Worried post referral
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3 posts since
4 Jul 2019
Hi,
I went to my GP today after being super tired for the last month or so and with my glands in my neck being up. He said that he’s referring me to a haematologist and that I’ll be on the ‘suspected cancer’ pathway and that I need to have blood tests and a chest x ray sometime over the next week, and that I may also need an ultrasound. Also that the haematology team will be in contact very soon.
I’m in shock a bit and am now really worried. This didn’t really cross my mind as a possibility and even though he told me it’s all precautionary I’m really scared!!
I know I shouldn’t but I can’t help but worry :/ any advice on how to calm down a bit would be much appreciated
2628 posts since
11 Oct 2010
Hello scarlettino,
I am sorry to hear you are so worried about this but try to focus on the fact the GP told you it was precautionary so if you can try not to anticipate what it might be. Hopefully you won’t have to wait too long to hear from the haematology team.
It is perfectly normal to be worried in your situation. The best thing to do to avoid thinking too much about this is to keep busy and distracted if you can and avoid looking things up online. I can imagine it is hard for you to do this at the moment but it will help you feel a little less anxious. This page will also give you some good tips to help you cope while waiting for news.
I hope you will also hear from others here who have been through all this before and that they will be along soon to share their story with you.
Keeping everything crossed for you that everything turns out fine.
Best wishes,
Lucie, Cancer Chat Moderator
200 posts since
14 Jun 2019
Hi there – it’s HORRIBLE waiting isn’t it? I know ’cause I’ve just been thro’ it (well almost thro’ it). A few weeks ago I came home from holiday early as I was feeling very unwell & went to see my GP. She put me on the 2 week pathway & I was terrified. I was convinced I had bowel/lung cancer & had blood tests, chest xray, CT scan. The wait for results was awful however, they ALL came back clear. I still have to have a colonoscopy (17th July) but the relief, as you can imagine, has been enormous & I feel much less anxious about the colonoscopy.
When my GP referred me for the tests she told me that 9 out of 10 people referred for those tests come back clear!! They really are good odds – so why shouldn’t you be one of the 9??:):)
I think my advice would be to focus on those odds & do your best to keep as busy as you can doing normal/everyday stuff so you don’t have time to think negatively. My GP also said that anxiety has a marked effect on physical symptoms & it’s easy to ‘make’ yourself feel unwell so it’s important you don’t allow yourself to do that.
Do hope this helps a bit & wishing you every ounce of luck with your results – why not like mine eh?:)
1759 posts since
12 Jan 2011
Hi scarlettino. Welcome to the forum.
@purrfect has given you some very good advice, and those odds are right: 9 out 10 of these urgent referrals turn out not be cancer. Most of the time, the referral isn’t made because the GP suspects cancer, but because the patient’s symptoms fit a number of criteria, but those criteria are so widely drawn that they emcompass a wide number of possibilities. The object is to catch the small number of patients who do have cancer early enough that the cancer can be more easily treated. The price, however, is that 9 out of 10 are put through some needless worry. It’s happened to both my wife and I a couple of times.
So I know it’s difficult, but please try not to freak out over this.
3 posts since
4 Jul 2019
Hi All,
@purrfect that is really good to hear, and that’s great news about your own results!
Thanks for the reassurance everyone. I posted this pretty soon after that appt so hadn’t really had time to process.
Yesterday I had bloods and a chest x ray done and in the car home was called by the consultant to say she had an opening at 12 that day. She was really kind but was straight up that lymphoma may be a possibility, but that she’d like to do some more tests and that it could be a whole variety of other non-cancer related things. She then phoned down to see if ENT could fit me in for a biopsy and they could straight after the appt with her! Biopsy was horrible but I’m glad it’s all over with for now and I’m very pleased and surprised with the speed of it all! Feeling very grateful for the NHS.
Now just a matter of waiting and seeing if the sample was sufficient enough. I’m feeling a lot better now and less acutely anxious.
Thanks for the support on this everyone, I know I shouldn’t have freaked out as much as I did!
200 posts since
14 Jun 2019
Morning! So glad you’re feeling less anxious – that’s good. I agree – the NHS acts really quickly at times as they did with me. Fingers crossed that all will be well & that it’s something easily fixed. Let us know. Good luck x
3 posts since
4 Jul 2019
Good morning!
I think I just needed some time to take a step back and rationalise, and your response really helped with that so thank you! Fingers crossed I don’t have to wait too long, that is the worst part. Though currently I’m most worried about potentially needing a second biopsy if this sample wasn’t sufficient, the one I had the other day was really unpleasant
how long did it take for your results to come through? xx
200 posts since
14 Jun 2019
Hi – it took 2 weeks for my results – the colonoscopy I’m having on the 17th is the only one I think where they tell you there & then. I don’t know tho’ about the kinds of tests you’re having. It’s the waiting that’s worst & all I can tell you is to keep as busy as possible & focus on the reality that 9 out of 10 people referred for cancer come back clear.
Glad I’ve been able to help – keep in touch here as & when you feel you need to, x
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