I have had a tight chest for several months now. Did the L2B, seemed okay, but have found it increasingly difficult to function on a respiratory level.I'm a fairly fit PE teacher too, and don't smoke or drink.

Went to the local GP around four weeks ago, and told her that I was constipated, unable to breathe properly and having severe stomach cramps. She suggested that it might be stress, and to see what happens. Went back a week later, and she gave me something for the constipation, and agreed to send me for an x-ray to look for the chest problem. So I went, had the x-ray done.

I was due to go back to the GP the following Tuesday for bloods and an ECG, but got a call from the GP telling me that there were serious issues with the x-ray. I was then referred to the cardiac specialist at East Sussex and Kent Hospital yesterday, where they proceded to drain nearly a litre of fluid from around my heart. So I stayed in overnight with a drain in my chest, feeling happy that the problem had been solved.

The resident doctor came in to see me this morning, and told me that, whilst the draining of the fluid was successful, the fluid was heavily contaminated with blood, which in his opinion was 'grave'. When I asked whether this could be cancer, he said that it was highly probable and to prepare myself for the worst after the results of a CT scan on Monday.

So I'm at home now, comforting my other half, and getting ready to go back to hospital tonight (I have to stay in tonight and tomorrow night, but they relented on making me stay during the day).

I'm not out for pity, and think I'm pretty positive as people go. I won't be able to check this topic, as the hospital doesn't have internet access, but I'd welcome advice/experiences/words of wisdom from you folk. I'll be able to check tomorrow during the day, and it'd cheer me up a bit, but don't feel obliged.

Ta guys,

Mark (petesgaff)

Good luck mate, keep your chin up.

blimey, really sorry to hear that. Here's hoping it's not as serious as that and is treatable. Good luck.

OH mate, hit it head on and stay focused on getting better, Will be thinking of you and will keep an eye on this thread to see how your doing once your back fighting fit mate I'll buy you a pint post ride!!! 😆 best of luck.

Stay positive take it day by day, good luck got fingers crossed for you.

Sounds very scarey, but at least you're getting this problem diagnosed/treated soon.
Stay strong and good luck mate

"but I'd welcome advice/experiences/words of wisdom from you folk"

Cant give you any of these but Good luck…I hope it's treatable.

Man that must be so scary. Got everything crossed for you mate.

Mark – both my Grandad and my Dad's sister-in-law were diagnosed with cancer, they caught it early enough and with a lot of hard work they beat it. Like most people on here I am not an expert in these sorts of matters so can only offer you plenty of luck and best wishes.

Oh my, I too hope that you have good luck and it turns out to be something else, and/or th treatment goes well.

I have no first hand experience but perhaps it is worth reading some of the 'cancer survivor' type books, Lance's for example. That guy survived so there would seem to be hope in even dire circumstances. Also find out a much as you can about your illness and the different types of treatment, some understanding will hopefully give you some feeling involvement in your treatment choices? That would seem a good thing to me, even if just for good mental attitude.

Very best of luck.

good luck .

That's terrible news but I hope you get lots of help and support from the hospital. Can't begin to imagine what your going through and what your feeling but hope you can stay strong and somehow you can keep your chin up. Good luck and all the best.

Very sorry hear that and hope it turns out good.

Based on my own personal experience when I was 18 I was diagnosed with a bone tumour in my right femur, it was explained to me that these are extremely rare for someone my age and when they did occur they are very likely to be cancerous and prognoses wouldn't be good if it was. I prepared myself for the worst and thought that's what it would be, of course I told my family not to worry things will be fine. However, I'd already made decisions on what treatment I'd want if it was and what I'd like to do.

I was fortunate 2 weeks after it was removed I found it was benign and there was no evidence of further tumours. So my advice and it's not for everyone is to expect the worst that way things can get better. Oh and just gone through it again with my youngest brother who was told he may have liver cancer, it's now unlikely he hasn't but they couldn't confirm it so he's being kept an eye on.

It's a very scary time for all involved, stress will be high but keep chin up and keep thinking about riding those trails.

All I can offer is that 4 of my family have come through cancer so it can be beaten. Stay strong and good luck.

Good luck fella. Its not Cancer but I have renal failure and after the initial 'fumbling about' I found out as much as I could and tried to keep control of as many aspects of treatment etc as possible. Additionally a positive outlook is essential, surround yourself with positive people and try to avoid the negative ones. It does wonders for how 'well' you feel.

Keep your chin up and hope it all works out.

Can't offer any advice etc but hope it's treatable…Very best of luck

I'm really suprised your blood work hasn't showed anything.

Hope for the best but prepare for the wors

I hope you get better-everyone here is hoping you'll get through! 😀

Was going to avoid the medical side of this as I have to be very careful but your very worried so what the **** HPC can suck on it.

To me sounds a bit like Pericarditis which is caused by many problems.

http://www.patient.co.uk/health/Pericarditis.htm

Hey Mark.

Me and Julian went through a similar situation last year and it's bloody scary when someone tells you that you have cancer. But in some weird way it is something of a relief too – at least then you have a name for this 'thing' that's been making you ill, causing you pain, and you can hit it head on and start fighting back. J was treated for 2 months for the wrong thing (at one point being told categorically that he did not have cancer!) before he was referred to a specialist who said that in fact it was high grade osteosarcoma.

Once you have a diagnosis then you can start thinking about treatment and dealing with this thing.

I hope the diagnosis tomorrow is better than you are expecting and that the prognosis is good. I am thinking positive thoughts for you and yours.

