Scanxiety: Anyone else having testing now?

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dianetavegia
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Location: Villa Rica, Georgia

Scanxiety: Anyone else having testing now?

Postby dianetavegia » Tue Mar 27, 2018 9:28 am

Tomorrow, March 28th is my every 6 month blood work for tumor markers. It was slightly elevated in the fall but was low enough that it could have been from a sinus infection or hypothyroid (just discovered). The next week is my CT/ MRI, on Tuesday April 3rd. I've been so blessed to have been cancer free for 6 years since my liver met and give God the glory. Anxiety is starting to flare over the blood work and 'what if's'. Please pray my test is back to normal and my scans show no cancer.

Dx'd Jan. 2009 Stage III. Surgery/ chemo. Small liver met found Feb. 20012. Liver Resection April 2012 but no follow up chemo. 2 weeks away from 6 years since liver met and praying the CEA bump was a false positive and all is back to normal.

Diane
Stage III cc surgery 1/7/09. 12 tx FOLFOX
Stage IV PET = 1.5cm liver met. HR 4/11/12

14 years since dx and 11 years post liver resection.
Pronounced CURED and discharged by onc

“O Lord my God, I cried out to You, And You healed me.” Psalms 30:2

heiders33
Posts: 363
Joined: Sat Nov 04, 2017 11:08 am

Re: Scanxiety: Anyone else having testing now?

Postby heiders33 » Tue Mar 27, 2018 9:31 am

I’m due to have post-chemo blood work done mid-April and then a scan sometime in May. I already have scanxiety - plus I just had a 6 month follow up Pap smear because of an abnormal one last summer. Follow up tests showed nothing, but I’m praying that this latest test shows all normal. If it’s not one thing it’s another. Lots of anxiety right now.
40 year-old female
May 2017: Dx rectal cancer T3N2M0
MSS, KRAS G12D
6/17: 28 days chemorad
9/17: LAR/loop ileostomy, CAPOX six rounds
3/18: reversal
9/18: liver met, resection/HAI pump, 11 rounds 5FU, 1 round FUDR
11/19 - local recurrence, brachytherapy, 3 weeks targeted radiation
12/21 - end colostomy

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dianetavegia
Posts: 2731
Joined: Sat May 16, 2009 8:47 pm
Facebook Username: Diane Weldy Tavegia
Location: Villa Rica, Georgia

Re: Scanxiety: Anyone else having testing now?

Postby dianetavegia » Tue Mar 27, 2018 9:48 am

People who've never gone through cancer cannot begin to understand how a number or scan can terrorize us!
Praying you get only awesome results.

As an aside, chemo can cause damage to the vaginal walls and cervix. REPLENS (OTC at Walmart) has been proven by some pretty impressive studies to be as effective as hormone replacement but with no harmful ingredients. You use it every few days or as needed. If you go to their website, you can usually get a coupon.

Diane
Stage III cc surgery 1/7/09. 12 tx FOLFOX
Stage IV PET = 1.5cm liver met. HR 4/11/12

14 years since dx and 11 years post liver resection.
Pronounced CURED and discharged by onc

“O Lord my God, I cried out to You, And You healed me.” Psalms 30:2

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Robino1
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Facebook Username: Robin.lawthers
Location: Florida

Re: Scanxiety: Anyone else having testing now?

Postby Robino1 » Tue Mar 27, 2018 10:23 am

I have CEA test anxiety. I don't think about it until I go to bring up my blood test results on the computer. I hold my breath until I reach the very bottom. It's ALAYS listed at the bottom of the report.

I don't suffer from scanxiety since I already know the cancer is there. I can appreciate that feeling of anxiety because I feel the same each time I get blood done for the CEA marker. I try to limit it to when I go to check my patient portal.

I was really happy to see it go down a bit this last check. :)
At 54 2014 1st colonoscopy colon cancer detect
Colon resect margins clear. No chemo Stage II
2017
Distend abd, pain in intestines.
CT scan seeding & Ascites
Lap diag - cancer on the omentum
CEA 217; 219
FOLFOX started 6/17
CEA 202
8/29/17 CT melting of tumor.
Latest CT scan shows 2 new tumors and return of ascites.
CEA: (2017)9/30 -109; 10/12 -99.1; 11/4 -90.7; 11/30 -70.7; 12/14 -83.4; (2018)1/4 -73.3; 2/1-84.2; 89.2; 89.8; 88.5; 81.8: 93.5; 107; 119
BRAF V600e

Deb m
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Joined: Tue Jan 14, 2014 10:08 am

Re: Scanxiety: Anyone else having testing now?

Postby Deb m » Tue Mar 27, 2018 10:41 am

Don't have any tests or scans coming up, but remember the horrible anxiety I would have with each follow up blood work and scan. It was almost to much to handle. You can't understand it until you've gone thru it!

I will be praying for everybody to receive good news and wishing you all a Holy, Happy Easter!

lovelife789
Posts: 161
Joined: Thu Aug 24, 2017 5:28 am

Re: Scanxiety: Anyone else having testing now?

