The “Cancer” that wasn’t cancer
Posted on August 2, 2008
Filed Under The "C" word |
To make a long story short - On Monday I went to the ER. I had experienced intense stomach pain (and burning) for days. I couldn’t eat, hardly slept, felt nauseous and was miserable. Cat scans revealed a large mass in the colon area that doctors interpreted as a tumor. They told me to summon my family. They admitted me to the oncology ward. They told me I’d need more tests because they couldn’t figure out whether I had colon cancer or lymphoma.
That was five days ago. In that time, a number of tests were done. Many prayers were said, tears shed, cards sent, well wishes expressed and morphine taken. Another cat scan (this time with contrast) was taken on Thursday. This one, along with a different test done on Wednesday, showed no tumors. In other words, NO COLON CANCER NOR LYMPHOMA.
They have no clue what the hell is wrong with me but I DON’T HAVE CANCER.
They found thickness and inflammation along the colon walls. They found a part of the colon wasn’t getting enough blood flow. They think my appendix has been oozing gunk and the colon built a wall to protect itself and the body from infection. They think that’s the reason a part of the colon wasn’t getting enough blood flow.
This would explain why I’ve been so tired all summer.
They started intravenous antibiotics at the hospital. The plan, for now, is to continue with the antibiotics. To let all of the inflammation and infection settle down. Then in about 10 days, have more tests done. And there will probably be a surgery to remove the appendix or to get a biopsy. But overall? Whatever I have IS FIXABLE! NO CANCER!
Words can not express how relieved I am. In fact, I’m so relieved it takes my breath away. I’m still tired. I still have some stomach pain but NOTHING like earlier this week.
I’m a quiet person (except around people I know really well.) When I’m not feeling good or upset about stuff, I retreat into myself. I was shocked and scared when I heard the diagnosis. But at the same time, I felt so alone. A part of me wanted to just re-treat but I also felt compelled to write about the diagnosis. Writing helps me make sense of things. And I needed to make sense of it all. I didn’t think about the reaction I’d get. I rarely check my stats. So I rarely have an idea of who’s reading or if anyone really IS reading. My blog is what I call the “under the radar” type”
So the reaction from family, friends, neighbors, husband’s colleagues (and even a few of his clients) and fellow bloggers has been overwhelming - to know so many people care. I wasn’t expecting anything from anyone. I was too busy wondering how we’d pay for the treatment and how it would affect my little boy. But I am amazed and touched.There is tremendous power in prayer and I could feel that prayer all week. I could feel it physically, mentally and even in my marriage and in the amazing health professionals who took care of me. Thank you for your good vibes, kind words, e-mails, flowers, candy, cards, calls, and messages of support. It has been a scary, wild ride — one I hope to never repeat. But I’m thinking we’ve gotten through the worst of it (NO CANCER!) and I couldn’t have done it all without each and every one of you. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
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Praise the Lord from Whom all blessings flow!! We’re continuing to pray for you here in Helena, Alabama as you get the proper diagnosis and treatment for a full recovery!!
That is the best news!! I’m so happy and relieved for you!
Did you just hear the collective sighs of the internets? I know I just let out an enormous PHEW!
You’re fixable!
WHEE!
Congrats on only being kind of sick!!!
Lovely news! Here’s hoping everything just gets better and better for you! I’m sure this week aged you a bit, eh? ; ) Time for a glass (er, bottle?) of vino. I’ll tip a toast in your direction tonight.
YAY!
Of course, now I have to make everyone take my buttons down
I hope they find out exactly what is wrong soon so they can fix it and you can get back to normal.
So, SO happy to read this! I’m thrilled whatever is wrong can be fixed.
Hoping for a quick recovery for you!
Now we just need to pray for the docs to figure out the rest.
WooHoo! I had been sending up prayers for you, and the power of prayer is amazing, powerful and REAL! So excited for you.
