Cancer Survivors Network

If the spot is accessible for a bronchoscopy, they put you to sleep & go down through your nose & are able to take a small piece & they had someone there in the operating room to test it & could tell if it was cancer & also what kind. Mine was adenocarcanoma. That is what they did in 2006 on my left lung. In February 2008 they did some test that told them that they couldn't reach it by doing a bronoscopy, so they had to do surgery. They made an incision on the right side of my back & went in laparoscopically & used a camera & took a piece to biopsy.
A bronchoscopy is not painful at all. My last surgery was not as complicated, & recovery time was much less than when the left lung was removed.
Hope this answers your question.

An alternative, if the suspect node is positioned just so, is a needle biopsy. In this case, at least in MY case, a CT scan is used to isolate the node, and while you are still there on the CT table, they try to inject the needle. In MY case, a rib was in the way, so I can't tell you much more than that. But this is another viable option for some.

Take care,

Joe

Hi Kathryn: I am a 4.5 year nsclc survivor. I had a lung biopsy 2 years ago and it turned out to be just a calcification. I was petrified at the thought of someone having a go at my lung with a needle to say the least! Believe me, it sounds far worse that it actually is. They numb the area to be biopsied so the pain is not bad, it's just that the whole idea of sort of freaks you out beforehand.

Best regards,

Madelyn

tell me how did you cope for 4/1/2 years what did you do to remain strong ?

As others have commented Lung biopsy can be done a few ways. Some more invasive than others. Needle aspiration biopsy is the least invasive. Done under local using a CT scanner to guide the needle. I had this done. Maintaining the postion was the most uncomfortable part. I was luckly they got the tissue without actually having to touch my lung tissue. My cancer is outside my lung.
If they have to go in to get the tissue. You will go under a general. The will put down a scope through you mouth, down the windpipe, into the lung with a camera and remove tissue. If they need to check the lymph nodes of the lung, they will do an incision in the neck and run a catheter down and take lymph tissue. Hope you can have the needle biopsy it is the least invasive. I went home the hours after my was done. The risk is collapsing the lung. They check you by x-ray right after the biopsy, keep you on bed rest and re x-ray about 2-3 hours later. If the lung collapes they put in chest tube and you stay in hospital until lung reinflates. Not pleasant but in the greater sceam of things, there are worse things medicine can do to us.
Hope this helps and doesn't scare you too much.

I had a needle biopsy to determine the type of tumor I had in the right lung. I was an outpatient and was given a general anesthetic. I did not feel anything--it took a couple of hours and it was done in conjuction with a CAT scan in Philadelphia--Jefferson Hospital.

I also had a needle biopsy. It wasnt painful but I did have some discomfort for a few days afterward.I was real scared at fiest but everything turned out ok.

My tumor measured 4x5cm. It was partially in my upper and lower lobe of my left lung.
That is why they had to remove my entire left lung. It has been 2 1/2 years since my
surgery, and haven't had any signs of cancer since. My oncologist did ct scans, or
chest x-rays every 3 months. I just recently went to every 6 months now. I also had an MRI
done every 6 months, due to lung cancer possibly going to the brain. I never had any chemo or radiation, since it had not spread. Hope your husband does well. Thank goodness he is
in remission now. Having tests done on a regular basis, I believe, is very important.
If you have any further questions, I will be glad to share.
I previously had said my surgery was in 2006, it actually was done on
July 31, 2007.

carolekona,
since your husbands had the top lode of his lung removed would that be called cured or in remission. I am confused. I thought if the tumor was removed the person no longer had cancer.

The post of the person you are responding to indicates that the cancer spread to lymph nodes and that is probably the reason why the term 'remission' is used.

"Cured" is certainly a benchmark worth shooting for, but for many of us who have had cancer the best we can get from our doctors is "maintenance" or "remission" or, better yet, "No Evidence of Disease" (NED). My own doctors have typically used the latter, and I have been happy enough with that, but at my next to last visit I was advised that I was "one lucky man" which I interpreted as doctor-speak for "cured".

Nonetheless, I am aware that once cancer has reared its ugly head, the reasons for its existence, be they genetic or environmental or behavioral, are likely to cause its recurrence unless I change the things I can control to some degree, my environment and my behavior, a fancy way of saying that if I live in Chernobyl, smoke profusely and drink alcohol with the same devotion, I should probably move at the same time I give up the two latter.

Even so, there are no guarantees; at least I have heard of none worth pursuing.

Take care,

Joe

Yes, I am still a member. Just haven't been on in a while.

I am always looking for remarks by you as your story gives me hope. Keep writing