MeloScha8

I'm sorry to bother you and I promise I won't bother yu again with this. First of all thank you for telling me about stage 3 and 4 cancers and doing well. Do some people get Chemo and radiation after the surgery? Is this better? Now for the questionthat I hope will not get on your nerves. The novallis beam surgery only attacks bad cells. Why can't they work on ours. Obviously it doesn't or peole would choose that over the surgery I would think. But do you know anyone that has tried it for the left lung and lymph nodes? I think I will get all of my info here. Articles in other places have the statitstics so you can not miss them. I am beieve it or not listening to this board and not the statistics. One last question. Are there side affects with the novallis beam surgery. I promise I won't ask any more questions about this.

This is what the surgeon said today. It’s the lymph node by the bronchi that is the biggest concern. Not only did that glow in the PET scan but that can mean removing the whole lung . He said that the chances of the tumor and the lymph node being malignant is 97% they can not say 100% without the proof of the biopsy. They can tell by the rate of growth and more. This doctor showed me every single picture of the cat scan and explained everyone. I am trying to get it right . I am overwhelmed. The other doctor did not tell me the lymph nodes glowed he said it was inconclusive. Metabolic activity especially in the lymph nodes has increase dramatically. Survival he sai and cure depends on the lymph nodes the liver and the kidney. Kidney and liver and brain look good. Don’t know about bones. All I know is they are not the same. In my case it is now the lymphatic system.The lymphatic system is one of the body's natural defences against infection. It is made up of organs such as the bone marrow, thymus and spleen. It is important that they know theprimary cancer has spread to involve any nearby lymph nodes, because it helps the doctors to estimate the risk of the cancer coming back, and to decide whether further treatment is necessary. We already know that the cancer in the lymph nodes was malignant three months ago after many tests and the PET Scan. The sugar in the radiation that is injected in me is absorbed by the malignant cells and makes them glow. The lymph node clearly lit up. They glowed three months ago. This told us that there is definitely a secondary cancer in the lymph nodes and quite clearly linked to the primary cancer. I asked for another one that could possibly show more because I was unable to lay completely still for the last one. He is not going to give me another PET scan to the tune of $8,000 dolars. The treatment for a cancer that has spread to the lymph nodes depends on the individual situation, including the person's general health and type of primary cancer. In my situation Chemotherepy in addition to the surgery is absolutely necessary. This is because the primary cancer has spread to the nearby lymph glands which increases the risk that the cancer may have spread to other parts of the body. The Chemotherapy can reduce the chance of the cancer coming back for some people. In addition to the Chemo Therapy I would possibly need radiation. I forgot why. I looked this up an it said that with what AI know I am at stage 3A. This was a shock. I wish I had been told this before and got all this at one time. The other surgeon didn’t even tellme that my lymph nodes glowed. The lymph node is by the bronchial something. Being told that the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes believe me is an additional shock. I was in shock immediately when told about the tumor in the lung. Thiso stage 3A for sure is another shock. I should have been told that in the beginning also Prognosis for 3A is 23 percent. Prognosis of 3B is 5 percent. Now I know you say ignore the statistics but do they have to keep putting them in front ofme? This time it’s okay cause I don’t know what 23% means anyway. All I know is it looks and Sounds better than 97% chance of not surviving two years. It seams like that novalis beam surgery would be better than this, to me that is. Anybody know about this first. I’d rather have that then the chemo destroying all my good cells. But then I don’t know what I’m talking about. Sounds more palatable. He said he must have the results of lung functioning test. I guess if that is bad that changes everything and we would face that if that time came. He didn’t want to overwhelm me I think. Rather than have a whole lot of radiation why not get zapped big time and hit only the bad things and not the good cells? But then if it was that simple I would imagine a whole lot of people would be doing just that. How come they don’t? I think maybe I’m still in shock. I don’t know what the heck I think. I know 3a is to levels before 4 which by the way it made verey clear one has less than one year. They need to be more considerate and put the prognosis in a separate place for peole to chose to read or not read. THe doctor is calling me tomorrow about the lung functioning. Can Anybody think of anything I should ask him? How would I know what to ask I never been through this before? And, it is from smoking. I might as well smoke until the surgery what the heck is the difference now? The doctor didn't say I was in stage three but evereything he said describes stage three. I don't understand how to read these results. There was no way I was swriting my tale of woe over again after the whole thing got wiped out. I did this in word and transfered most of it! More than one way to skin a cat!

nI just wrote my whole story in detail. I can't go through that again. I'll come back when I have more information.

I am really nervous and I do not know where to put this. Maybe you can correct me so I will do it right next time. I called my medical Doctor and he staid that there was no change in the tumor but that there was a littl change in the lymph nodes. That is all I was going to get out of him. I see the surgeon on Wednesday to ask him about the biopsy you told me I need to get. When I got the PET scan I could not lay still the whole time. Do you think I could or should ask for anothere one. this time they can give me something to help me stay still. Maybe it will not be inconclusive. I am so glad for this board. Before it was just me myself and I. The lymph nodes being a little bigger tells us what if anything? And if you have any other suggestions about what I should do or need to do, I would appreciate the help.

