2weimies

I am so sorry to hear this sad news today. It sounds as though he was so proud of you and had come to an acceptance of what was to come.You are right he is on a new journey and someday you al lwill united. Keep his memories and his dream alive . I am sure he is smiling at you and the kids and watching over you every moment.He is pain free now and soaring.He will walk with you everyday and every moment and be there with you all . He was an amazing man who loved wholeheartly and died to young.He left an amazing legacy in you and your children.He knew you'd be strong and carry on, you are amazing . god bless you and your family, remember he is watching over you .

I had a suggestion if your Hubby is not able to travel... could you possible do a compliation video of old photos and happier times, set to his favorite music? You could then show it to him as he so wanted to make that trip again, and in this way could perhaps.. It would also be a loving tribute to the man, father and husband you love so much...I think it would be a great legacy for your children as well. Also their are organizations out there who specialize in making last wishes come true..have you contacted any of them? I work with the geriatric population and one such organization for them is http://www.secondwind.org/. I have also worked closely with hospice and families to create videos and as such living legacies of the patients before they passed so they could have some "life review" and feel good about all they accomplished in their lives.I pray you are able to be strong , as your hardest journey will begin after his is over. God Speed.

I am so happy for you and your sister. That is the best news and one I hope I will hear next week as well.. Please send her our best wishes and you take care too.Is there anyone to help you with your baby being sick right now? I know after my hysterectomy I was not in any shape to take care of myself let alone a 10 month old. You are remarkable!! Hugs~ Mave

Glad you found the site and hopefully you will get alot of support and answers here ( as I have ). I am hoping the bout of mono is what caused your sisters nodule to appear and that they will do the less invasive VATS procedure and she will have a fast and smooth recovery. I will be thinking of her and you today.Please post an update as soon as you hear. Hugs to you ~Maven

Its reassuring to hear that it could turnout to be benign,but as you and many have said without taking it out and looking we'll never know. I was disappointed with the poster who was "SHOCKED" by my doctors comments and proceeded to second guess his opinion, going as far as saying "SHAME ON HIM" that I found less than helpful and totally inapprorpiate. Offereing support is one thing giving your medical opinion ( without the benefit of a medical degree) in relation to a doctor of medicines opinion is outrageous. I'll post as soon as I can after surgery to update those interested. Thanks

This type of sterotyping continues top perpetuate the myth that all LC pateints smoked therefor acused their own disease.More press needs to be devoted to those who have never smoked and have no contributing factors or symtoms.Those whose DX was a shock.Maybe then the research dollars would start to trickle in to find a better cure,and early teasting options.I am appalled by this report even being published.With all the newly DX female population, never smokers being DX one would think someone would be researching that apparent link....But I suppose that just not newsworthy enough?OK I'm off my soapbox now...

I feel fine too and my surgery is tuesday. Good luck and welcome , these people here are fabulous!

I did not mean to generalize, and hope it was understood my doctor was speaking about my case .Based on the fact I have had serial cat scans over the past year, and that this nodule was NOT present on any of them, we are in a position to say it definately is a new event. That coupled with a PET scan that lite up with moderate uptake in his opinion indicates a malignancy. I specifically asked about the possibility of it being scar tissue from my PE last year or perhaps dead tissue or an infection.However I have had no pneumonias, bronchitis or any such infections and he definitely , absolutely said it was in NO WAY from my PE last year. This surgeon is highly recommended and top in his field. He certainly does not need my business. I even questioned thathe radiologist said it was in an atypical location for malignancy and he said no that is incorrect. He said that PET scans often miss lymph nodes, and other body parts that are malignant but when it comes to lungs they are very accurrate, absolutely. In a best case senario I wake up and find out it was benign.Boy would that be great or what??? In a less than best case I wake up and find out it was malignant and they got it EARLY! Just a thought but perhaps with secondary nodules, possible mets or reoccurences they are not so quick to judge and would rather watch and wait ? Maybe this is a good question to pose to Dr West.

I believe the surgeon base their procedures on what is best for the situation and patient.Each case is somewhat different. Sometimes VATS is not do- able due to location or other complications related to that case. So they may have to do a more invasive surgery to assure a good outcome.We all want good outcomes..I think they the doctors/ specialists should explain to the patient the entire procedure and possible alternate senarios. That way you can be part of the decision making process . I don't think surgeons are performing needless surgeries just to get $$.There are hospital review boards that would definitely question why if that were the case I am certain. Good luck finding a good doctor and the right surgery for your mom's best outcome.

I never thought to ask my surgeon what if anything he would do with whatever he removed. I certainly don't have any attachment to anything that caused me a heath crisis or mutated without my permission. I echo the sentiments expressed that if it could help research in some way then I think that would be the best possible senario. Now I wonder in all those consent forms I signed if I consented to that???

confident with the doctor and my decision to move forwrad as the only possible choice given the info at hand. That however does not make it any easier at times.Intellectually I understand the process and the decision but emotionally I want to just ignore it and hope it goes away. I am so glad to have found this board and all the great people here who are willing to hold my hand and walk me through this and cheer me on, and yes sometimes kick me in the butt to make me see what I need to do.You guys are great! THanks

I am trying to be strong , stay focused and keep up things at work this week.Prepping for what will surely be a few weeks off. Its so hard to concentrate , yet I think being busy is probably better for me then sitting home and thinking the worse. Monday will be a horrible day,I'll go in for a 1/2 day or so and try to do some last minute things , and change my voice mail message. Don't know if I'll sleep or be too "wound up" sometimes I have acheived a place of peace prior to surgery and now I'm not sure I'll have that going in here. I am a little perplexed about something I read here somewhere someone had a nodule removed or biopsied after it lite up on a PET scan and it was benign..My surgeon says not so..Now wondering if that is possible or perhaps the amount of uptake I have was too much to think it could be..As you can see I still cling to the hope that this is all just some scar tissue or some type of infection...... one minute , and the next I rationally hear what the surgeon said which is he is 95-98% sure its malignant. Scary odds ..... Thank you all for being here and holding my hand through this all. It sure does help to have someone to listen to who has been there and who understands what I am going through right now. I will try to be strong and make you all proud !