I have never read your site but got to it through Mamalogues when Dana wrote about you and your situation and was asking for prayers…I have been religiously checking for updates on you since I read the first post about your illness. I just read this and immediately cried tears of joy for you! I am so happy for you and reading this just made my weekend. I am a mommy also, so I understand how hard this had to be and what had to be going through your mind. God bless you and your family and hope you are feeling better and better every day!
Wow- This is great news! Here’s hoping you get everything straightened out soon. I’ll continue to keep you and your family in my thoughts and prayers.
So thrilled to hear it’s not cancer. Hopefully they’ll figure it out soon and send you home healthy.
Of course we love you, Lisa! What’s not to love?
I am beyond thrilled to hear the outcome! Not that you’re sick of course, but that we’re looking at something a lot less frightening. I know you still have a hard road ahead but we haven’t gone anywhere…call on us if you need us.
Many many good thoughts and hugs headed your way!
{hugs}
I was lead here by others and have been following your story all week. Best wishes on this great and relieving news!
SO glad the initial diagnosis is proving incorrect under further tests. Prayers for answers and health!
HOORAY!!!! Fantastic news!
Oh joy! Tears of happiness. I am so glad you were spared going through cancer. Yay.
There’s been a lot of bad news going around the internets lately - I’m so glad to hear the good news from you! I hope that you continue to get better, and thanks for the update!
PRAISE GOD it is NOT Cancer.
I’ve been thinking of you and checking back so often for news. HOORAY for this kind of news. What an enormous relief, my friend. It is clear that so many people care very much about you and with good reason.
Sending all my love and healing vibes that they get to the bottom of your pain and more and more great news comes your way. xoxox
So happy for you! No cancer is way good news.
All best.
This is great news!
Still praying for an accurate diagnosis, and strength for you and your family.
Also, all offers of whatever help you need are still valid!
I’ve been reading you through Google Reader thanks to friends who shared some of your posts. I just wanted to pop over and say I’m so glad to hear it’s not cancer or lymphoma. I hope they get to the bottom of it quickly and you are in tip top shape. Take good care of you!
What wonderful news! You’re in our thoughts and prayers!
Hi Lisa, Marc and Seth
Hi Lisa,
I hope you receive this OK. I’ve never blogged before.
Mike and I want to let you know how much we’ve been praying and thinking about all of you.
We’ve been reading your blogs all week, thanks to Debbie (Thole) Lindh giving us the link. Hope that’s OK. She was so upset when she told us. (Her parents are very good friends of ours.)
All of our thoughts and concern for you consumed us this week. How wonderful to know that you can be fixed!! I’m glad you were making sense of things by writing in your blog. We were all checking numerous times every day for updates. Thanks so much for your courage in putting your thoughts down in writing. You write very well.
Please know that we will continue to keep you and your family in our thoughts.
God bless each and everyone of you.
All our love and prayers,
Mike and Marge
Thank GOD! What a relief and what an emotional rollercoaster for you and your family. Like so many other bloggers, I have been following your story. So glad things turned out the way they did.
OMG. That is SO, SO good.
I mean, I’m sorry that you still have pain and all of that.
But damn.
It must be the best pain you ever felt in your life that ISN’T CANCER.
whoo hoo!
I’m so grateful! I’ve been thinking of you for days now, worrying and wondering.
Fixable is good!
Now here’s to hoping you get better soon.
I am thrilled for you. Hopefully they will be able to find out what is going on. Take it easy and listen to what the doctors tell you. Don’t over do it.
God Bless
Hi there.
I stumbled across your blog and I was on the edge of my chair hoping for the best for you. When I read about your appendix I had to write. I walked around for 10 days with a ruptured appendix that did not exhibit text book symptoms. Long story short they thought I had an ovarian cyst but that was not it.
What saved my life was that my body built a “wall” around my appendix that kept the toxins from going through my blood stream and body. The appendix was the size of a hot dog.
I had emergency surgery, lots of anibiotics and I lived to tell about it. Your body took good care of you too. I am so glad for you and your family.
Gods speed and many blessings
So amazing. What a whirlwind.
I’m so relieved for you and your family.
I have never been more happy to read one of your posts ever Lisa.
