Debbie M

Wow, I feel like I hit the jackpot finding all of you on this forum. I hope there is success in my treatments and that I’m able to pass along some valuable advice to others. debbie

Dear Lori, Thank you for your kind email. I’m happy to hear you’ve found the right Drs to feel cared for. It’s wonderful to learn of Cancer survivors on this forum and the incredible outpouring of support. I am going to have my pet scan tomorrow on the 2010 Phillips Gemini machine where I know I’ll be doused with more radiation than newer models but I really need a diagnosis. If it is cancer I’d love to learn of your Drs names in whatever way is appropriate. Thank you again for your kindness- everyone on this forum is wonderful and comforting. Debbie

Reposting on a new thread as suggested by LA NYC - hopefully I'm doing it correctly now. Hi everyone, I'm a young and healthy 56 year old that went to ER due to crazy pain in my arms and chest. All heart related tests came back fine but the xray showed a 23mm nodule on my right lobe. This is a shock to me. I've never smoked and consider myself a healthy person. After receiving this news, I had to wait 2 weeks for my primary care dr. to return from vacation before I could get authorized for a CT scan. My results from CT scan (a little over 2 weeks later) now shows a 2.5 by 2.6 cm mass on my lobe. So, while I'm not a dr., it seems to me that my nodule is now being referred to as a mass in the report. They recommend a Pet Scan next. This is scary as hell. I haven't told anyone about it, waiting for a more definitive diagnosis. "IF" this is cancer, do any of you have recommendations on how/where to find the best doctors for further treatment? Update on 8/23/22: I'm so lost. Since my lung nodule was accidentally discovered (I went to ER thinking a heart issue) by Xray, I was unable to do anything further until my GP hometown dr returned from vacation 2 weeks later. I hate that my next steps and coordination have to go thru GP. No one would schedule me for anything without his prescribed order. I tried calling pulmonologists but they will not see me until months out. With a 2.5 x 2.6 cm nodule (larger than the 23mm nodule on my xray 2 weeks prior), I don't feel I have time to waste. I was able to schedule a Pet/CT scan but moved to another facility since the first one was using a machine that is 12 years old. I worry this will be too much radiation with antiquated equipment. The new pet/cT scan is now on Monday but they are telling me they use barium drink instead of the glucose injection for the scan. I'm so confused and I have no one other than my GP (and maybe some of you on this forum) to help. I live in Northwest corner of NJ so everything is a ride. Morristown Memorial and RJBarnabas hospitials are probably my closest solutions but I need to go somewhere that specializes in Lung Cancer if I end up with a positive diagnosis. I can say I have mild pain throughout my chest and wonder if it's all in my head knowing there is a nodule in my lung but I did go to the ER initially thinking I was having a heart attack so I guess it's not all in my head. I'd love any advise on how to find a qualified "team" of lung specialists that can help me navigate through my upcoming journey. If you have any suggestions on where to find them, please share. Thank you for reading this long post and for any help you can provide. All the best, Debbie

Hi everyone, I'm a young and healthy 56 year old that went to ER due to crazy pain in my arms and chest. All heart related tests came back fine but the xray showed a 23mm nodule on my right lobe. This is a shock to me. I've never smoked and consider myself a healthy person. After receiving this news, I had to wait 2 weeks for my primary care dr. to return from vacation before I could get authorized for a CT scan. My results from CT scan (a little over 2 weeks later) now shows a 2.5 by 2.6 cm mass on my lobe. So, while I'm not a dr., it seems to me that my nodule is now being referred to as a mass in the report. They recommend a Pet Scan next. This is scary as hell. I haven't told anyone about it, waiting for a more definitive diagnosis. "IF" this is cancer, do any of you have recommendations on how/where to find the best doctors for further treatment?