Just had Lung surgery and told I have lung cancer T3

ellenm4

Three years ago I was diagnosed with breast cancer, stage 2. I completed surgery and radiation treatment and opt out of chemo. Was told 9 months later I had no cancer. That was the saying until I complained that I was hurting under my left armpit (left side - same side I had breast cancer). My doctor ordered a chest x-ray. After a CT and a PET scan, I was told it looked like my breast cancer had came back and was in the lung. Was to have surgery to remove the very small tumor in September of this year, but became very sick and was in the hospital for a week and my family doctor would not release me for the surgery until right after Thanksgiving. I had the surgery 2 1/2 weeks ago. The biopsy came back that I had not only 1 tumor but 2. It was lung cancer and not a form of breast cancer. My doctor said it is not very common for a person to have 2 different types of cancer, but here I am. So far I know it is a T3. Next week I have another procedure to check the lymph nodes where they go behind the breast plate and they will be installing a port for the chemo. I am very scared and do not know what to think much less do. I am not excited about having another surgery done either, but they told me since it was not what they thought, I have to have this done. Has anyone else had this procedure done? Does it hurt afterwards? I am still in pain and recoverying from the lung surgery.

z

Ellen
Hello, Sorry you had to find us. I suggest that you sign up on the Ispire web site also. Lots of Stage I-IV survivors there.

I too had lung cancer as a secondary cancer, as anal cancer was the 1st. Anal cancer is rare and mine was caused by hpv. I completed tx for the anal cancer 6-30-09 and am fine. On 9-23-10 I had vats to remove my lower right lobe, and because I was being scanned for anal, thats why they caught the lung nodule at 7mm which then grew to 11mm and had to come out. This was a smokers cancer, as I was a 35 year smoker until I quit on 5-4-09 before the anal cancer tx.

The port doesn't hurt and I still have mine from the anal cancer tx. I will have it removed after my follow up lung scan is clear and I have my colonoscopy in April of 2012. The port will be used in stead of your veins, therefore your veins won't be damaged.

I wish you well and please keep us posted. Lori

trspaw

It sounds as if you are
It sounds as if you are haveing a mediastinoscopy, I had this procedure and it wasn't bad at all, it will probably seem like nothing compared to your other procedures.

I had mine on an outpatient basis and left the hosptial the same day. I also had a port placed months later for Chemo and that isn't too bad either, they will be able to not only give you chemotherapy through that port, but also can access it for the lab work you will have.

Good luck and God Bless
Teresa

ellenm4

trspaw said:

It sounds as if you are
It sounds as if you are haveing a mediastinoscopy, I had this procedure and it wasn't bad at all, it will probably seem like nothing compared to your other procedures.

I had mine on an outpatient basis and left the hosptial the same day. I also had a port placed months later for Chemo and that isn't too bad either, they will be able to not only give you chemotherapy through that port, but also can access it for the lab work you will have.

Good luck and God Bless
Teresa

Thanks Teresa. Drawing the
Thanks Teresa. Drawing the labs will be great. My veins are already blowing everytime they try to draw blood now. Yes I am going to have a mediastinoscopy and the port next Wednesday. I think they are doing mine and wanting to keep me over night is due to the fact not even 3 weeks ago they removed part of my lung. Merry Christmas to you and your family. God Bless!
Ellen

ellenm4

z said:

Ellen
Hello, Sorry you had to find us. I suggest that you sign up on the Ispire web site also. Lots of Stage I-IV survivors there.

I too had lung cancer as a secondary cancer, as anal cancer was the 1st. Anal cancer is rare and mine was caused by hpv. I completed tx for the anal cancer 6-30-09 and am fine. On 9-23-10 I had vats to remove my lower right lobe, and because I was being scanned for anal, thats why they caught the lung nodule at 7mm which then grew to 11mm and had to come out. This was a smokers cancer, as I was a 35 year smoker until I quit on 5-4-09 before the anal cancer tx.

The port doesn't hurt and I still have mine from the anal cancer tx. I will have it removed after my follow up lung scan is clear and I have my colonoscopy in April of 2012. The port will be used in stead of your veins, therefore your veins won't be damaged.