Continued thoughts for you, Seth and Mark (and everyone else). You are amazing.
I’m so fricken relieved! Now get yourself all better so we can celebrate.
I am SO SO SO Happy for you!!!!!
No cancer rocks.
FIXABLE!! That’s amazing good news. How wonderful. I’ve been wondering, and so glad to get an update.
And, isn’t it heartwarming and amazing to know that the world has so many great people in it? 400 voices chiming in support and sending love. I’m in awe of the power of people to send love. You deserve it.
Sleep well tonight.
Phew! I bet everyone out there in the blogoshere is breathing a sigh of relief right along with you
What wonderful news! I’m so glad to hear this.
Now, to get you back to 100% as soon as possible…
that is so great! so happy for you and your loved ones
Halleluhia! I think I spelled that wrong but who the hell cares because YOU DON’T HAVE CANCER!!!!
YAY!!!!!
Best news ever.
Suck that cancer!! You’re not getting another one!!
I am so glad to hear that you’re cancer free!!
A great day indeed! Mark this day down and celebrate it every year:)
I’m bawling tears of relief. Thank GOD! And I absolutely love how the internet rallied to your side (virtually, at least). Twitter went up in flames with two big things: the CA earthquake, and your cancer post. It’s a powerful thing to see.
Love to you and your boys. Thank God it wasn’t cancer. And keep us informed on the progress of your eventual diagnosis. Hope you’re well soon!
I’m so relieved for you and for myself. It was so scary to read your words, but now I’m jumping for joy and praying that the doctors can pinpoint the source of your distress and put an end to it. Here’s to good health to come.
-hugs-
You have GOT to be kidding me! This is the SECOND person this week that I know has been told they have cancer and it turns out NOT to be cancer. The other was the father of a very close friend, they told him he had late stage cancer, and turns out he has ARTHRITIS.
These things come in threes, so LET’S HOPE THERE IS A THIRD!!!
Best wishes!
Aimee
Very glad to hear this!!! Hope you are feeling better!
What a tremendous relief! Already thinking about clinking glasses with you at BlogHer next year.
That is just FANTASTIC news.
Hey, so glad to hear this news. Now, back to the laundry.
I don’t want anything to be wrong w/ you, but THANK JAYSUS THERE’S NO CANCER!!
So happy for you. So very, very happy.
I am SO fricking excited..I even said an extra prayer at mass tonight..and will continue until you are home and feeling well.
Still let me know if you need anything… I enjoy grocery shopping and laundry…OK?
I have been checking for a blog update non stop. I am so happy for you that it’s not what they originally thought. Anything else is fixable. I hope the pain goes away soon.
Fanstastic news to read - must have been a billion times better to get it! I’m so happy for you.
So glad to hear (read) this!!! Prayer does change things!!!
I believe everything happens for a reason and I think this has happened to do just the things it has- physically, mentally and in your marriage.
You were at the top of Kirtsy the other day and I was so glad to see everyone pulling for you! You’re such a beautiful person and everyone knows it!
I am embarrassed that I am THIS THRILLED for a complete stranger! That’s the power of tha intrawebs, I guess. you will continue to be in my prayers and I truly do rejoice with you.
I am so happy but so pissed at the er doc(s) that jumped to conclusions because that is so not even close to being an “oops.” I mean, good that they weren’t right but sheesh!
take care of yourself.
YEA!!! I will keep you in my thoughts as you go through the surgery and recovery though. I hope that it is a quick and easy one.
Hey cous!
I’m so happy that things are going to be ok. Let me tell you, how I found out… I was checking blogs and was on Parachuting without a net… and her post said, The lovely Lisa has cancer… my heart sank and thought not my Lisa. As I moved the cursor over your name and it said Midwestern Mommy as the link. I think I stopped breathing and went into the family room to tell Brinnon. I couldn’t even speak…
I am so so soooo thankful that you are ok…. HUGE sigh!
xo
That is wonderful to hear. My wishes for a speedy recovery also.
