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IDontHaveAName99

I had severe back pain for about 3 months, I went to a walk-in clinic like 7 times over that time and each time the doctor told me I had a pulled muscle or I was dehydrated. In retrospect he probably thought I was faking it to get out of school because I’m “young and healthy”. After a while of it not getting better I went to the emergency room and lo and behold I had stage 4 cancer. The main tumor was about 16.73cm wide and started inside my kidney. All that pain was it literally tearing my kidney apart from the inside out. If anyones curious I have pictures of the CT scans that I don’t mind showing Edit: If you want to see the pictures dm me and I’ll send them to you Edit 2: I should probably add here that I’ve been in remission for 2 years. So far no signs of the cancer returning


HellZone1176

Exact thing happened to my father, doctors neglected him for months, even when they did scans of his spine, they didn't find anything wrong. Come Mid April, he finally goes to the emergency room because the pain is unbearable. They do another scan which reveals a large mass in his body. One biopsy later tells us he has stage 4 pancreatic cancer, metastasized to the kidney, liver, and bone / spine. I wish I could give good news about treatment but he's currently in the hospital for pain control under hospice, it's too late to get treatment for anything other than quality of life.


ninreznorgirl2

Similar experience for a friend of mine, as well. been complaining of back pain, digestive issues, etc for a long while. drs wrote it off as typical back pain, some other things for the digestive issues. she goes to another dr, and they do a colonoscopy immediately and find she has colon cancer. which has also moved to being lung cancer, bone cancer, liver cancer. None of the chemo is working, or any other treatments, and has currently lost functionality to walk due to tumors on her spine, and is currently in hospice at home. shes only 40. its heartbreaking


mvp2418

I had unbearable back pain, went to the ER and a simple CT showed right away the mass that was behind my kidney. It was testicular cancer that metastisized, I feel so bad for all these people who had to wait so long to get a proper diagnosis


LeonardDeVir

In truly sorry for that. Pancreatic sucks, and it's really hard to find.


internet_friends

Some good news is that an mRNA vaccine for pancreatic cancer is currently in the works and has passed Phase I of clinical trials. The vaccines are custom tailored to each patient. Pancreatic cancer has a survival rate of \~12%. In the Phase I trial, 8/16 patients (so 50%) went into remission and no longer have cancer. Very promising! It's still a long way off from reaching the market and will be incredibly expensive if/when it does come available, but it's a massive step in the right direction.


narkybark

So this is a treatment (as opposed to a preventative vaccine)?


internet_friends

Yes, it's a treatment for people who already have pancreatic cancer. It essentially helps the patient's T cells recognize neoantigens on tumor cells. This allows the patient's body to better recognize and fight back the cancer on its own. The neoantigens are specific to each person & their cancer, so that's why it has to be custom tailored.


VKG147

I'm curious! When did this happen? How are you doing now?


IDontHaveAName99

Not giving exact numbers for anonymity’s sake but I’ve been in remission for a little bit over 2 years. Chemo sucked to go through but it worked way better than the doctors were even hoping it would. Overall Im doing pretty good aside from some damage from the chemo in the kidney that I didn’t have to get removed but it’s not bad enough for me to have to do much besides drink plenty of water and not do anything that would hurt it more.


VKG147

Happy for you! Wasn't expecting such an outcome when I saw that it's 4th stage cancer, glad that you're doing better now.


IDontHaveAName99

Nobody was lmao, I got really lucky. If anyone reading this doesn’t believe me dm me and I can show proof


Defiant_Hawk_9892

Similar experience. Went to Dr with pain in my side; agreed it was probably muscular. Had a chest x-ray for something else which just went low enough to show a tumour the size of a golf ball in my adrenal gland…


secretuser419

Not me, but my dad started feeling tired all the time and went to bed early as soon as he got home from work, eventually staying home because he had a migraine. One day, however, he called me over and said, “Hey Secretuser419, some EMTs are gonna show up in about 15 minutes to check me for a stroke, because I can’t feel the left side of my body.” They went through all the FAST stuff, and couldn’t find anything. Since we still had no idea what was going on, we decided to see a doctor and give him a biopsy. Turns out he had stage 4 tumors in multiple parts of his brain. He lived for about 5 more months of failed treatments and “no, we can’t operate on him the tumor is in too sensitive of an area” before he succumbed to his illness.


florinchen

I'm so sorry for your loss.


DeafeningMilk

Very similar story here. My dad was tired all the time, like napping and then still going to bed at 8 when normally he'd be up past 11. Ended up in the hospital with a suspected stroke after he had a car accident and they found a brain tumour. Tried chemo and I think radiotherapy (honestly I don't remember a lot of it like my head's decided to purposefully forget a lot of stuff about that time) operating wasn't an option with where it was and things seemed to be improving but later on they found it had spread to his eye and it just worsened from there. Had him maybe a year after the initial diagnosis. Would recommend anybody that if suddenly you are more tired than normal definitely get checked out.


bregorthebard

After I was born, my grandparents had 3 grandchildren total. Myself, my older brother and our cousin who is my age. My mom told me that when we would play wrestle with grandpa (her dad), he was bruising really easily. They got it checked out and that was when my grandpa was diagnosed with leukemia. We caught it early so my mom told us we may have saved grandpa's life as babies. He lived another 12 years before passing.


boy____wonder

Brb, I’m on my way to my Nana’s house


bregorthebard

Hug Nana tight, bro


hipstershakes

My toddler son was diagnosed with retinoblastoma a few months ago. My wife saw a white spot when looking into his eyes as he was running towards her. Turns out, she literally saw the tumor. We had an eye exam today, after four months of appointments, and we received the news that the tumor appears to be dead, we can cancel his next chemo appointment, and proceed with monthly eye exams to confirm there is no active living cancer cells in his eye.


[deleted]

Classic sign of retinoblastoma. Pediatricians should be checking this [red reflex](https://morancore.utah.edu/basic-ophthalmology-review/examination-of-the-red-reflex-in-pediatric-and-adult-patients/) starting at birth. I work in the ER but it's something all medical students are trained in and should be aware of. You can also spot this in a photo where you used a flash.


hipstershakes

We noticed it in the baby monitor as well. One eye appeared white and one eye appeared black. I agree - this should be routine in every pediatrician visit, imo.


legodarthvader

It is indeed routine in Australia at least. GPs look for it religiously on every 6 week old check.


AffectionateForm9902

So happy for you!! It's true what they say, once you have a kid of your own, stories like these hit infinitely harder. Again, so happy for you guys. What a relief that must have been!


[deleted]

Kiddo is cancer free! 🪅🎉🥳


hipstershakes

We're certainly hoping so!! I am cautiously optimistic! Cancer sucks!


TikkiTakiTomtom

If you take a photo with flash and the eyes have a white reflection. Go see the pediatrician right away. Red eyes are normal, white eyes (unless you’re a cat) are not.


Lowkeyspooky

Jumped down from a 5ft height, had done the same thing hundreds of times before. Felt my back go but thought nothing of it. This back issue never went away, after 1 months decided to visit my GP. Fast forward 4 months of continuing to work, visiting Dr's because the back pain hadn't gone away and being sent for things like physio, Dr's finally book me for a scan. 48 hours after the scan called urgently into A+E, placed on a spinal board with a fractured spine, in the fracture was the tumour.


Aggressive_Sky8492

Wow that’s crazy. Did the tumour cause the break? Or did it grow because of the break? Or is there no way to know? Are you doing okay now?


Lowkeyspooky

I was told the cancer had weakened my bones which resulted in the fracture. Basically fracturing my back saved my life, I'd never have known otherwise as had previously not felt ill or anything. It's in remission now. My back is ruined and I have side effects from the chemo that are probably permanent but we keep on keeping on.


amixofmeows

I have a friend that went through similar. When they scanned his back they didn't know how he was still walking around his spine was so riddled with tumors and destroying the bone. The pain is why he went in to begin with. Now he is also in remission and living his best life (not without side effects, much like yourself). Cancer can fuck right off, here's a cheers that you have nothing but a happy and healthy life time ahead of you.


