I would say that there are only a few things in this life that can really scare the crap out of someone but one of those things is to be at a hospital and have them say they found something in your results that looks like it could be cancer.
This is exactly what happened to me yesterday during my full day at the hospital for yet another series of tests as the docs scramble to try to figure out what is wrong with me and how to fix me.
I didn't go in there for any sort of cancer suspicions, but this was just one of the things that the doctor said to me during one of our many visits.
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That's Vinmec hospital by the way and while I disagree with the color scheme, I can say that this is a very modern, friendly, and clean place. They put you at ease right away and the fact that everyone in the place, even the workers at the cafe, speak fantastic English, makes you feel even more confident that you are in the right place as a foreigner.
I have never been in a position to suspect that cancer could be a part of my life. In my extended family nobody other than a non-blood-related Aunt has had any sort of cancer and I wasn't relishing being the first of my kind to start this trend.
Although in the end the head oncologist sat down with me for a while and explained to me using words and also images that it IS NOT cancer, there was a period of about 3 hours where my mind was running around in circles and I was seriously ill at ease.
I don't know exactly why we were taking blood tests when I was in there for a spinal problem, but according to my first point of contact, the original doctor, there was a cloud inside my pelvis near the spinal cord root (I seriously need to find out what that is called, is it "lumbar?") and she wanted to run a blood test for reasons that she didn't explain to me. Since the tests cost very little (relatively) I signed up for it. In times like these I don't question the people that went to medical school. So when the result came back she was kind of careful with what she was saying to me, but she did mention the Big-C word and that is something that you never want to hear in any setting, let alone a hospital when they are talking about you.
So I got to have my very first ultrasound in my entire life. Call me ignorant if you will, but I have spent all of my life thinking that this process was only for pregnant women to be able to see their babies before they are born. I had no idea that they could look at your other interior workings and well, I have to say I am very impressed by this machine.
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If you have never had one of these done, they are exactly like you have seen in the movies. You lie down, they put some grease on the contraption that they press on you, and then on the screen a black and white image of the inside of your body appears. It's pretty wild and I was kind of surprised at how hard they have to press on your body to get it to work. It is borderline painful but mostly just tickles.
I didn't get any of the results as they were happening, because it isn't the job of the ultrasound tech to interpret the results, just to get them. It was several hours later that the actual oncologist (a doc specializing in cancer) talked to me and those several hours were very stressful. Nobody likes to be told that they potentially have a life-threatening and mostly incurable disease. At the minimum you are looking at a massive expense and a ton of pain during the treatment. At least that is how I understand it.
Many hours later a doctor that I have never seen before up to this point and the only doctor man I have dealt with up to this point had me go into his office where he took a while to get to the damn point where he told me that I don't have cancer. One would think that they should exclaim this as soon as you walk in the door because the delay in his presentation lead me to believe that he was trying to be slow about his words so as to break the bad news to me slowly and cautiously.
Well I don't have cancer, and that is a good thing. Other good news was the fact that, and I guess this is just protocol because you are already paying for the service, that all my other internal organs are in excellent shape for someone my age as well. I am particularly surprised about the state of my liver and kidneys since I have basically been kicking the shit out of them for the past 30 years.
I guess I just have good genes in all departments other than the spinal ones.
So now here I sit at my desk with horrible posture that is probably contributing to why my back hurts to much, and haven't really made any progress as far as my back pain is concerned. It's frustrating to not be able to run but other good news is that for the first time since I have lived in Vietnam, I am under 90kg. In fact, this morning I was under 89.
I suppose that is just one more thing to celebrate. That and not having cancer of course.
Good news is they found nothing sinister and that is a big win and how I thought after all my tests. The ultra sound people will never tell you anything even if they find something as I know too well when they were looking for blood clots. They found 7 and their face remained the same and are proper poker players.
I had to have an epidural and be put under for my first manipulation of my back for a reset by the very same people who caused the injury. I believe I was dropped whilst having an achilles operation because I had no back problems before the operation and my back was suddenly black and blue. They denied any wrong doing and we had no cell phones back then to take photos and get proof. By the time I was released a few days later most of the bruises had disappeared, but the back problem has remained with me ever since.
