LouT

Okay, time to take a closer look at some aspects of Lung Cancer, even though the PET Scan indicates malignancy, a biopsy would be in order to confirm that diagnosis. And when they do that you need to request biomarker testing, if only for future potential treatment options. In the meantime I'd like you to take a look at a blog called "10 Steps to Surviving Lung Cancer; from a Survivor" and it can be found here. Lou

Mikey, I see that Tom Galli responded to your other post. He gave you some good information and just know that lung cancer is not the automatic death sentence it once was. You've come to a good place for fellowship and support. We'll be here with you on this journey. Lou

Rikke you should be able to click on the three buttons on the top right of the message and delete it. Lou

Luke, Bridget has give you a lot of very good information. Before we go any further let's see what the diagnostic process finds. The diagnostic process can be a very stressful time to go through. Here is some good information on the diagnostic process to help you navigate it and make it an easier process for you. It can be found here. Once you have a diagnosis, and if you need us, we'll be here to support you through this. Lou .

Justin I've noticed the help you've offered to others just coming into the forums. You're already exhibiting the courage of a winner, keep it up. Lou

Nur, I'm not a doctor, but I would have your mom's medical team check all her meds to see what might be antagonizing her reaction to food into vomiting. Lou

Tammy, Welcome to our forums and sorry you need to be here. As Rilke said there are new treatments coming online all the time so please remember to stay optimistic about that. You'll also be hearing from others with similar diagnosis who are still here among us years later. The road was not easy, but they made it. Last bit of advice; "stay away from Dr. Google" regarding prognosis data...there are a number of reasons that many of the prognosis data predictions are not accurate as they are done based on 5-year averages and don't into account weighted calculation for the many advances made in just the past few years. So please relax and list to others' stories. You can even look up a few on the "Share Your Lung Cancer Stories". It can be found here. I look forward to more chats in the morning. Lou

Nur I'm sorry, but I don't understand what you mean by "pulling out" what she eats. Are trying to say vomiting or diarrhea? Sorry, I just don't get it. Lou

Hang in there Justin. You'll get through this.' Lou

Izzy, Thank you for the update. Please remind Justin that everybody here is rooting for him and we look forward to his return. Lou

Justin, I have something you should try to visualize: o someone is trying to hurt you...it could quickly get very serious. o someone else comes along and stands between you and the dangerous person. They go so far as to eliminate them as a threat to you. The "savior" is your SBRT treatment...you already know who the bad guy is. In life you would run to the good guy...the protector...think of your treatment that way. I always appreciated when Tom would say something like; "let's fry that sucker".... Try this a few times; close your eyes, breathe in and out slowly and deeply, imagine the danger and then the protector...you may not realize it, but you're fearing the wrong thing. Lou

CONGRATULATIONS!!! Okay Justin...now is the time to celebrate...every small improvement and better than expected scan deserves smiles, happiness and time with family and friends. Get out there and enjoy the life you're fighting for. Lou

Justin, Keep looking forward to the treatment where those little buggers will be fried and gone. Lou

Arisa, In one year the nodule grew only 1mm...that is amazingly slow and small...I just believe he's weighing this all out and is making a sound decision. Lou

Justin, Your list tells me that you have a lot to be grateful for. Let the doctors take care of frying the mets and you enjoy that loving family. Enjoy it whether you believe it is for six months or six years. Look at results and not just fears. We all have them, but you can get through this and you will. Lou

Justin, Catlady91 is spot on. Stop looking at survival stats. Lots of folks here have had treatment for brain mets and are doing well. Scanziety is a real thing and we all suffer from it so you are not alone. Ten days is a long time, but I can't speak for the medical system in the UK. Here in the US most of us get our scans within a day or so. We are all interested in living...that is our goal. We want to live to enjoy our family, friends and the beauty of life. Yes you're going through a lot right now, but take some time to enjoy those around you...do something fun...find a reason to smile, perhaps even laugh. You will get through this. Lou

Minh, All my digits are crossed that the surgery and antibiotics will take care of the SOB for you and restore you so you can take it easier than the recent past has been. Lou

Justin, To reinforce what Rikke said; don't worry about coming here and venting. My only point is to see that you don't try and tough this out without all the help that can be available to you. Lou

If they didn't do anything then nobody would prescribe or use them. At some point in the future you may need to look into a different doctor as well. Lou

Arisa, As Tom told you having any kind of lung disease (e.g., TB) can create nodules. But under normal conditions 60% are not cancerous. They may just decide to watch this nodule to see what happens. Tom sent some information on biopsies so please discuss them with your mother and/or her doctor. Right now there is very Little growth (6mm to 7mm could actually be an artifact in the scan) over a year so this is not a rush situation. Needle biopsies are difficult on very small nodules. Side effects from some biopsies can occur, but rarely. If the needle biopsy is through the chest wall or back there is a small chance of a pneumothorax, your doctor should discuss these risks and their probability of occurring. But I believe you need to focus on what the medical team determines is the best next step for your mom. BTW, while most people with LC (Lung Cancer) have a history of smoking a sizable number with LC were "never smokers". Lou

Justin, You shouldn't need to suffer like this. Please speak to your doctor and get some help. Anxiety and depression can cause as much torment as any disease. You need to get out of the ethernet and request help...many folks on here have done so and it proved to be very helpful for them. Don't delay...call your doctor and tell him you need help, you do not have to go through this additional pain. Lou

Arisa, Welcome to our forum. So, your mom has a nodule that has grown, but is still very small. At this point your doctor may decide to do some additional testing. Perhaps a PET scan to see if any of the nodule "lights up" indicating it may be cancerous and if there are any other areas of concern throughout your mom's body. But, at the end of the day, a biopsy will need to be performed as that is really the gold standard of testing nodules. If for any reason a needle biopsy is not possible a "liquid biopsy" via a blood test may be able to be performed. One way or another more testing is needed so the doctors can properly determine if the nodule is cancerous or not and if there might be any spread to other areas. With all the diagnostics done your doctor will then present your mom with options ranging from surgery alone to many other forms of treatment for the cancer. Once you have all the test results you can sit down with your doctor and really discuss the best options. After you do that please share here and you'll surely find people who have had the same or similar treatments and they will be able to share their experiences with you. Meanwhile one of our members wrote a great piece called, "10 Steps to Surviving Lung Cancer; by a Survivor" and it can be found here. Lou

Lizzy, Excellent news!!! So glad to hear this. Now you move on and forward. Lou

Justin, What a prognosis!!!...1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, 3 years... At this point you need to focus on each battle separately. Right now the battle is the brain mets and getting rid of them that is your main focus. None of us actually know when all this will end so, don't lock yourself into a number, but go into each battle to win and remember there are folks here who were told to "get there affairs in order" and they are still here years later. Every month that passes new treatments and modalities are deployed against cancer of all types (including LC). So, every day we're here, we're closer to a new treatment. That is where we should focus and not on a group of numbers that occupy such a large span... Remember, they admitted, "they don't know"...so don't you lock on a number. Lou

Justin, We shouldn't worry about "the end" until someone tells us "this is the end". There are so many folks on here that have had chemo and/or radiation treatment for brain mets and they are still here even though the mets are not. Please don't jump to conclusions before you have all the facts. Your worry does nothing to improve the outcome and only serves to worsen the present. Keep yourself busy today and every time you begin to worry, remember to yourself, "I'm still here and so are treatments", then look to do something you like to do and busy yourself with it. Anxiety is a constant companion with our disease, our job is to keep that monster in a cage so it doesn't ruin our lives while we're living them. You can do this. Lou