1. < Cancer

I've had 3 cancers: Thyroid cancer, Lung Cancer and Breast Cancer

Posted by remi @remi, Nov 30, 2019

Why does it seem once you get one of these cancers thyroid cancer, lung cancer or breast cancer you all 3? I have had all 3 it started with the thyroid then the lung and next breast. The online lung cancer support group I follow it seems like a large amount of them have also had all three. But yet most drs say it’s not related and my drs don’t have an answer, I’m very curious

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remi | @remi | Dec 23, 2019

Hope definitely is it, when I first was diagnosed with the thyroid cancer I met this elderly lady at the hospital who told me “ stay positive 🤗👍, stay strong 💪 and always know the lord 🙏 is beside you “ I have lived by that and feel it’s mostly what keeps the monster away!!

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Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Dec 23, 2019

@remi- That's excellent advice. Some of us are more science oriented. I have faith in my hospital and my team of doctors and the inner strength that I have to help me. We all have our own ways. I feel that whatever works is the key!

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kathleenkin | @kathleenkin | Dec 23, 2019

Stay positive and remember to live each day! Merry Christmas and God bless

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remi | @remi | Dec 23, 2019

So true, Merry Christmas and God Bless to you also

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Mentor
Becky, Volunteer Mentor | @becsbuddy | Dec 23, 2019
In reply to @monroeed "I am new to this forum and cancer support. I joined this group, not for myself,..." + (show)
@monroeed

I am new to this forum and cancer support. I joined this group, not for myself, but for my boyfriend. I'd appreciate guidelines for how to be supportive to him, what to say, what not to say. He is currently fully functional, he's still working. He had his kidney removed in August and is scheduled to have surgery on his pancreas to remove a small cancer lesion in January. The kidney and the pancreatic cancers are not the same type of cancer. Now they have discovered nodules and a lesion on his lung; a PET scan was completed last week with a potential biopsy, pending the results of the PET scan. He's understandably afraid. His younger sister died last year; cancer seems to run in the family. I want to be supportive, but I don't know what to say. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks so much !

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@monroeed Hello. You are in a tough situation but you can be a great supporter and advocate for your boyfriend. Let him guide you in what he wants to talk about and what he may/or may not want people to know. He’s feeling well now, so just encourage the wellness and do what you both like to do. Be a team on this journey!
Also, talk to your boyfriend and ask him if he will add a note in his records saying that doctors, etc, can talk with you. HIPPA laws prevent medical persons from talking to anyone without permission ( except for spouses and parents of minors). When I was a nurse in the oncology unit, we had to be very careful who we were speaking to.
I hope we can help you on MayoClinicConnect. Becky

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sandyjr | @sandyjr | Dec 24, 2019

This is interesting about having three cancers and other people having the same. I have had bilateral breast cancer… 11 years apart...I had DCIS the first time and IDC the second time. Both are ductal cancer. Is it common to get ductal cancer in both breasts? Is it common to get lobular cancer in both breasts? Which of these particular things occur most often? I have friends that I’ve had ductal cancer and then years later had it again in the other breast. Is this common? I can’t seem to find any statistics on it on the computer. I was just at a surgeons who said that lobular cancer is more prevalent and is more dangerous. I wish everyone was on the same page. Maybe the difference is that she is a surgeon and not an oncologist? I just think these people should not be spouting off information that might not necessarily be accurate.

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1 reply
Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Dec 25, 2019
In reply to @sandyjr "This is interesting about having three cancers and other people having the same. I have had..." + (show)
@sandyjr

This is interesting about having three cancers and other people having the same. I have had bilateral breast cancer… 11 years apart...I had DCIS the first time and IDC the second time. Both are ductal cancer. Is it common to get ductal cancer in both breasts? Is it common to get lobular cancer in both breasts? Which of these particular things occur most often? I have friends that I’ve had ductal cancer and then years later had it again in the other breast. Is this common? I can’t seem to find any statistics on it on the computer. I was just at a surgeons who said that lobular cancer is more prevalent and is more dangerous. I wish everyone was on the same page. Maybe the difference is that she is a surgeon and not an oncologist? I just think these people should not be spouting off information that might not necessarily be accurate.

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@sandyjr- Good morning and Merry Christmas. I agree that the medical field is far from perfect and that it is very confusing when one of your team says something that doesn't make sense to you. Cancer is so complex and what might be true for one individual might not be true with the same cancer in someone else. Both my radiologist, surgeon and oncologist have always consulted with one another for the best care that they can give me. But one of them might have a differing opinion on a matter not connected to my care. If you do not have faith in yours then you might want to look for another. Have you considered asking your surgeon or another on your team for a more thorough explanation or give you resources to look into?
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/breast-cancer/symptoms-causes/syc-20352470
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/invasive-lobular-carcinoma/symptoms-causes/syc-20373973

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monroeed | @monroeed | Dec 25, 2019

Your physicians need to communicate among themselves to provide a coherent and consistent message to you. My boyfriend, with the potential three cancers (kidney, pancreas and lung) has MDs who are collaborating and reviewing my boyfriend’s medical status as a team, which includes the surgeon, radiologist, oncologist as well as the urologist. You need a team that can provide you with a clear and consistent message. Hearing

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1 reply
monroeed | @monroeed | Dec 25, 2019
In reply to @monroeed "Your physicians need to communicate among themselves to provide a coherent and consistent message to you...." + (show)
@monroeed

Your physicians need to communicate among themselves to provide a coherent and consistent message to you. My boyfriend, with the potential three cancers (kidney, pancreas and lung) has MDs who are collaborating and reviewing my boyfriend’s medical status as a team, which includes the surgeon, radiologist, oncologist as well as the urologist. You need a team that can provide you with a clear and consistent message. Hearing

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that you have cancer is stressful. However, the information needs to be clearly given to you to reduce the stressors related to any ambiguous information provided to you.

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monroeed | @monroeed | Dec 25, 2019
In reply to @remi "Hi I’m not one of the mentors but I myself have been through three different cancers...." + (show)
@remi

Hi I’m not one of the mentors but I myself have been through three different cancers. The best thing my husband did for me was to be himself, be there for me and go to all my surgeries, appointments, scans with me because there is such a thing as scan-anxiety (you go anxious prior to and while waiting for the results) , scared they will find more especially when you’ve had more than one cancer. Don’t push him to talk about things, let him at his pace. I had a very hard time talking to my husband and closest people to me at first, I also lost my mother, father, brother, uncle and aunt to the monster and have a cousin who has been fighting it since childhood. We’re a big pretty close family my cousin and I are really close and do talk about all this stuff, more than we talk to our spouses about. I do talk to my husband but it a thing like some things in the military if you’re not there and it’s not happening to you, one doesn’t truly know. And it’s not to take away the care or love one gives their parters (my husband is the best in the world and I can tell you are too) it’s just talking to that person who has been there helps reassure you that you can win the battle and beat the monster, because they are proof. My husband also got online researched everything, so when we went to the drs if I missed something he had my back, he looked up all my meds...because I’m allergic to a few things, he is very active in my health issues. I hope this helps you, have a very Merry Christmas

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Dear Remi,
Thank you for your kind and gracious reply; it is so appreciated. Wishing you and your family the best for the Holidays !
Monroe

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