Lisa,
This is wonderful news! Stay strong and celebrate, celebrate, celebrate (and make it big…I MEAN BIG)!
That is amazing. I was just telling my husband about you last night and we were both shaking our heads in empathy. Now, though…this is great news! (I’ll tell him this too).
Oh honey–this is such wonderful news! I am so happy for you and your whole family!
It’s so weird that we have JUST gone through the whole appendix, IV antibiotics, etc etc thing here with our daughter. Let me know if there is anything I can share that would help.
i’m SO GLAD for you and your whole family. good luck with fixing whatever turns out to be the problem, keep in mind the support you have here in the blogosphere.
the email I sent still stands.
you need support, day or night, you know what to do.
SO HAPPY!
Fuck. I mean seriously. I don’t want to say you’re lucky, but man, your story is amazing. Truly amazing. Thank god.
I am so relieved for you……Praise the Lord! I will continue to lift you and your family up in my prayers.
I can’t even tell you how happy I am to hear this news and I know you and your family must be so relieved. Still keeping you in my thoughts and wishing you a speedy recovery.
*squeeee!!!*
Lisa,
I will never go without reading your column for a couple weeks again! Oh my word, I was so shocked & panicked tonight to read all that has been going on when I logged on tonight, but more than anything relieved that this is not cancer!
Please keep us posted, and know that we are praying for you, Mark and Seth as you recover! And, let us know if there is anything at all that we can do.
Much love,
Ashley, Jim and The Strudel
Oh my GOD! This is fantastic news babe!!
[…] saved the best for last — Lisa of Midwestern Mommy does NOT HAVE CANCER!!! Yippee!!! Go read her update. Tags: blog the recession, blogger chat, broken foot, White Trash […]
Great news for you. I am so very happy for you. Having had the same experience a month ago that ended up with surgery for a pelvic mass that turned out to be ovarian cancer the size of a cantalope, I know exactly how actually terrifying it can be, plus the pain. I just wanted it to all go away, wake up and be just a nightmare, but it hasn’t. I start chemo next Friday. That scares the heck out me.
I am so very, very happy that everything turned out so well for you. Good luck with the rest of your tests and possible surgery.
Peace.
That is the BEST news, Lisa! I am so relieved for you, and your family. Take care of yourself and get better fom whatever this infection is…. (((HUG)))
Fantastic news. I can only imagine how relieved you must feel!
just a quiet lurker who is so incredibly buoyed by this news. congrats :-))))))
Yay that it’s not cancer — do hope they find out what’s wrong and that you get to feeling better soon.
XOXOXO
Wow, that is so crazy-wonderful! Hooray!
Thank Goodness that things can be fixed and the “C” word can be removed from the equasion. What a relief for you and your family. I hope they can get things fixed soon and I hope you are feeling better in the near future!
i don’t think i’ve ever been so happy to hear that someone is sick!
yay! no cancer! amazing!
This is awesome news! Hope you get some more answers soon, though.
*collapses from relief*
YAHOO!!!
So, so happy to hear this excellent news!
Featured on Good Mom/Bad mom on the Houston Chronicle: http://tinyurl.com/5m4rgg
This is the most awesome news I could hear…
WOOOOOOOOOOT!
Amen, girl!
That’s fantastic news! Now just take care of yourself until you get over what you DO have.
HUGE sigh of relief for you and your family, but I can’t help but be a little annoyed that any doctor would tell you you have cancer before he or she was 100% sure of the diagnosis. I can’t imagine the emotional rollercoaster you’ve been on this week, to be told you have cancer and then to be told you don’t have cancer?
YAY! that is fantastic! I’m so relieved. And my fingers are still crossed that it’s just simply appendix related and the antibiotics will take care of it.
Do you have to stay in the hospital for the IV antibiotics? Or can you go home?
(Are you allowed to blog from the hospital?)
I was so happy to hear that it wasn’t cancer and I hope that whatever it is can be easily “fixed.” Wishing you all the best!!
