Need Advice Please
Michelle2403-27-2003, 04:53 PMHi all,
You seem like a very nice group.
Here's my dilemma. I have a tumor/nodule in my left lung. My doctors have ruled out, TB and any other kind of infection. I have Ct/Scans to "watch" it every 3 months. It has grown at a rate of 1-2mm per month. My symptoms are weight loss, cough, night sweats, shortness of breath, some pain and fatigue. Is this "watch and wait" plan that my doctors have me on, a bad idea? What do you guys think I should do? I am a smoker and trying currently to quit. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Or if anyone would like to share their experience(s) with how they were diagnosed that would be great too.
Thanks so much for your time,
Peace and healing to you,
Michelleannchane03-28-2003, 09:37 AMHi Michelle, I'm not sure if we are allowed to post email addresses on this board but I found a website with a contact email to ask any questions about lung disease. A Doctor Fred Grannis replied to me and told me all I needed to know about my long nodules last month. In fact he wrote to me 3 times and was very helpful. I hope this address gets through to you because he was so helpful. His name is Fred Grannis and he works at the City of Hope Medical Center, Duarte, California. [removed].org I hope he can help put your mind at rest. If this email address is edited out, I will try and find his webpage again so that you can log on and contact him direct from there. Let us know how you are getting on, Ann.
[[Please read and follow the board posting guidelines
as you agreed to do when you registered for membership.
Doctors may be discussed by name/city/state.
Do not post websites or email. Do not post information
for the moderators to delete. They are volunteers.
Please do not make extra work for them. Thank you.]
[This message has been edited by moderator2 (edited 03-28-2003).]Mary Grant03-28-2003, 06:59 PMDear Michelle: I'm in the same boat you are. I did considerable research on the web when the "undefined mass" was discovered in my left lung. Every site I checked said that the only way to know for sure what's going on is to have a biopsy. I was scheduled to have it and a possible lobe removal; however, the night before, the surgeon phoned and said that the latest cat scan with contrast showed that the mass had shrunk. The fact that it is growing would concern me. I received some terrific advice on this board and I would be as proactive with your doctors as you can possibly be. You haven't indicated which tests have been done and I don't want to unnecessarily concern you, but lung cancer and spread if not detected soon.
I hope this helps.
MaryMichelle2403-28-2003, 10:51 PMHi Ann and Mary,
Thanks so much for your responses. Just knowing that someone understands, is a great help to me. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous.
Ann- I live in Los Angeles, so I should be able to find the doctor you are talking about. Thank you http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif
The tests that I have had are TB/Aids/cultures to check for fungal infections/cocci/hepatitis and the like. All came back negative. I've had several X-rays and Ct/scans of the lungs. My bloodwork shows anemia. Is that related to lung cancer? I have definite growth, but I haven't had a biopsy yet. My friends all think I'm nuts for having such faith in my doctors. My theory has always been they're the doctor, they must know what they are talking about. I have an appointment with my pulmonologist on Monday. Should I just put my foot down at that time? Force the biopsy? I did meet with a thoracic surgeon a few months ago, but he said he'd operate when it got bigger. I think allowing it to get bigger was/is a bad idea, but he was a little intimidating so I let him have all the control. Is there a trick to this? I also have an HMO. Do you think that has a bearing on the timing of everything?
Sorry for all the questions. I'm a little overwhelmed right now.
Thanks,
MichelleMichelle2403-29-2003, 06:35 PMHi,
It's me again. Does anyone here take anything for their nerves? Since the fear of cancer or the unknown is so nerve-wracking, I was wondering if it would be beneficial to take something at this time?
Thanks,
Michellepentek12803-29-2003, 06:44 PMMichelle,
You could ask your doctor about a low dose of Xanax. My SIL was under a cancer scare for a couple of months and took .25 mg Xanax when needed, especially for sleep. On good days, she didn't take; on bad days, it helped her a lot.
Joanmrsdlash03-30-2003, 04:23 AMHello, I must respond and ask you to please do see a Cancer specialist! When my husband fineally took my advice and did so..he started treatment within a week.
