Getting Aggressive (with suspicious nodules)

Mike09

Hi- i posted recently about the "suspicious nodules" that were on my recent cat scan. To get right to the point, my Oncologist and the thoractic surgeon want to go right in, remove a lung lobe, biopsy the 5 nodules, and go from there. This of course has thrown us for a loop. I will be in hospital for as long as a week. They told me that since I am otherwise in excellent health, fairly young and strong, that they want to be as aggressive as possible in rooting out whatever might be in there and do it quick. One spot on the other lung will be dealt with via direct radiation. I imagine chemo won't be far behind. So we went from sailing along with what seemed to be a cancer in remission to this. The docs do say that for all they know, they could be begign or something else. But obviously no one is taking any chances. Any experience with this? Thank you!   

eihtak

Mike09....

Hi,

A few of us have had similar situations, but keep in mind that treatment is usually tailored to the specific individual.  I was initially diagnosed in 2011 and treated with chemo/rad. Then, this past winter had a recurrance with a mass in my lung. (It was quite large and was told that at a certain point it goes from being called a nodule to being called a mass) In my case, it was biopsied within a few days of diagnosis....it proved to be a recurrance of anal cancer and just 2weeks later I had surgery to remove the entire left lower lobe of my lung as well as 7 surrounding lymph nodes which came back clear. While the day or two after surgery was painful, recovery truely went quite fast. I was able to leave the hospital after 4 days. (It was based on the amount of drainage from the surgical site) The biopsy was easy and although I had a driver, I could have driven myself! I was given 3 weeks to better recover from surgery and get my strength back and then began a course of 3 months of chemo. My doctor was confident that all was removed with the surgery and the chemo was given as sort of "insurance" or what they call adjuvant therapy. I have an appointment this week but will not be scanned for a bit longer yet....(no date yet) I feel just great, but still dealing with effects like bad hair or lack there of, brittle nails, and sore muscles.....but all easily managed.

I remember being very scared prior to lung surgery, but also really amazed at how smoothly it went and the fast recovery. I was told this ahead of time but just couldn't believe I could have half a lung removed and recover so well! But, I did.......and I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers that if this is the route you take your experience is as positive as was mine! Please keep us posted.

Be well.......

katheryn

Mike09

eihtak said:

Mike09....

Hi,

A few of us have had similar situations, but keep in mind that treatment is usually tailored to the specific individual.  I was initially diagnosed in 2011 and treated with chemo/rad. Then, this past winter had a recurrance with a mass in my lung. (It was quite large and was told that at a certain point it goes from being called a nodule to being called a mass) In my case, it was biopsied within a few days of diagnosis....it proved to be a recurrance of anal cancer and just 2weeks later I had surgery to remove the entire left lower lobe of my lung as well as 7 surrounding lymph nodes which came back clear. While the day or two after surgery was painful, recovery truely went quite fast. I was able to leave the hospital after 4 days. (It was based on the amount of drainage from the surgical site) The biopsy was easy and although I had a driver, I could have driven myself! I was given 3 weeks to better recover from surgery and get my strength back and then began a course of 3 months of chemo. My doctor was confident that all was removed with the surgery and the chemo was given as sort of "insurance" or what they call adjuvant therapy. I have an appointment this week but will not be scanned for a bit longer yet....(no date yet) I feel just great, but still dealing with effects like bad hair or lack there of, brittle nails, and sore muscles.....but all easily managed.

I remember being very scared prior to lung surgery, but also really amazed at how smoothly it went and the fast recovery. I was told this ahead of time but just couldn't believe I could have half a lung removed and recover so well! But, I did.......and I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers that if this is the route you take your experience is as positive as was mine! Please keep us posted.

Be well.......

katheryn

Thank you Katheryn

Katheryn - You sure did help me out today. Thank you for taking the time to tell me about your story with this. Everything has come up so fast and it is hard to dind anyone who can relate their own experience with this.  Tomorrow I am going in for some preliminary tests, I suppose just to make sure the heart and lungs are ready for the fun on Friday.

Thanks again for the encouragement and information!

~Michael 

eihtak

Mike09 said:

Thank you Katheryn

Katheryn - You sure did help me out today. Thank you for taking the time to tell me about your story with this. Everything has come up so fast and it is hard to dind anyone who can relate their own experience with this.  Tomorrow I am going in for some preliminary tests, I suppose just to make sure the heart and lungs are ready for the fun on Friday.

Thanks again for the encouragement and information!

~Michael 

Michael....

You are very welcome. I always feel better and less alone in all this if I am able to hear from someone in the same or similar boat myself! The fact that you feel otherwise strong and healthy will surely work in your favor.

When I was diagnosed with this recent recurrance I too was feeling well. I went back to college a couple years ago and had a full spring semester planned with acceptance into an internship for which I had been waiting. I also had a daughters wedding coming up and I was doing the flowers/decor. Not to mention busy "normal" life stuff! I was more frustrated than anything about the need to temporarily adjust my schedule and lack of feeling in control of my own life.

But, it all worked out just fine. I am getting back on track with school and my chemo was adjusted to have me feeling good for the wedding weekend, and, the flowers were amazing!

The preliminary tests can be bothersome but necessary.  Soon this will be another thing you overcame and you will be moving forward.  Best of luck on Friday!

katheryn