Lung cancer, refugee from H&N

dennycee

denistd said:

back from Hershey
Met with the thoracic surgeon on Thursday (he's a professor no less)he thinks it's cancer bronchio something but explained that the biopsy could not rule out a benign lesion or inflammation. It is small (the needle missed the target at first attempt) it was interesting, he showed me the video of the biopsy and an enhanced scan. I could see the tumor, which he described as fluffy. Will be having vats, the tumor board met last evening and the doctor e-mailed me this morning, he said all was in agreement that a simple resection was the correct procedure. He was much more interested in my music and googled stuff about my bands after I left. When I got home I e-mailed him a couple of songs, one from one band and another from another band. He wants to know what music I want on in the OR when I go in, said anything but Billy Joel. They will biopsy again on Tuesday. Will let you all know. Denis

Glad you had a great
Glad you had a great experience at Hershey. VATS resection is the least invasive way to go and since they are comfortable doing the surgery it is safe to figure that they are confident that there are no mets. There are, of course, no guarantees. Was the term your doctor used bronchioalveolar carcinoma (BAC)?

dennycee

denistd said:

back from Hershey
Met with the thoracic surgeon on Thursday (he's a professor no less)he thinks it's cancer bronchio something but explained that the biopsy could not rule out a benign lesion or inflammation. It is small (the needle missed the target at first attempt) it was interesting, he showed me the video of the biopsy and an enhanced scan. I could see the tumor, which he described as fluffy. Will be having vats, the tumor board met last evening and the doctor e-mailed me this morning, he said all was in agreement that a simple resection was the correct procedure. He was much more interested in my music and googled stuff about my bands after I left. When I got home I e-mailed him a couple of songs, one from one band and another from another band. He wants to know what music I want on in the OR when I go in, said anything but Billy Joel. They will biopsy again on Tuesday. Will let you all know. Denis

The dreaded double entry.

The dreaded double entry.

denistd

dennycee said:

Glad you had a great
Glad you had a great experience at Hershey. VATS resection is the least invasive way to go and since they are comfortable doing the surgery it is safe to figure that they are confident that there are no mets. There are, of course, no guarantees. Was the term your doctor used bronchioalveolar carcinoma (BAC)?

dennycee
Yes that was the term he used, he said that's what he thinks. I feel confident with the team they have there. Naturally I am afraid, had some major anxiety today but my wife and son are great anti-depressents. he never mentioned mets and my other oncologists said that he did not think it was from my larynx. The thoracic guy said my hand problems and music were far more interesting than my lung

ToBeGolden

denistd said:

dennycee
Yes that was the term he used, he said that's what he thinks. I feel confident with the team they have there. Naturally I am afraid, had some major anxiety today but my wife and son are great anti-depressents. he never mentioned mets and my other oncologists said that he did not think it was from my larynx. The thoracic guy said my hand problems and music were far more interesting than my lung

Mets? or No Mets?
Denis: You know that I am following you on a parallel road. However, my oncologist said my highly probable lung cancer was not curable. Presumably, mine are mets. I do have a number of new nodules. When you have recovered from your surgery, and if you are willing, please speculate what makes docs think of mets or no mets. I will use your (and any other discussion) to frame questions for my healthcare professionals.

Best wishes on your surgery. I know you are determined enough to overcome any new challenges thrown your way. Rick.

denistd

ToBeGolden said:

Mets? or No Mets?
Denis: You know that I am following you on a parallel road. However, my oncologist said my highly probable lung cancer was not curable. Presumably, mine are mets. I do have a number of new nodules. When you have recovered from your surgery, and if you are willing, please speculate what makes docs think of mets or no mets. I will use your (and any other discussion) to frame questions for my healthcare professionals.

Best wishes on your surgery. I know you are determined enough to overcome any new challenges thrown your way. Rick.

Rick
Will be only to glad to Rick, I too have been following your progress from HN and lary life. I am sorry to hear that the doc said it's not curable, but they have told a lot of people that, Soccerfreaks, Hondo etc. Keep the faith and keep rocking on. I will be taking my laptop in to the hospital with me. Denis

ToBeGolden

denistd said:

Rick
Will be only to glad to Rick, I too have been following your progress from HN and lary life. I am sorry to hear that the doc said it's not curable, but they have told a lot of people that, Soccerfreaks, Hondo etc. Keep the faith and keep rocking on. I will be taking my laptop in to the hospital with me. Denis

Curable or Not
Should have made this clear: Not curable does NOT mean not treatable. My cancer can be knocked down but not knocked out. So it's going to be a life-long battle, in a very literal sense. Rick.

