Mam (Smoker) 68 Diagnosed With A Small Cancerous Tumour In Her Lung - Ireland

Irish-Psychic

Hi there,

I have posted before in this forum a few years back and the help and the support from people who I do not know has been incredible (you know who you are) - My Dad had his prostate removed over 15 years ago for it then to come back and he couldnt understand why or how but it happened, thankfully all has been sucessfull and his PSA has continued to stay extremly low which is basically what you want and he is coming up to his 70th Birthday in November.

The next stage we need to get by now is Mam - Mam had a Cataract in her eye and insisted on having a general anesthetic - part of this was testing to see can she get a general anesthetic regarding her age and body so they do different tests one of which is X-Ray - CT Scan etc - the CT scan showed a small suspicious mass which she was told they would monitor - the next thing after having these test's her digestive system went out of control and anything she ate she was passing and her stool was very loose - they sent for a Colonoscopy and all was clear so I told her to try Lactose free milk which over a 3 week period gave her dramatic results - she is now on a tablet to help with digestion and will be meeting a dietician soon.

The Cataract surgery was performed but instead of a general anestetic she opted for local as the Doctor who done the Colonoscopy told her she would be well able to have a local and a general puts your body under too much stress so thankfully she told her how it was and she can now see clearly and was done all via local. From the very start my worry was the mass that was spoted in Februrary 2015 but they done another scan around August 2015 and it had indicated that there was a change but a very slow change - she was booked in for a needle biopsy and she had that done on 24th Sept 2015 and since having it done, little dots or specs of blood is in her cough if she brings up phelmg but the Doctor told her to expect this.

Her needle biopsy result came back and it came back with the news I was dreading - she got the news on 30th Sept 2015 that it is a Cancerious Tumor in her lung but a very slow growing one. They have ordered now a PET scan which hopefully will be done asap as my mind is all over the place since hearing this news and I am just bursting into tears throughout the day and fearing the worst but then until she has the PET scan I cannot relax as my main concern is for it just to be localised in that area in the Tumour.

The surgeon doing the needle biopsy had said to her that they will probably remove the tumour and for her not to be worrying - I suppose I am writing this as a worried son hoping someone can put my mind at ease. She is giving up smoking soon as she knows for her to have the best outcome this is what is needed as the Doctor told her. If the PET Scan comes back with what I am praying is the best news ie it is confined as only for her insisting on a General Anestetic for her Eye and to be tested under a CT scan she would never of known about this small mass - I am hoping it is a blessing in disguise and it has been caught early.

Once we know for certain after the PET scan do they remove as much as they can asap and what is her prognosis - I know each case is different but I have a really good feeling that once it is removed and she obviously does not smoke her chances of another 10-20 years is extremely high - I am only 34 and I want her to see me grow up even though I should of long ago I am the baby (1 older brother) still to her and she is the most incredible Mam I could ever ask for and I pray and hope she gets everything removed and all will be well in her life. I know the surgery will not be pleasant but I would rather her recover for a few months and be told youve done it and not to fear what is ahead of her. 

Thank you for reading this and I hope someone can reply,

Best wishes,

Gary.

 

dennycee

That they are talking about

That they are talking about possible surgery means that they believe they can cure her.  Can you tell me more?  What type of lung cancer is it?  there are many subtypes of lung cancer and to best answer your questions, knowing the type can help.  Please let us know the outcome of the PET.  

Irish-Psychic

dennycee said:

That they are talking about

That they are talking about possible surgery means that they believe they can cure her.  Can you tell me more?  What type of lung cancer is it?  there are many subtypes of lung cancer and to best answer your questions, knowing the type can help.  Please let us know the outcome of the PET.  

Hi there...

Hi Dennycee,

Thank you so much for replying - again the lady Doctor just told my Mum it is slow growing and a PET scan has been ordered. I asked did they say what type and my Mum said no just it is slow growing and they want to do a PET scan. I am hoping that that happens asap. One thing that has happened is she had Diarrhea in the past and it was like 12 times in a day and she had to wear nappys as she was son embarrised. They done Colonoscopy - Broncoscopy etc and nothing was seen then I told my Mum to try Lactose free milk - in 2 weeks it stopped and made a huge improvement - she now takes a tablet before eating but I was wondering could this be related to the Lung Tumor. I will of course update this after the PET scan but I cried my eyes out when she told me but then I thought if both the lady Doctor and the male Doctor who performed the needle biopsy had told her it will need to be removed I am thinking positive and letting her know not to be worried. The PET scan will show if anything has spread but pls god it has not - only for them doing a CT scan which was only to see could her body handle a general anestetic for her Catarct surgery she would never of known as there is no symptoms apart from the Diarrhea if it is related I do not know but thankfully tumor was spotted - it was noted at first and they waited 6 months to see was there a change and there had been which lead to the needle biopsy which was within the last 2 weeks.

Thanks so much for replying,

Gary.

 

dennycee

Irish-Psychic said:

Hi there...

Hi Dennycee,

Thank you so much for replying - again the lady Doctor just told my Mum it is slow growing and a PET scan has been ordered. I asked did they say what type and my Mum said no just it is slow growing and they want to do a PET scan. I am hoping that that happens asap. One thing that has happened is she had Diarrhea in the past and it was like 12 times in a day and she had to wear nappys as she was son embarrised. They done Colonoscopy - Broncoscopy etc and nothing was seen then I told my Mum to try Lactose free milk - in 2 weeks it stopped and made a huge improvement - she now takes a tablet before eating but I was wondering could this be related to the Lung Tumor. I will of course update this after the PET scan but I cried my eyes out when she told me but then I thought if both the lady Doctor and the male Doctor who performed the needle biopsy had told her it will need to be removed I am thinking positive and letting her know not to be worried. The PET scan will show if anything has spread but pls god it has not - only for them doing a CT scan which was only to see could her body handle a general anestetic for her Catarct surgery she would never of known as there is no symptoms apart from the Diarrhea if it is related I do not know but thankfully tumor was spotted - it was noted at first and they waited 6 months to see was there a change and there had been which lead to the needle biopsy which was within the last 2 weeks.

Thanks so much for replying,

Gary.

 

Hi Gary, because it is slow

Hi Gary, because it is slow growing there's a possibility that it is a carcinoma.  A very slow growing cancer. Another possibility is that It is a low grade non small cell lung cancer of some sort. Can you accompany her to her dr visit to learn more?   I send hope that there are no mets and that they are able to remove it by removing a piece of her lung by way of video assisted thoracic surgery which is minimally invasive. 

Because her cancer is slow growing it is possible they can get it all.   There are many survivors who have lived 25-35 years with cancer.