I think if you ever get a reaction from a tech you should be very very worried. There is a story of a friend of the family where a tech gave their opinion during a session and the tech got this family all worried unnecessarily. The tech was wrong too. I think it is important for these people to stay in their wheelhouse and outright refuse to diagnose anything they see. They have a very important job to do yes, but it isn't to diagnose anything they see.
That's a horrible story of medical malpractice that you mentioned there. Was there no owning up to it and at least some sort of free help that happened because of it? I mean, it's pretty obvious that when you come out of a procedure injured in a place that was not what you were in there for that they did something wrong.
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You know what you could try, you could try that carnivore diet they talk about - I don't have inflammation - and personally I try to eat plant based - but in regarding back pain and arthritis etc., things like that, they have seen improvements - a lot of people advocate for it - who knows:
I am very obviously not the original poster, but I love reading other comments!
I'd love to try the carnivore diet long term, but with mainly fish instead of the traditional red meat that tends to get the normal treatment. The problem with fish, is it is tough to get good quality stuff that isn't laden with mercury build up (I love salmon and tuna) - and well, its a lot more expensive in the quantities I'd want to eat it in than something like beef or chicken.
Plus, I might be strange, but I love broccoli way too much!
About fish, yeah when I tried it that was a problem as well - to get it for a good price, you have to live close to the sea - I should say, close to an active fishing community - but I used to love fish, with a little bit of butter, fried in a pan - I used to have it with a little bit of bread, and that was it - but now I skip anything that is wheat - I was surprised how much better I felt when I gave that up - even though its only been a short time. When I tried carnivore - I felt good, but felt like I was missing something - it changed when I added potatoes - so I used to eat, just chicken and potatoes - with of course other meat when I got it - that really made me stop craving other foods - I don't go the low crab route, because of the electrolyte thing. Of course, you could just add fruit instead of potatoes - like Pumpkin - I felt great on that. Meat / chicken and pumpkin.
Sounds like an incredible way to live, by the sea, fishing rod in hand, with a source of butter nearby, and some sharp knives to gut your catch. :) Too bad I don't live by the sea, and I'm a terrible fisherman :D
The other thing about fish is so much of it (at least here) that is commercially available is either battered or crumbed. or grilled. No such thing as just a CHUNK of any white fish without it being "stretched" for value with the addition of carbs.
There is nothing wrong with grilled fish, a squeeze of lime, and pepper. In fact, its an ideal meal to me! I also LOVE squid. Particularly in an Asian hot pot. They always look at me strange when I asked for the hottest spice level. I look anglo, I can't blame them.
I really like pumpkin, as well as sweet potato. I haven't had them roasted properly, and well for a long time. I think I'm going to go out of my way to buy some next month when I do my ... monthly grocery shopping trip.
I just dislike how long it takes to prepare pumpkin compared to everything else, but I guess it is very much worth it from a nutritional perspective. (Or maybe I need something sharper!)
Potatoes are always amazing, and with their trace protein and other aminos, they're so good as well - if a European (although now, are they still European?) nation survived famine using them, there must be something in them that's good for us!
I love new (baby potatoes). I'm a member of the air fryer cult and I have found that 500 grams of new potatoes with a simple mix of paprika, salt, pepper, olive oil and pepper... put in the air fryer for 20 minutes at 200 degrees is something I just can't get enough of. The fact that they are so cheap to the point of being basically free, is just an added bonus.
I kind of have the same issue with fish.. That and the fact that I am afraid to try to cook it and the little bones can really hurt if they get that sweet horrible angle where it shoves up into the gums.
I feel the same about tuna and salmon. I have seen some shorts about how the industry is inundated with really bad versions of that fish and that is why it remains cheap.
I am kind of on a carnivore diet now... well, high protein anyway. I have a whole foods heavy protein diet with a big focus on not eating processed carbs. I eat fruit and brown rice, but other than my cheat day once a week, I avoid all other carbs. Thanks for the link, I always appreciate some insight.