:::delurk:::
Oh man, this is the most awesome news. It still bites that you might have to have surgery, but knowing it’s not cancer has made a whole buncha people verrrrry happy today.
:::relurk:::
Oh that is quite possibly the best news i’ve heard all week!
when you can jump up and down for joy (well, maybe not JUMP) for an inflamed colon and stomach pains….you know you’re happy. I’m so glad to hear you’re fixable, and to know that the cancer scare is over. YEAHHH!!!
Ever since I heard that you might have The C Word, my heart broke for you. I am SO happy that it’s not!
HURRAY!
I’m crying I’m so happy for you and your family. I am so blessed to have had the privilege to meet and hug you in person! I’m thrilled. Just thrilled that this is fixable! HUGS TO YOU, BABY!!!
OMG! I am so happy and relieved to hear your wonderful news. Not about remaining stomach issues, of course! But SO HAPPY for you! YES!!
Yay! Yay!! Yay!!! I just jumped on my couch Tom Cruise style!! Whooo Hooooo!! Woman, you sure scared me there!! Please know that I’m very happy for you and I can’t wait until all of this is behind you!! I hope that you are feeling well soon!! Sending you and yours big huge, smothering, mother hugs!! xoxo!!!
So incredibly relieved and happy for you. Pfew!
Whew. Wipe forehead. Aaaand breathe in, breathe out… feel the belly rise and fall as you inhale and exhale…
Wow.
Thank God. I’m so glad, Lisa.
Lisa.
I’ve never cried so many tears of relief, well, ever, I don’t think.
I’m so glad.
love u.
So. relieved.
=)
Lisa, I am wiping away tears of JOY! Thank you for such great news!!! I am so happy for answered prayers. Take care and heal. Rest and let others pamper you. Give the gift of allowing others to help you out — it is a gift to them to be able to help you. I am celebrating this blessing and am so happy to hear that it is NOT cancer. Be well.
I am so sorry you all had to go on this wild roller coaster….but so relieved that it ended how it did. Now, let’s hope they can figure out what the heck the real problem is and get you all fixed up!!!
So glad to hear this! Go You!
PHEW! You just focus on getting better and keep taking in all the positive mojo being sent your way ;o)
Let the doctor ass-kicking commence? Please can I? *giggles*
Girl, AMEN! God is so good.
Still keeping you in my prayers till you are out of there.
I am new here, but your original diagnosis was horrifying to me, who had only just “met” you. I’m so glad that you are on your way back to health. I can’t wait to read you for a long, long time.
I’ve been a lurker on your site for over a year now and was shocked to read the last few entries on your site, especially when at the same time a friend IRL was going thru something similar. He had fallen at work and had gone in to get his knee x-rayed to make sure no bones were broken when they saw something on his leg bone. They told him it was cancer and that bone cancer is usually a secondary cancer to some other primary type of cancer. He has 2 young sons and a wife and this news turned their life upside down.
After lots of tests and biopsies it was determined that he has basicly what amounts to a birth mark on his bone, NOT CANCER! When we found out his prognosis I couldn’t help but think wouldn’t it be awesome if Lisa’s turned out to not be cancer either?
And praise God it’s NOT CANCER! Still keeping you and your family in my prayers though till you are all fixed and healed up.
Whoo-hoo!
This is WONDERFUL news!
Now we’re praying that the doctors figure out what it is and how to fix things … FAST!
I came over from Alissa’s blog to wish you some prayers, too, and came to find happy news! That is wonderful that it isn’t cancer, and hopefully the doctors have figured out what is wrong and you are on the road to recovery.
I just read you had cancer- so glad to get here and find out it’s not cancer. I am dealing with a thyroid issue- which is not cancer, so I understand your relief.
My prayers will be with you!
I didn’t leave a comment before, but I’ve thought about you so often in the past week and sent so many well-wishes your way. I am so happy for you that there is no “C”, and I hope your docs get it all figured out soon. I was just home for the weekend and saw St. Louis magazine had a top docs section. You may want to pick it up if you start to get frustrated w/your medical team!
Good luck.
