Cancer Survivors Network

before i was diagnosed i had what i thought was just a "smoker's cough". i then started to cough up small specs of blood. my wife wanted me to see the doctor right away but being bullheaded i thought that i would wait to see if it went away. after about 2 months and it was still happening, i thought i should see the doc. after the original ct scan, my doc advised me to see a pulmonologist who in turn ordered more tests including a biopsy which indicated that i have adenocarcinoma. i then underwent a surgery to remove the upper lobe of my right lung and the chemotherapy. i would like to say that if you have any symptoms and have not yet seen a doctor, do so immediately, don't be bullheaded and wait as it could cost you your life! hope this helped and my prayers will be with you, bill

At first, I did not have ay symptoms. A spot on my lung was discovered during an MRI that was taken to diagnose MS progression. I had a thoracotomy and a wedge resection of the lung in Mar 2008 and the biopsy was negative for cancer. I did have a follow-up CT scan and it showed the spot, but it was attributed to scar tissue from the surgery. Still, I was told to follow-up, which I did, but was a few months late for one CT scan.

A few months ago, I started feeling very tired and to me, my blood felt "toxic", for lack of a better way to decsribe the feeling. I also developed a non-productive cough. I also have localized pain on my head, but that does nopt appear to be related to cancer, though I am not convinced. I also get chest pains and a pain in my back directly behind the tumor location. Again, I am unsure if these pains are related to cancer or MS.

I hope you do not have cancer. From what I have read, cancer does not produce symptoms in
many people.

Best wishes.

John

I had a nagging ache in my back right side. Because I was being screened for anal cancer recurrance, is why the 7mm nodule in my lower right lung was discovered during a pet/ct. Then I was scanned with a ct 3 months later to see if it grew, and yes it grew to 11mms. It had to come out. I had the vats procedure and in the OR the nodule was biopsied and discovered to be squamous cell carcinoma, and at that time I was given a lower right lobectomy. Because I was stagged at 1A I didn't require chemo/radiation, as there is and 80% 5 year survivors rate. This was a primary lung cancer, caused from smoking. I was a 35 year smoker until 5-4-09, when I started tx for the anal cancer. I never would have gone to the dr and been screened had it not been or the anal cancer. Early detection is the best when having a cancer dx. Please go get checked. From what I understand a regular xray can pick up a nodule as small as 1cm, but a ct scan can pick 1 up at as little as 2mms. I wish you well Lori.