Feeling rather anxious today
I had a needle biopsy back in August for a lung nodule, which didn't show any signs of disease - though there was some concern that perhaps they didn't get the needle into the small nodule properly. I also developed a pneumothorax that kept me in the hospital for a week, and really threw me behind at work. But that's the least of my worries right now. Mid-September CT showed that the nodule has grown a few more millimeters (from 9 to about 12 or so), so my doc ordered a PET scan, which I had last week. My docu usually calls with results. However, today, the nurse called and said the doc wants to see me tomorrow or Wednesday. (I am going tomorrow afternoon.) She didn't say why, but I have a feeling the results weren't what we were hoping for. I understand that the PET scan 'lighting up' could mean a met, and could also mean some kind of infection (or something). I have to say I'm a bit blown away - not that I wasn't prepared for this possibility. It's not even a year since my nephrectomy, so I guess I was hoping for a little time to fully heal with nothing else to worry about. However, I guess that's not the plan. I'm feelling really anxious. Hoping all the work I have to do today will help keep my mind occupied, but it's hard to focus today. I know I'll get through this, and whatever it is, we'll fight it. Right now, however, I'm anything but calm. I just had to share this with you all - with people who really understand what it feels like to deal with this. I know I haven't been too active here, especially with all the playing catch-up from my week 'vacation' in the hospital. But I really appreciate this group, your collective wisdom, and the positive vibes that I feel when reading some of your posts and replies. I'm still not dead yet - and I don't plan to be anytime soon. Right now, I just need to get through today and tomorrow.
Thanks for listening.
Gary
Comments
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Praying for you
Your anxiety is understandable. I am hoping you have good results once you meet with your doctor.
Please let us know what you find out.
Prayers for you.
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Sorry to hear
this
All I can offer is prayers and understanding of the fear you must be feeling.
You have been through a lot so I pray this is easily fixable and you will once again be the fabulous guy you sound like
Hugs to you and Your family
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Totally get your anxiety. No
Totally get your anxiety. No one wants to hear that the doctor wants to talk to you about your scans. What I really hate is why don't they just have you come in right away if they have something to discuss with you? How much time away from their busy schedule would that take? I really hate that they don't understand what waiting even a couple of days does to us. I'm so sorry you have to have this worry hanging over you. Keeping my fingers crossed that it's not bad news at all.
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Inhale deeply
hold it and exhale really slow. Do it a couple of more times until you actually relax. Today will pass by...
You doctor wants to go over the scan with you. Can it be bad news, or good news? you will find out tomorrow afternoon. Nothing we can do about it, we physicaly cannot make time move faster. Seems easy if they would just tell you the good news... and if it was easy, I think they would.
But here's what you can do. Positive side... if your doctor tells you it is a suspected to be a lung met. Ok, there is treatemt protocol that will be followed. Lots of paths to take. Opinions to seek. Your life changes. But it is found, the met will be taken care of. So will you. This is way better than not knowing, the met grows and spreads and you never know until it is too late that is the negative side.
Another positive side: Your Dr. wants to go over the scan in detail with you, as he knows you will worry, because you have been worring since the biopsy was a dud, and a I don't know if it is cancer or not because we did not get a good sample routine and now with the PET scan you will have a clearer picture about it.
My thoughts will be about you all day tomorrow, please post results, and let all of us here ride along with you for awhile.
Pam
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Thank you, Everyone!
I really appreicate your comments. The support and caring from this group means more than I can say right now. I'm feeling a little better, and am hoping my doctor will scold me for not making an appointment to see her when I scheduled the scan. (She may have asked me to do that, I honestly don't remember.) If not, we'll deal with it head on. Appointment is at 4:30 Mountain Time today, so I have a little time to wait. Hopefully work will keep me busy until then. Thanks again for the kind words!
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PET Scan Update
Saw the doc yesterday, and it was a case of her just wanting to review things in person. *Whew* The PET scan showed no signs of sugar uptake, and the nodule hasn't grown. So, we're back to regular monitoring (every 3 months) for now. There was some mild sugar uptake in the colon, but I can deal with my internist for that when I see him next month - no immediate urgency on that one. I'm feeling tremendously relieved and grateful! Thank you all again for the kind words of support. It really helped.
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Wonderful news!!!!!!ImNotDeadYet said:PET Scan Update
Saw the doc yesterday, and it was a case of her just wanting to review things in person. *Whew* The PET scan showed no signs of sugar uptake, and the nodule hasn't grown. So, we're back to regular monitoring (every 3 months) for now. There was some mild sugar uptake in the colon, but I can deal with my internist for that when I see him next month - no immediate urgency on that one. I'm feeling tremendously relieved and grateful! Thank you all again for the kind words of support. It really helped.
Wonderful news!!!!!!