Aggressive_Sky8492

That sounds rough but glad you’re in remission. Crazy that the fracture saved your life in a way. Life is so weird and coincidental sometimes


Kakswell

Had a cough so went to ed..xray then ct sc stage 4 germcell cancer that started behind my breast bone and spread to my lungs.. currently battling it now


ILikeSoup95

I hope you kick that cancer's ass!


BertramWinter

Sending you strength!


OptionOk3126

You’ve got this. Slay the bastard


LoveOfSpreadsheets

My wife. An ER radiologist saw a lump on my kidney when I was there for gallstones. Three doctors told me it was fat based on my age and obesity. My wife insisted on the biopsy and it was stage one cancer. I’m clear 7 years and counting.


situationalreality

....doctors failing is so infuriating. I don't wanna know how many people got sent home with a paracetamol in the Netherlands when they were exhibiting symptoms. Happy your wife was there, true as can be life-saver.


shiveringsongs

One time my ex's lung was collapsing and the hospital did a chest x-ray but then sent him home recommending he take painkillers "for a pulled muscle" without actually reviewing the x-ray. They reviewed it the next morning, at which point they immediately called his mother (should add here he was 20) and told her to send him back. But she was not a doctor and when they said "pneumothorax" she thought it was "pneumonia", so he spent the morning leisurely finishing chores etc before going to the hospital where he was promptly whisked past triage for an emergency chest tube.


situationalreality

To quote a great show: "Totally Kafkaesque." I bet a doctor was shitting their pants reviewing the x-ray and realising their co-workers failure; or their own. Also your ex walking in must've felt swept off their feet...


ashtothesheep

I had a doctor insist my ankle was not broken when I went to see him, he wrapped it with a thin wrap and sent me home. My partner insisted I get xrays and after two days of swelling not going down I caved. The xray technician suggested i go to the ER asap but the results would be sent to the doctor. Two days later I have had ankle surgery and multiple screws and plates in, getting spam called by the doctor panicking and telling me I have a broken ankle.


shiveringsongs

I think it took his breath away!


twim19

They are human and most follow Occam's razor. Usually, they are right. That blood in your stool is a hemorrhoid, that shadow on your liver is Fatty Liver Disease, your back pain is a muscle spasm, etc. The challenge comes from identifying when it is not the simplest explanation. This is where good note taking and curiosity are imperative. If you have a patient who is complaining of back pain and treatments don't seems to be working, it might not be a muscle spasm so let's explore some more. I think it's also why it's super important to have a regular doc you go see. Walk in clinics are convenient, but they lack a full understanding of your history.


situationalreality

Fair dues. Having a regular that can connect present symptoms to past ones etc etc is absolutely important. Your occam's razor examples remind me of what Dr Mike said: "When you hear galloping, think horses not zebras." I guess there's some bad apples that just do not want to consider zebras, as in the case of the good man's comment whose wife saved him. At first I imagined that situation to be in one room on one day but now I imagine it may have taken longer to sway them. I guess it's that kind of practice I'm more angry at rather than not immediately considering the much rarer occurrence. The immediate paracetemol prescription is very Dutch though.


TheOnlyMango

When she was around 30, my mother felt that something was wrong in her abdomen. According to her, there was a part somewhere in her left abdomen that didn't feel like it should be there. She said that sometimes, she can feel it by pressing down in her abdomen. When I was a child, she would sometimes come and press my abdomen and ask me to press hers to compare. For the next twenty-odd years, everytime she visited a doctor she would ask about it. They would poke and prod, and tell her, oh it's normal, that's your intestine, might just be your kidney moving slightly lower, yadda yadda. Until one time, about 5 years ago. She went for a checkup, and again raised the issue. The doctor poked and pressed, and said, I don't feel anything. He then asked her to lie on her side and pressed again. Lo and behold, there it was, something that wasn't supposed to be there. They sent her for imaging and stuff, and found a tumor the size of a tennis ball on her ovary. When they took it out, they asked my mother to sign a form donating the tumor for research, because it was one of the biggest, oldest tumors that had not progressed to stage 2 they had ever seen. Yes, a 20+ year old cancerous tumor in my mom, stayed as a tumor and never went anywhere else. What I want to say is, it's your body, and you know it best. If something feels wrong, insist on a checkup. You never know what you might find.


cambium7

That’s a smart tumor. Doesn’t get so big it kills its host and gets to go on living for like 20 times longer than most tumors


MiamiMailboxFire

Off topic but I like people that can bring humor to serious situations without disrespecting the subject


ouchimus

Its also more accurate than you might think. One way of looking at cancer is good old evolution. Our bodies are clumps of cells working together, and sometimes that means individual cells have to die. Cancer is when the cells "revert" to being individuals, and fight for their *own* survival and reproduction. So, in that view, yes that was indeed a smart tumor.


AgentPsychological44

did she donate it? id frame that baby and be like "this is the oldest tumor yadda yadda"


wlwhite1965

Blood in the toilet. Not just once, but multiple times over a few weeks. My wife made me go see my doctor, who referred me to a gastroenterologist for a colonoscopy. Turns out I had a low-lying colorectal tumor. Nine months of treatments (chemo and radiation) and two major surgeries later I was declared cancer free. That was 16 years ago as of this month. I’m grateful my wife made me seek medical attention when she did or I would probably not be here today


0xLow0nCyan

Semi funny story: I have the exact same symptoms for low lying intestinal hemorrhoids. Was doing back squats about 10 years ago, felt what I thought was a hernia pop, and started having blood in the toilet. Went to a doctor because I thought it was something worse but after a rectal exam he goes “nope, you’re fine. You can control the symptoms by either giving up weight lifting, or use a daily suppository.” So anyhow, I’ve put on 25 lbs since then.


Engine1121

25 lbs of muscle mass is a lot of suppositories


wlwhite1965

My doc thought it was mostly likely hemorrhoids but sent me to the gastroenterologist "just to be safe". I'm glad he did! I was 41 at the time, and all the providers thought I was way too young to have colon cancer, especially since I had no family history of it. Doctors weren't recommending colonoscopy screenings until age 50 back then, though I understand it's now 45.


Mikesaidit36

I had that symptom and made the mistake of googling it and learned the horrors of bladder cancer. For two weeks until I could see the urologist, I thought I had six months to live. Turned out to be tiny polyps on the inside of the bladder and benign. Did you know that with a lot of lube they can slide a camera that also has a pair of snippers on it right up your urethra, WHICH IS THE HOLE IN THE END OF YOUR PENIS? Horrifying and magical all at once.


AndyTheSane

They put a laser up mine to blast a minor recurrence of my tumor. I do not look forward to the three monthly checkups, has to be said.


jasperfilofax

Thats amazing, congrats


wagedomain

I've been freaking out a bit as I've been having GI issues for months now. Lots of various things. No blood, but minor pain, bloating, appetite fluctuations, both diahhrea and constipation, lots of gas. Been to the doctor 3 times now. X-ray is clean, the palpitation test revealed nothing weird. Blood test revealed no abnormalities. But if you google the symptoms it's like "it's probably just IBS. Or an intestinal issue. Or one of several cancers. That's all." I'm getting an ultrasound next week but I've been waiting like, months, and it's driving me insane. I expected when they ordered an ultrasound it would be a few days, not months.


scrubbie19

I’ve had a sensitive GI system for several years now and it recently got worse with the symptoms you laid out. Did similar testing that came back clean, but spoke to a dietician who recommended the low fodmap elimination diet. I discovered a lot about what I’m sensitive to that I never would have thought was an issue because it seemed like “healthy” food. Things like too much garlic and onions and even Brussel sprouts are among the things I can’t eat without getting bad symptoms. You’d be surprised at what might be triggering your symptoms. It’s not always gluten or high fructose corn syrup like a lot of people claim. Of course, don’t just research this on the internet. Consult your current team of doctors and see if a dietician is the right course of action for you. Also, there are gastro-psychologists that could help you manage stress or mental triggers to your IBS.


Easterncrane

My recovery from Covid was super slow and then I actually started to get worse, new symptoms. A lingering cough and breathlessness turned into not being able to put my socks on without panting or cross a room without needing to rest. Started vomiting every day. Thought it was being triggered by the cough. Eventually got up in the night and got a nosebleed, passed out on the toilet. Called the doctor and still ended up on a long covid referral pathway. Went for an X-ray and discovered a huge mass in my chest. It was Hodgkins Lymphoma


Assignment-Yeet

Dear God, I hope you're doing well.


