nikkala

Hi All, Don't know if anyone can answer this but I'll ask anyway. My gram had a bronchoscopy yesterday. They got several biopsies and hopefully can "diagnose " her cancer now. She has a 7cm tumor with node involvement and spread to the adrenal gland. While doing the bronch they also found one of her vocal cords involved with a large growth. After the bronch her oxygen blood level was checked and only at about 1/2. She refuses any and all treatment including being sent home with oxygen. She has been a smoker for 60 yrs and isn't gonna quit. My question finally is what will happen with the oxygen deprivation? Also what will happen with the vocal cord growth. She will not have any treatment and I have to respect her wishes. Any input is greatly appreciated.

Hi All, Don't know if anyone can answer this but I'll ask anyway. My gram had a bronchoscopy yesterday. They got several biopsies and hopefully can "diagnose " her cancer now. She has a 7cm tumor with node involvement and spread to the adrenal gland. While doing the bronch they also found one of her vocal cords involved with a large growth. After the bronch her oxygen blood level was checked and only at about 1/2. She refuses any and all treatment including being sent home with oxygen. She has been a smoker for 60 yrs and isn't gonna quit. My question finally is what will happen with the oxygen deprivation? Also what will happen with the vocal cord growth. Any input is greatly appreciated.

Welcome Back Dr. Joe. great to see you.

Elaine, I am new here but your post really struck me. I would like to tell you about my mom who died of LC at age 41, 9 years ago. I was 23. The day my mom found out she had lung cancer was the same day I found out I was pregnant. although my moms cancer was extremely advanced when discovered she lived with it for 3 yrs. She always put on a happy face for me and my daughter whom was her motivation to live. She never complained or cried or told me of any fears or anger. I never shared with her my fears or anger. After my mom died I went to her house and was going thru her things with my stepdad when we discovered a journal she had kept. She wrote most of the time in the middle of the night when she was alone and couldn't sleep. She wrote about keeping a good front for everyone and "needing a battle plan". Those words will stay with me for the rest of my life. My heart aches EVERY DAY knowing the pain she was going thru and felt she couldn't share with anyone. I really hope you will allow your family to share in your anger, fright,sadness and all the other feeling you are going thru. If I could change one thing in my life it would be to go back and just hold my mom and cry along with her. Good luck to you Elaine. May the angels watch over you.

Thank you all for you responses. I am so relieved that the nodules have not changed. I am still having chest pain but my Doc started me on Anti anxiety meds and is checking my heart as my cholesterol is high and she recently discovered a heart murmur. My poor Gram is really having a hard time. They believe the cancer has spread to her liver and it is making all her food taste like bile so she is losing weight at a rapid pace. I saw my grandfather die from multiple myeloma and he ended up starving to death and it was really awful I am now fearing that is what will now happen with my Gram She is drinking a small amount of ensure each day and is eating a little but it seems to be getting worse. She does not want any treatment and I respect her wishes. It is just very hard to watch another family member go thru this. While I am happy about my lung nodules not changing I am still terrified with my family history. Again I thank you all and pray for each of you.

Yes Ry, she is drinking some ensure. She has lost 40 lbs in the past 3 months. She is only 4 11", luckily she was overweight when this started cause she is getting thin very fast. I am starting to fear that she will starve to death. Thank you

Can someone tell me if you have ever experienced a terrible bile taste from having spread to the liver. My gram is not able to eat very much anymore and her doc says the cancer has probably spread to her liver. They are not doing tests because she is not having any treatment. I am wondering if anyone else has experienced this and if there is anything to do for the terrible taste. Since everything tastes so bad she is losing weight very fast. Thank you for any replies.

I had my follow-up ct scan and it showed no change in the lung nodules. I feel very relieved and now will do another ct scan in 4 months. Since my last post my grandmother has been diagnosed with lung cancer. She has already decided on no treatment as she is ready to be with my Grampa. She will be the 3rd member of my immediate family to watch go thru this and it is just devastating. Thank you all for your previous replies and support.

