I Have Cancer! Now What?

Part 2 of Having the Cancer Conversation

What is cancer? 

 Definition: According to the Oxford Dictionary, cancer is a disease caused by an uncontrolled division of abnormal cells in a part of the body. 

That’s just a definition out of the dictionary though.

 What is cancer really?

Yes, cancer is a disease, but it is also so much more.

Cancer is a word that can stop you in your tracks.

Cancer is a disease that doesn’t care about your plans.

Cancer is a test. Every.  Single.  Day.

So, what has happened to make you think you have cancer? Did you find a lump? Are you having unexplained bleeding? Are you extremely weak and fatigued?

No matter what symptoms you have, the first thing you need to do is find out if indeed you do have cancer.

And how do you go about doing just that?

PCP

The first thing you should do is to make an appointment with your PCP. This will be the first step of your cancer journey, but it will definitely not be the last step.

When you go to the appointment you will understandably be quite nervous. To make your appointment most productive, you will want to go to the appointment prepared.

What should you take with you on your appointment?

Take a written description with you outlining everything you have experienced up to this point that has made you suspicious that you have cancer.

• Begin with the date you first noticed something out of the ordinary. Did you brush across your chest and feel a lump? Have you been experiencing headaches, or a headache that is different from any headache you have had in the past? Do you have a patch of skin that remains dry or flaky no matter how much lotion you apply to it?

• List every symptom you feel and how it makes you feel. Every symptom is potentially important including the embarrassing ones like constipation or a leaky milk duct.

• Is there anything that makes the symptom feel better or worse? You’re so tired you feel like you could sleep for a week, but even with a good night’s sleep, you wake up still tired. You try to push through the fatigue only to collapse on the couch in a heap of exhaustion.

• Describe the impact these symptoms have on you. Are you missing work due to your symptoms? Are you avoiding family get-togethers because you don’t have the energy?

Sample: On January 3 I felt a painful lump on my left shoulder while rolling over in bed. The pain is deep and dull but feels more intense when I press on the area. I also feel pain when I move my left arm. When the pain gets worse, I sometimes feel nauseated. I can’t carry my purse on my left shoulder anymore. Lately, the pain has been keeping me from getting a good night’s sleep, especially if I roll onto my left shoulder. I have tried over-the-counter pain meds which helped some at first. I am feeling anxious due to a lack of sleep lately.

If you can, it is helpful to take a friend or family member to the appointment with you for a few reasons.

• It’s nice to have the company.

• Your friend or family member may remember some symptoms that you have forgotten or not even noticed.

• It’s helpful to have your friend take notes while you and the doctor talk. This allows you to focus more on what the doctor is saying and not try to remember everything that was said.

What to expect from your PCP:

First, your doctor will listen to your story and then examine you.

Palpation: They will palpate (touch with a gentle firmness) to feel for any lumps, tenderness, unusual abdominal firmness, and other symptoms.

Auscultate (listen with a stethoscope) to listen for any unusual sounds in your lungs, abnormal heart sounds, or abnormal abdominal sounds.

Depending on where on your body the cancer is, they will perform whatever other examination techniques are necessary.

Next, depending on what they find, they may order some tests such as bloodwork, an x-ray or other imaging, and possibly a biopsy.

You will most likely have a follow-up appointment to discuss the results of the tests once they come back.

Follow-up appointment

Good news! There is an explanation for your symptoms other than cancer.

Or…

The symptoms you have either confirm or are suspicious of, cancer.

Now what?

You will most likely be referred to the appropriate specialist for further treatment.

For example, for that dry patchy skin, you may be referred to a dermatologist.

For abnormal uterine bleeding, you may be referred to a gynecologist.

Or you may be sent to an oncologist or surgeon.

What to expect next?

The specialist you go to will review your records and may order more tests to confirm the type and extent of your condition.

Some tests they may want you to have done include:

Blood tests to look for specific cancer markers.

Genetic testing

Imaging such as a CT scan, MRI, or other tests.

Perhaps a biopsy

Whatever tests you have next, waiting for the results to return is often more difficult than the test itself.

The next step

Once your specialist has the information they need, they can advise you of their treatment plan.

If your cancer is contained, an operation may be all you need to rid your body of cancer. But if your cancer is more involved, surgery may be just one step in your treatment plan. Other treatments that may be necessary include chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiation treatments, and more.

Cancer is a word that can stop you in your tracks.

Cancer may be a minor medical condition for you, or it may be life-altering.

You will have a lot to consider as you and your doctor devise the best plan to treat your cancer.

In the next post, we will discuss how to have the cancer conversation with your medical team as well as your family, your friends, and yourself.

Wishing you all the best,

Kelly

 Are your cancer screenings up to date?

Yes, I am a nurse. No, I am not your nurse. The medical topics discussed in this, or any article on this site, are intended to be issues for you to discuss with your medical team if you feel they apply to you. None of the information you are about to read in this article is treatment advice for you from me. I do not have that authority.