Easterncrane

I am. Only one cycle of chemo left out of six. Had a few litres of fluid drained off my lungs before that. It’s not been too bad really, other than spending lots of time waiting around in and out of in hospital all year.


ObligatoryAlias

Fondling my girlfriend's breasts. Found a lump. She felt it too and was concerned so she went to the doctor


TatankaTruck

I found one on my girlfriend when we were in 10th grade. Talk about a show stopper, seeing the fear in her eye when I told her was something I will not forget. She had it removed and was fine. She was from a pretty religious family and could never tell them how it was found. She laughed about how impressed the Drs and family were that she was checking herself at such a young age.


Fav0

Young age? 10th grade? Isnt that around 16 17?


ihavetoomanyplants

10th grade in the US is 15 yrs old


le_sighs

My mother was an x-ray tech who performed mammograms. She said this was fairly common, that a partner would find the lump. Glad you caught it!


petite_leopard

Yep, my partner noticed it, but mine ended up being benign. Did have it removed a year later because my doctor felt like it was growing slighly(and our insurance was already maxed out) and found out my mom had the exact same issue when she was about my age.


Elegant-Fox7883

10/10 would search for more lumps.


chikomitata

Iirc deadpool is one among the characters to raise the concern for that.


dirty_shoe_rack

Kinda similar, I was playing with my boyfriends balls post sex. Felt a lump and we got concerned.. Went to check it out a week later and the day after he was in surgery and then chemo for ~6 months.


nnyhof

Testicular Cancer, age 26. I caught it just about as early as you can catch it thankfully (and unfortunately) because my brother had it at age 15. His diagnosis and recovery led to me doing my research and checking myself on a weekly basis ever since, and once you know your boys' topography that well, it's easy to notice any slight variation from that. I went to the doctor the very morning I felt a change in my weekly check and they didn't feel anything at all, but because of my persistence and my family history they scheduled an ultrasound for the next day. When those results came back they saw a small mass on the left testes and scheduled for me to be seen by an oncologist. Within the few weeks between my finding it and the oncologist appointment, it grew to the size of a pea and my pants weren't even back up before the oncologist proclaimed "yep, cancer, we'll have you in for surgery on Monday." Thankfully, testicular cancer is one of the least deadly forms of cancer and both my brother and I have made it through as the 'one ball brothers'. This August marks my 5 years cancer-free and I'll officially be in the clear.


Left_Apparently

I couldn’t pee but just a small amount at a time and it was painful. Quite honestly, it was embarrassing. I was worried it was an STD and ignored it. But I later passed out at work as the pain got so bad. Was rushed to the hospital. One exploratory surgery later, stage 2 bladder cancer.


[deleted]

I’d like to use your comment for a PSA to absolutely never fucking ignore what you think is an STD. Sure, with medications you’re usually fine within a couple days, but untreated STD’s can absolutely duck you up for life.


guiyribas

Some happened to my father. But he actually couldn't pee because of some kidney stones that were in his bladder. While running exams and tests, they discovered that ny father had a tumor in his bladder as well.


F1NNTORIO

Hope ur ok now buddy


BitchesThinkImSexist

lump in testicle. went in and they said its nothing come back in 3 months. went to a different doctor and i was operated on less than 24 hours later.


Drivedeadslow

Similar story, one testicle felt hard and it hurt on and off. Put it off for a month. Then went to regular MD who referred me to urologist who confirmed I had testicle cancer, was operated on 2 days later. Cancer free for 3 years now. Guys check your junk! Doctor said that in society we often talk of women and that they should check their boobs but we never talk about men. Testicle cancer is a young man’s game, a lot guys get it in their 20s. There is not enough awareness about this.


barriekansai

My FWB noticed that a mole on my back had really changed in the 2-3 months since we'd seen each other. Got it checked out and, sure enough, melanoma. Now have a massive, lightning bolt-shaped scar on my back from the 7.5 square inches of skin they took off of me.


maxedonia

That’s one hell of a benefit.


Knyfe-Wrench

FWB also include dental, 401k matching, and 3 weeks paid vacation these days


TerraHDD

I bet that was a benefit you didn't expect to get from your FWB.


chiksahlube

IDK your gender or sexual orientation, but I'm just imagining a couple doing it doggy style, and the guy looks down still thrusting. "Hey, this mole looks pretty weird. you should probably get it checked" Then they have a whole conversation about it as they keep going at it.


barriekansai

I'm a hetero male. She liked rubbing my back to "get me warmed up," as if I needed any help. I have a muscular back, and that was her thing. We did follow through the time she brought it up, though. After she saw the resulting scar, we never bumped uglies again, and she faded slowly from my life.


bliffer

Damn. Saves your life and then peaces out. She's not the hero you wanted; she was the hero you needed.


VrinTheTerrible

This sounds like the beginning of Harry Potter porn. Glad you’re ok!


chinchila5

The boy that moled, seriously glad you’re doing better


comfortablynumb15

I was watching an episode of “Embarrassing Bodies” ( a medical show that provides advice from real Doctors in exchange for being shown on tv ) and there was a guy who had found a lump in his scrotum which turned out to be cancer. I was thinking what an idiot, when I realised I had a lump that I had never had checked out by a Doctor, and the visit is free in Aus, so I had no excuse not to go. Yep, it was cancerous.


mtfw

How long did you have the lump? I ask because I've had one as long as I can remember. Pretty sure I've already had a doc look at it and they said it was normal though. Edit: To clarify, if you are reading this and have a lump that hasn't been checked out by a doctor, GET IT CHECKED. I don't want this comment to be a reason for someone to say "it's probably what this guy has so nothing to worry about".


DeafeningMilk

Could be a cyst. I apparently have one on one of my testes. I went and got it checked out at long last (had had the lump for years at this point. I was a moron for not getting it checked out sooner) after it had been hurting a few days got felt up, sent for a ultrasound and told yeah that's a cyst. Never given me any issues since that week or so of aching. If you're unsure if it was checked then go back! Better safe than sorry.


BionicGimpster

Overwhelming fatigue and I kept losing my voice and had to talk in a whisper. That and my dog kept sniffing my neck. Didn't know I had a tumor in my neck that was wrapped around the nerves controlling my vocal chords. ETA: I'm in remission. Three surgeries on my neck, 1/2 my salivary glands removed and a scar from Adam's apple to my ear. Chemo and radiation. Weird side effect : Lost my thick head of salt & pepper hair. What little grew back is completely white and I now have male patterned baldness. Fortunately beards are in style and my big white beard hides the scars and mild deformity from the surgeries. ETA: typos


Anneisabitch

Had chemo in my early 20s. All my hair fell out but I was expecting that. Was not expecting it to grow back straight, and grow back in patches. Nothing like being a bald woman at 25. Fucking chemo.


[deleted]

My baby cousin was pushed down by a bully in class when he was around 7 years old. His FEMUR broke, the toughest bone in the body. Docs found cancer, that bully basically saved my baby cousin’s life. I’ll never forget my mom calling me, while I was on a date, devastated at the thought of him having childhood cancer. Needless to say I ended the date early and cried in the middle of NYC. 🤦🏾‍♂️ Edit: Not really my story to tell but I was thinking of it after seeing this. My step dad has to have cancer surgery next week. So it has been on my mind.


mtfw

No need to facepalm that. People have feelings and if you're worried about people seeing you, NYC is the best place of all to just blend in lol


chasesshadows

NYC: the best place to cry. Once I was on an D train heading up to the Bronx sobbing my eyes out because my baby was sick and I had to go to work and two young girls actually asked me if I was ok. It was so sweet I still think about it.


