Those who had lung mets

Lilmiss82
Lilmiss82 Member Posts: 257 Member
Hi Everybody,

As always I've been reading your post and been noticing that some with lungs mets have had procedures to remove them such was RFA or wedge resections. My oncologist stated that I cannot have my mets removed. So my questions to those who have had mets removed are were both lungs involved, who decided you could have them removed ( oncologist, lung specialist, you), what procedure did you use, and how long in remission.I want RFA. My mets are still tiny (largest is around 4mm) I will have a needle biopsy soon to determine if the spots truly are cancerous soon but can't complete understand if they will go in and biopsy why not remove them too. I hate how my doctor calls the shots!! Anyways Thanks for all your help and encouragement.

Comments

  • smokeyjoe
    smokeyjoe Member Posts: 1,425 Member
    I'm surprised he'd say they
    I'm surprised he'd say they cannot be removed, is it because of where they are located?? Maybe you should get another opinion. I thought you had a consult with another doctor? What was his opinion on these. Don't know how many mets you have, is that the issue?
  • dorookie
    dorookie Member Posts: 1,731 Member
    I had lung mets right lung
    My ONC ordered a biopsy to determine if it was CRC or what it was, it was CRC, he immediately sent me to a surgeon and I had lung surgery, not RFA, they had to completely open me up, went in through my back, recovery was hard and long, but recovered, did chemo and I have been NED since Nov 2008 if you count from when I had the surgery, some count from when you finish chemo, which was June 2009, so either way I am over 2 years NED. I had a great ONC and I followed his every instruction. I trusted him and I am glad I did.

    Good Luck

    HUGS
    Beth
  • luvmum
    luvmum Member Posts: 457 Member
    location
    Dear Lilmiss,

    My mum has lungs mets, surgeons looked at the size and location to decide if they could be removed. We did consult her oncologist afterward.

    Best wishes to you!
    Dora
  • taraHK
    taraHK Member Posts: 1,952 Member
    lung mets
    I've had three incidents of lung mets (each time solitary met). The surgeon decided if possible, altho my oncologist was pretty knowledgeable. Has your onc indicated why he/she thinks not operable? Too many? Location? I had one in a very tricky location (right in the middle of a lobe - duh - how unluck) but the surgeon did it (wedge resection). Good luck and please keep us posted. Us lung met folk gotta stick together!

    Tara
  • PhillieG
    PhillieG Member Posts: 4,866 Member
    Like Real Estate
    it's location, location, location, when it comes to RFA's in the lungs. The closer to the outer lung lining the easier it is to get them. I've had them removed 3 times and they were in both lungs. My oncologist speaks with the doctor who performs the procedure and they decide what's possible then they get back to me and we discuss all that will be involved.
    If you're not happy with your doctor and/or they are not with an accredited cancer facility I'd get another opinion.
    -phil
  • lesvanb
    lesvanb Member Posts: 905
    lung mets
    I had 4 lung mets, one in each lobe. In January 2011 I had stereotactic radiation for the mets and had an excellent response; so far, so good, though I have inflammation in the lungs that obscured the view in my last PET/CT in June. My oncs aren't worried. My medical oncologist recommended me to the radiation oncologist.

    Leslie
  • Buzzard
    Buzzard Member Posts: 3,043 Member
    lesvanb said:

    lung mets
    I had 4 lung mets, one in each lobe. In January 2011 I had stereotactic radiation for the mets and had an excellent response; so far, so good, though I have inflammation in the lungs that obscured the view in my last PET/CT in June. My oncs aren't worried. My medical oncologist recommended me to the radiation oncologist.

    Leslie

    The RFA is something I would like to hear more on...
    Not to hijack the post but to give us lung metters (?) another option to have in our arsenal in case the issue arises again. and yes Lilmiss I think being in the mm category that I would be consulting another Dr........immediately......remember, they work for you, not you for them. You decide what you actually do, they recommend what they think you should do...buzz