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That was scary. I'm scared of cancer too. When you knew you have cancer you will be stressed out so much and it made cancer more stronger. But good thing it's not cancer. It's a relief. I always have back pain if I worked to much at a bad posture. I only have to put efficacent oil or eucalyptus oil and massage it then it will be better.
I can’t even imagine how scary that must have been, getting hit with the C-word out of nowhere is a total gut punch. But thank goodness it turned out to be a false alarm! That kind of relief is priceless. I hope your back pain finds some relief soon.
I have been going through the same, for last 4 years, the back pain never goes away, sitting job is like 10 cigarettes a day, and there is nothing that can be done. I am now thinking to create a standing desk and work most of the hours standing.
It seems to be a very common problem. I have spent money on the good chairs and really do try to have good posture most of the time but I think this is "too little too late" and am probably paying for years of not doing this sort of thing. There are some things that people suggest that I am going to look into such as something a super fit friend of my does called decompression therapy as well as... and I can't believe I am saying this... yoga.
Definitely get a standing desk! Or make one! or use your kitchen bench with the laptop, or something like that, or... even a bookshelf! It is definitely so much more comfortable to rotate between sitting and standing!
An older friend of mine has found a local desk manufacturer that for about $200 can custom make you a desk with hydraulics that can make the desk go up and down so it can be both. I am going to get one of these when I move into my new apartment in the next week. I'm kind of stoked about it actually.
Get some hooks to put under the table to cable manage well. I find sit / stand desks work well with monitor arms, too. Makes it a lot tidier :)
That must have been a very difficult experience, may I ask how you’re feeling now after receiving the good news? Have the doctors been able to give you more clarity about the cause of your back pain?
The doctors have not been able to do anything for my back and unfortunately I am at the mercy of the drugs that they have me on now. I keep hoping I am going to wake up one day and feel a ton better but that hasn't happened yet.
The anxiety before knowing you're cancer-free was overwhelming, like you're holding your breath underwater waiting to come up for air. Well, it's something to celebrate that you don't have that life-threatening disease, and all your visceral organs are in shape.
Let your being health-conscious this time be an act of gratitude to your body and its parts, for they are doing well. As a reward, you may need to be extra careful next time. 😄
Congratulations on not having mutant cells discovered in your body!
Imagine if they had told you that you had cancer, then further tests had revealed that you did not, in fact have cancer.
The stress and worry of these things, and for the most part, waiting, probably does more to damage your state of mind than any sort of diagnosis ever would or possibly, ever could.
I'd rather go quickly and painlessly than suffer for a long time with a degenerate illness.
I am genuinely glad that you're clear of one thing for the time being. Hopefully your back starts to give you less grief.
I feel the same way about this but also there is the flip side about most cancer being quite treatable if it is detected early, so I suppose I am happy that all of these tests got done so it is just one less thing I have to worry about. While they were screening for this one kind of cancer they were also looking around inside of my body so much that they were looking for other versions of it as well. It is nice to know that I am in the clear as far as all cancer types that can be detected by MRI and ultrasound. It puts my mind at ease.
If you are older and live in a country where it isn't going to break the bank to have you looked at, I would recommend checking.
Australia is pretty good with its public health system, unless you have to wait. I'm pretty on top of my body, and get stuff investigated pretty quickly if it doesn't resolve in a few days / a week :D
Hi, I hope you are good and healthy ! , May God Bless You 🙏
Even though the title says the cancer diagnosis was incorrect, I still found myself on the edge of my seat while reading. I am glad you are okay. A few of my family members have gone down with various cancers, and you're right, the treatment can almost be worse than the disease.
Too bad they couldn't help your back though, I had to readjust my posture just now, as I am also slouched over my computer in a less than ideal position. I hope you can find something that brings you some relief in that area.
Thats very good news that you do not have a cancer, just be more cautious on your diet and do also walking as an exercise. God bless you and your love ones.
Thank God its not! Hahaha. Anyway, I can imagine how your mind go into circles for that three hours of waiting someone to explain to you what was really happening inside you. That was a bit scary.
I would have preferred if they had lied to me about what the tests were for, but since I don't have insurance (I should do something about that) they have to explain why they are doing everything before they do it at this particular hospital.