Hi, My gram is going in to have the fluid drained on Thursday. The doc said there is about a quart. well this AM my gram was coughing and began vomiting, but it was all fluid for about a 1/2 hr. She did not vomit any food although she had just eaten. Could this be the fluid from the effusion? Also for about 1 month now most foods have a terrible bile taste, is this caused by something specific? She is not having any treatments at all. Thank you for your help. Lisa/32 lung nodules/next ct scan 12/30 lost mom to LC 7/13/95 now my gram too

Thank you Margaret, I printed her up some info on this procedure. Will she need someone to stay with her for a certain amount of time as she lives alone?? Has your hubbys fluid stayed gone? I hear it can sometimes come back quick. Thanks again. Lisa/32 lung nodules/next ct 12/30 Lost mom to lc 7/13/95

Hi My gram has just been diagnosed and has a malignant pleural effusion. She is going in nest thurs to have it drained with an ultrasound and tube in her back. Can you tell me what this is called and if anyone has had this done. My gram does not want any treatment and is only getting this done to be staged to be eligible to get hospice. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Lisa/32 lung nodules/next ct scan 12/30 mom died of LC 7/13/95 now my gram

My gram is going next Thursday to have the pleural effusion drained. Can you tell me what this procedure is called? They will use ultrasound and insert a tube thru her back. The Doctor believes it is malignant by the scans. Does the fluid just build up again? Her main tumor is the size of a racketball and the mets to the adrenal gland is pea size. The dr is not planning a biopsy. He thinks the fluid will tell the story. Will she be able to be staged with this alone. She may need to apply for hospice but can only do so if she is considered terminal. Any input is appreciated. Lisa/32 lung nodules/next ct scan 12/30 Mom died of LC 7/13/95 now my gram too

my grams report reads"Abnormal subcarinal lymphadenopathy and right hilar lymphadenopathy, enlarged lymph nodes in pretracheal space. 5.5 cm mass in right infrahilar region with abnormal mediastinal and hilar lymph nodes as well as a malignant effusion. Appears to be a left adrenal metastatic lesion" My gram has decided she does not want to even have a biopsy, she has lived a full life and is prepared to be with my gramp. Can you give me any input as to what stage she would be in and what kind of time she will have left. Do you know how she will die with having no treatment. ( that sounded a little cold) I am worried about her living alone and what will happen. Any input is appreciated and I understand it is only input. Thank you. Lisa/32 lung nodules/awaiting next ct scan lost mom to LC 7/13/95

Thanks Donna. Do you know if they can tell by the ct scan if the nodes are involved. She said the doc told her they are. She has had pneumonia for over 2 months and that's why they finally did a ct scan. Do you think the pneumonia may be a "side effect" of the lung growth? Lisa/32 lung nodules/awaiting ct scan lost mom to lc 7/13/95

Hi everyone, I am new here and awaiting my own next ct scan but my question is about my gram. She has been battling pneumonia for about 2 months, lost 30lbs,having alot of pain,no energy.... She had a ct scan 2 days ago and the doc says it looks like lung cancer. He told her she has a tumor and some lymph nodes are involved. Can they tell that lymph nodes are involved by doing a ct scan? Also he referred her to a pulmonologist rather than an oncologist, is that standard? Thank you in advance for any reply. Lisa/32 lung nodules/awaiting next ct scan Lost mom to lc 7/13/95

Hi everyone, I am new here and awaiting my own next ct scan but my question is about my gram. She has been battling pneumonia for about 2 months, lost 30lbs,having alot of pain,no energy.... She had a ct scan 2 days ago and the doc says it looks like lung cancer. He told her she has a tumor and some lymph nodes are involved. Can they tell that lymph nodes are involved by doing a ct scan? Also he referred her to a pulmonologist rather than an oncologist, is that standard? Thank you in advance for any reply. Lisa/32 lung nodules/awaiting next ct scan Lost mom to lc 7/13/95

I just wanted to share one of my "signs" When my mom was diagnosed with lc she was 38, I was 21. I found out I was pregnant the same day she was diagnosed. That night my mom grabbed my arm so tight and told me "no matter what all thru my life I would feel that" and at my darkest moments I can feel her holding my arm so tight and I can feel her love. My daughter had just turned 2 when my mom died, a month later she had an "imaginary" friend. The things she would do with her "friend" were just like things my mom would do with her. She would even describe my mom when I would ask her what she looked like. It has been 9yrs since I lost my mom and I still see signs everyday that she is with me. The love doesn't stop just because of death. Lisa lung nodules/awaiting next ct scan Lost mom to LC 7/13/95