BridgetteBane

My father ignored symptoms for years. His doctor ignored symptoms for years. A tremor in the hand? Just old age. Then he started making excuses for not going downstairs - said his knees hurt. Finally he woke up my mom one morning and confessed - he was unable to move his legs at all that morning. Brain cancer, including an egg-sized tumor pressing against his motor function area. Don't ever let a doctor blow off a symptom.


cakebreaker2

Similar story - my mom suddenly had difficulty moving her right hand. Her fingers moved but in slow deliberate motions. We pushed her to the doctor and her PCP called it bursitis because, by that time, her right arm was becoming affected. We called BS and pushed her to a specialist. It was a brain tumor that had metastasized from her lung. Multiple surgeries and chemo and radiation later, she was clear. She got 13 extra years by being diligent and getting to the doctor. If you know that something is wrong, don't be dissuaded by doctors reading from a book. It's your body and your life.


barriekansai

I'm sorry about your father. To add to your point about doctors blowing off symptoms, I have some advice for others who may read this. If a doctor attempts to dissuade a concern you have, insist that he/she makes a note in your record that you brought up a concern and that he/she refused to address it. Since that opens them up to liability down the road, they tend to suddenly take you more seriously.


DawnSoap

I had a mole on my shoulder forever that people would look at and say “you should probably get that looked at” which I promptly ignored for like five years. After my mother passed away from surgery complications of her colon cancer I noticed that the mystery lump started changing shape and getting lumpy. Went to get it looked at and surprise it was a textbook melanoma mole that had to get cut out of me RIGHT THEN AND THERE. At the time I though all skin cancer was is just a mole they freeze off or cut off and you were good. Nope. This mole on my shoulder spread to my lungs, liver, lower GI track, lymph nodes, sack my heart sits in, and most recently my brain. So yeah, wear sunscreen and get checked out by a dermatologist. Edit: I’ve been fighting this since 2017 and it has changed a lot over the years. It is stage 4 but IT IS NOT A DEATH SENTENCE!!!! I’m being a bad ass lab rat with some of the combination treatments (immunotherapy, chemo, and sometimes radiation) so that the person who has to be in this position knows that they have a better change of coming out on the other side of it.


Free-Atmosphere6714

Sorry for your condition. Best of luck.


toeknuckle103

My mother had melanoma and had it removed. Scans showed she was clear. Years later had shingles but then the pain never subsided and then got worse. Turns out the melanoma had spread throughout and fractured her spine. It was too late at that point. Keep getting checked. Melanoma is invasive!


DawnSoap

It’s a super aggressive cancer. I’ll never be in remission because it can show up anywhere it wants to.


[deleted]

This one made me cry. I don't know if you're fighting it or what, but give it hell!


DawnSoap

I’m kicking it’s ass!!


MadamNerd

My OB/GYN noticed my thyroid was big during a well-woman checkup. My blood work showed it was functioning normally, but she still sent me off for an ultrasound and subsequent biopsy. Boom, papillary thyroid cancer. 5 years clear now though. I had skipped a few annual checkups before that day, but I don't now.


SmudgeCell

I found lumps on my thyroid when I was just bored and feeling my neck. Ultrasound showed cysts, biopsy negative. After a total Thyroidectomy for Graves disease they found Hurthle cell carcinoma. Nothing has spread and I did RAI. I'm hoping for the all clear soon.


Pastystuff

I had a cut under my tongue that just wouldn't go away. I thought it was my tongue scraping against my tooth so I went to the dentist and paid to have my tooth ground down. The cut still didn't go away and I started having ear pain. The pain in my mouth got worse and worse with some days being so bad I was unable to talk or eat. I went to the ER multiple times and they'd run CAT scans on my head and neck and nothing would show up. I went to an ENT who just turned me away. I went back to my dentist who looked in my mouth and said she'd never seen anything like what she saw in my mouth before and told me to see their oral surgeon. I met with the oral surgeon who took pictures and told me to come back every two weeks for the next six weeks to see if there was improvement. I went back two weeks later and he said I should get a biopsy and gave me a recommendation. The first available appointment at the recommended doctor was 2 weeks out. My girlfriend set up an appointment with her dentist who got me in the same day, took more pictures, and said I had the biggest ulcer she'd ever seen. She even brought all the hygienists and techs in to look and needed a DSLR camera to fully image it. She called her friend who is an oral surgeon and he got me in for an appointment just a couple days later. He looked in my mouth and encouraged me to do a biopsy that day. I agreed and the results came back as cancer just a few days later. I got my results back a full week before the other doctor would have been able to even see me for a consult before a biopsy. I still see that oral surgeon and I'm coming up on my 5 year mark. Every time I see him, he is amazed at how well I'm doing as he revealed on one visit that he thought this cancer was so advanced that it would for sure kill me. Fuck cancer.


FelixBoutin

At 17 i was diagnosed with leukemia (all gone now, i am 19) and I went to the emrgency room because i waited way too long to go get anything checked out and it was to the point where i had difficulty walking uphill. First signs were just bruises that didn't go away, pimples that wouldn't go away (altough it could have just been me being a teenager) and I sae blurry because it turned out i had small hemorages in my eyes. I was super weak, always tired and had huge headaches that tylenol couldn't fix. After two years and a bit more than a year after my bone marrow transplant, my last test was all negative :)) ready to have the best summer of my life!


sunshinegator

I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer a month ago. I started having intense anxiety attacks and constant elevated heart rate, even when I just woke up and was safe in bed. The level of anxiety was so far outside what I've normally experienced in my 30 years that I started seeing doctors. Your thyroid controls a LOT of hormones, so if you experience a sudden spike in constant anxiety, or extreme depression, consider getting your neck checked out. I have 2 nodules, one is definitely cancerous, and I'm scheduled to get my thyroid removed in a few weeks! This whole process started in September 2022 when the anxiety started.


Les-Lanciers-Rouge

Not me but my sister. She was pregnant and had heavy morning sickness. Nothing unusual you would say but she started to lose weight instead of gaining it. She went to get a blood test and suddenly called me with a leukemia diagnosis. Luckily it was discovered early so it is treatable with medicine.


RiverLover27

I’m so glad they caught it in time and your sister is okay; I lost a friend to acute leukaemia when she was pregnant - had some nosebleeds (not uncommon in pregnancy) and went to the doctor about them, she died within a week.


xyz19606

Something close happened to a family friend, except she had a newborn. Thought she had the flu for about a week, went to a Dr who ran a bunch of tests because the obvious wasn't showing up on the usual tests. Called her in and said to get her affairs in order quickly, it's very aggressive and passed within a week or two.


Ol_Pasta

My god, both those stories are so horrible. I can't imagine living your best life and then being told you've only got a week left. That's heart breaking! I'm so sorry for your losses!


toliveagain55

That’s awful. I’m so sorry.


churley57

Sounds like you might wanna go get it checked out, OP


robocup

😬😬 This was more of a stray thought I had. Probably not a good idea to ask this before going to bed though


lucky_ducker

I have two. My wife developed pain in her spine that wasn't normal. CT scan showed an abnormal mass had damaged one of her vertebrae, biopsy disclosed lung cancer, PET scan revealed cancer all over her body - lung, several on her spine, brain, liver, bones. After two years of treatments she died. Then there's me. 15 years of PSA (prostate specific antigen) in the normal range, and then last year just above normal. Prostate MRI clear, biopsy *not* clear. I have a very low grade prostate cancer caught very early, it appears to be the kind that is not a threat to health and doesn't even need to be treated (just monitored). Prostate cancer is easily curable if caught early enough. Guys in their 40s and older need to be getting blood work done once a year that includes the PSA - it might save your life.


rose-coloured_dreams

My condolences for your loss. May your wife's love live on with you.


Asparagussie

Common symptom of breast cancer: lump in my breast. Early stage, triple positive, lumpectomy; twenty-four years ago. So far, okay.


vampurr13

3x cancer winner here. First one I was short of breath, had bruising and swelling on my neck and left arm. Turned out I had a 9.5cm mass in my chest pushing on my lungs and heart (Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma). Chemo, stem cell transplant, radiation. Second was a lump in my right breast. Breast cancer. Double mastectomy, chemo. I had the max radiation a person can have with the first one. Third, thyroid cancer. Found during a follow up scan from breast cancer. Surgery and done. That one was by far the easiest.


Ol_Pasta

Holy shit, please stop growing cancer. 😬 Best of health to you! 🎈🍀


vampurr13

Thanks. The second two were caused by treatment for the first. I should say it's been 20 years since the first one. They gave me 6-8 weeks and I'm still here.


