Hi All
I feel as if I am never away from my GP. She almost rolls her eyes when I walk in - although she is very nice! It’s just thatI cant rationalise anything anymore and even 3 years on I feel that every pain is bc returning??
I have made an appointment for later as I have had a stomach bug this weekend and although I feel 95% better I still need to go so she can examine me to make sure it’s not bc returning .
I feel like I am going mad - anhone else do this?
Love to all
Alise x
Hi Alise,
I can totally relate this so please don’t feel alone, every little ache or pain is now worrisome and even though I know I’m being paronoid I can’t help it. I’ve been scanned from head to toe and all ok but I have to say I still don’t feel like my old self. My cholesterol is 8.8, painfull thigh, bloods elevated (whatever that means) and have had a few dizzy spells and blackouts so doc looking into those but as yet nothing so I cancelled my last appointment as I’m sure the doc goes ‘not her again’.
I think we’ll just have to live with this fear and hope it gets beeter as time goes on.
Me too …I feel like a hypochodriac a year after DX …every ache ,pain you name it I panic …I have just had a load of blood tests as I am totally exhausted and am agony all the time
Good to know I aint alone thankfully my GP is a really understanding woman xxxxxxxxxxxxx
I am just the opposite I haven’t been to the doctors about any symptoms since dx. I must say I have cancer every day in a different site. Every twinge ache spot and I am convinced it’s back I choose to be an ostrich and bury my head in the sand. I am due for my appointment with onc and surgeon thisweek and am dreading it. I don’t want to know!!! xx Eileen
If you go on the website for Cancer Research they have a list of things to look out for depending on what type of cancer you’ve had. It gives details of type of pain, location of pain etc and it might put your mind at rest. I found it very useful, but I haven’t looked at it for ages.
I’m rather like Eileen. Naturally I do wonder what every ache and pain means, but realistically I do know that most will be just that…aches and pains. Perhaps you really do need to try to rationalise things a bit more-if you’re 95% better after a tummy bug…then you’ll soon be 100% better.Worrying about the cancer returning at every twinge is impacting negatively on your emotional well being. 3 years post diagnosis will probably mean that you’re still being checked regularly, so that should give you some confidence?
Incidentally, I’m not trivialising your worries-it’s still earlyish days-and as I have mets to lung, liver and bone, I would never suggest that any of us should be complacent. But there does come a time, when we have to move on from it slightly-otherwise it’ll dominate your life, and that’s not good!
Hi Alise.
I feel just the same, I have been to the doc’s more times than I care to remember, I also feel she is mentally raising her eyes as I walk in.
Although it has been three years since I had my cancer, I was told I was high risk of it returning ,and that’s all I can think of,it’s like waiting for the axe to descend!!
It’s a comfort to know I am not alone in these feelings,and am not going mad!! Marychrisx
I can soooo identify with all of you. I will be 3 years in Jan but have spent most of this year worrying about every ache and pain every day, and am getting convinced it has actually come back but no one is finding it 
Its so hard as we don’t know what to look for or how we should feel.
I think that’s where websites like this are invaluable as they tell you the signs and symptoms of secondary breast cancer.
I think its with everything - if you have an ache or pain and if it doesn’t go away 2 or so weeks later then that’s the time to check out with your GP.
The problem is we don’t have the normal markers of people who haven’t had a diagnosis and it’s understandable to feel anxious but sometimes it’s because of the treatment we’ve had or the fact that we’re just getting older!
I had ten good years of remission and enjoyed every moment of it. I’ve now been living with secondaries for the past 4 years and still enjoying my life.
I remember talking to an older lady once I’d finished all my treatment the first time round and I asked her how she coped with going forward and she said that none of us know what’s round the corner and we could all live to a great age and what a shame it would be to worry unnecessarily about something that might not happen.
I think as long as you are aware of the signs and symptoms that’s the first step - a bit like with primaries
I dont visit my gp very often, she has rung me every 4 mths or so since my secondary diag to see how I am doing. Yesterday my husband rang her as I had a high temp and felt a bit ropey for the past couple of days. She put me first on her list of visits gave me a good going over, wanted me to go to hospital but when I asked would I pick up more bugs there than at home and her reply was possibly, we decided I would wait until today and go to onc. She gave me antibiotics as she thinks its an infection but could not tell where from. Had it confirmed today I have a nasty infection told to get plenty of rest and call then if I need them. We are all different, I think if you were prone to visit for coughs and sneezes before bc once it is confirmed you will be really worried with aches and pains and want confirmation that it isnt something nasty.
Love Debsxxx
I’ve rarely seen my GP after my B.C treatment finished in 2005 (chemo and radiotherapy) However yesterday I visited the G.P’s surgery yesterday as I had a mark on my back which has changed colour, ie pink and crusty around the edges.
After the GP examined it, her words were ‘it doesnt look right’ and will refer me to see a skin specialist. I asked her
how long I would have to wait for an appt and she said ‘I dont know, could be up to 3 months’ I expressed suprise
as given my history I would have thought I could be seen quicker (Im still under observation at the Breast Clinic, but my
next appt is not until next April) Her reply was ‘only if its suspected B.C, then its a two week rule, other than that, you
have to wait the same as everyone else’ She was really dismissive and very cold. Did nothing at all to allay my fears and
like some of you, I felt she was mentally rolling her eyes up! Am I being too demanding or is that normal procedure?
I have emailed my Breast Cancer nurse to see if the process can be speeded up as I really dont want to be worrying for 3 months! The shadow of B.C never really leaves you…eh! Kathyx
Ask your GP if there is a possibility of skin mets-that should focus her mind!
Normal Procedure is a term I refuse to accept as with bc we are no longer normal, we cant wait for appointments to come through in a couple of weeks, months. This is time we cannot afford to waste. I am never rude, demanding or pushy(well I hope I am not) but as an ex sales person I dont do open questions. Eg on Tuesday the onc said I would be refered to CT dept, no letter yet this morning so I have just rung to make sure they have had the request. Was told yes it is here can you come in the morning. I will ring onc on Tues to check results. I know some will think that is demanding, but I am on borrowed time as they say. I say I want to borrow more PLEASE.
Love Debsxxx
Hi Alise,
I can so understand why you must feel that you are at the GP’s more often than not and like the
other ladies it is always safe to get things checked out.
In saying that if you life is being taken over with constant day to day worry of every little
ache or pain do you think you might need a bit of counserling help just to move
you forward and away from what you have been through.
I’m only saying this as like pinkdove has written…
what a waste of life if you spend it worrying about mets and it dosnt acctully happen.