I have had FIVE kinds of cancer since 1976, THIRTEEN malignant tumors. (I'm nearly 67.)

I've survived melanoma, three malignant meningioma brain tumors, six TCC -- transitional cell bladder tumors, one RCC -- renal cell carcinoma kidney cancer, two basal cell carcinoma skin cancer.

Lately I've had some vague new symptoms, for example, a trace of blood in the urine (always present in me before another bladder tumor is found), severely increasing shortness of breath, unexplained weight loss, etc.

I'm worried about the return and/or metastasis of one of the cancers. I am in communication with my doctors, but there are so many different doctors and diagnoses, I kind of "get lost" in the process.

I ask your prayers and support. Thank you. Kathy K.

Kathy -- It is so hard to live with those fears. And you have had so much to handle. Surely someone is following you well. If not, call your oncologist and have a serious sit down about how you can do this -- and then I would find a good support group or Gilda's Club or Wellness Community where you can talk about your fears.

Kathy

AN UPDATE
An ultrasound of my kidneys today (9-18-090 was "all clear" and the BUN and Creatinine blood tests were OK -- kidney cancer (RCC).
No blood showed in today's urinalysis -- related to the bladder cancer (TCC).
The next kidney cancer checkup is in mid-December. The next bladder cancer checkup is in mid-January. A chest Xray done several weeks ago, looking for signs of bronchitis, was OK. I've had an echocardiogram -- don't have results yet, and am to start an overnight pulse-ox next week, looking for causes of the shortness of breath.

October marks FIVE YEARS since the last bladder tumor// 13, 19, and 23 years since the three brain tumors. The kidney cancer was in 2007// the melanoma in 1976// and I don't remember the years of the basal cell carcinomas, maybe 2000 and 2004.

I used to attend a general cancer support group, till it dissolved, and also a brain tumor support group for a long time, till it too ended when the leader died. Support groups are VERY valuable. You need to get your fears outside of yourself before they eat your insides. If you are not near a group -- in person or online -- write a journal (for your eyes only)-- get it out ! Your family and friends can't bear everything, but we survivors understand the fears we all have.

Do you have CT scans to check for the kidney cancer?

I don't have the films, but both a CT and an MRI were done, ordered by the general surgeon, before I was sent to the urologist.

I am on Tarceva for lung cancer. It is a daily chemo drug. Anyone else having succes with this drug?

Just stay on top of it.

Kathy K - is it possible for you to do some doctor and doctor visit consolidation? I've only had one kind of cancer, so I don't know how possible that it when you're checking up on multiple cancers. But it seems like it would be a blessing to have all your check-ups with one doctor and at one visit.

I understand fears of mets, but I can only imagine how that would be multiplied with multiple cancers. I agree about the support groups. I don't know how I would have survived it all without youngsurvival.org (for women under 40 with breast cancer). Good luck and *hugs*

There is always the fear that cancer will return. I guess we have to accecpt it for what it is.I had cancer twice - bladder cancer in 2001 (a 23 cm tumor removed from bladder) which was low level and small cell lung cancer in 2003 early stage-that was treated with a combination of chemo (cisplatin and etoposide) and radiation to the chest twice daily for 30 treatments Boy was that tough to do and then preventative radiation to the brain--I would be a liar if I didn't think about cancer returning its there but I feel I have a lot of living to do.
I will be in Philadelphia Pa.on Oct 23 2009 attending the second annual focus on lung cancer in collaboration with Penn Medicine, The Abramson Cancer Center University Of Pennsylvania --I have to talk to others about a lot of the side effects I am dealing with from treatment--

ON CONSOLIDATING CHECKUPS -- yes, that is a good idea. I have seen an oncologist just for that. I told him that someone has to watch, and he is the "watcher" -- (in addidtion to me). After all, three of the five cancers I've had can metastaize to the liver, lungs, or brain, not counting the possible return of the brain tumors I've had. The oncologist did order blood work and a PET scan. I'm to see him about every six months to a year. When I recently injured my back, he ordered a CT of my spine -- back pain scares me because of the risk of bone mets.

On Conferences and Support Groups -- they are very, very valuable and beneficial. It really helps to meeet with other people who are going through or have gone through the same thing. Also, you can usually hear about the latest treatments at conferences. It takes more than five years for new findings to get into books, and libraries often have older books. And you have to be wary of quackery, often told in anecdotes instead of proven by scientific studies.