Newly Found Lung Mass

Meggie,

I dont know about you, but I just had my bronch this morning and I feel icy and I am coughing up alot of blood.

When I left the hospital, they gave me a report. It is long, but the important parts go like this:

Findings:

Sharp main carina

Enfobronchial mass occuding 100% of RUL bronchus and compressing bronchus intermeduis as well. Unable to pass bronchoscope through bronchus intermeduis. Mass is friable.

Summary:

Lung mass suspiciuos for cancer vs carcinoid

Recommendations

Follow results of cultures, cytology and pathology.

Then a bunch of do's and don't for the day.

If anyone has any imput on what the above means, let me know. They just handed me this report. It sounds like he is saying my whole right side is 100% blocked with something that may be cancer.

Meggie - maybe these are the intial report that you were expecting, did you get something like this?

I have an appoinment with the pulmonlogist (he is the one who perfromed the procedure) Thursday, he wants one more test done before we review all the test restuls from the last week (3 tests, the spiro whatever, this biopsy, and Quantitative V/Q lung scan). Then he will review where we are at on Thursday.

BUT, nothing means anything until the biopsy results come back. AND, that is what we wait a couple weeks for.

They also gave me a whole list of pictures of the bronch procedure so I can see the mass for myself. Actually it looked quiet there until he started messing with it, 30 minutes later it was inflammed.

Now I feel like given the night I just might be able to cough it out myself - or choke on it, who knows.

I think I should have asked for drugs for when I came home!

Meggie, yes the results are what they are. We just have to wait. I think the doctor can guess, but I have looked at pictures online of what they saw in the bronch and it is still anyone's guess what it is - util that biopsy comes back. So I think what you think you should have gotten is the report and the review of the bronch report. You should see if you can get them to fax or email it to you. 

Only Clacla proceeded to surgery without a biopsy first and those results, and thank goodness it sounds like she is recovering well. 

Yes we just wait and find a way to get this off our mind!

Clacla - you are right! I have another test today, I guess a lung test. I just feel so sick, tired and defeated. Since the bronch, I feel like my pnueomia has come back - coughing until my sides hurt, mucus, blood and just out of breath. Now to have to do another test - well I just feel like this has to be the last thing I do because evertime they do more to me - I just feel worse. AND they still have not diagnosed me - so it isn't even like  any of this is a cure. I know I just have to make it through one more day of this - sorry for dumping on everyone today.....

So sorry. I didn't mean to sound so disturbing. I just feel terrible. All I meant was I finished the test the morning now and I have one more visit with the pulmonlogist this afternoon on the books.

Then I am done - until someone gives me some answers - no one elese can touch me because it feels like each time they keep doing something - I feel worse.

I am wheezing and coughing up chunky blood - it is gross. Even the lady at the drug store when I went for some 'breath easier' stuff said to me 'are you all right!!', now of course it did not help that I have bandages on from IV's and a hospital band, I am wheezing and coughing - well it is clear I can go no where else until someone fixes me without looking like an idiot. 

Anyway, I am going to make this doctor give me some drugs - I have done what he has asked - now he needs to make me feel better - seems like an easy trade.

Clacla I am so glad you are getting out of hospital maybe today or tommorrow. It always feels like those hospital people are holding you hostage, but when they say your stats are not up, you need to wait until they come up. I really forced my way out of the hospital and it was very difficult coming home. But, I know you are going to feel so much better when you get home!!

It sounds like you are doing really well! I am so happy!! I bet you cannot wait to get home.

I saw the doctor, he says results not in yet, but need to prepare for a diagnosis that involves surgery. So guess its good he said that - so I can get my head around it. All the test results will be in next week - including the one that tells him - if he does the surgery can I survive without that part of my lung.

BUT, he gave me a steriod shot into the kester, I don't know why they didn't go straight for the lung, they sent me home with steriods for the weekend - so I can breathe comfortably. AND, yes, pain killers, thank you, there is someone looking out for me. 

Hugs and good thoughts to both you and Meggie, we seem to have lost some people on this path over the last month or so (when I say lost - I don't mean they passed away, we just stopped hearing from them), but we will see this through together!

Night all. 

Hello Clala and Kimberly

I have not heard anything yet and since it is the weekend, I have to wait for Monday at the soonest That means it's two weeks since I had the biopsy.  Kimberly, I remember writing to you that I would hear in a couple of days and you had been told to wait a  few weeks.   I commented that I couldn't imagine having to wait a few weeks  for this kind of news.  But once the whole week had passed with no call, i entered into a new fatalistic zone.  It's like now I don't really expect the phone to ring at all.  I know that's weird but now I fins myself thinking:  well, maybe i won't hear next week ----or even the week after.  And my mind just shuts down at the idea that I have to be on edge every moment of every day for the foreseeable future,waiting for the phone to ring.My heart goes out to you Kimberly. It iis difficult for me to believe that you are weak, in pain,cooughing up blood constnatly and are still in a waiting zone---with nothing going on

to help you deal with the dreadful condition you are in, cancer or not.

ClaCla, if that X ray came out clear, you are home from the hospital and beginning the healing process.   What a good place to be.  Bad things are going to happen to all of us, but your bad thing  seems to have had good things going for it---treatable cancer with positive outlook for the future,  good care, good doctors and everything necessary done in a timely fashion.  I dont expect you are feeling too well at this point.  Removal of a lobe of the lung, however it's done is major surgery, but at least you are on the road to recovery.  I will post when---or if---I ever get a call.  Hugs to you both

Pet scan will light up not only cancer but infections and some scar tissues. Biopsy is the only way to know if it's cancer. even then sometimes not conclusive. Pet scan lit up my throat cancer but also my prostrate. Only the throat was cancer. The prostrate was infection. Biopsies proved this out.