Puggle

denistd said:

dennycee
Yes that was the term he used, he said that's what he thinks. I feel confident with the team they have there. Naturally I am afraid, had some major anxiety today but my wife and son are great anti-depressents. he never mentioned mets and my other oncologists said that he did not think it was from my larynx. The thoracic guy said my hand problems and music were far more interesting than my lung

Still keeping you in my thoughts and prayers....
Hoping everything goes smoothly through your surgery.

denistd

Puggle said:

Still keeping you in my thoughts and prayers....
Hoping everything goes smoothly through your surgery.

Tomorrow
Have to be at Hershey at 5:15am so early surgery. Here we go again. Denis

dennycee

denistd said:

Tomorrow
Have to be at Hershey at 5:15am so early surgery. Here we go again. Denis

After decades of working in
After decades of working in and managing clubs my body stays on that schedule. I could give you wake up call. Lol! Will be thinking strong positive thoughts your way.

Puggle

denistd said:

Tomorrow
Have to be at Hershey at 5:15am so early surgery. Here we go again. Denis

Hoping the surgery went well
Keep us posted as soon as you are able.

denistd

Puggle said:

Hoping the surgery went well
Keep us posted as soon as you are able.

Home from the hospital
Well now we know, it was cancer, Dennis tit was what you said bronchioalveolar, they removed the little nodule, never got near the mass id, the doctor said all went well and don't need to see him for anther month then on 6 monthly schedules. had some A-Fib heart issues that were resolved by shocking the heart back into a normal rythym. Now just have to heal up. Sure is good to be home. He believes that no chemo or radiation is necessary, which is fine by me, good job I had a heart issue in May, that's when they found the little ctitter. So now we see. Denis

ToBeGolden

denistd said:

Home from the hospital
Well now we know, it was cancer, Dennis tit was what you said bronchioalveolar, they removed the little nodule, never got near the mass id, the doctor said all went well and don't need to see him for anther month then on 6 monthly schedules. had some A-Fib heart issues that were resolved by shocking the heart back into a normal rythym. Now just have to heal up. Sure is good to be home. He believes that no chemo or radiation is necessary, which is fine by me, good job I had a heart issue in May, that's when they found the little ctitter. So now we see. Denis

Biopsy or No Biopsy
Denis:
You know we are on similar paths. However, I am thinking of not having the biopsy (at least, not right away). Everyone is different, and thinks differently. But to my way of thinking: If there isn't going to be any treatment, why test?

I am going to live each day to the fullest, try to enjoy myself and bring a little joy to those around me. Knowledge of whether or not I have cancer won't change a thing.

By the way: this also means the fact that you know shouldn't change anything either. Just go out and get the most out of every day. In that way, we will be doing very much the same thing.
Rick.

denistd

ToBeGolden said:

Biopsy or No Biopsy
Denis:
You know we are on similar paths. However, I am thinking of not having the biopsy (at least, not right away). Everyone is different, and thinks differently. But to my way of thinking: If there isn't going to be any treatment, why test?

I am going to live each day to the fullest, try to enjoy myself and bring a little joy to those around me. Knowledge of whether or not I have cancer won't change a thing.

By the way: this also means the fact that you know shouldn't change anything either. Just go out and get the most out of every day. In that way, we will be doing very much the same thing.
Rick.

Hi Rick
Hey there Rick, tough crap to go through.Knowing or not knowing, you may be right that even if you know it makes no difference if no treatment is available, until it gets so rough you have to seek something. I, personally would get another opinion on it and go from there. As you know I am a transplanted old rock musician and I look at all of my old pals, most are gone. some from cancer, others from really bad life styles, so you are right in the context of enjoy every day. Good luck to you old lad.

dennycee

denistd said:

Home from the hospital
Well now we know, it was cancer, Dennis tit was what you said bronchioalveolar, they removed the little nodule, never got near the mass id, the doctor said all went well and don't need to see him for anther month then on 6 monthly schedules. had some A-Fib heart issues that were resolved by shocking the heart back into a normal rythym. Now just have to heal up. Sure is good to be home. He believes that no chemo or radiation is necessary, which is fine by me, good job I had a heart issue in May, that's when they found the little ctitter. So now we see. Denis

Headline: Heart Issue Saves Man's Life
So stage one BAC, who'd a thought a heart problem would save their life. Unfortunately that's the way it is with the "lung thing". Most early stage lc are found by accident. Usually it's like mine, symptoms don't manifest till stage 4. Is that the way it works with head and neck cancers or are there early signs?