I am getting my CAT scan tomorrow at 10:00A. I feel a little better knowing what is going on with this. Is it true that lung cancer spreads quickly to the brain and bone? My brain scan was normal. I did not have a bone scan should I ask for one?

About two years ago I had difficlty breathing and pain in chest. I got it under control. NOw it is back out of control again big time. The people I worked for said that they think it has been this tumor all a long. I am going to see if Ican get a cat scan tomorrow. I am glad you tolf me not to pay attention to the statistics. It sort of took my breath away when i read that 92% of lung cancer patients do not live past two years. In general is this true? I don't know who gave me that advice but i read it and I chose to listen to the advice and ignore that.I did ignore it. Thanks for that advice keep passing that on to new poeple. Besides maybe I will be in the7% that do make it. Have a good evening. Melosy

DUSTY UNDERWEAR One morning a husband took a pair of underwear out of the drawer. "What the ? ? ?," he said to himself as a little blue "dust" cloud appeared when he shook them out. "April," he hollered into the bathroom, "why did you put talcum powder in my underwear?" She shot back: "It's not talcum powder. It's 'Miracle Grow'."

A husband and wife are watching "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire" while they are in bed. The husband turns to the wife and says, "Do you want to have sex?" "No." She answered. The husband asks, "Is that your final answer?" "Yes." She replied. He says, "Then I'd like to phone a friend." HEHEHEHEHEEHEHEHE

The other reason for waiting on this surgery is that I am having problems with my section 8 housing. I have written to everyone for help. I can't go into surgery with no home to return to. I need to go into this surgery with a good frame of mind. They are taking their time resolving this. I have written to the Governor and my senator and whoever will listen to help me resolve this quickly today. I sent your posts about the importance of moving quickly on this lung surgery also. I am pretty fearful because I have increased difficulty breathing. Actually much difficulty. Watering my flowers is now too much for me. I am also exhausted. Otherwise I am in pretty good shape I think. I did not think the tumor was the problem. Three centimeters is small compared to a whole lung. I did not see how this would affect my breathing. I feel alot better now about the surgery. Aftere reading some posts I know now that I should be and am grateful that it can be operated on. Can it grow too much to be inoperable? The PET scan came out incolclusive. I had a difficult time laying still for that. I asked for another cat scan and my doctor would not write the prescription. Actually deep down I wanted a PET scan and this time I want something to something to help me keep still. I would like to know if it has grown even though now I will not balk at having this surgery. NOT AT ALL!! You have convineced me. I wish my doctor would have told me about this site. Had I had this to turn to I would have had helpo and an easier time deciding what to do. Somehow I just feel that it has grown. Even before I found you this thought crossed my mind and I did not know it could grow so rapidly. I can not begin to tell you how grateful I am to you all. I think finding you was a gift from GOD. Is it normal to have difficulty breathing as a result of a lung tumor that size. I guess the tumor is near the heart and a lymph node. I hope you don't mind me writing like this again so soon. I sure am lucky to have found you. Making the decision to have the surgery as awful as it is has taken a weight off of my shoulders I think. I at least know what needs to be done now. I am rambling so I am going to end this now. Thank you so very much!

Three months ago they found a nodule on my left lung I Had PET scan brain scan. Said the nodule was three centimeters. They sent me to a surgeon. He walked in the room and said and he said I had a tumor and had to get my lung removed. I was in no way prepared for this. He wanted me to have major surgey a tThorocotomy right away. I do not even know if it is benign or malignant but they can not get to it any other way. They said that they can not get a biopsy because of where the tumor is located, in the center of my left lung. I would rather have a biopsy for a proper diagnosis so I know exactly what my treatment options are. Can’t they use a needle to get a tissue sample? I have to have a thorocotomy to find out if it is benign or malignant? I have many concerns about the surgery, I would rather not loose a lung unless absolutely necessary. They wanted to do it immediately and told me it could not wait. I was going to go to Duke hospital to get a second opinion, my friend was unable to take me. I called and told them that I was not going to Duke and would have the surgery. This was the second week in June and I was under a lot of pressure to do this. I asked what I should do and they said wait until I am contacted. Now in august they are interested in doing the surgery. It suddenly was no problem to wait one month and after seeing the surgeon for five minutes, if that, when I was informed that it was imperative that I do this immediately. He said it could spread. Nothing was really explained to me so that I could fully understand any of this. A friend told me about the novalis beam shaped surgery and the cyberknife surgery. This is more palatable to me than the Thorocotomy. Has anyone had any experience with this? I just think other options should be tried or investigated first before major surgery. I think removing a lung should be a very last resort. It has taken me this amount of time to recover from the shock. I never expected the surgeon to say this. I must be calmed down now at least I though t of looking for a board like this where I can get some support. I think I am able to think more clearly now but it is still a little overwhelming. But this has gone on for too long now and I think I should do something, like try to get that biopsy. This is all that I can think of to write. Thanks for reading this, Sincerely, Melody