I met with the gastro consultant yesterday. The good news is that the tumour in my duodenum - the G.I.S.T. - is 'non-cancerous'. The word 'benign' was carefully avoided by the consultant when I used it and 'non-cancerous' was put in its place. I don't know if there is actually a difference.
Anyway, although it is 'non-cancerous' it still requires removal as, it seems, these G.I.S.T.s can go on to become cancerous in the future. However, it is no longer 'urgent' so I may have a while to wait.
I can live with the wait. It's non-cancerous! Hooray for that!
Now for the other bit - the story!
Just over a week ago, I received a phone call from the surgery asking me to attend an appointment with a GP who needs to discuss the letter she has received from the hospital where I had the endoscopic ultrasound procedure.
At first, I was a little concerned about this as I had not received the usual copy of the letter so I was anticipating bad news. This was compounded when, last Friday, I received a phone call asking me to attend the appointment with the gastro consultant which happened yesterday.
During the intervening days, I trawled through Patient Access to see if I could find reference to the letter, in order to either put my mind at rest or to be prepared for the worst.
What I found was something about a DNR order!
Panic! Why do I need this? etc etc etc!
So yesterday afternoon, my husband and I patiently waited our turn and finally saw the GP who said brightly, 'Why have you come to see me today? What can I do for you?' She had no idea why I was there and struggled to find anything on the computer to give her a clue as to what she was meant to discuss with me/us.
In the end, she found it, but it was something that had been mis-filed on the computer under DNR and didn't need any discussion at all. Instead I got her to look at my knee which still has remains of the huge haematoma which was one of the injuries from my fall at the beginning of June.
So the afternoon wasn't entirely wasted, from our point of view, but someone else probably got told there were no appointments available when I was taking one up for no good reason. You couldn't make it up!
Now, there was an Irish man, a Welsh man and a Scotsman sitting on a log ...
Nah! Max Bygraves would have told it better - I'll leave it there!
xx Moy
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MoyB
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There’s a stage called dysplasia, between benign and pre-cancerous. It describes abnormal cells which may or may not become pre-cancerous. The only reason I know this is that my husband had these abnormal cells in the lining of his oesophagus which required non-urgent removal. So your “non-cancerous” gist sounds similar.
You really make me laugh with your stories, Moy! Keep them coming x
Great news for you Moy. I always say not knowing - worrying is often worse than the result thank God. Another hurdle u safely negotiated. I’m soo pleased for you. Your husband and and family must b so relieved.
Yes, I can cope with anything except uncertainty! Once I know what I'm dealing with I'm fine about it. We are all greatly relieved now and I was more than happy with the treatment plan - I may change my mind when they've poked about to get the thing out, but I'm sure it will be worth it.
Moy - A benign tumor, also known as a benign neoplasm or benign growth, is a noncancerous collection of cells. Unlike cancerous tumors, benign tumors are slow-growing and don’t spread to other areas of your body. They may not cause symptoms, but a large benign tumor may press on nearby tissue and organs.
So "none cancerous" and "benign" are the same, as is "neoplasm"
on a gp related subject, I rarely go and see one, but if I do need an appointment, I, along with many others I’m sure, have to fill in a very comprehensive online form detailing what is wrong with me and why I think I need a doctor. I understand this is for triage, to find out who it is best for me to see. The thing that annoys me is that you spend all this writing your symptoms down, and when you actually get an appointment, the dr doesn’t know why you’re there!
I agree. I have great respect for the GPs at our surgery but sometimes, when I've done the online thing I've ended up speaking with an outsourced GP who is often very nice but doesn't seem to have access to all the information they need. xx Moy
Ah what good news for you MoyB 👍 So pleased for you and it's a weight of yours and your husband's shoulder 🙏 I am sure your knee will follow suit! Just wondering, have you ever tried "Arnica Cooling Gel"? You can buy this in Holland and Barrett or on Amazon which is a bit cheaper! My knees often ache with this change in weather and it's also great for bruises and when you have been on your legs for a few hours to ease discomfort! I use this very often now and it eases the pain or discomfort for me 🙏Happy Sunday to you both 💙🩵🥰
I haven't heard of the gel before. I'll make some enquiries and see if I can get some delivered. Reg and I have really rotten colds at the moment and his eyes are streaming too much to drive! We tested negative for COVID but this cold is worse anyway so will keep it to ourselves.Thanks for the suggestion. I'll see if Amazon have it.
I had a nasty cold and chesty cough for 5-6 weeks! It was horrid! The boxes of tissues I went through???? Mad 👍 My brother suggested normal garden onions, peel and crush them a little and put them in different rooms! The oils from the onions suppose to help with colds 🥰👍
I started eating them as well the other day! Just my sinuses are still playing up at present, so more tissues again 🙄😆🤧🤧🥰
Right I am off to church people, catch you later 👌💙🩵
The DNR notice must have been so scary though; I think that I might have complained to the practice manager about that.