I wish you well and please keep us posted. Lori

Lori you are in my prayers.
Lori you are in my prayers. I also was a smoker for 30 years and quit 4 months ago. It was hard, but I knew I had to do it! Today is my birthday and I will be spending the first part of it at the hospital for pre-op. I will stay in touch. Merry Christmas!

Blessings!
Ellen

deltafun

Lung cancer
I would like to suggest that you go to Grace.com. It's a great site and you can post your questions there and ask an Oncologist on that site. They are real good at getting back to you you as well as others on that site. It's a site like this but you can ask your questions and get an answer back from a Doc.

Good luck and if you need the link to Grace please feel free to e-mail me back.

AlanRinHBG

ellenm4 said:

Thanks Teresa. Drawing the
Thanks Teresa. Drawing the labs will be great. My veins are already blowing everytime they try to draw blood now. Yes I am going to have a mediastinoscopy and the port next Wednesday. I think they are doing mine and wanting to keep me over night is due to the fact not even 3 weeks ago they removed part of my lung. Merry Christmas to you and your family. God Bless!
Ellen

port etc
Hi Ellen, I too had both of those procedures. No problems at all. In the time coming, you'll really appreciate the port. It makes it all that much easier. Good luck and merry christmas.

ellenm4

deltafun said:

Lung cancer
I would like to suggest that you go to Grace.com. It's a great site and you can post your questions there and ask an Oncologist on that site. They are real good at getting back to you you as well as others on that site. It's a site like this but you can ask your questions and get an answer back from a Doc.

Good luck and if you need the link to Grace please feel free to e-mail me back.

yes if you could send me the
yes if you could send me the link to Grace I would greatly appreciate it!
Merry Christmas

Ellen

dennycee

ellenm4 said:

yes if you could send me the
yes if you could send me the link to Grace I would greatly appreciate it!
Merry Christmas

Ellen

link you requested

cancergrace.org

ellenm4

dennycee said:

link you requested

cancergrace.org

link
Thanks for the link. I just returned home this evening from having the mediastoncopy (spelling) and the portacath put in yesterday. Where the checked the nodes behind the breast plate is swollen and bruised really bad and where the cath was put hurts to even touch it. Dr. say that is normal but some feel it more than others. But he claims the nodes look good, but sent off to be checked. Now to call my onc for an appointment since the port is in, to at least have it flushed. Do you have to do this or does the doctor have to? Not sure yet when I start chemo, but is nodes are clean I will not have the radiation.

dennycee

ellenm4 said:

link
Thanks for the link. I just returned home this evening from having the mediastoncopy (spelling) and the portacath put in yesterday. Where the checked the nodes behind the breast plate is swollen and bruised really bad and where the cath was put hurts to even touch it. Dr. say that is normal but some feel it more than others. But he claims the nodes look good, but sent off to be checked. Now to call my onc for an appointment since the port is in, to at least have it flushed. Do you have to do this or does the doctor have to? Not sure yet when I start chemo, but is nodes are clean I will not have the radiation.

Port care
To prevent problems my onco has patients come into the chemo clinic once a month to have a flush. Is your port a powerport? Mine is and it gets used for chemo treatments, blood draws, blood transfusions, dye injections for ct scans etc, and med drips when I was hospitalized. With each of these uses the nurse flushes the port so the next flush would be 30 days following the last use.

Best of luck to you with your chemo. Keep us updated.

ellenm4

dennycee said:

Port care
To prevent problems my onco has patients come into the chemo clinic once a month to have a flush. Is your port a powerport? Mine is and it gets used for chemo treatments, blood draws, blood transfusions, dye injections for ct scans etc, and med drips when I was hospitalized. With each of these uses the nurse flushes the port so the next flush would be 30 days following the last use.

Best of luck to you with your chemo. Keep us updated.

type of port
Yes, dennycee mine port is a Bard Power Port. I had it istalled a few days ago on the 28th. I also had the mediastincopy at the same time. This morning I feel a little tight in my chest (like I have a cold) and I am clearing my throat a lot. The surgeon yesterday said this would be normal, just take it easy and take my pain meds for about a week. When installed he filed it with heprin, told me to make an appointment with my onc within the week. Guess I will call him today.