Speaking as 'the one who didn't have cancer' I can say it was the hardest thing I have ever had to endure to see the person who meant most to me in the world going through the pain, unpleasantness and uncertainty of the whole thing and I wished every day that it could be me there in his place. You will be the one the medical team are focussing on and you might feel like shutting out your other half to save them pain and worry. Please don't, the last thing the people who love you want is for you to try to 'man it up' and not talk about how you are feeling.

I wish you well.

T

Don't think there's any words of wisdom I can offer unfortunately, but best of luck for the next few days and the diagnosis. Hope whatever it is the prognosis is better than you fear.

Good luck fella. Like Crouch-potato I have no words of wisdom or experience but hope it's not what you fear.

T..

Very wise words…

Mark, I wish you well… fight it, beat it. 🙂 Easy to say… I know.. You've got to find your strength from where ever you can and who ever you can.. even a forum!
Total respect for you with sharing your thoughts when you must be so worried.

Sincerely
Zone

Bon Courage Mark…..

Maybe you could be the new Lance Armstrong?

SB

good luck mate, all i can say is people beat the bastard more often these days, remember what people like Armstrong went through and how they came out of it. its hit me personally this year, its an evil disease, live long and prosper..

I have the feeling that you may have your faith in humanity restored when you go through your treatment.

You'll know what I mean when you get to the end of it.

Mark

It's very hard not to think about the worse case scenario but you really must try to think & stay positive mate until you are told otherwise. I was visited by the big C this year & as others have said if it is caught early enough then most Cancers are treatable, as you can see/read I'm still here so it must be true.

If you are given the bad news then I can recommend the MacMillan Website which I found to be very informative on the subject & very helpful. I was also helped by two very kind members off STW (you know who you are – Thanks once again) who were kind enough to give me help & support when I was at my lowest, I honestly don't know what I would have done without them. I actually found that 'talking' to someone outside of my immediate family, who had gone through a similar journey, easier than talking to those closest to me who I didn't want to hurt/upset.

If you need/want to talk to someone else mate then my email is in my profile.

Good luck

Thanks Zone. I know of a lot of people who have been diagnosed or been the carer for someone who has, and online forums have been invaluable for just 'getting it out of your system'. Don't underestimate the kindness of forum strangers and the sense they talk – these folk got me through some grim times last year. I can truthfully say they kept me (relatively) sane.

Stay positive and good luck with the docs. All fingers crossed for you in the Coffee household.

Hi,I'm a nurse,I work in respiratory medicine,primary lung ancer is very unusual in non-smokers of your age.Agree with Drac that pericarditis is a likely suspect,but so is lymphoma,which is much more treatable than a lung primary.It is easy to say,but don't panic,wait for the CT,it may not be as bad as you fear.Good luck and all the best wishes,but please wait for the scan result.
Ian

In a similar boat myself so I know how you're feeling. A week before I came out to Oz I had a biopsy on a suss mole. Apparently my "diagnosis letter" is in the post.

Keep talking to people, try not to worry and don't bottle things up.

Best regards,

Mark

best wishes and luck

tim

Focus on the present, focus on today. Yesterday is gone, and not a single of us knows what tomorrow holds for us. All that matters is today.

Good luck, and remember that whilst the diagnosis has not yet been made, your condition is now at least receiving attention – which a much better situation than a few weeks ago.

Thanks folks,

My other half and I have just sat here weeping at all of your responses.

I'll add more details as they come.

Mark and Meg

Thanks folks,

My other half and I have just sat here weeping at all of your responses.

I'll add more details as they come.

Mark and Meg

Please tell Meg if she wants to 'talk' she is more than welcome to email me. So are you, of course, but I think I may be able to relate to her position better than I can yours…

Best of luck to you both.

T

Really hope it's good news for you mate. But if it's not I'd say you'll be in as good a position as anyone to fight it. A friend of mine was diagnosed with multiple cancers caught late a couple of years back, and was given a pretty dire prognosis, incurable etc. I saw him recently just after he'd taken a long tour of Thailand, looking healthier than I'd seen him for years.

I too can only offer best wishes and the oft told "It can be, and is often, beaten. Good luck to you both, hope to see you on the trails soon.

Hey Mark, I hope you give it everything you've got and kick it into touch.. try not to let youre mind wonder, however hard. keep focused on facts you know and double check everything you hear, it might be worth signing onto bupa for fast tracked care if you feeling your not getting enough.

In the mean time funny animals cheers me up 🙂

I was diagnosed with cancer when I was 21. On one of my relapses (age 25 I think) I went for a CT scan and instead of the usual 2 weeks waiting for the results, the doctor came rushing out and told me to go straight to hospital. I had over a liter of fluid around my heart. That was Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Now it may not be this so try and stay calm until you get a complete diagnosis. If it is feel free to contact me for a chat or any advice. I've been clear for two years now. If I can make it through so can anyone.

You'll get more than enough 'keep your chin up' replies, so this is for you to read with Meg;

In lots of ways it's easier to be you, partly because so much of what will happen will be taken out of your hands; you'll be told where to go, and you'll be told what they've found and what they want to do.

Meg doesn't have that structure, she has to follow along and hope and watch and wait, while she feels like she's falling to bits inside, but she can't show it because she doesn't want you to be upset that she's upset.

It's tough and seems to be never ending, and you do need to both get settled into being positive and taking as long a term view as you can.

Above all else, don't despair; it's such a useless emotion; things will either go well or not, and spending time being miserable isn't the best way whatever happens.