I believe the dr is called an Onocologist. Time is the best thing on your side when it comes to Cancer.
Don't take any chances, is what i mean. The family dr. told my husband he only had Bhronchitis (mp, i know). He sent him home , even after i questioned the fact that my husband had threw up about a cup of blood. He said, Oh, it just probably seemed like that much! I raised my voice to that dr in defense of my husband. My instinks were screaming inside of me! We left, and within an hour...blood came spewing out of my husband's mouth! I called again..talked to the nurse. She said,,even if i took him to the Em. Rm they would not do "anything"..without the drs orders!!!! Grr! So, morning came..i called again ..and said..i want a specialist to see .."NOW"!
We got in the next day! He looked at the x rays that family dr had taken to see if he had phenomia (i cannot spell, sorry) That specialis said, he could see tumors on that recent one AND the old one from the year before! that was suppossed to be also, mild case of phenomia! That wk they went down into my husband's lungs with a scope and took pictures of it...and took the biopsy. The dr told me then that he knew it was Cancer. It was in both lungs. IF IT HAD OF BEEN IN ONLY ONE, they could have operated..and he would have had a real good chance of recovery.
What about ...if my husband had of gotten to that specialist the YEAR BEFORE!?? Better Chance!
Cancer is cured ALL MOST ALL of the time now...WHEN .."caught in time".
If your instints say.."see another dr" ,,then by all means .....do so! It is your life , NOT theirs!. Doctors are human too...It is OK..to get other opinions!
I pray the best of health for you, dear lady., hugs, DonnaMichelle2403-30-2003, 10:37 PMJoan and Donna,
Thank you so much for your replies. I have an appointment with my pulmonologist tomorrow and I am going to "try" and be aggressive.
Hopefully he will agree to the xanax too.
Donna, I am so sorry about your husband. His doctors really dropped the ball and I think that is horrible. Your story has given me resolve, to finally speak up.
Thanks for your prayers and I'm sending you some too,
Love,
Michelle
You seem like a very nice group.
Here's my dilemma. I have a tumor/nodule in my left lung. My doctors have ruled out, TB and any other kind of infection. I have Ct/Scans to "watch" it every 3 months. It has grown at a rate of 1-2mm per month. My symptoms are weight loss, cough, night sweats, shortness of breath, some pain and fatigue. Is this "watch and wait" plan that my doctors have me on, a bad idea? What do you guys think I should do? I am a smoker and trying currently to quit. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Or if anyone would like to share their experience(s) with how they were diagnosed that would be great too.
Thanks so much for your time,
Peace and healing to you,
Michelleannchane03-28-2003, 09:37 AMHi Michelle, I'm not sure if we are allowed to post email addresses on this board but I found a website with a contact email to ask any questions about lung disease. A Doctor Fred Grannis replied to me and told me all I needed to know about my long nodules last month. In fact he wrote to me 3 times and was very helpful. I hope this address gets through to you because he was so helpful. His name is Fred Grannis and he works at the City of Hope Medical Center, Duarte, California. [removed].org I hope he can help put your mind at rest. If this email address is edited out, I will try and find his webpage again so that you can log on and contact him direct from there. Let us know how you are getting on, Ann.
[[Please read and follow the board posting guidelines
as you agreed to do when you registered for membership.
Doctors may be discussed by name/city/state.
Do not post websites or email. Do not post information
for the moderators to delete. They are volunteers.
Please do not make extra work for them. Thank you.]
[This message has been edited by moderator2 (edited 03-28-2003).]Mary Grant03-28-2003, 06:59 PMDear Michelle: I'm in the same boat you are. I did considerable research on the web when the "undefined mass" was discovered in my left lung. Every site I checked said that the only way to know for sure what's going on is to have a biopsy. I was scheduled to have it and a possible lobe removal; however, the night before, the surgeon phoned and said that the latest cat scan with contrast showed that the mass had shrunk. The fact that it is growing would concern me. I received some terrific advice on this board and I would be as proactive with your doctors as you can possibly be. You haven't indicated which tests have been done and I don't want to unnecessarily concern you, but lung cancer and spread if not detected soon.
