What do you do when cancer comes back unexpectedly?

Receiving unexpected news about cancer returning can feel overwhelming and disorienting, especially when feeling healthy and hopeful. It's completely natural to feel stunned by this kind of sudden shift, and many in the cancer community understand how jarring it can be when test results don't match how you're feeling physically. Taking time to process this news while working closely with your medical team on the next steps can help navigate this challenging moment.

Sorry to hear. I wish you well. Receiving news you weren't expecting can be overwhelming. Keep positive 🙂.

I start radiation on Monday 12/1. I’m terrified of the burns to that very sensitive area. I’m curious about the type of diet to be followed? Did any of you get diarrhea from the radiation?

Hi Katharine, I had received radiation treatments (35)to my neck for throat cancer, The treatments are painless, no diarrhea from chemotherapy or radiation treatments. But I did get some skin burn from the radiation. One of the nurses recommended “Aquaphur” advanced therapy ointment, it’s for burns. That helped to soothe the skin. It felt like I had sunburn. As for diet I had to blend everything (no solid food for awhile.) Everyone’s treatments diets and reactions are different. Good luck! Stay strong 💪 “Don’t Let The Bad Days Win!”

Thanks for the encouragement Richard. It’s much appreciated 🙏

So sorry to hear that Richard! I think it’s great you feel good and are doing everything you can to fight this relentless disease. I know how disappointing and scary these tests and results are firsthand. I go for my next PET scan next month. Feeling okay I guess is not always enough! Stay connected with us and positive because you always uplift us in your inspiring texts and responses 🙏😇

I'm so sorry! Stay positive and still workout as much as you can. There's aolt of treatments today then 10 years ago. Im going again for my Pet scan this Saturday. I'm so nervous. I thought the first one was bad, but this one has me on pins and needles. Praying 🙏 for all of us!

Good luck Keira. I have mine in a couple of weeks so much anxiety. Praying for you 🙏

I recently had a few extractions and the penicillin and Kisqualii is giving me stomach problems. Right before my frequent scans everything hurts and I hate my chart lately lol

Jane D! 🙏 all of us here can truly relate. Charts, scans, biopsies, chemo, anxiety, Were words that we heard, that came from someone else. Suddenly they are a part of our reality and part of our regular conversations.😰 🙏stay strong! 💪

YOU HAVE THIS! You are stronger thank u think! I will and have already prayed for you Richard! I myself diagnosed about 5 months ago with breast carsanoma with metastatic values to lymph nodes in chemo half way done so I can imagine what you’re going thru! But stunned isn’t so bad so look I know u got this! Stop being stunned and remember and visually picture yourself before all this! keep positive things thoughts and people only!! Grant yourself feel good treats and little presents to yourself!! 🙏👍🏼believing in you!

In 2020 I was diagnosed with lung cancer. Went through all the treatments, surgery, chemo, radiation and tons of meds. Every six months after that I had PET scans to follow up. In 2022, I had one that found pancreatic cancer. I could not have any more surgery. My oncologist recommended that I have cyber knife radiation (which hadn't been used on the pancreas); it only had a 10 percent chance of working. MIRACLE! It got it. Subsequently scans have not shown anything, but my labs kept showing elevated channel markers. They should be at 37. The first time they were at 83. Three months later they were at 97. Three months later they were at 300+. My oncologist didn't know why and she was about to retire. Needless to say, I changed oncologist. When he checked they were over 600. I asked what that meant and he told me it meant there was cancer somewhere and it was bad. He ordered some tests to try and find where it is hiding. I get those results this week. Also, the markers were at 1137 last week. In my life I've had four different cancers and beat them all - breast cancer that required double mastectomies, thyroid cancer that required removal, lung cancer that took a lobe from one lung, then pancreatic cancer. All were primary cancers. Now we don't know if it has metastasized from one of those or it's something completely new. I am 76 years old and I'm not going to take any more treatments that will make me sick and maybe give me a couple months extra. I'm tired of the whole rollercoaster. I just want something to keep me as comfortable as possible til the end. It's still overwhelming and scary. I just need some support going through this end of life journey. Please send up some prayers for me. Thanks.

May God be with you Richard. You have had a long rough fight. Text me any time to talk.

Charlotte, that is a lot for anyone, we all know the toll cancer takes on us. Physically, mentally and emotionally. At some stage of our journey we will make the very difficult decision whether to continue or not. May God bring you comfort and relief from any and all stress,pain,anxiety that you may encounter🙏 If it helps you to come here to chat, express your feelings, or vent please don’t hesitate! We all need comfort and support no matter what phase we’re in! Stay strong! “Don’t Let The Bad Days Win!”

Good fortune my brother. You are in my prayers.

You are all in my Prayers.💜🙏🏽💜

Praying for you and the rest of us who are going through. God is a good God and He is a healer. Let us stay positive. 🙏🏽🙏🏽

Slather yourself with the cream before each radiation treatment

My prayers are on their way.

Richard Hang in there You got this Keep up the fight!!!!

Oh my. I had a similar shock today upon hearing the results of a transvaginal ultrasound. 3 “red flags” markers were quite clear so now I go on to a biopsy for that! Just when I was coming out from the fog of breast cancer treatment (supposedly successful). Feel like I can’t catch up with myself; still attending appts to figure out other new and bothersome problems. Good luck to you and all positive vibes toward effective treatment.

Sounds like you went to the Cleveland Clinic and had Dr torment. Only person I know that does a biopsy before PET scan and doesn't give you the proper antibiotics before he does a biopsy, Mark me is dead!

Richard, very sorry for the shocking and really sudden and unexpected news back in 2024 November I was diagnosed with stage four liver cancer. The guy told me I had four months to live and I was like what I thought I was going in there because I thought I had gallstones turns out I was wrong. I started taking munch get better care of myself and about three months ago. I had another PET scan and he told me that the cancer was gone I was confused. I thought it was totally gone after discussing it with them yesterday they say that it can’t be picked up by an x-ray, but there’s probably like stuff floating around and stuff like that but I asked them something that’s been bothering me. I’m 59 years old and I asked them what should I expect? My life expectancy the beat and I told him I said I know you’re not God whatever you tell me I’m not gonna hold you to it, but I just would like to know after going through the chemo that I went through what should I expect to get out of life and what could I do to help myself for a long my life and I said well keep doing what you’re doing and to be honest, not exercising because I was tired for most of the time when my chemo, which I think I’m gonna start doing is exercising and I was eating super healthy doing a lot of holistic medications drinking Esiac tea and on top of that a lot of praying and I got a great support group, but I’m still worried I keep the faith and I pray for all the people who have cancer never thought I would be in a group with people with cancer. I guess all you feel the same way. I was hoping to go back to work. I don’t think that’s gonna happen. I’m a diesel mechanic for Fedex and it’s hard work. I think I’m just gonna retire in February and concentrate on my health and try to do the best I can and keep reading up on everybody’s journeys and life ups and downs. They say you’re never too old to learn and I’m learning that now, I respect all of you and all your stories and I pray for everybody. Amen. To all those who have cancer and are fighting the battle keep fighting and I’ll fight right along with you for those who passed on. I pray for you and I know you did the best you could.

Richard, did you have CyberKnife radiation therapy? I had rounds @ Menorah Hospital in Overland Park KS.

I am so sorry to hear that news Richard. I don’t know how I would feel. My checkup is soon. I don’t think it matters what you eat or how you exercise. I’ll pray for you. I know God is good.