I was diagnose with 2b Ovarian Cancer in April 22. I had surgery and 6 rounds of Chemo.
I have a very supportive team . I have had an MRI , CT and spinal x-ray all have shown degenerative changes to my spine. There is no evidence of recurrence. My CA125 is 13.
The problem is I’m consumed with anxiety as this pain is impacting me daily and making me feel really low. It’s making me feel very negative as I am in constant pain.
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Does anyone have any ideas how I can overcome this anxiety . Continually thinking something is wrong.
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Hota
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I awaiting a colonoscopy or laparoscopic examination. I understand as I’m also consumed with anxiety. I’m thinking about my Mum 86, recently widowed, my step mum 81 also recently widowed, my sons in their mid 30s who lost their grandpas ( as mentioned ) last December and then their Dad , my ex husband who was only 69 in February. None died of cancer but as the lynch pin of the rest of us I feel the weight of responsibility. Also we lost my middle brother in tragic circumstances 7 years ago which has made life sad, trying and oh so painful. I understand, I really do, breath and breath and breath it out. What will be will be snd we can only live through it. Tomorrow is a new day, start afresh x
Hello Hota 😊 it's totally understandable you have anxiety. You are going through so much.... I can relate to that too. You are not alone . When I feel anxiety, I go for a walk in nature, spend time there and noticing my surroundings. A bit like mindfulness meditation. It helps for me, and gentle yoga and relaxation. I can see you are in pain and degenerative changes in spine. If you take on yoga or anything like that, please consult with your consultant first, Ovacome offers gentle stretching class, link below. And even just practicing relaxation might be help with anxiety?
Also there are many apps for meditation and relaxation, music... Whatever makes you feel relaxed... Or Macmillan offers counselling too, if you go to their site.
I cope with the anxiety by distraction techniques which I understand would be harder with the pain.
I watched tonnes of detective programmes and positive stories about making over people’s houses, gardens etc. I felt if I was mentally invested in something else that took over my brain it was a help. I wish you a more stress free brain. X
Well something is 'wrong'', its just not cancer, its the changes in your spine giving you back trouble. I've had back trouble on and off for years, so when I got ovarian cancer, the docs would panic if I had a period of not being able to walk or sit properly because of back pain. Luckily, I recognised the symptoms as being back trouble, but did agree to MRI so they could check and yes, it was my back, not the cancer.
I would suggest you find a good physio or osteopath to get some treatment for your back pain, also some exercises to do ongoing to keep it under control. Not every pain or problem we get subsequent to a cancer diagnosis is caused by the cancer, we still get all the other stuff people routinely suffer from, and back pain is ubiquitous, although its entirely understandable that we all worry anything we get is the cancer... suffice it to say that taking action over your back issues is much, much better than sitting worrying its something much more serious.
Hi Hota, I guess by a certain age we all have degenerative changes in our spine but being in constant pain is depressing and needs resolving. Go back to your GP and insist you need some medication to help you with it. 90% of back pain gets better by itself but it can take many months and you need some help in between. You could try looking at the National Back Pain Association website. good luck and wish you better, Emma x
I agree that you should see your GP, both for help with the back pain (GP can refer you for physiotherapy or osteopathy if s/he thinks appropriate) and also with the anxiety (referral for talking therapy or maybe medication). There are lots of resources out there, make the most of them!
Hello Hota I totally understand how you feel I think all of us after having cancer worry when we develop pain in a different part of our body , it sounds like your CAV is really looking positive , which is great ,I have really bad joint pain and back pain ,but I try to think ahead ,and I am thinking how fortunate they were being able to treat me as not everyone is fortunate to be diagnosed at stage 2 mine was stage 3 and my CAV is 11 so I am trying to look forward to each day and they seem to find new treatments more and more .so stay strong and remember find someone to share your stress with ,take care x
Hi Hota,I agree with others who have said that your back pain is seeming to be from something other than cancer. I am a nurse who is a 6 year survivor of stage IV ovarian cancer, and am currently dealing with issues other than cancer myself, including pain from arthritis in my hip, and some degenerative spinal changes.
Certainly, constant pain causes anxiety. Seeing your GP to get a diagnostic workup is the first step, then there should be a plan to alleviate your pain. You might see a specialist, or be referred for physiotherapy, as well as being prescribed pain medications. In the meantime, try to move around during the day, and not be too sedentary, because that will generally increase your pain. A heating pad to your back might provide some relief as well, making it easier to be more active. I find that when I am dealing with back or hip pain, that a cane is helpful too because it stabilizes me, and makes me feel better about walking around. The suggestions by others for relaxation, meditation, and walks outdoors are all good options too.
Good luck with taking care of this problem. It might be helpful for you to remind yourself that this, although stressful, is most likely not cancer since your scans are clear, and your CA125 is excellent! All good things!
Hi Hota. I'm supporting my Mum through her treatment so can't talk first hand about your exact situation. I have though suffered from an awful year with back pain amd went through all the tests as you did to rule anything serious out, nothing found. It was then that my physio pointed me to the mind/body connection in respect of pain. In particular how emotions/anxiety can cause very real, painful sensations. In my case I literally struggled to walk/ stand for around 6 months which was extremely challenging. I was worried that I was being told 'its all in my head', which is not the case at all. The pain is real, but triggered by the brain just like the brain can trigger physical anxiety symptoms. The book ' The Way Out' by Alan Gordon really helped me. I am pleased to say I am even back to running now. This is not saying that people should ignore symptoms in any way, but it's saying that once you have ruled out any serious causes by way of tests and the pain persists, it's worth seeing if actually your emotions may be causing the pain. Best wishes.
and they can’t say that f it’s arthritis, etc? Maybe ne low dose steroids would help w inflammation/pain. I’d go for another CT test in a timely manner to make sure nothing happens s brewing.
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