Postby lovelife789 » Tue Mar 27, 2018 10:46 am

Me! Did the scan yesterday, will see results tomorrow.
Scared is the least powerful word i use to describe my fear now....:I

It is gonna be my third scan since NED! Fingers and toes crossed!!!
F/38 - Dx 8 Mar 17, CEA 189.5
Stage IV Sig. Colon, Liver mets, T3N0M1a, KRAS NRAS Wild
3/17- 6/17 - 6 x FOLFOX + Erbitux
7/17 - 1st & 2nd Liver resec
9-12/17' - 13 x FOLFOX
1-6/18 - NED
6/18 - PET SCAN showed a 0.8mm lung nodule, VATs
8/18 - 4/19 - NED
5/19 - recurrence 1 x PALN, 1x common iliac
FOLFIRI + Avastin x 12 - complete response, SBRT
12/19-5/20 - NED
5/20 - recurrence in LNs, tiny liver spots x 2, W n W due to COVID
8/20 - LNs very slightly increased, liver stable, one new liver spot

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susie0915
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Facebook Username: Susan DeGrazia Hostetter
Location: Michigan

Re: Scanxiety: Anyone else having testing now?

Postby susie0915 » Tue Mar 27, 2018 12:03 pm

I understand. I have my 6 month check with my oncologist in May. Will have my CEA drawn, and I'm sure she'll schedule a scan. Starting to think about it, since I just got back from a 3 week vacation and this is my next event coming up. I hate feeling so anxious. Not so bad right now, but I'm sure it will begin in a couple weeks.
58 yrs old Dx @ 55
5/15 DX T3N0MO
6/15 5 wks chemo/rad
7/15 sigmoidoscopy/only scar tissue left
8/15 PET scan NED
9/15 LAR
0/24 nodes
10/15 blockage. surgery,early ileo rev, c-diff inf :(
12/15 6 rds of xelox
5/16 CT lung scarring/inflammation
9/16 clear colonoscopy
4/17 C 4mm lung nod
10/17 pel/abd CT NED
11/17 CEA<.5
1/18 CT/Lung no change in 4mm nodule
5/18 CEA<.5, CT pel/abd/lung NED
11/18 CEA .6
5/19 CT NED, CEA <.5
10/19 Clear colonscopy
11/19 CEA <.5

Dlroadruck
Posts: 7
Joined: Thu Apr 27, 2017 11:30 pm

Re: Scanxiety: Anyone else having testing now?

Postby Dlroadruck » Tue Mar 27, 2018 12:27 pm

I’m looking at my results right now. “A single, 1cm peripheral density which may be a stalked polyp in the area of resection. Correlation is advised” I have no clue what that might mean :(
3/17 51F CC Stage IIA T3N0M0
4/17 Left hemicolectomy (CEA 1.5)
Low Grade
Tumor size 6.8 x 5.3 x 0.5 cm (splenic flexure)
Waiting on Oncotype DX test results

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dianetavegia
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Facebook Username: Diane Weldy Tavegia
Location: Villa Rica, Georgia

Re: Scanxiety: Anyone else having testing now?

Postby dianetavegia » Tue Mar 27, 2018 12:45 pm

Dlroadruck wrote:I’m looking at my results right now. “A single, 1cm peripheral density which may be a stalked polyp in the area of resection. Correlation is advised” I have no clue what that might mean :(


That's big word speak for 'I think I see something so I'm covering my butt and putting it back on the gastro to prove or disprove.'
Stage III cc surgery 1/7/09. 12 tx FOLFOX
Stage IV PET = 1.5cm liver met. HR 4/11/12

14 years since dx and 11 years post liver resection.
Pronounced CURED and discharged by onc

“O Lord my God, I cried out to You, And You healed me.” Psalms 30:2

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dianetavegia
Posts: 2731
Joined: Sat May 16, 2009 8:47 pm
Facebook Username: Diane Weldy Tavegia
Location: Villa Rica, Georgia

Re: Scanxiety: Anyone else having testing now?

Postby dianetavegia » Tue Mar 27, 2018 12:49 pm

I've been doing this for 9 years now. One would think I could relax and I was doing very well even had overcome 90% of my test anxiety until my CEA went up six months ago. I hate to even share my numbers because my onc says 'Maybe you're just one of those people who always have a high CEA' ... and it only got to 8.5 with my liver met! It was 5.8 six months ago but I'd been sick for 10 weeks with a sinus infection I'd been trying to cure naturally and finally gone for a shot and some antibiotics. The reading was about 10 days after I went in for the infection. At the same time, the onc did my thyroid because I'd read that hypothyroid causes elevated CEA's and when that came back, it was double high normal.
Stage III cc surgery 1/7/09. 12 tx FOLFOX
Stage IV PET = 1.5cm liver met. HR 4/11/12

14 years since dx and 11 years post liver resection.
Pronounced CURED and discharged by onc

“O Lord my God, I cried out to You, And You healed me.” Psalms 30:2

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susie0915
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Facebook Username: Susan DeGrazia Hostetter
Location: Michigan

Re: Scanxiety: Anyone else having testing now?

