[Closed] I think I'm about to be diagnosed with cancer, and I'm fairly scared.

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 [url= http://www.cancerbackup.org.uk/Aboutcancer ][b]MacMillan Website[/b][/url] 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.

I've no experiences to share, just wanted to say good luck.

crikey - that's spot on. Very nicely put.

It sucks there are so many people here who've had first hand experience of this kind of situation, doesn't it?

Strange old world,i sit hear reading and writeing stuff to strangers and from strangers,that ive never met,then all of a sudden a thread like yours appears,and it makes it all worthwhile,reading and takeing the time to respond,reading others responces.#

Then i suddenly realise we all have one thing that binds us together,we`re cyclists,and we ride bikes.

BEST WISHES FOR THE RESULTS,and for the future,to you both.

Lean on each other, no-one else will really understand what you're going through. I was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer, and Sue and I have fought it together. I think I had the easy job, I had the treatment to focus on. I don't think I always realised how scared my wife was.
Make notes, When I was told what I had, some phrases seemed to blot out everything else, and after the consultation we could hardly remember what had been said, and there were a lot of decisions to be made.
You will get sick of the phrase " emotional rollercoaster ".
I think crikey said the same thing but he put it more eloquently.

Best wishes fella, whatever happens.

I hope they find the cause of your complaint and can correct it quickly and simply.

I wish you the very best of luck and a speedy recovery.

All the best.
I'm guessing that age and fitness is on your side.

I.M.E ask as many questions that you can and find out as much info. when you are diagnosed.

Good Luck Cycling Brother.

you are right to stay positive,i was diagnosed earlier this year & after succesful radiotherapy all is going ok.
the doctors in halifax hospital have been exellent & i hope you get a similar care.

i have 2 very small children so i stayed positive for them. thankfully the cancer did not spread into my lymph nodes as they caught it early.

this was all down to a mole on my back that a dermatologist told me to get checked in a swimming pool.

good look i will be thinking of you tommorow mate & it sounds like you too have the love of a god women which helps.

your lady will need to stay strong as i found it tough when other people broke down it just made it seem worse.

yes there will be days when you can,t even muster the energy to crack a smile.

Make notes, When I was told what I had, some phrases seemed to blot out everything else, and after the consultation we could hardly remember what had been said, and there were a lot of decisions to be made.

I have no advice or experience. I can only say all the best Mark.

Nothing to offer but best wishes.

I can't offer much... I was diagnosed with prostate cancer three years ago so know the shock, even the anticipation of the diagnosis -- of the doc using that "c" word can be pretty scarey but best of luck and of course please let us all know how you get on.

don't know if you believe in it but you'll be in my prayers.

( and others.. please don't turn this into a religion/anti religion thread )

I just gave up smoking, what feeble minded selfish **** I am.

Good luck and dont accept everything the doctors say, make then explain and ask questions.

Hope all goes well
it kinda puts everything else into perspective

i can offer nothing but healing vibes from me and my thoughts are deffo with you.

i wish you all the best of luck mate!!!when your better,if you're ever around devizes wilts,we could meet up for a mtb excursion(although you'll be way fitter than i am haha!!!)best of luck!!!adam

this is my story: [url= http://thediaryofafurball.blogspot.com/ ]fur balls[/url] start at the oldest post and work on from there. if you want to get in touch feel free.

I'm off back to the hospital now, hopefully to get some sleep.

Thanks to all of you. I'm not too sure how today would have gone without your advice and words.

'Til tomorrow!

Mark

All the best to you. Keep us updated.

Love, mrsf.

Get in there and hit it head on. Loads of my family members have had cancer and heart problems but they all take the angle of giving it laldy and working through it.

Just keep your head and make lots of lists. Deal with things as they come and keep calm.

Good luck tomorrow fella. And to your partner too.

Markd

All the best and good luck dude.

I can only add to the long list of 'good lucks", I hope that things turn out well.

Mark, my heart goes out to you & your family.

Don't despair, it's not confirmed yet.