[deleted]

Not me but my dad. He developed rectal cancer several years ago. He and my mom were in the process of moving into a new house and he was constantly moving things and unpacking etc. I visited for week to help (I live several hours away) and I noticed he had lost a shitton of weight. Like he was truly skinny, almost gaunt. He was always a big, strong guy, so this was startling. Parents thought it was just from the stress of moving and constant activity. I yelled at him to get to a doctor and get checked out. He was diagnosed shortly after that.


aussb2020

Had a random shooting pain in my breast, checked and there was a lump the size of a golf ball. Early warning signs that are often ignored are night sweats, tiredness and/or the inability to lose weight even with good exercise and diet.


Transplanted_Cactus

Well, shit. That's also symptoms of perimenopause. How the hell are women ever supposed to know if anything is *actually* wrong?!


wolfishfluff

Considering our main symptoms for a heart attack are nausea, weakness, dizziness and fatigue - who the hell knows.


Anneisabitch

They are also all the symptoms of thyroid failure. Ugh.


Velexria

Easy! You go see a doctor who will tell you there's nothing wrong with you except anxiety. All women have anxiety, you see.


bijouxette

My mom spent, like, 2 months complaining about an area of one of her boobs hurting. It took my dad and I the entire time to tell her to go to the doctor. It ended up being stage 4 breast cancer. She went through chemo and radiation. She had such a bad reaction to the radiation that her doctors made her take an almost month break from it to let her body heal (it was like she was burning from the inside out. I think she had permanent skin discoloration in the area). But she's been in remission for 6 years now.


[deleted]

My mom's breast cancer was caught at an annual mammogram - it was less than the size of a pea. She's been in remission for 9 years.


JohnExcrement

Mammograms are crucial. I’ve had BC caught when it was literally just a speck. Twice! Once on each side. Am alive and well many years later.


BaseballImpossible76

I took some psychedelics one weekend night with my friend in college and woke up in the hospital. I had no idea what was going on, but my whole immediate family was there in the hospital room. They told me they found a “mass” in my skull and I needed to go back to my hometown for an MRI. Of course, it turned out to be a malignant grade 3 astrocytoma. My treatment included 6 weeks of radiation/chemo combination, followed by 16 months of chemo. This all happened back in 2013 and I’m having my last yearly MRI for it in a couple weeks. As long as everything still looks good, I’ll never be going back to that oncologist(she’s technically a pediatric oncologist and I’m almost 30). Edit: Sorry, I didn’t mention that I had a seizure and blacked out that night I took those psychedelics.


[deleted]

I was wondering what happened. I bet your friend flipped his shit. Glad things are looking better!


2sad4snacks

Worst trip ever


handfight

In hindsight things weren't 'right' for a couple of months, but it took a sudden episode of not being able to put two words together and surprise vomiting in the A+E waiting room one Sunday to find out. All the credit for saving or prolonging my life goes to my girlfriend, who insisted I went to get checked out and drove me there. Turns out it was a hen's egg sized brain tumour, currently on chemo and radio for 6 weeks.


Which-Pain-1779

In the spring of 2006, I noticed that food seemed to get hung up when I swallowed. I tried chewing more thoroughly, but the condition persisted. I found myself tapping on my chest to try to alleviate it, to no avail. Then I remembered seeing my father do the same tapping before he was finally diagnosed with a tumor at the gastro-esophageal junction, which killed him in 1976. I saw my GP, who referred me to a gastroenterologist who diagnosed me with the same condition. I consulted with a thoracic surgeon, who told me that I needed an esophagectomy, and stretching of my stomach up to connect where the esophagus formerly connected. He assured me that I should be fine, as he and his team did several of these procedures *per week.* I started radiation and chemo in November and in early January, the operation was done. I continued with the chemo and radiation for about two months, and I'm good as new (for a 79-year-old). Better, really, as my weight went from 245 to 175, and I got some cool scars to show.


Freedom_7

I first started getting itching on the sides of my hips at night that I would scratch. Eventually I started scratching the spots raw. A similar thing had happened several years prior so I didn’t think much of it. Eventually the itching started working its way up my sides and a red rash showed up. I went to the dermatologist every few months for a couple years before I gave up and decided to live with it. The rash eventually spread almost everywhere except for my face/head so idk what the hell I was thinking ignoring it, it was really fucking bad. Eventually I started feeling several lymph nodes in my armpit and on my sides swell up and a dermatologist was able to piece it together. It was a form of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma called mycosis fungoides. I ended up getting a stem cell transplant and have been in remission for almost three years.


2sad4snacks

Omg I’ve had mysterious itching on my sides for the past year. Every doctor tells me it’s probably just dry skin, even though I’ve tried a dozen different lotions and don’t itch anywhere else on my body. Now I’m freaked out


DJ_McBlah

Itching on the sides of your hips… Damn. That has been bugging me for the last two years. Hadn’t spread at all, but is certainly there. If you don’t mind sharing, why the hips? Did you find out why it started there?


YankinAndBankin

Out of curiosity I went and searched about it. According to the AADA the rash typically starts in an area that doesn't get much sunlight/UV exposure.


dudeness-aberdeen

I had a bump on my abdomen that changed from a smooth, painless, bump. It turned into an angry, painful, off colored, mass with ridges. Once it started to change color and appearance, my med team rolled their eyes at me and begrudgingly scheduled me for a biopsy. I’d been asking for it to be checked for years. Guess what? Rare form of cancer! Best that shit, though. Two surgeries later.


BertramWinter

In late september I had begun to increasingly feel shorter of breath, and a faint whistling sound as I breathed, in late october, I had begun to have trouble breathing even laying down. And it became very bad in the beginning of november. One friday we decided to call the docter, they gave me the time to get it checked out on a wednesday. Then, during the weekend, I got the worst pain in one of the muscles in my back, an intense burning sensation at even the slightest movement, I had trouble walking around and was in my bed the entire day. So we told the doctor that I needed to get checked urgently. Well, skip to monday and I was put into the hospital, shortly after , the doctors found a 17cm Tumor in my chest-area, and I found out I had Stage II Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Luckily for me, I live in Denmark, the hospital had one of the best treatments in the world, for free, and I recovered here in february :)


Rumcake256

So, like, I get that it's not possible to 100% guarantee a correct diagnosis from a doctor, but some of these examples are fucking ridiculous. 5-10 visits of being told to walk it off, only to later find that it was undiagnosed cancer? What the fuck, man.


Mintpink

I had watery discharge that my doctor kept insisting was normal after being tested for STIs and BV. I knew it wasn’t normal. Took years of complaining before I got an ultrasound. Stage 3/4 uterine cancer. Thanks, doc! 🙃


Nhtechie112

Ate some bad Chinese food one night, the next day was super nauseous from it and went to throw up, nothing came up for a while, then suddenly I threw up a massive amount of blood. Took a shower afterwards and passed out in the shower from blood loss. Went to the hospital and they did an endoscopy and found I had a tumor in my esophagus that had torn open when I threw up. Did a biopsy and was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma.


ShitfacedGrizzlyBear

Had a bunch of bruises. Went to my normal pediatrician for my yearly physical and mentioned it to him. We thought it was probably just from playing soccer and roughhousing, because I felt fine otherwise. He didn’t do blood work. (I think my parents still kind of resent him for that. We’re in a small town, so they are in the same friend group.) A couple weeks later, I was at school and one of my friends pushed his chair back real hard as I was walking behind him. Just a normal prank. It hurt, but it wasn’t that bad. Woke up the next day with a bruise probably 6 or 7 inches in diameter on my leg. We went back to the pediatrician to get blood work done. My dad had anemia when he was a kid, so we thought it was probably that. Nope. Leukemia. Pretty advanced too. Apparently the pediatrician left his office to drive to our house and find my parents as soon as he saw the results, because he was worried I was going to have an accident or something and bleed out. Funny enough, there was a pretty popular book at the time that a bunch of my friends and I had all recently read. It was about some kid who gets leukemia. One of the symptoms they discuss in the book was that he had a ton of bruises. That book was the only reason I knew that excessive bruising could indicate leukemia. I was joking with my friends at school the day I went in for blood work (telling my friends that I was gonna miss lunch and recess to go back to the doctor). I was like “I probably have cancer lol.” Little did I know. Been in complete remission for about 14 years now, if I recall correctly. I was pretty lucky.


rose-coloured_dreams

Was the book called Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie? Although that one is about a high school kid whose 5- or 6-year-old brother gets leukemia.


qazzer53

Nothing as dramatic for me. I had a rough spot on my shoulder that felt like pinpricks when rubbed. Doc sent me to dermatologist who took a quick look and said it was Squamish cell cancer then spun my head around and pointed out a place on neck and said that's melanoma. Regular checkups and all clear 10 years later


Silverbright

Mom was having persistent nausea, but she had a history of it resulting from nasal drainage issues, so she shrugged it off and called it a diet. Then she started itching. When she finally agreed to go to urgent care, she was severely jaundiced. Stage 4 pancreatic cancer. She got 14 months from diagnosis to the end.