ToBeGolden

dennycee said:

Headline: Heart Issue Saves Man's Life
So stage one BAC, who'd a thought a heart problem would save their life. Unfortunately that's the way it is with the "lung thing". Most early stage lc are found by accident. Usually it's like mine, symptoms don't manifest till stage 4. Is that the way it works with head and neck cancers or are there early signs?

H&N Smptoms
I'll take a shot at answering this. I think most with Head & Neck cancers have some early warning signs. For me it was a hoarse voice, since my primary tumor was on the vocal cords. Others have a sore throat or trouble swallowing. Or a lump in their neck. Most patients go to the doctor for some symptom.

Also I thing the outcome for H&N as a group is better than for Lung Cancer. Nevertheless, the statistics for H&N as a group does not apply to certain individuals. Denis (for certain) and I ("highly suspicious for") have metastasis to the lung. So even though we had our H&N issues resolved, we are in a ship with other very advanced lung cancer patients.

I have had my larynx (vocal cords) removed. I use all three methods for restoring speech: electrolarynx ( a vibrator held to the neck or chin), a voice prosthesis (a one-way valve surgically implanted between the trachea and esophagus) and classic esophageal speech (swallowing air and burping to speak). For anyone facing the removal of the vocal cords the take away is: You will lose your ability to speak for 1 to 3 months, but you will regain functional speech with a little effort. Some will regain speech in less than 1 month.

I'm new to this board, and I am just starting to learn about lung cancer.

denistd

ToBeGolden said:

H&N Smptoms
I'll take a shot at answering this. I think most with Head & Neck cancers have some early warning signs. For me it was a hoarse voice, since my primary tumor was on the vocal cords. Others have a sore throat or trouble swallowing. Or a lump in their neck. Most patients go to the doctor for some symptom.

Also I thing the outcome for H&N as a group is better than for Lung Cancer. Nevertheless, the statistics for H&N as a group does not apply to certain individuals. Denis (for certain) and I ("highly suspicious for") have metastasis to the lung. So even though we had our H&N issues resolved, we are in a ship with other very advanced lung cancer patients.

I have had my larynx (vocal cords) removed. I use all three methods for restoring speech: electrolarynx ( a vibrator held to the neck or chin), a voice prosthesis (a one-way valve surgically implanted between the trachea and esophagus) and classic esophageal speech (swallowing air and burping to speak). For anyone facing the removal of the vocal cords the take away is: You will lose your ability to speak for 1 to 3 months, but you will regain functional speech with a little effort. Some will regain speech in less than 1 month.

I'm new to this board, and I am just starting to learn about lung cancer.

Lung

Had my six month CT last week for lung, doctor exclaimed "everything looks fantasic" then we all sat down at looked at the scan,she did not see anything, I did not see anything. It's been a year now since the VAts and it has flown by. Had the throat scoped in July and ENT said it's great, if it is the same next July he will consider the throat cancer cured. Denis

z

denistd said:

Lung

Had my six month CT last week for lung, doctor exclaimed "everything looks fantasic" then we all sat down at looked at the scan,she did not see anything, I did not see anything. It's been a year now since the VAts and it has flown by. Had the throat scoped in July and ENT said it's great, if it is the same next July he will consider the throat cancer cured. Denis

Denis

Thank you for letting us all know the great news!  We all need to hear the great news, and I wish you continued great news!  Lori

dennycee

denistd said:

Lung

Had my six month CT last week for lung, doctor exclaimed "everything looks fantasic" then we all sat down at looked at the scan,she did not see anything, I did not see anything. It's been a year now since the VAts and it has flown by. Had the throat scoped in July and ENT said it's great, if it is the same next July he will consider the throat cancer cured. Denis

Woohoo!

Great news indeed.  Thanks for the update, good news is always welcome.  

denistd

dennycee said:

Woohoo!

Great news indeed.  Thanks for the update, good news is always welcome.  

6 month checkup

had my 6 month scan last week. All was clear, the little nodule is still 4 mm and there are no new ones, the rest of the scan area, from neck to pelvis show nothing remarkable. pulmo Oncologist said if scan is same in September I will go to a yearly schedule. See the ENT in July, if throat is same he will consider that cancer cured. By the  way Denny it was adeno carcinoma.

dennycee

Thanks for the update

So glad to read that things are stable and hope they stay that way!  My doc proclaimed me NED finally after three years with no progression.   enjoying this getting old thing!