Back to May, 2001. I too started suffering from shortage of breath and feeling dogshit. From being always being first at the sprint station in circuit training suddenly I was down with the plodders. Bike power just went out of me too. Ends up I'd got pneumonia, admitted to Queen's Park hospital Blackburn and had chest x-ray. Right chest cavity full of fluid. My then wife was told (unknown to me at the time) to expect the worst - C - and anything else was a bonus. Cat scan showed nothing I'm pleased to say other than empaema, basically an absess on the lung. I honestly thought I was dying. Chest drain fitted and wait for it to empty. Trouble was it had solidified and had squashed the base of the lung, hence shortage of breath.

Blackpool Victoria next for lung op, raked out all the crap. 4 months before I could go near the bike. Eventually the day came when I got my life back and started training again.

Guess I was one of the lucky ones. I'm back as fit as I was then enjoying life (I can still beat those kids on the sprints!) but never ever take my health for granted.

Hope you can draw a scrap of comfort from this and you get a good result on Monday.

Graham

best of luck and hope it all works out fella...

oh boy.crossing bridges and all that..

i dont know where to start.but seeing as how youve already got over bridge No1 by finding out what this all is,the next step,bridge crossing No2, is over the next day or so.. dont worry about anything else.

i will be back,along with all the others on here over the next day or so to see how you got on at bridge No 2 ;O)

i better go dry my eyes now.

don't know if you believe in it but you'll be in my prayers.

Same here, me and the kids will be talking to JC and lifting you up in our prayers.
Loads of love
Lou x

Like others I have no advice to offer, except that a diagnosis is the first step to working on the cure.

Will be thinking of you.

Good luck Mark - Stay strong no matter what.

My father-in-law was diagnosed with C 5 weeks ago.

My thoughts are with you.

HI Mark,

I've been clear now for 7 years (testicular, both barrels).I'm no expert but some thoughts based on my experience.

At the moment you've no diagnosis so try not to worry. Easier to type than do.

If the NHS staff that looked after me are anything to go by then you're in good hands.

I guess Meg will be with you when you see the doctors, you'll both have loads of questions so best to write your thoughts down before, as a reminder not as some sort of form for the doctor. No question will be the wrong thing to ask and they will have had them all before. I went alone to my first meeting and wish I'd taken notes on what I was told. In some cases you can get info from NHS direct if you think of things after seeing the doctors at your local hospital.

Macmillan staff are worth their weight in gold. Talk to them, they will help you both.

When using the web for information be aware that UK treatment may be different to that in the US (for example), if was for my diagnosis.

In the CT machine don't look at the red flashy light 😉 and definitely (this is important) DON'T go for a piss if you're half way through drinking some odd tasting liquid for the technicians in the CT scanner. I did for my first one and ended up having an injection of a marker dye that gave me the odd sensation of wanting to go for a piss through my left big toe. Only way I can describe it, very, very odd.

Hang in there.

Good luck.

Good luck wishes here

sorry, that's all I've got to offer; I hope it all goes way better than you fear

guy in my office had it. Had a few ops and happy to say he survived ok.
Has regular check ups now.

Take each day as it comes. Be strong!

good luck is all i can say, stay strong and happy!

*offers a hig*

thinking of you.

All the best.

I can offer no sage advice.

Just best wishes.

Good luck, and stick at it. Thoughts and prayers are with you.

Hi Mark and Meg,

Hope you are both doing well this morning. I am not sure whether you will read this before or after you get some news from the scan etc. but I hope it goes OK and I have everything crossed that it is something less sinister and easily fixable.

I am 9 Years in remission from Lymphoma now, and whilst never going to get my elite racing license I am riding hard and still much fitter than the vast majority of the population! Not really sure what advice I can give, just that no matter how bad things seem or how dark the outlook appears, there's always hope. I didn't have a girlfriend at the time and that was actually a surprsingly hard part, so you are already lucky in that respect. Fortunately I have the best family and friends, so there were still plenty of good times mixed in with the inevitable hard ones, and now it really is just an amusing set of pub stories and a load of benefits as to how I treat others and live my life.

That's kind of my abridged version of what I would write in a surviviors book.

I know it probably sounds wierd, but during my treatment years I would have been glad of a young person (I'm 31 now...) who was going or had been through similar things to chat things over with. So if you feel like a natter or just want to drop the odd question via email, give me a shout on here.

Best of luck,

Rich

Difficult times but take strength from all that has been said above and very best wishes dude.

Nothing i can say that hasn't been said, but good luck, i hope everything works out ok.

My wife's had cancer twice and survived - you're both in my prayers.