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You likely have a few grey hairs
after waiting to hear/see your results. Worry is a waste of time. Running in place, you don't move anywhere, but you get cardiovascular rewards. Worring just starts grey hairs, and gets no rewards... just waste of time. Your mind races, runs several senarios, none of which you can predict to be the future until you get there.
So, you learned the scan-anxiety routine this time. You did learn that your DR. likes to give results, good and bad in person. Next time you should not be so anxious for bad news.
You will always be followed up. The every 3 months will become 4 then 6 then once a year. Keep living life one scan at a time, and before you know it, you will have your new normal.
Best wishes, and be sure to spread your good karma to other newbies who will post here.
Pam
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What I like is that you are
What I like is that you are man enough to come here for the rough, vulnerable times as well as the "good times."
Glad to know nothing has progressed...still...I don't know why the nurse couldn't have told you that when she called.
I also get the radiologist's reports ahead of time, do you? That way I can prepare myself and know exactly what I need to ask at the upcomign appointments.
Sending you continued healing and calm~
Jan
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Gary,
Gary,
our situation is similar. I just had a radical left nephrectomy Aug 18. The Ct scan prior to my surgery showed a 20mm nodule in my right lung. Six weeks after my surgery I had a follow up CT scan and the size of the nodule was unchanged. My medical oncologist referred me to pulmonary specialist for a bronchoscopy with biopsy. They decided to have the biopsy done because of the size of the nodule. The biopsy result was inconclusive so tomorrow I'm scheduled for a PET scan and I have an appointment with a thoracic surgeon on Friday. My case was discussed between my doctors and the thoracic surgeon thinks that the nodule is not renal carcinoma but suspicious of a primary lung cancer. I'm getting anxious because I'm still recovering from my nephrectomy and I might have another surgery so soon to remove the nodule.
I wish you luck.
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Magayon, I am so sorry youMagayon said:Gary,
Gary,
our situation is similar. I just had a radical left nephrectomy Aug 18. The Ct scan prior to my surgery showed a 20mm nodule in my right lung. Six weeks after my surgery I had a follow up CT scan and the size of the nodule was unchanged. My medical oncologist referred me to pulmonary specialist for a bronchoscopy with biopsy. They decided to have the biopsy done because of the size of the nodule. The biopsy result was inconclusive so tomorrow I'm scheduled for a PET scan and I have an appointment with a thoracic surgeon on Friday. My case was discussed between my doctors and the thoracic surgeon thinks that the nodule is not renal carcinoma but suspicious of a primary lung cancer. I'm getting anxious because I'm still recovering from my nephrectomy and I might have another surgery so soon to remove the nodule.
I wish you luck.
Magayon, I am so sorry you are going through all this unknown.
Please realize I am here for you, all the way, if you would like that.
Sending you HOPE and guidance!
Hugs, Jan
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Magayon,Magayon said:Gary,
Gary,
our situation is similar. I just had a radical left nephrectomy Aug 18. The Ct scan prior to my surgery showed a 20mm nodule in my right lung. Six weeks after my surgery I had a follow up CT scan and the size of the nodule was unchanged. My medical oncologist referred me to pulmonary specialist for a bronchoscopy with biopsy. They decided to have the biopsy done because of the size of the nodule. The biopsy result was inconclusive so tomorrow I'm scheduled for a PET scan and I have an appointment with a thoracic surgeon on Friday. My case was discussed between my doctors and the thoracic surgeon thinks that the nodule is not renal carcinoma but suspicious of a primary lung cancer. I'm getting anxious because I'm still recovering from my nephrectomy and I might have another surgery so soon to remove the nodule.
I wish you luck.
Magayon,
Wow! Definitely some similarities. (I guess you can celebrate not getting a pneumothorax from the biopsy.) I hope everything everything goes well with the PET and thoracic surgeon. Keep us posted!
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Thanks, Jan. I do get theJan4you said:What I like is that you are
What I like is that you are man enough to come here for the rough, vulnerable times as well as the "good times."
Glad to know nothing has progressed...still...I don't know why the nurse couldn't have told you that when she called.
I also get the radiologist's reports ahead of time, do you? That way I can prepare myself and know exactly what I need to ask at the upcomign appointments.
Sending you continued healing and calm~
Jan
Thanks, Jan. I do get the pathology reports (and other lab results) through the online portal. But in the case of scans, I think the doctor can hold them until we speak. And I do understand that. She probably doesn't want patients misunderstanding the results without being there to explain them.
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I feel your pain
Gary, knowing that you are going through the same thing did make me feel better. Especially when I learned that your lesion had enlarged and it ended up not being what you thought. I am so glad things turned out good for you. I had my partial nephrectomy back in March on my left Kidney. I know the RCC is back in that kidney. I am fine with having to have surgery again, but they think it might have matastisized to by Liver. I am going in on Friday to have the biopsy. My emotions have been on a rollercoaster for the last three weeks. Thank you for sharing your experience.
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