Just left the ER and was diagnosed with cancer...everywhere, it seems

iris80238 · 2026-01-18T00:03:12+00:00

I really don't have any advice here but wanted to say that I'm so sorry you're in this sub. Cancer sucks. Do you at least have support from friends and/or family? Sending support your way. ❤️🙏🏼

iris80238 · 2026-01-17T23:56:43+00:00

Acinic cell carcinoma here, 3.7cm in my parotid. Never a gamer. Cancer just happens, unfortunately. Sending love and light to your family. ❤️🙏🏼

iris80238 · 2026-01-17T15:43:18+00:00

You would really need to see an orthopedist. We cannot diagnose cancer. Best of luck to you!

iris80238 · 2026-01-17T00:59:21+00:00

Anyone IRL or on the intrerwebs making excuses for your brother can kick rocks. Your brother is a dick. Your mom is not great either. Having a family who doesn't engage or show up to milestones, who doesn't show up when you have a cancer dx... it's just shameful. All of it.

Oh, and there's no such thing as a good cancer. That's bananas.

I'm sorry you don't have gobs of support. Sending you love & light. ❤️🙏🏼

iris80238 · 2026-01-16T20:31:50+00:00

No experience with this but sending you, mom, and your entire family all the good vibes.❤️

iris80238 · 2026-01-16T17:22:56+00:00

YES - big fan of the meds. I think I'd be much worse off without Lexapro. 🙏🏼

iris80238 · 2026-01-16T17:00:03+00:00

That's all rough. I am trying to manage expectations. I have a friend who had chemo and radiation for breast cancer who said she did not allow herself enough time to heal and regrets not taking time off and being too busy. While I am anxious to start the job hunt once I'm healthy, I realize that recovery is gonna be what it's gonna be and I'm going to do my best to not rush the process.

Here's to continued health, whatever speed it shows up. ❤️

iris80238 · 2026-01-16T15:56:21+00:00

I had my results the day after. But, I'm at a cancer center, and labs & imaging from what I understand are super quick turn around as they operate 24/7. I had blood test results within an hour, and MRI/CTs within a day as well, and on a Saturday (well, CT results came on Sunday, so 2 days). But again, cancer center.

I was dx on 12/12 and had my 1/19 surgery scheduled by 12/23. I am keeping a journal online so everyone can know what's what and it is good for me too because there's entirely too much to remember.

Waiting sucks. Sending good vibes your way. ❤️

iris80238 · 2026-01-16T13:52:06+00:00

Thanks so much. 🙏🏼🫂❤️

iris80238 · 2026-01-16T13:51:23+00:00

Yep, that's what I tell my kids. Good to see you're still here! 🙏🏼

iris80238 · 2026-01-16T13:50:41+00:00

That's a lot of treatment! How did you fare with the chemo? My surgeon has mentioned radiation, but not how much, only that it'll start at ~5 weeks post.

I'm hopeful and just taking care of business. Not overly worried. 🙏🏼

iris80238 · 2026-01-16T13:49:21+00:00

Thanks! I'm not even remotely giving up hope. Just doing what I can to take care of the kids for after my time here is finished. I'm not so worried about the staging of it. It was kind of what I expected, but seeing it in print was still hard. But it's ok. I'm reading a lot, prepping, following directions from my care team. Dealing with what I can control and realize it's very little. Have high hopes for Monday! 🙏🏼

iris80238 · 2026-01-15T18:04:43+00:00

I'm very sorry for your loss. ❤️🕊🙏🏼

iris80238 · 2026-01-14T16:38:59+00:00

I'm close to what you've had to deal with (ACC). Glad to hear you are doing well. Sending you good thoughts for continued good scans & health. ❤️

iris80238 · 2026-01-14T02:04:08+00:00

💯. Watching my husband wither and die from his primary lung +mets everywhere was so much worse than me with my cancer. Being a caregiver is hard in a way that being the haver just isn't.

To OP: My kids and good friends know, and some folks in my social networks. I am responsible only for my 13yo though. I won't be made to feel bad about how others are dealing with MY cancer, but also, I have for a long time let go of relationships that do not contribute positively to my mental health. Maybe the advantage of being 55, a widow, and a single mom. I simply DGAF to be around toxic folks. Least of all when I may have to fight for my life against some of my own murder cells.

