Got an invitation to go out for coffee, and I'd like to, but I'm not up to socializing. I'm having trouble walking, taking a ton of Vicodin, and just now, waking up, I found a big hard bulge along my left hip. It hurts. Feels like a big ol' tumor growing on the rim of my pelvis.
Scheduled to go in tomorrow for PET scan and PSA test. But I won't know for sure till Mon or Tues.
Is this something that means anything to you guys?
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Cisco99
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Tumor or just bulge? That would freak me out. Similar to me I’m worried about a large renal cyst on my right upper kidney lobe. What it may be or not.
So far I’ve tried re-tried to get action diagnostics done. But my urologist and nephrologist and PCP doctors just say @if it isn’t bothering me don’t worry about it”.
Yes he-Ck yeh I’m concerned about it.
Best wishes fir rapid results and actions Cisco99. Your Mon/Tue is coming fast.
I was cancerophobic as a child, age 9, 10. It was the "black spot" which, once it was detected, meant certain death. I read a play by James Barrie ("Peter Pan") that introduced this topic, and being young, I swallowed it whole. A black spot even appeared on the palm of my hand -- where the spike would have nailed Jesus. I was very Catholic, relishing the stories of missionaries eaten alive., etc.
Black spot turned out to be a blood blister. Cut it out after a few weeks and put it in the trash.
Now this sudden bulge brings back those feelings. Even though walking hurts, I took my dog Lucy for a half-mile walk at 5 am, through our neighborhood. I teared up at one point, not thinking about my big ol' bulge -- just reflecting on what a wild ride this has been. I was grateful I could still walk and think, and keep an eye on my off-leash dog. Everything suddenly seemed very real.
I'll feel sheepish now if the bulge doesn't mean anything.
The big cliche about cancer is you fight it, battle it. I haven't really been doing that. More like watching what happens with interest. Following it. Going for The Big Walk with it.
I was a weird kid. Still am.
Sounds like a big ol’ something to me! When’s the last time your PSA was checked?
Yep, About twenty. Mostly to the spine, but just about all the major joints. You know what's weird? I'm in significant pain -- and everyone wants to take me out for coffee. I just want to hide in my closet!
Tough call, Cisco. This is one of the hardest parts of our condition - when is a pain just a pain and when is it something more and when is it something more and its the PCa more??.... It's a mind wiper, that's for sure. Having a kindred PCa presentation - many, many bone mets - I can only say that the PSA and PET are the best answer to your question...even if, as you point out, it's gonna be a long, painful, scary and lonely weekend. Just know that people are pulling for you, even if they can only show it by asking you out for coffee.
My advice is that you follow your heart, although I would like you to take a hot bath with some epsom salts before you hide out in that closet! And, for the record, I am not mocking you in the least with this last comment - we have a nice walk in closet that can get completely dark, and I have sought temporary refuge/sensory deprivation there on occasion. It's definitely in my tool box of coping.
I simply put down a mat, put on some calming music or white noise, and just lie there until I feel that I can deal with the world again. Good luck, Cisco!
Long, long ago, I used to put my out of control sister in a closet. Apparently that is frowned upon these days. On the other hand, I never groped anyone.
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