That's great that you don't have cancer. I remember when I was diagnosed we actually had to ask the doctor if it was cancer because he said pretty much every other term besides that. Then he finally said oh yes, it is cancer and I want to take it out like tomorrow. I remember getting the ultrasounds. Talk about embarrassing. Some pretty little blonde thing rubbing a wand around your junk. Not as exciting as it sounds! I think the thing that bugs me the most about going to the doctor for back pain is the fact that they usually just want to prescribe you painkillers and muscle relaxers. I don't feel like they do much beyond that. At least over here. That's why I started going to the physical therapist.
This made me laugh because the ONLY attractive person I dealt with the entire day was the ultrasound tech. We didn't get to pants off, but we were close and yes, this made me a bit uneasy especially in a country like this one that is, despite what the movies would suggest, extremely conservative as far as things like that are concerned.
I'm all for the powerful drugs as long as they work, but unfortunately for me they don't seem to be. Thanks in part to your words, I am investigating physio methods and perhaps even some acupuncture for my next steps towards potential relief.
I hope it works out for you. My guy who I really liked that retired used to have me move my eyes and touch my nose and all kinds of other stuff that seemed unrelated to my back, but I'll be danged if it didn't work. I know they say that health professionals are desensitized to all the private bits and that, but it still was uncomfortable for me.
Yep it's really depressing but I admired your courage for visiting the hospital. Facing the doctors and the lab tests, it's scary for me even if I'm not the first timer on hospitals. Last 2022, I had a second ultrasound. It happened twice because I was pregnant and did ultrasound, but after 6 months of giving birth, I had an ultrasound again. The test showed gallstones, so I had a surgery.. but, before that, I went to the doctors many times before because the google results scared the hell out of me. And then, all of tests were normal. Facing doctors is the scariest thing though because we're overthinking too much.
One of the things the ultrasound revealed to me that I wasn't looking forward to was that I don't have stones of the gall bladder or kidney and this was just two more pieces of great news. Were the gall stones painful before the surgery?
Oh no! That experience must have been scary not to mention worrisome. But I'm glad it turned out fine for you and that the big-C is crossed out. Hope your back gets better soon. Take care.
From someone who lost loved ones due to cancer (it's in our bloodline), I am happy it was a false alarm. Being informed about having cancer when you least expect it is really terrifying. I'm glad it's not true. Cancer is a traitor. It attacks silently at first. Growing up, I was traumatized seeing some of my family members being slowly taken away because of this illness. I hope we all get to live a healthy life or to make cancer less terrifying - may people in the medical field discover more options to treat it efficiently and effectively. Wishing you a speedy recovery for your back ache. God bless!
Thanks. it was a scary day that had a good ending, thankfully.
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I am really glad that it's not the c-a scary parasite invading. I hope you had a peaceful mind and heart.
Cancer is not easy to deal with. I was once diagnosed with it. And I don't want to go back to all those tiring days. Have a great day!
HELLO¡ Many current and very old studies reveal that cancer = parasites, and from this perspective, two drugs, Fenbendazole and Ivermectin, have emerged that have caused the disappearance of cancerous tumors. We already know that chemotherapy kills, so it's better to stay dewormed to prevent the appearance of cancer.
There are also reports, like that of Joe Tippens, who in 2016 claimed his small-cell lung cancer disappeared after self-administering fenbendazole alongside vitamin E, CBD oil, and curcumin. Such stories have gained traction online, especially on platforms like X, where users share testimonials about tumor shrinkage after using these drugs. For example, posts in late 2024 highlighted a man with stage 2 gastric cancer whose PET/CT scans reportedly improved after two months on ivermectin and fenbendazole, without chemotherapy.
Thanked God that you hadn't a cancer where it is the most vulnerable and can lead to fatality. It's really frustrating when we think we have this kind of disease especially when it comes from the doctor but thank God it's a bit mistake. So, that's why we should take care ourself prioritizing healthy food and also doing regular exercise. As they say, "Health is Wealth". Thanks for sharing this story of yours. Have a nice day.