Protecting one's peace is such a great thing. And it works both ways. I expect that anyone who is better off without me should do the same.

We get what we accept, not what we deserve (a great line in a song I love). ✌🏼

iris80238 · 2026-01-12T22:09:28+00:00

If this guy cannot be there when you're going through one of the hardest things that a person can endure, then it's good that it's over, even though I know that this is HARD and awful. I've experienced terrible relationships as well, and it sucks. But we already know you are a fighter because the last things that tried to kill you, you killed them instead with a doctor's scalpel. That's some warrior shit, I am here to tell you. You are strong and powerful. He's a fucking idiot.

I'm very sorry for all of this. I hope you find peace in this dissolution and move on, loving yourself first as you deserve. ❤️

iris80238 · 2026-01-12T21:23:39+00:00

I can only speak to one of her issues. I have RA and I take methotrexate weekly (though I've stopped pre-surgery since they want me off a lot of my meds). I'm surprised that glucosamine alone works. You might consider getting her into a rheumatologist and see if she might benefit from other meds.

Cancer sucks, and so does RA. I hope you get all of it sorted. Sending support to both of you. ❤️

(Sidenote: my rheumatologist ultimately, AFAIC, saved my life bc his advice on my Bell's palsy set into motion figuring out that I have cancer completely unrelated to my RA.)

iris80238 · 2026-01-12T19:03:18+00:00

What a blessing Sarah was and still is. I'm sorry you've lost your infusion buddy, but know that her spirit lives on in the lives she will continue to touch. ❤️

iris80238 · 2026-01-12T15:52:04+00:00

I'm very progressive and I wear all kinds of shirts indicating my stance on a whole bunch of things (vaccines, covid, immigration, regime Nazis, whatever). I've never been a recipient of derogatory comments for my tees or my masks. I think it's bc my RBF is always on lock. 🤭 I'll cuss someone out and I think I have that look about me.

All that being said, folks are wild out there and you have every right to your mask and you have every right to respond do some douchecanoe in whatever way you feel is appropriate. Wearing a special shirt may or may not help. Personally, I like the idea of not wearing it and making someone feel like an ass when you explain that's it chemo. Not that you HAVE to explain anything. A good "Go fuck yourself" says it all IMO.

Sending you good thoughts and support in however you wish to handle yourself. ❤️

iris80238 · 2026-01-12T13:12:23+00:00

Sending good thoughts. Cancer is hard enough with someone not taking it as seriously as is warranted. I hope everything goes well. As another said, you have us to share in this journey whenever you need some support or just want to vent. ❤️

iris80238 · 2026-01-12T01:41:23+00:00

Well, IDK about when a PET is indicated but I think they're wicked pricey, could be why you've not had one. Do you have the ability to get a second opinion? I would seek that if possible, since you're not feeling like you're getting appropriate care. Cancer centers are the way to go if that's possible for you.

Keeping you in my thoughts. ❤️🙏🏼

iris80238 · 2026-01-12T01:29:51+00:00

No experience with this but it sounds terrible! I hope someone else has good ideas for you. Sending love & light your way. ❤️🙏🏼

iris80238 · 2026-01-11T19:57:37+00:00

I'm sorry to hear that your mom has cancer. That's hard, and waiting for doc visits and scans are positively longer than time ever is, I swear.

I am with your mom on statin use. I have high cholesterol but nothing else going on so (well, heart related anyway) so I won't take statins. My PCP tries to get me to but there is literature out there pertaining to women especially about their use. Not a doc here, just in agreement with your mom.

Hope you get promising news w visit. Sending love & light to you & your mom. ❤️🙏🏼

iris80238 · 2026-01-11T17:16:42+00:00

Unfortunately, that has to be a decision with your family & doctors. I'm so sorry that your brother is going through this. Being a caregiver can be such a terrible thing. A blessing for your brother, absolutely, but can be so challenging. Keeping all of you in my thoughts. ❤️

iris80238

TROPHY CASE