Don, So glad to hear this is not a brain met. Lucie already kicked this once and will just have to do it again. Praying for you and Lucie. Lisa/32/CT lung nodules awaiting next ct scan

I have not had any further tests. No sputum, no pet. Just waiting..... I also don't want to have my chest cut open if not necessary. By the time now I would get into a doc for a second opinion it would be time for my next ct scan, 12/30/04 so I will just wait. I did also live in Phoenix for about 4 years so hopefully it's just valley fever or something. Noone seems to think my chest pain is from the nodules so maybe something else. I do have a heart murmur and am under alot of stress. You're all so wonderful and welcoming and I appreciate all of your input. Lisa

Thank you Onco Joe. You just took more time with me than my pulmonologist did and I really appreciate it. You're doing great work here and should be so proud of yourself. May the angels watch over you Lisa

Thank you all soo much. I am going to try to put this out of my mind and enjoy the Holidays. My next ct scan is Dec 30th so not that far off. No I don't want to have unnecessary surgery. Guess I just wish the doc took time to tell me why he was waiting and that it could be other things Thank you all again. You really are a wonderful community and I'm honored to have joined you. Lisa

Thanks Don, I am not sure what we are waiting for. He did say the nodules were too small to do a needle biopsy. So I'm left feeling like we're just waiting for this crap to grow. After the 1st ct scan the doc put me on antibiotics for 2 weeks then had me go for a 2nd ct and then told me to wait 3 months. I guess I will just wait till Dec 30th for the next ct scan. But if these nodules are still there or bigger or anything I sure hope he'll do a biopsy then cause I just can't go on living like this. Thank you for your kindness. Lisa

I am a 32yr old female with multiple family histories of lung cancer including my mom who died at 41. I had a partial vulvectomy in April due to carcinoma in situ of the vulva. Clear margins were not met and no further surgery done. In sept I went to er with severe chest pain. Ct scan showed multiple lung nodules in both lungs largest 6 mm with a spiculated margin. The report says suspicious of metastatic disease. My pulmo doc is just waiting to do a follow up ct scan in Dec. I am terrified and continue to have bad chest pain shortness of breath and extreme fatigue(so extreme I was in a car accident because of it) but am sleeping 8-10 hrs a night. Can carcinoma in situ be metastatic? Would you consider cancer with such small nodules? Any input would be soo appreciated. Thank you for your consideration. Lisa

Thank you all for your responses and kindness. I checked on getting a second opinion this morning and now by the time I get an appt with someone it will be time for my next ct scan anyway. It's scheduled for Dec 30. I will just wait for that and if anything has grown or multiplied I sure hope he will do a biopsy at that point. My nodules were only 3-6 mm. Is that too small to biopsy? Has anyone else had a biopsy done on such small nodules? Are they too small to be cancerous?Did you have any other symptoms? Everyday not knowing is making me crazy. I feel like a walking timebomb. Thank you all. Lisa

Hi, My name is Lisa. I am 32, I lost my mother to lung cancer when she was 41 also my grandfather to lung cancer when he was 68, my aunt to lymphoma when she was 47 and other grandfather to multiple myeloma at 75. Not a great family history... In April/04 I had a partial vulvectomy for carcinoma in situ of the vulva(external female genitals) Several years prior I had a hysterectomy for a diseased cervix. 2 months ago I ended up in the ER for severe chest pain which felt like a heart attack. A ctscan showed multiple lung nodules, several on the right lung and 2 on the left. "the largest nodule is only 6mm and has a spiculated margin, which is of concern for metastatic disease" That's what the report says. My Pulmo doc is not doing anything except waiting to do a followup Ct Scan at the end of Dec. In the mean time I am still having terrible chest pain and pain in my left shoulder blade. Does anyone have any input?? I am sorry if this is not an appropriate place to post about this and please let me know. Reading your posts is incredible. I was 21 when I lost my mom and the impact on my life remains a daily struggle. Thank you for your consideration. Lisa