Dealing with a tumour?

[P.addy]

Hey.

Was at the hospital yesterday as I've been blacking out, hearts racing and I've felt generally crap and down.

They did a few scans and didn't get the results they/I wanted.

They believe I could have a tumour on my heart and I have a severe calcium deficiency as my body won't absorb it.

So... As I wait for the results of my tests...if the news isn't good, how do you deal with a tumour.. Does it really affect you as much as the scare stories say? In genuinely scared about the results, but on the other hand it could come back clear!

Anyone here had to deal with this or knows someone who has?

[Robby]

I know a guy who had cancer in just about all of his body, twice. Spent quite a while in a coma. He didn't enjoy it much, but was more worried about MRSA than the cancer they were doing a good job of battling.

Anyway, what can you do about it? You'll either look back on the whole episode, or won't.

[P.addy]

Yea that has got to suck...
I've been told treatment now is better than it has been... But that's an obvious statement.

I suppose it just being a bit scared... Not something you want to hear when you are 22

[DrDonnyBrago]

Generally speaking, tumours affecting the heart directly are somewhat rare. The tumour itself causes issues by growing into surrounding tissues (i.e. the heart) and various other processes such as unsual metabolites being released into your blood.

The affects most noticeable and associated with cancer are usually the side affects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Most of the cells in your body are either not dividing at all or are dividing very slowly. Fast cycling cells include hair follicles, epithelial cells in the skin, stomach etc etc and most importantly cancerous cells. Chemotherapy essentially prevents cells from cycling, preventing the cancer from growing/causing it to shrink whilst inadvertantly affecting other cycling tissues (stomach lining, hair loss etc) which gives the symptoms most commonly associated with cancer. New drugs are being used all of the time increasing the chance of 'curing' the cancer and producing less side effects.

The prognosis for cancer patients has never been better, hold out hope that it is either something else, is benign or is easily treatable. If it is a primary tumour (originated in the heart - most likely at this point) then it should be treatable surgically and a combination of radio and chemotherapy.

There is a good chance you do not have a cancer, there is then a good chance that if you do that it is benign in which case you have a very good prognosis.

[GhostRider]

[waffles]

How long do you have to wait before you get the results back? Its really not worth getting yourself stressed out about what it could be at the moment, I know this is easier said than done but you could freak yourself out more without having a solid diagnosis. There are positives to this though; you are young, healthy and are in the process of finding out what isn't working properly.

And yes, treatment now is so much better. My mum had radiotherapy about 30 years ago and chemotherapy a few years back, she said that you actually get treated like a person now rather than an object to be fixed. Her oncology nurses were amazing and offered support not only to her but to me, my dad and my brother too.
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Theory test - 19/8/09, CBT - 11/10/09, MOD 1 - 16/8/10, MOD 2 - 27/10/10
Past rides Yamaha XT125X, Triumph TT600, Honda XR250
Current rides Suzuki GSXR 600, Honda MSX125

[P.addy]

Thanks for all the comments, im probably overly worrying, but im not the only one in my family with a dodgy ticker

[Bubbs]

I've never been in your shoes so can only imagine some of the fears that are going through your head.

But to quote Benjamin Franklin

[Skudd]

Can I have your bike? just in case....................!
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Famous last words of Humpty Dumpty. " Stop pushing me "
Petty Anarchists look at "1984".............. The Visionary looks at "Animal Farm".

[Bubbs]

[Robby]

Dibs on car.

[GhostRider]

Paddy is a guitarist right? Dibs on guitars

GhostRider
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I have all the characteristics of a human being: blood, flesh, skin, hair; but not a single, clear, identifiable emotion, except for greed and disgust. Something horrible is happening inside of me and I don't know why. My nightly bloodlust has overflown into my days. I feel lethal, on the verge of frenzy. I think my mask of sanity is about to slip.

[ZRX61]

I had one on my spine. 15 minute slice & dice with a local anesthetic & I was on my way home. They did it in the examination room. Bent over a table, pulled my shirt up, jab, slice, pull, cut, stitch & out the door

[Frost]

Friends dad had a brain tumor. I thought he was 100% going to die. They booked him in for an operation, removed it damaging his brain. He was in intensive care for about a month. Gradually he got better and was released, but wasn't quite himself. 3 months later he is completely recovered, back to normal and cancer free. The much hated NHS did a good job i reckon.

[P.addy]

Thanks for all the supportive answers robby, you are welcome to the car guitars go to alexio sorry :p



Frosty, that is mental mate... But shows that this could plan out quite well

[Stelmer]

My mother was diagnosed with a Grade 4 Glioblastoma a couple of months ago which I had to google for information. It's a Malignant Brain Tumor with varying prognosis.......

The main tumor was removed and she had 6 weeks of Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy, which showed promising results. She's having September off and then more intense Chemotherapy for 5 days out of 28 over 6 months.

We won't know what's going to happen and are hoping for the best.


To further complicate things and add more stress, my dad is being made redundant. Good job i'm more or less debt free now as the extra cash will be useful.

[P.addy]

[Stelmer]

Cheers. Will do.

The scary thing about it all was that the symptoms came on suddenly after my parents returned from York.

I was out on my bike and thought they were still in York, till my brother said that my mum had just froze after moving a tower fan. We did wonder how many times it's happened without anyone noticing but we were told that the tumor had grown within the last 12 months.

Anyhow, hope your results are good. Cancer treatment nowadays is quite impressive and we're fortunate living in Leeds with the new cancer wards.

[plugger147]

I've got a left side acoustic neuroma (tumour on the brain stem), the first thing I'd say is if you've got a 2 week wait for results then not to worry to much if you did have something that was thought to be very serious you wouldn't be waiting that long.

If there is something there don't worry to much I got myself wound right up waiting for the something to happen, about 4 and a half years later, 2 years post treatment and showing as shrinking now the worst part has been worrying and waiting for something to happen that hasn't...
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Tristan the wrote: just whipped off my trousers to find a big bruise on my arse, caused by matt rear ending me...

[P.addy]

[P.addy]

Ok thought id update..

Came back from the hospital today.. and its not good news, I have a tumour on my heart that is quite aggressive..

Sucks to be me right now

Anyone else had a shit day so far?

[Damon]

Very sorry to hear that mate. Chin up though

[c_dug]

Sold a bike on Ebay, It's now refusing to start and the guy is picking up tonight.

Hardly compares though.

Seriously hope all goes well in the next few months
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[DrDonnyBrago]

Sorry to hear that mate, as I said before though today's treatments are better than they have ever been there is still a good chance that you will be fine.

[Misc]