't your parents, who might not catastrophise, but who you can tell your fears and worries to?

I'm sorry you're having to go through this. It sounds worrying, but it also could be fine. But that uncertainty is worrying in itself.

I have recently been through this and didn't tell family. A few years ago, I would've done, but then I went through it all with DH (his was cancer). It took months to diagnose and the pressure from a well-meaning family just made things worse. When I found myself undergoing testing too, I only told one close friend and no-one else, I put it at the back of my mind and just got on with things. I knew from previous experience that worrying about things didn't change the outcome, what will be, or will be. That was the right decision for me. I think all you can do is do what feels right for you. I hope you get news soon and that it is as positive as it can be.

I think I would make a conscious effort to be as relaxed as possible, which I know is rather contradictory. But also because I feel that cancer is definitely not the worst diagnosis to receive.... if we were talking about dementia it might be a bit different.
But, ultimately, worrying changes nothing, so it's best avoided.

I didn't even tell my husband until I needed a biopsy.

Why?

I can't imagine havimg a doctors appointment and not telling him, in passing, at the end of the day.

Going for tests to rule out cancer is now a very common part of life - and almost all of the time it turns out not to be cancer as the criteria to do a 2WW referral are set to include any possible hint of cancer.

I wouldn't tell my parents unless I had something concrete to tell them.

I wouldn't say anything to anyone until I knew, unless I really needed to (say if the pain stopped me moving, and meant I needed someone to help me get out). I tried to keep busy, and think about it as little as possible while waiting, easier said than done, sometimes.

I’d probably be mildly concerned but not think about it too much - I had a similarish scenario earlier this year where a tumour was an option but it was likely to be something else, as it was. I definitely would not tell my parents as my mother is the kind of person who panics and wouldn’t have slept for weeks worrying about it.

I've just been through similar the 2 ww I was fine and carried on life as normal until the day before appointment then I started panicking and the what ifs crept in

This, try to re-frame to “to rule out cancer”. It’s hard though. I’ve been on the 2ww 3x, all 3 turned out to be something non malignant, as most are, but it was stressful at the time.
Hugs ❤️

I’m on the 2ww for an issue . But it’s going to be 16 weeks.
Just carrying on and hoping for the best .
My friend says she’s very “witchy”and is sure I’m fine so that’s ok then !
🤣
Got to keep cheerful!

I’m on the 2ww right now and doing my best not to freak out, it’s been two days and they’ve offered me an appointment next week that I can’t make (as I’ll be on a plane) so they are moving people around so that I can be seen before then. How do you NOT freak out? I’ve told my husband and sister who are being sensible and supportive but my head is all over the place.

I had fast track for scan, then fast track for hysteroscopy then fast track for hysterectomy. I was told risk of cancer/reason for speed etc but at no time did I contemplate it. I decided that it was fibroid until proved otherwise. And it was indeed fibroids
I can't explain why I decided that.

Im on a 2ww, appt at the hospital tomorrow, and haven't told anyone. I work in health care and GPs say that they rarely suspect cancer, they just need it ruled out (or in).
Ill tell DH this evening. Am just living my life perfectly normally at the moment!

I’ve recently been diagnosed and didn’t tell anyone (inc DP) until I knew one way or another.
I didn’t tell my DP as he can’t cope and I needed to concentrate on myself rather than having to be his ‘rock’
Unfortunately I don’t have any close friends or other family members that I could tell.

I found a breast lump. I didn't worry as I know most things turn out to be nothing. I told my employer as I needed a few hours off to get to the appointment but didn't tell anyone else because I didn't see the point when it was likely to be nothing. All was fine.

I didn't discuss any tests until I had results. I didn't tell anyone i was going for tests/scans.

I told my husband when I was in the scan waiting room after they found a lump - but that was it, until the biopsy confirmed it was a tumour and I needed an op. Then I told my children.

My children both flew out to be with me for the op, which I truly appreciated. My daughter filled the freezer.

I NEVER told my mother. (She was 89).

I’d tell my DH but I tell him anything (plus he’d have had to have taken me). Other than that, there’s no point telling anybody anything until you know what’s going on. As a pp has said, it’s pretty standard to be sent for tests to rule out cancer when things start going wrong.

I’ve been through this and been alongside a friend.

I think they put you in the 2 week pathway to begin with to screen things out. As your Dr intimated, she thinks cysts likely, but is doing all the screening to cover everything off.

In our cases, it was indeed tests that eliminated cancer.

I hope you get the same result.

Obviously once the risk is raised it’s there… hold tight OP.

Now? I’m fairly relaxed about it. I am, apparently, a lumpy boobed person who also randomly bleeds very occasionally for no reason that can be identified.
I’ve been on the 2w pathway 5 times. First time I was utterly paralysed with fear, second time very worried, third time…..I thought I’d be ok, by the fourth time, I just thought what will be will be.
I am incredibly fortunate that I’ve been referred and checked all those times. I hang on to that and if anything else crops up? I’ll go back.
The vast, vast majority of two week referrals are nothing, I hope it’s the same for you op, I know how terrifying it is. Send you good luck xx