Lara
I’m not sure how I “stumbled” across your blog, but I did right in time for your cancer scare. I’ve been praying for you, and I’m so glad to hear that there is no cancer! Blessings to you and your family, and I’m praying for a smooth recovery for you.
~Kimberly
I’m so relieved for you. So relieved. Wow. And I’m gonna keep praying for ya, too!! Wow, I’m blown away - this is so awesome!
I am glad you have found out it is not cancer. Now let’s hope they can quickly find out what is wrong and get you back to 100%!! Best wishes to you.
Hugely happy for you and your family. Hope you’re back up to snuff soon.
*sigh*
So glad it’s not cancer. Here’s hoping they can remove it and figure out what it *is* asap!!
Sending love…
I’m so relieved that it’s not cancer! I hope that they can get a definite diagnosis for you and can’t wait until I read that you are feeling 100%. (((HUGS)))
Good news, great news. I’m glad.
So relieved and happy that you got good news!
Been reading about this in various places on the blogosphere (before and after). Just dropped by to say Yea!!!!!
Best Wishes.
God is Good! I am so happy for you and your family.
Praising God, Thanking God and Loving Life!!!!
What a relief!! Congrats and I hope you feel better soon!!
Congratulations. This is the best news in the world! =)
This is the best news!!
I’m so very happy!! Happy for you and your family!
I’m glad the pain is going down some. I hope that they can resolve the rest for a speedy recovery.
Fixable is a beautiful word!!
Hugs and prayers!
omg i’ve been a horrible blogger and ive not been here in a week or so and i had NO idea you were going through any of this! i’m so relieved to read now that you’re cancer free….wow. much love you….xo
Tears of relief Lisa… I couldn’t be happier… hugs to you…
xxxx
K.
Wonderful news! I hope you’re feeling 100% very soon!
Holy cow Lisa. Just catching up and why, you just made my day. I am so relieved and delighted of course.Now I do want to be mad. Just a little mad, at those doctors who said cancer. But I’m too busy being relieved. We’ll save that for another day.
Oh, you, so, so relieved. May it continue to be the kind of news we are all hoping for. You will stay in my thoughts and your own scare leaves me with renewed gratitude for all that I have and don’t have.
Thrilled beyond words. Love ya.
Oh my goodness…That’s AWESOME! I’ve never commented before, but so happy for you I couldn’t help it.
Feel better soon!
FABULOUS!! I’m so happy for you!!! Now, get better soon and get back to living your life!
This is truly amazing news and such a blessing!! I have been keeping you in my thoughts and prayers along with my girlfriend who did just find out she has the C word and if 7 weeks pregnant. I too retreat to myself during times of stress so I totally know how you are feeling. Take care and glad all is going better!
YAY MWM!!!!!!
Has anyone mentioned carcinoid?
http://minnesotamatron.blogspot.com/2008/07/nostalgia.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carcinoid
I am so happy for you and hope you feel perfect again soon!
One more “NO CANCER! YAY!!!!!” from me!
I’m so glad to hear it!! This is awesome news!! I hope they fix whatever is quickly!
That is amazing and wonderful!
There are no better words in the world than “It’s not cancer and it’s fixable…”
Thank heavens!!
Yay! Congratulations! You just made my day.
YAAAAAAAAY!! I’m so happy for you. Congratualtions that its not cancer. I hope that whatever it is gets fixed quickly and you get to go back to living life to its fullest.
Very good news indeed!
I’m so glad to hear that! That may be the best news of the week, even for someone who doesn’t know you!
So, SO happy to hear the news!
Hooray!!!!! That is fantastic news! I’m so happy for you!
This is great news!
Wonderful news! I’m so happy for you!
[…] past Friday I had a follow-up with a final specialist for “The Cancer that wasn’t Cancer“. In a nutshell? I’m fine. Completely healthy, even. The doctor gave me […]
[…] in her colon, but they didn’t think it was lymphoma. And yesterday they confirmed that she does not have cancer, but does have an infection and they will likely remove her appendix. What a scary week for her and […]