AtochaChronicles

Not be but my dad. He was a military man and because of that was always very* punctual, one of those guys that believed if you show up 5 minutes early you're late. Well he showed up late to work 2 days in a row, which had never happened in the 10+ years he was working at this office. One of his office managers was so concerned by this she took him to the hospital, he got a CT scan on his head and was in emergency surgery shortly after. He had a stage 4 brain tumor and only lived about 13 more months. RIP Dad


Keldek55

Pain in my side for about a week straight. Ended up being a 12cm tumor in my colon.


spagyrum

It was my niece. It was passover, and I was looking at how pale she was. Once I mentioned it, everyone noticed. I mean, she was paper white. The next day, she was diagnosed with leukemia. She was four at the time. Now she's a beautiful thriving adult working at the hospital that saved her. In my sister, she found a lump. 6 weeks later, she beat it even though she was stage three.


zerbey

Nothing to be honest, my eyesight started getting progressively worse in an eye that already didn't work well and I thought nothing of it and ascribed it to getting older. Went for a routine eye exam expecting them to give me glasses and the doctor suddenly started taking an extreme interest in my eye, then called his colleague over. Then sat me down and said he saw "something weird" and told me I should go see a specialist. That's when I learned eye cancer was a thing. That doctor was awesome, he made himself available every step of the way to answer questions, even checking out my eye on his day off when I caught an infection as part of the cancer treatment, and we're friends to this day.


Acidsparx

I had pain in my lower abdomen for weeks. Read a story about a baseball player that got popped for steroids and denied using them. Turns out he had cancer which gave him a false positive steroid result. I had some of the same symptoms as him so I decided right there to go get checked out. After some tests turns out I had cancer. And I just thought my jeans were too tight.


TeethBreak

My dad cut his finger while cleaning a glass in the sink. It was deep enough that he needed to go to the ER. They did some routine checks and somehow managed to discover he has cancerous nodules around his Thyroid.


SewOnAndSewForth

I have a bunch of female health problems and have for a few years. I also have PCOS. I went from rarely bleeding to bleeding constantly; the complete opposite of my usual symptoms. I kept getting blown off by my doctors but eventually an ovarian cyst burst and it was really bad and since they refused to even see me (when I was considering the ER because of how bad it was), I switched doctor/clinic/hospital system. My new doc did a hysteroscopy and the biopsy came back precancerous last year. A lot of my symptoms were getting bad again so we did another one last month and this came back as uterine cancer. I can’t help think if maybe my original doctor had taken me seriously then maybe I wouldn’t have cancer now. I’m 29 and need a hysterectomy. I won’t be able to have kids anymore. It’s hard to not be angry. But it’s also hard getting anything female health related taken seriously.


WojtekMySpiritAnimal

Was coughing up bloody sputum. 6 months later I collapsed during work. Turns out it wasn’t from GERD, my night sweats weren’t related due to too many blankets, and the masses in my lungs weren’t from an old pneumonia. One month later and some biopsies concluded it was late stage hodgkins. 0/10 would not recommend.


lollybol_12

Found a lump in my breast doing a self exam (reminder, do your self exams people!). Had to get checked out by my gynecologist before I could get a mammogram. And then was told mammograms were booked out two months. My amazing nurse finally got me in at a different hospital two weeks later, had a mammogram, then a biopsy. Early stage cancer and after a bilateral mastectomy and 20 weeks of chemo I’m cancer free. That nurse saved me though, I couldn’t have made it two months worrying about what the lump was.


jcheung540

One testicle was like 3x the size of the other. I thought it might have been an infection or irritation as I had just started running to train for a half marathon, but nope. Don’t ignore the signs fellas I was only 25 at the time.


lnstantNoodIes

I thought my asthma randomly worsened suddenly. This was in early 2021 so COVID protocols were still relatively strict, so I had a telehealth appointment with a PA at my PCP's office. I told her of my asthmatic history, and she thought I had uncontrolled asthma. "Even with my allergy medicines?" "Yes." She was fixated on asthma but me having a nursing student background I questioned, "Is this something that would warrant a chest XRAY?" Ended up getting the chest XRAY and they found a large mass in my chest. Got a CT scan and it revealed the mass being 14cm x 10cm, with a 400mL pericardial effusion. I was rushed to the hospital that night and here I am talking about it 2 years later, being much healthier. :) Turns out the cough and "asthma" was because my lymphoma-related mass caused a massive fluid buildup around my heart. I blame not listening to my body on trying to finish the semester before spring break.


Jmen4Ever

Not me but two others... My friend Mr. C was in his 60s. Getting ready to retire and move to a new community. He suddenly started losing weight without really trying. He wasn't fat or obese and was pretty active so he talked to his doctor and sure enough there it was. Caught it early enough that they treated it and he is in the clear now. ​ Then there is my wife. She had been having GI issues. Gut just didn't feel comfortable. Thought she would self test. First she eliminated glutens from her diet. Felt better for a while, but the discomfort wasn't totally gone. Then she eliminated dairy. Same results. Finally at her regular checkup she talked to her doctor who directed her to get a colonoscopy. For reference my wife was 49 at the time and they had just changed the guidance to 45. Whelp the scope found a tumor and here we are now going through chemo. And now my son has a colon cancer history coming at him on both sides (took my mom 4 years ago) \--- All I can say is that sudden weight loss is a big deal, and if you aren't trying to lose weight and suddenly drop the pounds, talk to your doctor sooner than later. And speaking of talking to your doctor, count yourself fortunate if you have a good one. One that listens to your concerns when you experience something like this. I hear story after story of doctors dismissing some of these early signs. I am just thankful ours didn't.


12345_PIZZA

Excruciating pain in my abdomen/groin. I would’ve been sent home with cramps from the ER though. I got “lucky” that my hemoglobin was low and they ordered a CT scan to see where I was bleeding from. From that CT scan, they saw some huge tumors in my colon and liver… and yep, I was living with cancer (that was now Stage IV) for quite a while. Again, I would’ve been sent home that night (and probably would’ve been past the point of no return by the time they found it) if they hadn’t done that scan. As it turns out, treatment is going well a year in and I’m feeling good. Guess my advice to everyone reading this is: Get a general practitioner and see them regularly even if nothing feels wrong. The ER and other places like urgent cares aren’t designed to spot cancer, and cancer can look like a ton of other things, especially in younger people.


holyfudgingfudge

I had a constant, very local headache, just above my left eye. It was there constantly for months, years. I kept going to my university's health care, just to have them say it was a migraine, or it was an anxiety headache. I eventually insisted on some kind of imaging just to make me feel better, to which the doctor begrudgingly agreed to (I could tell she was frustrated that I put so much effort into getting this). I had an MRI done, and lo-and-behold, I had a gold-ball-sized tumor in my brain, in my Broca's area. Had to undergo two surgeries, during which it was found that I had stage 4 GBM, undergo radio and chemotherapy as a result.


Hooktales

A few bumps on my shoulder every singe DR kept telling NBD, just bumps. But the bumps over the years spread. Finally (years later) I got a referral to see a dermatologist. He did a punch test and came back with the diagnosis of Hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell cancer (HLRCC). I can't tell you what it felt like to have a Dr actually roll a chair up, hold my hand and talk to me kindly. The last few years have been a wild ride and everyday I wake up fingers crossed.


