znof Posted July 28, 2017 Share Posted July 28, 2017 Hi - we received the devastating news that my mum has inoperable stage IV non-small cell lung cancer. That was determined by analyzing a biopsy of the 2nd bronchoscopy procedure a few days ago. The first one failed totally and now it seems the 2nd one didn't obtain enough cancer mass either. She is very upset by the news that it failed again, because she is afraid of this procedure. The biopcy taken was also needed to determine if she could start with immunotherapy instead of chemo. The timer is reset again, we are already waiting for a few weeks and now we need up to another two weeks before new results are available. In the mean time the cancer just spreads and it is pressing against her bronchus so she is afraid she will choke. The other problem is the bronchoscopy procedure itself. Will they now be able to take enough material if they try the 3rd time? Is this a medical mistake or just bad luck? Should we start looking for another hospital? Lung cancer is already bad enough, but we really need to avoid her suffering unnecessary. Any advise how to handle this situation? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Galli Posted July 28, 2017 Share Posted July 28, 2017 Znof, I've been scoped (bronchoscopy) perhaps a dozen times, so many I've lost count. There were two types used on me: flexible and rigid. The flexible required light anesthesia while the rigid was performed in a surgical environment with full (general) anesthesia. The first two attempts to biopsy my cancer with a flexible scope failed. The third attempt, a rigid scope procedure, did succeed in getting suitable material that eventually diagnosed my type of lung cancer. Do you know if your mom had flexible or rigid scope procedures? Does your mom have complicating medical problems that would make general anesthesia risky? Have you asked if a needle biopsy can be used to obtain a sample? I wouldn't know if the failed bronchoscope procedures are a mistake or bad luck. Nothing is certain in lung cancer. In my experience, most physicians care and try hard to achieve results. Welcome here. I'm sure other members will add their bronchoscopy experience to this thread. Stay the course. Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
znof Posted July 28, 2017 Author Share Posted July 28, 2017 Thanks a lot for your insightful answer. Based on what you mentioned above pretty sure the first two were flexible scopes. She didn't have full anesthesia. I guess it happens more often that attempts to biopsy lung cancer fail. Hope the next one will increase her chances. She might get a rigid scope next time, but she wasn't able to confirm that. I am sure the physician told her, but she was probably too upset to understand the new procedure. She needs to go to another hospital for this procedure because they have additional equipment (scan?) that are not available in the local hospital. I don't think she has medical problems that would make anesthesia risky but the cancer presses against the bronchus and she has COPD. That might complicate matters. I am sure the physicians are caring an do their utmost to help her. That doesn't mean they can't make mistakes. I hope it is just bad luck or that all procedures were necessary to determine where the cancer is located. Needle biopsy hasn't been discussed yet - from what I have understood that can be even more uncomfortable. BTW. my native language isn't English so please excuse any mistakes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Galli Posted July 28, 2017 Share Posted July 28, 2017 Znof, Your English is fine. Mine as an engineer and horrid speller is not! Unfortunately, lung cancer treatment often involves invasive procedures. And, they are a pain! Here is something I wrote a long time ago that includes some tips and tricks for dealing with invasive procedures and other things cancer related. Did you mean her tumor is pressing against her trachea? If it is the bronchus, hopefully it is only one that is effected and COPD would complicate breathing. Is she seeing a pulmonary physician for her scope procedures? Stay the course. Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
znof Posted July 28, 2017 Author Share Posted July 28, 2017 2 hours ago, Tom Galli said: Znof, Your English is fine. Mine as an engineer and horrid speller is not! Unfortunately, lung cancer treatment often involves invasive procedures. And, they are a pain! Here is something I wrote a long time ago that includes some tips and tricks for dealing with invasive procedures and other things cancer related. Did you mean her tumor is pressing against her trachea? If it is the bronchus, hopefully it is only one that is effected and COPD would complicate breathing. Is she seeing a pulmonary physician for her scope procedures? Stay the course. Tom Some powerful tips! I will translate any that apply to her current situation for her. Step 5 will be a tough one though, the last four scan/biopsy results were inconclusive or negative and she is feeling worse every day. Hard to keep your spirits up then. The tumor is pressing against one bronchus, she actually feels it dangling when she breaths. Combined with COPD she is having a hard time doing anything more than sitting, she is out of breath after walking even a short distance. The cancer is spread to her spine and also causes some back pain. I have no idea what the qualifications are of the person(s) doing the scope procedures. The only thing I know is that it is a different person every time, I will check with her later. She did decide today to change further treatment to another (larger) hospital. That hospital is very well known in the Netherlands (where I come from) and specialized in cancer treatment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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