I'm only guessing, but I have noticed a dumbing down of medical terminology to patients by NHS staff. A classic example is that now they say (and even write in their guidance), the word 'poo' rather than 'stools' or 'faeces'. Maybe they have to say 'non-cancerous' as not everyone understands what 'benign' meant?
The main thing though is that it's another worry that can be put to bed so if I were you, I'd go out and celebrate!
Well I had to Colposcopies last year in autumn, finally specialist nurse was successful to take a biopsy! A letter came back just before Christmas and it shook the core out of me! The way it was phrased made me scared and I thought I have a pre- cancerous problem! And yes I couldn't enjoy Christmas with my family as much as I was feeling scared inside and thought, "Am I going to die?" But in the new year I was put at ease on Joe's Cancer website to assure me that it is non cancerous!
Why on earth do they scare people unnecessary! Non-cancerous means precisely that 👌
I do admit I am still annoyed about that letter and should have called that hospital clinic at the time!
But find your test results under DNR ....
I am not surprised the doctor couldn't find MoyB's test results which either had good or bad news for her!
Anyways must go back to sleep, early start this morning ladies 🙏🌅
To be fair, the doctor told me clearly, 'You do not have cancer.' However, his determination to use the word 'non cancerous' rather than benign, despite my asking 'So is it benign?' got me overthinking a bit. Isn't it horrible when you suddenly face the possibility that you may soon die?! It's happened to me several times in my life and the ensuing uncertainty whilst waiting for answers is just awful.
Thankfully, we're both still here to tell the tale!
Yes MoyB we are still here, twice actually for me by the grace of God! Survived a heart attack 2019 and 2023 a non-cancerous result 🙏A HPV virus can develop into cancerous cells that's why I need yearly check-ups!
I hope you get this benign growth very soon remove MoyB 🫂💙🩵
Thank you. I'm glad you've survived the traumas. I don't expect things to move quickly for me now, although perhaps as it will be a quickie they might push me through to help their statistics. I'd like it to be gone, but now that I know it's not life threatening, I can be a bit more selective when it comes to appointment dates which will free us up to make plans again.
The next thing on the cards is a trip to our daughter and family in Cumbria. It's been planned for a long time. Haven't been up there since before COVID. I haven't dared book the rail tickets yet though, just in case.
Make sure you go soon before the weather turns bad MoyB!Bet your daughter longs to see you both! 👍💙🩵
And trains are more comfortable then National Express Busses, I won't be using the WC's in the National Express Busses 😳 because some are minging MoyB! School half term coming up and maybe you could both go then 👍 And hopefully you knee is getting better by then 🙏💙🩵
I won't complain to the surgery as the doctor was clearly very concerned and is taking the matter to the practice manager herself. She was disturbed to think that other, more frail, patients might be similarly worried by it with seriously detrimental effect. I'm just waiting for the appointment from the other hospital now, so can relax again for a while.
Can't go out and celebrate as Reg and I have both got rotten colds. Not COVID, but actually feels worse than when we had it for real.
So instead of going out, we hit the brandy ladt night - meficinal, you know! 🤣
Good heavens, I just re read the post above and it looks as though I was still on the brandy when I wrote it! In fact, I was stone cold sober but had sausage fingers when using the phone!
I really must remember to only reply on my lap top!
Interestingly, it opened up a really useful discussion about DNR and ReSPECT forms. The GP was lovely and was happy to discuss. However, she didn't think we needed the forms (although I tend to think a ReSPECT form would be good for everyone to have) so we left it there for now. xx Moy
I'll be fine when this rotten cold goes away! Reg has got it too, so we're on the Wiltshire dinners for the time being. Thank goodness I always keep some in the freezer just in case.
We'll be ok in another day or two. Hope you're ok too. xx Moy
Hi MoyB glad to hear some good news and good for you too. Glad to hear the consultant used the wording non-cancerous not benign. I won't bandy the meanings with you non cancerous is more specific. So hope your wait is not too long. DNRs are becoming a norm on peoples files these days, guess they can find more things to diagnose these days, bigger practices so need for up to date knowledge on patient. Anyway what did the Irishman, Welshman, Scotsman, and Englishman sitting on the log do ? We are not allowed to tell jokes like that anymore are we?. Enjoy your day xx
Indeed we are NOT allowed to tell such jokes - but Max Bygraves would if he was still with us. Meanwhile, 'You're a pink toothbrush, I'm a blue toothbrush... Tra! La!' xx Moy
Everything is different these days even the toothbrushes they are electric. Not sure what Max would have made of them for a song. Keep singing the Max songs they have lasted more than a lifetime, my dad used to play many of the songs from that era on his mouthorgan, including some of the classics.
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