new diagnosis

mch566
mch566 Member Posts: 1
edited March 2014 in Lung Cancer #1
I was told a week ago that I had a large mass in my left lung. Since then I have had a bronchoscopy and bone scan. Today I see the pulmonary specialist and I know its bad news, (asked that I bring a family member with me). I'm scared of the medical but also all I need to learn - insurance, care. My family is all on east coast and Im on west coast - so I want to move but need medical coverage. I had pain in leg, and arm - no cough, no fever, nothing but an ache. I'm having a lot of trouble coping.

Comments

  • MadelynJoe
    MadelynJoe Member Posts: 96
    #2
    I can well understand your feelings. During a routing physical on May 9th, my PCP found a round nodule in my right lung. Had a CAT scan which was inconclusive but showed no other masses. It measures 2.3 cm which is pretty small so we are hoping for a good outcome.

    I was referred to a surgeon that does this surgery through a very small incision under the arm. He is the only surgeon in the Memphis area that does this so I had to wait for a couple of weeks. My surgery is scheduled for Mon., 6-6-05.

    If I may provide you with any words of encouragement, or if you just want to chat, please contact me through the message board.

    Madelyn
  • RoMac
    RoMac Member Posts: 2
    #3
    I know exactly what you are going though - having gone down that road over three years ago. I lost my right lung, had heavy chemo and radiation, and now can say I am a survivor. The whole illness and all the procedures are - in fact - overwelming when viewed all at once. The best advice I received early on was to take each test, procedure, or appointment as the most important thing to focus on and not to dwell on the 'what ifs' of what is not known or what _could_ happen. For me, each procedure was a hurdle to pass so I could move on to the next. It helped me to cope by not wasting my energy on thinking about things that I had no control over anyway.
    I believe my attitude and ability to cope with fighting the illness was better when I stepped back from the ocean and looked at the waves.

    Good luck to you - I made it, you may too.
  • boblow305
    boblow305 Member Posts: 2
    #4
    MadelynJoe said:

    I can well understand your feelings. During a routing physical on May 9th, my PCP found a round nodule in my right lung. Had a CAT scan which was inconclusive but showed no other masses. It measures 2.3 cm which is pretty small so we are hoping for a good outcome.

    I was referred to a surgeon that does this surgery through a very small incision under the arm. He is the only surgeon in the Memphis area that does this so I had to wait for a couple of weeks. My surgery is scheduled for Mon., 6-6-05.

    If I may provide you with any words of encouragement, or if you just want to chat, please contact me through the message board.

    Madelyn

    I had this surgery in Jan. It is minimally invasive and not painful. I was home in about theree days. The worst part was the drain tube they leave in your chest for a few days (my nurse called it a garden hose(. I had three small incisions (about 1/4 inch) and a larger one for the drain. Unfortunately more nodules were discovered in both lungs in May. I'm waiting for another PET/CT scan next week to determine treatment. Good luck with your surgery.
  • mmccrary
    mmccrary Member Posts: 3
    #5
    I know all to well what you are experiencing. I was given bad news last June. Since then, I have surgery, chemo, and radiation. I finished treatment last November, and I am feeling so much better now, and I have hair again. Just take it one step at a time. Insurance is another story. I was supposed to have another PET scan and had to cancel because insurance would not cover it without a hospital stay. Just keep focused on surviving.
  • AuthorUnknown
    AuthorUnknown Member Posts: 1,537 Member
    #6
    Hi .. I had massive chemo and then had 50% of my right lung removed and after surgery the cancer crossed over to my left side in lymph nodes. I had more chemo and radiation..I AM IN REMISSION..
    See..you can survive . I totally refused to die.
    listen to what newmanx and mmcrary replied to you.
    They are so right. Never give up. Focus on the moment. I loved newmanx's comment " I STEPPED BACK FROM THE OCEAN AND LOOKED AT THE WAVES" That is so beautiful. Good luck to you please let us know how you are doing and God bless you.
  • MadelynJoe
    MadelynJoe Member Posts: 96
    #7
    MCH: Just want to give you an update on my case. I had minimally invasive lung surgery on 6/6/05 and surgeon removed lower lobe of my right lung. I ended up staying in the hospital for a little over a week; not because of the lung surgery itself but, because I had some problems with the anesthetic. They removed a 2.8 cm nodule with the lobe. The GOOD NEWS is that it was not anywhere else; no mets!! I feel that God has blessed me so very much; our prayers have been answered. Of course, I will meet with an oncologist in 2-3 weeks to make sure no further precautionary treatment is needed. Will let you know what happens then. Madelyn
  • cassis
    cassis Member Posts: 5
    #8
    MadelynJoe said:

    MCH: Just want to give you an update on my case. I had minimally invasive lung surgery on 6/6/05 and surgeon removed lower lobe of my right lung. I ended up staying in the hospital for a little over a week; not because of the lung surgery itself but, because I had some problems with the anesthetic. They removed a 2.8 cm nodule with the lobe. The GOOD NEWS is that it was not anywhere else; no mets!! I feel that God has blessed me so very much; our prayers have been answered. Of course, I will meet with an oncologist in 2-3 weeks to make sure no further precautionary treatment is needed. Will let you know what happens then. Madelyn

    Hello...I had a 2.5cm and a 7mm mass removed through the "small incision" method on May 24th. the lymph nodes were all clear. I am eager to know what you all think of chemo as a preventative...I am worried about any currently small "bad cells" growing into nasty stuff over time.
    I will see my pulmonologist next week and want to also see an oncologist.

    Your experience and advice are valuable to me...THANKS!

    Peggy
  • jimgibson
    jimgibson Member Posts: 3
    #9
    cassis said:

    Hello...I had a 2.5cm and a 7mm mass removed through the "small incision" method on May 24th. the lymph nodes were all clear. I am eager to know what you all think of chemo as a preventative...I am worried about any currently small "bad cells" growing into nasty stuff over time.
    I will see my pulmonologist next week and want to also see an oncologist.

    Your experience and advice are valuable to me...THANKS!

    Peggy

    Hi.

    I had a 1 3/4" lesion on my left lung. It was small-cell which has few options. Only chemo and radiation (and only radiation if it doesn't get a lot bigger first).

    I did the chemo and radiation (surgery is not an option for small cell). I more or less went into remission for 2 years, but two very miserable years. Fatigue and strange infections. My immune system was dead. That is the problem with chemo as a "follow-up". Then, the cancer will return for sure. Which, mine did!

    If you check out cancer.gov for treatments for recurrent small cell, the only trteatment is "Chemo to Reduce Pain". Well, I flat out wasn't going to put up with that.

    I checked into a clinic in Mexico. Yes, I said Mexico. In three weeks, the recurrent tumor was gone and I felt no fatigue and I haven't had a cold or flu in 2 years!

    Full remission and they used NO TOXIC substances. All natural. Check out my story at www.survivingsmallcell.com. You can send me an email from there if you have any questions.

    Best Regards,

    Jim Gibson.
  • TracyPT
    TracyPT Member Posts: 5
    #10
    www.lungcancersurgery.org
    Dr. Eduardo Tovar, St. Jude Medical Center, Fullerton, CA
    Call his office and ask for Jean, explain situation and ask if he can help you. He is amazing. I work at the hospital with him and he saved my mother-in-law's life. Check out the website.

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