How did you suspect and/or find out you had cancer (or how did a loved one)?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My dad started having reflux type symptoms with trouble swallowing. Medication did not help. He then was losing weight. Cancer of the upper stomach/lower espophagus found - stage 4. He made it months after that. He had a clean physical 2 months prior to diagnosis. Enjoy each day.

He made it 8 months I meant to say.

[Anonymous]

Mom has been having food poisoning like symptoms (vomiting and stomach pains for half day and then feeling fine). She had these episodes about 1x/month for 5 months. Had liver and gall bladder checked - no issues. She then had a particularly bad stomach ache and lots of vomiting, went to ER, and diagnosed with ovarian cancer. We're waiting for more tests but looks like it is spread into her abdomen. Too soon to know more yet.

[Anonymous]

Pap smear=cervical cancer, age 24.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pap smear=cervical cancer, age 24.

Did you have any symptoms before getting the pap smear? Do you think HPV caused it?

[Anonymous]

Brother had blood in his stools and pain when going no. 2. Had stage III rectal cancer, but after surgery, chemo, & radiation is doing well.

[Anonymous]

My sister was getting headaches and thought that her sciatica was acting up. CT scan revealed brain lesions which were actually metastasis from earlier bout of breast cancer. That was in early November. She lived 2.5 months after that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pap smear=cervical cancer, age 24.

Did you have any symptoms before getting the pap smear? Do you think HPV caused it?

Absolutely no symptoms, yes from HPV. I was very surprised when I got asked to come in for a colposcopy and even more surprised when they told me what the rest of my year would entail.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My sister was getting headaches and thought that her sciatica was acting up. CT scan revealed brain lesions which were actually metastasis from earlier bout of breast cancer. That was in early November. She lived 2.5 months after that.

Meant to mention that the sciatica was actually bone metastasis - cancer spread through cerebral spinal fluid. Horrible.

[Anonymous]

Dad extremely tired. Very unlike him. He stopped going to gym, etc.

Blood test revealed extremely low hemoglobin levels.

He was scheduled for a colonoscopy stat. They found a large tumor--Stage 2. While they imaged to prep for surgery--they detected a kidney tumor (unrelated)--also stage 2. Surgery cured both . 6 years ago. He's doing great.

We are so lucky because the kidney cancer would have been asymptomatic likely until it was at a bad stage.

[Anonymous]

My Dad was treated with antibiotics for chest/breathing issues. 3 times. they said it was upper resp. virus or something. finally ended up in the ER and couldn't breathe.

he had stage 4 esoph. cancer. he died 6 weeks later.

A grandpa had mesothelioma (sp). he was on oxygen for 2 years and hospitalized once, again for breathing. He'd seen a lung doctor and was given inhalers too.
they said it was from smoking and no other issues.
He died 2 weeks later. Only then did they see the spots on his lungs.

And both of these were in different states. I'd say anything with breathing or that isn't getting better, question it. I think the doctors were okay. I think the main issue in both cases was just accepting a wrong diagnosis. you have to know your own body.

another friend had a lymphoma. only first symptom before it got bad was a weird spot where hair wouldn't grow near his face. later they said it was his immune system getting funky fighting the cancer.

[Anonymous]

My Mom was having back pain. The doctor sent her to an orthopedist. They started her on physical therapy. My mom told the doctor that it was not muscular pain. This went on for 6 months. She went to a different doctor that sent her for a CT scan. Then a bone scan. Her pain was from lung cancer. It had spread to her spine and then to her brain. It was non small cell. She did the cyber knife and intense chemo. She live for almost 2.5 years after her diagnosis. Unfortunately she contracted a fungal infection and that is what got her. She had almost no cancer left in her body when she passed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My sister was getting headaches and thought that her sciatica was acting up. CT scan revealed brain lesions which were actually metastasis from earlier bout of breast cancer. That was in early November. She lived 2.5 months after that.

Meant to mention that the sciatica was actually bone metastasis - cancer spread through cerebral spinal fluid. Horrible.

I am so sorry. How old was your sister and how long was she in remission? I'm one of the PP diagnosed recently with breast cancer.

[Anonymous]

On a very hot day, I put on a short skirt and an old mole jumped out at me as being darker. I googled pictures of melanoma and realized it could be that. Confirmed within the week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This same topic comes up about once a month.

Well then why in god's name do you keep clicking on it if it bothers you so much? You will make a great MIL one day.

[Anonymous]

Back pain for my mother also, and extreme tiredness (early 60s). Diagnosed with large lung tumor (non-smoker). Spread to breast (uncommonly) - the anesthesia from the surgery to remove the breast tumor caused her to have a stroke, which killed her (cancer was causing clotting issues). Major issues with the docs all around but the lung cancer was likely terminal anyway (tumor was 11cm).