I might have cancer :(

sh1901 · Jul 29, 2009

I am so sorry to hear that you are going through this. Keep faith that things will work out.

As for dealing with your instructors - I would just be really honest with them, giving them as much information as you are comfortable with (you don't really know them yet either). I have found that the more forthcoming I am the more understanding they are (I lost both my father in law and my own father during the course of school thus far).

Good Luck!!! My thoughts & prayers are with you!

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Jul 29, 2009

cancer takes years to develop. this is the pathophysiology of cancer: https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-student/mdmred60-183294.html. elevated lymph nodes are often an indication of our body fighting an inflammation response (https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-student/histamine-effect-244836.html). if a biopsy comes back + for cancer you will find information about just about every type of cancer in the website of the national cancer institute (http://www.cancer.gov/).

go to your doctor appointments and do what the docs say. don't make any plans with your instructors until the doctor tells you something definite. also, let the doctor know you are a nursing student and ask him to try and work around your school schedule.

i've had cancer 3 times. the first was thyroid cancer when i was in my 4th semester of nursing school and i was 26 with the world in front of me. i was devastated. because of choices i made then, it affected my life. i was cured of that cancer. at that time in 1975 i could only think about how my life was probably ending. it wasn't. my instructors were very understanding and supportive. i had surgery just as we went into the spring break and only had to make up a couple of clinical days. my two subsequent radiation treatments weren't done until several months later after the surgery healed and i had graduated (they were i-131 treatments where i had to drink the radioactive ion and remain isolated from others for 3 days). as a result of this cancer i did not become the surgical nurse i had so longer to be. however, i did go into medical/surgical nursing and have since been available to care for anyone undergoing thyroidectomy or being hospitalized for radiation therapy.

something i learned too late. . .get copies of all biopsies, surgeries and pathology reports for your own records. i know the way to the hospital medical records department blindfolded now. you have a right to these records and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. i wish i had known that back in 1975 because the records from my first cancer have been lost forever (after a certain number of years, hospitals can legally destroy records to make way for more space).

one of the problems of being a nurse is that we like to know the answer to questions like "why?" and are not satisfied until we find them. in some ways it is pitiful that we do that to ourselves. in other ways, it works to keep us healthy.

JBGC4 · Jul 29, 2009

Is it possible that you have Mono? This may seem silly- but I underwent a series of test's due to lumps on the sides of my neck. I was 17 and terrified. Turned out that I had mono.

I really hope this turns out in your favor. Keep us informed and I will be thinking of you in my prayers.

aerorunner80, ADN, BSN, MSN, APRN · Jul 29, 2009

Sit back and take a HUGE breath for a minute. I think you're putting the cart before the horse here. I know you are anxious and I would be too. Lymph nodes can swell for all kinds of reasons.

I'm not trying to downplay what is going on but, for your own sake, take a step back for a minute.

Think positively. I would be very happy that I went to the doctor and that the doctor is taking this seriously. You're doing the right thing and so is your doctor. Know that you are doing something about whatever it is that's going on and not just letting it fester.

Keep your head up, take a huge breath, and just know in your heart you are doing the right thing and that no matter what God has plans for you and uses today's struggles to strengthen us for tomorrow.

ar23 · Jul 29, 2009

I am so sorry to hear that.... I think you should be honest with your teachers, they are humans like students are and they will understand. I hope that it wont be anything else but a false alarm, you have to rest and take care of yourself.

good luck and God bless you.

MammaNurse2Be · Jul 29, 2009

I'm praying you have peace of mind until you find out the results of the test. I'm sorry you are scared. That is a terrible feeling and I'm praying for you.

Aurora77 · Jul 29, 2009

I'm so sorry you're having to deal with this. I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer a couple of years ago, so I have some idea what you're feeling. I don't have anything to add, but be upfront and honest with your teachers. I hope that everything works out OK!!

mom35 · Jul 29, 2009

I am sending positive thoughts your way-that you are healthy and strong. I bet professors will understand:heartbeat. Please keep us posted-Love mom35:heartbeat:nurse::heartbeat

Blindsided · Jul 30, 2009

Thanking the above posters for their support of you, and their good advice. I am wishing the original poster the very, very best.

momandstudent · Jul 30, 2009

My prayers are with you.

krltdy · Jul 30, 2009

Thanks everyone for your kind words and wisdom! It really means a lot to me to have a place to express my fears. I have tried to put this in the back of my head, and move on until I know something concrete. I did speak with 2 instructors yesterday, and they were VERY supportive of me. I feel somewhat more at ease now :)