I hope this helps.
MaryMichelle2403-28-2003, 10:51 PMHi Ann and Mary,
Thanks so much for your responses. Just knowing that someone understands, is a great help to me. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous.
Ann- I live in Los Angeles, so I should be able to find the doctor you are talking about. Thank you http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif
The tests that I have had are TB/Aids/cultures to check for fungal infections/cocci/hepatitis and the like. All came back negative. I've had several X-rays and Ct/scans of the lungs. My bloodwork shows anemia. Is that related to lung cancer? I have definite growth, but I haven't had a biopsy yet. My friends all think I'm nuts for having such faith in my doctors. My theory has always been they're the doctor, they must know what they are talking about. I have an appointment with my pulmonologist on Monday. Should I just put my foot down at that time? Force the biopsy? I did meet with a thoracic surgeon a few months ago, but he said he'd operate when it got bigger. I think allowing it to get bigger was/is a bad idea, but he was a little intimidating so I let him have all the control. Is there a trick to this? I also have an HMO. Do you think that has a bearing on the timing of everything?
Sorry for all the questions. I'm a little overwhelmed right now.
Thanks,
MichelleMichelle2403-29-2003, 06:35 PMHi,
It's me again. Does anyone here take anything for their nerves? Since the fear of cancer or the unknown is so nerve-wracking, I was wondering if it would be beneficial to take something at this time?
Thanks,
Michellepentek12803-29-2003, 06:44 PMMichelle,
You could ask your doctor about a low dose of Xanax. My SIL was under a cancer scare for a couple of months and took .25 mg Xanax when needed, especially for sleep. On good days, she didn't take; on bad days, it helped her a lot.
Joanmrsdlash03-30-2003, 04:23 AMHello, I must respond and ask you to please do see a Cancer specialist! When my husband fineally took my advice and did so..he started treatment within a week.
I believe the dr is called an Onocologist. Time is the best thing on your side when it comes to Cancer.
Don't take any chances, is what i mean. The family dr. told my husband he only had Bhronchitis (mp, i know). He sent him home , even after i questioned the fact that my husband had threw up about a cup of blood. He said, Oh, it just probably seemed like that much! I raised my voice to that dr in defense of my husband. My instinks were screaming inside of me! We left, and within an hour...blood came spewing out of my husband's mouth! I called again..talked to the nurse. She said,,even if i took him to the Em. Rm they would not do "anything"..without the drs orders!!!! Grr! So, morning came..i called again ..and said..i want a specialist to see .."NOW"!
We got in the next day! He looked at the x rays that family dr had taken to see if he had phenomia (i cannot spell, sorry) That specialis said, he could see tumors on that recent one AND the old one from the year before! that was suppossed to be also, mild case of phenomia! That wk they went down into my husband's lungs with a scope and took pictures of it...and took the biopsy. The dr told me then that he knew it was Cancer. It was in both lungs. IF IT HAD OF BEEN IN ONLY ONE, they could have operated..and he would have had a real good chance of recovery.
What about ...if my husband had of gotten to that specialist the YEAR BEFORE!?? Better Chance!
Cancer is cured ALL MOST ALL of the time now...WHEN .."caught in time".
If your instints say.."see another dr" ,,then by all means .....do so! It is your life , NOT theirs!. Doctors are human too...It is OK..to get other opinions!
I pray the best of health for you, dear lady., hugs, DonnaMichelle2403-30-2003, 10:37 PMJoan and Donna,
Thank you so much for your replies. I have an appointment with my pulmonologist tomorrow and I am going to "try" and be aggressive.
Hopefully he will agree to the xanax too.
Donna, I am so sorry about your husband. His doctors really dropped the ball and I think that is horrible. Your story has given me resolve, to finally speak up.
Thanks for your prayers and I'm sending you some too,
Love,
Michelle