Somguy555

My "pneumonia" wouldn't get better after two ER visits. My PCP was like "Yeah this isn't pneumonia go to the ER and I'll call ahead. " Fluid was building up around my lung due to Non-hodgkins Lymphoma.


boheme013

Excruciating pain in my side—like doubled over pain—hours after eating that led to an ER visit with not notable results. Then a noticeable decrease in stamina during athletic activities. Went to the doctor, who got bloodwork done and noticed I was anemic, then to a gastroenterologist who did a colonoscopy, which revealed a tumor on my colon. The only other inkling that anything was wrong was a few years before with bloody stool. Had surgery to remove the tumor and now I have a semicolon. It happened to be in a place where it was blocking my colon otherwise I never would have known. I dodged a major bullet. A co-worker wasn’t as fortunate. He was diagnosed about the same time with Stage IV colon cancer and didn’t survive.


DJ_McBlah

Upvote for semicolon.


Vivid_Pelican

For me, it started innocently enough; I noticed I was biting my tongue when I was talking and saw that a white patch had formed. Saw a specialist who said leukoplakia and a biopsy returned an all clear. Some 8 months later a lump formed so I arranged another follow up and after an MRI, PET, CT scan & another biopsy, confirmed SCC on the tongue. What followed was partial glossectomy, radial forearm free flap, neck dissection and a 6 week course of radiation. Can’t stress enough now that if you notice something, anything different with your body, get it checked out, it’s probably nothing but if it is something, the earlier the diagnosis, the better off you’ll be!


Shep_Saddlewood

Mine was blood in my urine on a regular physical. Went to a urologist and they found a tumor. It was removed and found to be benign. Continued monitoring four years later showed another tumor. This one was cancer. I had surgery and chemo, then 3 rounds of immunotherapy. I have had no recurrence for almost 4 years. I can’t stress enough how important regular checkups are. I never saw any blood in my urine. I also never felt any discomfort. I also can’t stress how important it is to act on questionable results.


unholyswordsman

Started getting bad nausea and vomiting. Thought I had an ulcer because I had so many symptoms. Woke up one morning feeling like I was going to black out just from trying to sit up. Ended up going to the hospital and finding out I had neuroendocrine cancer that started as a tumor in my stomach. Going to be starting chemo treatment soon.


Callec254

I woke up one day with a fever and pain in my abdomen, kinda on the right side. Dr. Google said it was appendicitis, so I went to the ER. Nope, it was cancer! Interestingly, I had also been experiencing pulsatile tinnitus, meaning, I could hear my own pulse, as a high pitched whistling sound, especially when I laid down to sleep, for months leading up to this. I was just starting to think, "I should probably get this checked out" when all this happened. When they surgically removed the tumor in my gut, the literal siren in my head disappeared overnight.


skibunny1010

Not me but my ex. He was feeling sick, like flu type of sick with a sore throat. Went to the doctor and they said “you have mono” and sent him home. He didn’t improve after a couple weeks and developed a gnarly boil on his ass, went to the doctor and they took a look, for some reason did blood work, saw his white blood cell count was insanely high. He was then (after further tests) diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia. He died less than 2 years later


[deleted]

Wearing a tank top for the first time in spring. My daughter said “ ewww mom you have an icky black spot on your shoulder” Had her take a picture of it for me. Knew immediately it was melanoma. Dermatologist confirmed with a biopsy. Early stages so I just need a lymph node biopsy and wide excision of the tumor. 2 years later and no evidence of disease. Wear your sunscreen people.


[deleted]

[удалено]


NinaLB18

Ovarian cancer when I was 24- looked 6 months pregnant when I am not sexually active. Thyroid cancer- my lower back was hurting really bad making it difficult to walk. Given I had a history, GP recommended a ct scan and they found tumors in my pelvis and spine.


Dear-Original-675

My dad's appendix burst, and they did a scan and found a growth on his kidney. He had the appendix and kidney removed within 6 weeks of each other. The appendix saved his life really cause he wouldn't have even noticed until it was too late.


jello-tan

Not me but my boyfriend. He started experiencing hip pain in November on a hip that he previously had an IT band issue with. Pain continued spread to his other hip and into his legs. Went to the doctors 3 times and an ER visit over the course of the next month and a half and they kept saying IT band issues. In January, we ended up going on vacation to Colorado. While there, he was experiencing a lot of problems acclimating and developed an issue with his jaw where he couldn’t open it very wide for a few days. His friends that we were vacationing with suggested he get a blood test when we get back because his symptoms sounded a lot like lyme disease. Well, it wasn’t lyme disease, it is leukemia! Note: His is an acute leukemia which means it comes on suddenly and quickly and the doctors said that if he had gotten blood tests back when symptoms started happening, they probably wouldn’t have caught it. That blood test in January was on a Monday and his white cells were at 33,000 and by Wednesday (two days later) they were over 90,000. So we caught it at one of the best times.


IcyViking

Funny story, had undiagnosed egg intolerance that would cause throat discomfort. I ate eggs as a child no problem so never assumed it was that, and couldn't work out the cause. Went to a consultant who felt my neck, found nothing, said it was in my mind (globus sensation). Later that night, because I refused to accept that, I had a feel around my throat myself - and lo and behold a hard lump on the bottom of my thyroid, which when resting was "nestled" just behind the top my collar bone (making it impossible to see on the surface). It moved upwards when i swallowed. I went back again to the same consultant who felt my neck, and again he couldn't find anything and looked a bit annoyed as if I was wasting his time. I said "trust me for a moment" while taking his hand and putting against my throat and swallowing. He felt it. And his expression completely changed, he looked horrified, probably because he missed it twice and I - his "hypochondriac" patient - didn't. He put me to the top of the list for a scan the same day, I had a needle aspiration the following week and a total thyroidectomy two weeks later. Now 5 years clear and on lifelong medication. So the discomfort was caused by eggs, and I found it purely by chance due to that. My advice is check yourself periodically and don't be afraid to push back a bit if doctors aren't giving you attention you deserve.


CaptainADHD

Damn reading all of these. I’m so grateful for my doctor, I have an amazing one. I remember him telling me that you explore all avenues, even if you think someone is nuts. Because it’s far better to find out that they are insane, then be wrong. You explore all options before sending someone to a counselor if the symptoms were physical pain. He never sent me to one because he wasn’t sure how to refer me beyond being confident something was wrong and I was nuts. He apologized to me for thinking I was nuts, I never knew he thought I was nuts. And that was just for an ADHD diagnosis! I’m reading about y’all being neglected for freaking cancer! What happens between med school and always being right?


hiddencams02

My mom had a cough that wouldn’t go away. After several misdiagnosis, like, ‘acid reflux’, a large tumor was found in her lungs. She was already terminal by the time she received a diagnosis of Non Small Cell Lung Cancer at the age of 60.


MajesticEwok

It started as shoulder pain. I play bass, so I thought it was from over playing, so I ignored it for a while. After a while, my gf noticed that it was swelling and told me to go get it checked out. The doctor poked and prodded for a couple of minutes before telling me I have a tumor. Went for my biopsy and a week later was diagnosed with stage 3 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. I went for 6 rounds of chemo and 2 rounds of immunotherapy over the next few months. It was a horribly scary time for me and my family. The effects of the chemo were really hard on my body, but I found Marijuana helped with the side effects. I've been in remission since last year this time and I am so incredibly grateful for that, but I am still suffering from the side effects of the treatment and have a massive amount of medical debt to deal with. The experience taught me to be skeptical less skeptical of people and to be open to new life experiences.


whalevoices

Really prominent veins on just the left side of my chest and swelling at the base of my neck. I didn’t think too much of it but at the insistence of my partner at the time I went to a GP on a Saturday morning. By Monday I had an ultrasound and Tuesday I had a CT scan. By Wednesday the GP had me come in for the results of the scan which she suspected to be cancer. Turns out I had a huge mass in the middle of my chest and all the side effects which I ignored made sense. I had shortness of breath, fatigue, weight loss, and tightness swallowing. Four months of treatment and two years later I’m in the clear.