Postby susie0915 » Tue Mar 27, 2018 3:02 pm

I am praying for good results for you Diane. Keep us posted.
58 yrs old Dx @ 55
5/15 DX T3N0MO
6/15 5 wks chemo/rad
7/15 sigmoidoscopy/only scar tissue left
8/15 PET scan NED
9/15 LAR
0/24 nodes
10/15 blockage. surgery,early ileo rev, c-diff inf :(
12/15 6 rds of xelox
5/16 CT lung scarring/inflammation
9/16 clear colonoscopy
4/17 C 4mm lung nod
10/17 pel/abd CT NED
11/17 CEA<.5
1/18 CT/Lung no change in 4mm nodule
5/18 CEA<.5, CT pel/abd/lung NED
11/18 CEA .6
5/19 CT NED, CEA <.5
10/19 Clear colonscopy
11/19 CEA <.5

lpas
Posts: 1010
Joined: Wed Nov 19, 2014 11:11 pm

Re: Scanxiety: Anyone else having testing now?

Postby lpas » Tue Mar 27, 2018 4:56 pm

I’m with you, Diane! Am in the process of trying to get my annual scan scheduled for Friday or Monday. I know it needs to be done but boy am I not looking forward to it...
I guess ignorance is bliss.

You will be in my thoughts, for sure. Here’s hoping it’s a good outcome for all of us.
11/14 Dx sigmoid CC @ 45yo
12/14 Colectomy + hysterectomy
Stage IIIB, T3N1bM0, 2/20 nodes, MSS, G2, KRAS(A146T), TP53, SMAD4, ERBB2, CEA 1.0
2/15-7/15 XELOX & celecoxib
2/19 clean scope
11/19 clean CT
Ongoing cimetidine & other targeted supplements
Mom to a 6 & 8yo

thubler
Posts: 59
Joined: Tue Sep 27, 2016 9:22 am

Re: Scanxiety: Anyone else having testing now?

Postby thubler » Tue Mar 27, 2018 10:52 pm

Praying for you Diane. I have my 6 month scan on Monday. I'm usually fine prior, its the waiting after that gets to me. My last scan was on a Monday and I didn’t get the results until Friday. It sucked. The two scans prior I had the results within a couple hours both times. The waiting is horrible.
III b CC @ 35 yoa.
two primary tumors on ascending/transverse stage 1 and stage 3.
Lynch Positive
Resection 05/16
2/41 nodes +
FOLFOX 6/16-11/20/16
Clear Endoscopy and Colonoscopy 12/6/16, 02/13/18,01/24/19,02/27/20,02/18/21,05/24/22
CT 02/07/17 enlarged mesenteric node.
Clear PET 02/15/17
Stable CT 06/05/17,10/16/17,04/02/18, 01/08/19, 01/14/20, 01/05/21,03/07/22
Deported 11/03/17

hawkowl
Posts: 132
Joined: Sun Dec 14, 2014 5:29 am
Location: MN/FL

Re: Scanxiety: Anyone else having testing now?

Postby hawkowl » Tue Mar 27, 2018 11:12 pm

Yes next Tuesday. Hate it!
Dx 12/2014 T3N2MX (distant LPLN) low rectal
12/2014-4/2015: FOLFOX (8 cycles)
4/2015-6/2015: 28 cycles of chemoradiation with xeloda, SBRT
8/2015: Robotic APR with iliac node dissection; path showed ypT0,ypN0 (complete pathological response).
11/2015 scans clear, CEA 2.1
11/2015 parastomal hernia repair
3/2016 CEA 1.7, scans stable...
6/2020 5 years of normal CEA and stable scans
Now dealing with pyoderma gangrenosum.
Totally disabled due to oxaliplatin induced neuropathy and dysautonomia

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Shana
Posts: 401
Joined: Sun Jul 30, 2017 9:45 pm
Location: Sonoma, CA

Re: Scanxiety: Anyone else having testing now?

Postby Shana » Wed Mar 28, 2018 12:37 am

Praying for you Diane and everyone else with upcoming scans. I don't think anyone is immune from Scanxiety. Like Robin, I know I have cancer still so I'm focusing on the downward trend on CEA markers and shrinkage of existing tumors.

You will feel much better once you get the all clear!

(((Hugs!)))
DX - 12/16
MSS - KRAS wild
Well-differentiated adenocarcinoma at splenic flexure
Stage IV CC with liver mets
5FU - Failed twice - 1/17 and 3/17
Irinotecan + Cetuximab: 8/17
Irinotecan and Erbitux ran it's course. CEA rising
Primary tumor invaded tail of pancreas and spleen. Liver mets major concern
Y-90 radioembolization on 9/17/18, liver enzyymes have dropped. 10 Radiation treatments to primary tumor completed too. CT scan Nov to assess overall situation...


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