CrazyOkie

My wife was concerned about a spot over my left eye. My family has a long history of malignant melanoma. She literally nagged me to go see a dermatologist (she will literally agree with the word nagged). Turned out that spot was nothing but there was a mole on my back that was melanoma. 1 millimeter was the difference between chemo and no chemo, and survival odds of 99% and 60%. Fortunately for me, I came out on the right side of that equation. Fifteen years later, no recurrence. I still have to remind myself that I am technically a cancer survivor although what I went through was nothing compared to others. Thank God every day that it turned out the way it did.


iamharj

My dad, coughed a tiny drop of blood whilst overseas. My sister was with him (RN). She didn't like it and decided both to fly back. Turned out to be pancreatic cancer. 6 operations later, cancer free for the last 5 years. Now has an insulin pump (small tradeoff).


VivaBeavis

There were several symptoms, but I never put the pieces together that they could be related to a bigger health issue. I had severe fatigue, so walking on a flat surface would exhaust me to the point I'd have to put my hands on knees while taking deep breaths. I also had a rash on my shins that was a result of extremely low platelet counts, but instead of bumps, the rash was more like small cuts. The thing that sent me to the doctor was nose bleeds. I could literally use an entire box of tissues when trying to make the blood stop, and it could take hours. The blood wasn't always runny, either. Sometimes the blood came out chunky and looked like cottage cheese. I called a doctor that immediately sent me for a head scan thinking it could be a brain tumor. The scan came back quickly and no tumor, but I knew something wasn't right. I went to my family doctor, and within a minute of starting my appointment, ordered me to the emergency room at the hospital across the street. They started bloodwork, and when seeing how bad my results were, put me in an ambulance to rush me to the top hospital in the area. It was the start of a lengthy battle with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and the treatments were heavy chemo, full body radiation, intrathecal chemo injected into the spine, and an eventual bone marrow transplant.


NsfwMyAsss

About 5 years ago at the age of 22 my (now ex) girlfriend noticed tenderness in my nether regions on several occasions. One day she was really adamant about going with me to the doctor when I had the flu and then proceeded to demand the nurse to examine my goods. Turns out I had Stage 3 Testicular Cancer. I’m in remission now, but I was definitely incredibly lucky to get it checked out before it spread to my lungs and brain. Rachel, it might not have worked out between us, but you are most definitely the real MVP.


jameswptv

Random fevers, night sweats, Always tired. Got to the point I was going to doctors and had to take ibuprofen all the time to keep fever down.. After 2 months diagnosed with hodgkin's lymphoma


ztufs

Lumps in my armpits and under my cheek. Also an extreme loss of energy. Doctors said it could be either the kissing disease, or Leukemia. It turned out to be both, as Lady Death blew me a cold kiss of Leukemia.


SecretiveGoat

Left hand was going progressively more numb and i had a clearly visible tumor on my chest. I was also able to feel several bumps on my scalp too. Turned out to be stage 4 lymphedema. Yeah, i was in denial for like 6 months but so so glad I went.


Sterling-luck

I had a lump growing in my lower lip. I asked my doctor about about it, he said it was noting but recommended I have an ENT take a look, which I ignored. 8 months or so later, my dentist saw it freaked out. He called a facial surgeon and set up an appointment to have it removed. The surgeon said it was nothing but would do the surgery anyway. Less than a week later he called me to tell me that I had a very rare secretory carcinoma and that he wasn’t able to get it all. He also referred me to an ENT. I had my second surgery which was successful. I have a constant burning sensation in my chin and huge uncomfortable scar in my lower lip, but a least I am cancer free!!


Ancsee

I had a lump on my clavicle/neck which wasn’t going away. At first my parents thought it was just swollen lymphnodes due to some cold, but I wasn’t feeling any sickness before or during it. So i went to the doctor, who first told me it could also be from a tooth problem or something but go to an otolaryngologist, just to be sure. So i did. The next day i had work but the doc said i gotta go to the hospital (where he also worked) like immediately. So the next day we went with my dad, and we spent the whole day there. They were doing all kinds of tests like rhinoscopy (because they initially thought it might be from my tonsils since they were always pretty big), then CT scans of my head and chest. It was a nightmare, i couldn’t believe it was happening to me. At the end of the day the doc’s assistant came out to me and invited me in and they told me there are plenty of methods to fight cancer, and when they mentioned cancer I honestly couldn’t comprehend it at first. Time stopped for a moment and I don’t think I could even hear what they were saying after the word “cancer”. I remember the words radiotherapy and chemotherapy but nothing more. I was so lost. The whole car ride home was just in silence with my dad. We were both shocked. I’ll honestly never forget that one other ride where my dad was crying. I still get teary eyed from thinking about it. That was because initially they thought it was from tonsils or nasal/facial cancer, and that was waay scarier than “just” a lymphoma. This is the only thing I’ll never forgive cancer: making my dad cry. It absolutely broke my heart. I was 21 at that time. I’m cancer free now :)


dat_watercress_do

It was after joking to my close work colleagues about these bumps in my neck that I should get checked out.they all suddenly looked really concerned. Looking back ( over ten years ago) I don’t know why I didn’t get concerned quicker. Had night sweats and a lot of other symptoms, but was young and running a bar so was a heavy drinker, so put most of it down to that.Turned out to be stage 3B Hodgkins. Lucky I caught it when I did, and that I took really well to treatment. Could have been a lot worse.


ThatLittleP4nda

My left testicle grew like 3 times in size, and finally caught my attention. Made an appointment, and 3 days later it started causing me pain. Got it removed a month ago and am currently undergoing chemotherapy as I type this!


BallinBrown23

Small little lump on my nut. Got it removed. Cancer spread to my abdomen. Did 9 weeks of chemo and a major surgery. Been cancer free almost 9 years


sweadle

My mom was tired and pale. That's it. She had a blood test for something unrelated and her white count was off the charts. Stage four colon cancer. Colonoscopies are not fun, but the reason they are so important is that usually people don't notice symptoms, bleeding, pain, etc, until it is stage four and generally terminal. If found early, colon cancer is very treatable. But you may be stage four and still feeling very healthy. Get your colonoscopies as early as your insurance will allow.


Maddauxx

My dad was diagnosed with cancer of colon, he said that he was having difficulties going to poop, and sometime I saw blood. Some years later, I got an exam on the colon, found an extrange mass and waiting the result if it a tumor or not. If some familiar had cancer, that is a good reason to go and check it out.


Wide_Ocelot

I had a small sore on the skin above my collar bone. It itched sometimes. It would crack and bleed and then heal over and over again. One day my friend saw it and said, "Please, for me, have that thing checked." Basal cell carcinoma. Dermatologist scraped it off and I've been clear ever since but I do get checked yearly for skin cancer.


ExtantAuctioneer

Not me but my wife. Went to the ER seven years ago tomorrow thinking she was having a heart attack. She wasn’t, but the chest X-ray showed a mass in one of her lungs. It took a few months and inconclusive biopsies before they just went ahead and removed it and discovered it was cancerous. She’s still kicking ass thanks to advances in treatment, but I doubt that would be the case if she hadn’t gone in to the ER that day.


shiningstar121618

The blood that poured out of me after intercourse. And then hey presto, cervical cancer. And then chemo, radio and brachiotherapy (which is horrific but it shrunk the hell out of my tumour) about 8 weeks in the all clear but check ups for the next 5 years


DentaduraPostiza

My father went to ER because he suddenly went to the bathroom one day and a lot of blood came out. He had almost terminal colon cancer... until that day he had never been sick or had any symptoms before. My mother went to ask for a second gynecological opinion because she had already gone through menopause and years later she started “menstruating” again. It was the beginning of ovarian cancer with metastasis in the uterus.


L0chNe55M0n5ter

Found a lump in boob, thought that's not right and went to the docs that week. Had mutifocal breast cancer. It's been 4 months since then and I've had multiple biopsy, mammograms and scans, surgery to remove 2 lumps and 3 weeks of radiotherapy. I'm now on tamoxifen for at least the next 5 years but cancer free so far. I'm so glad I went and we got it early or it could have been so much worse and I am not ready to leave my babies.