I just found out I am having one with my surgery...LOL So I cannot say what it wa slike till afterwards...I went to have aPET scan after finding a 6mm nodule on a cat scan.The pulmonologist did not believe it would lIGHT up on the PET scan but it did.The surgeon I just met and who is operating on me on the 13th.said he probably never would have sent me for a PET scan with a 6mm nodule however he said it was so fortunate for me I did get it done.Apparently LC grows for like 5 years before it would ever even be visualized ( dense) enough for a PET scan to pick it up..SO my advice is to advocate for yourself and demand a PET scan.You can always follow up with CAT scans if it shows nothing..But if you wait you may lose valuable time. Good luck.

My nodule is not located in a good place( location wise) and based on what I heard it sounds as thought VATS won't really be too sucessful in nabbing the little bugger either so I fully I suppose now expect I'll have the "full monty " ( as I call it ) open chest surgery.My doctor had doughnuts waiting in his waiting room, and anyone who serves doughnuts and opens on saturdays to see patients is definitaly my sort of doctor.Also he pulled no punches and did not sugar coat anything ( I wish he had)....I know it must be done and must just go for it ,full warrior mode. I'll be sure to keep posting here and look to everyone for continued support as I make my way through whatever is to come. Thanks again for being here!

Not what I wanted to hear.after completing my pre op and PFT's tests yeaterday and all the pre registration I inquired about my previous PE where was it located ( no one ever told me ) the nurse practioner took the time to look it up and said upper right lobe.I was estastic..thinking then the nodule now showing up on right upper lobe was either scar tissue or dead tissue or somehow related..I fooled myself into believing this new premise and used that knowledge as the basis for most of the 18 questions I prepared for my surgeons appointment today.after all I reasoned he did not have all the info so I was going to share my new knowledge with him , and surely he would agreed and viola~ I'd be off surgery schedule.. However that is not what happendd.I was soberd quickly by his saying if it were me , I would have the surgery as the only chance for a cure if its caught early ( 80%) huh??? I questioned.....What are the chances percentage wise this could remotely be malignant.I was told 95%-98%...what ? what about the radiologist who stated in his report it was in an atypical location for malignancy.No its not according to the surgeon.In fact He said it will be very difficult to do the VATS surgery as he may not be abl;e to find it bacause its so small.so they are probably going to have to open me up... He also said something about staging taking about 7-10 days and If they send out other things for Cultures ( maybe that was if its by some miracle not cancer)that could take 6-8 weeks.I was in tears after I left his office.He explained all the possible risks and complications and I was just shell shocked.My sister (a nurse) and my DH were also with me.I stopped asking questions bacuse I could not think clearly and my sister took over and asked alot....She feels confident that my only hope if it is cancer is to get it out now and seemed to think the surgeon was very good and thorough. Even what could appear to be "caught early" may still be worse depending on lymph nodes which the doctor said are often not picked up on a PET scan..... I asked why I had that pain that took me to the ER and he could not explain...I asked how such a small think showed up on a PET scan and he marvelled at why the doctor even sent me for one ,he said he would not normally done that@ 6mm cause it usually would never show up. He also seemed to think that in the lungs a positive PET scan was most reliable as opposed to other organs in a PET scan. Sorry to be so long winded but I was totally caught by surprise after convincing myself it was a scar from the previous PE..... Now I am feeling like a slightly scratchy throat and everyone around me is sick at work.. I am feeling very scared.Thank you all for your support and positive thoughts.

It sounds as though you have been very proactive and on top of your care . I think that your quick action and ability to get medical tests done timely have helped to get you where you can help make a decision regarding your ongoing treatment.I have no idea what would be best for you .I also have hypertension and perhpas with additional or different meds they could manage yours better if you and the doctors think option #1 chemo was a better choice.I hope you respond well to the treatment and will be posting soon about NED! All the best.

Thanks.I am trying to figure out how to do a profile where I can list everything.,Can you tell I'm not a computer wiz? LOL I hope this works.... I have only one nodule found on CAT scan and then it lite up with moderate uptake on PET scan ( but larger ) in the 2 weeks since the hospital scan. It will be about a month after the PET scan that I am scheduled for surgery and based on what his nurse has said to me he tries to do things less invasively ,and progresses depending on biopsy results. The nodule is in the upper right lobe I think closer to my arm pit side of my chest...so a bronchoscopy would probably not be helpful at all. I am trying to get together an intelligent list of questions cause my mind is totally lost in those situations. Thanks again !

I have no idea what BAC is.Sorry I am now really confused. Wonder why they can't figure all this out before cutting you open. Did he have a VATS procedure or fully cut open and then closed?

How do they do that? I mean I understand they take out the nodule or whatever and look at it ,but is there an actual pathologist or some biopsy doctor standing there to test it and know immediately?? Sometimes I hear people are waiting for reports after surgery so how can they do it immediately?? any ideas?? Since being told they will biopsy it in surgery and determine if its cancer that I'd get a more invasive surgery and removal of an entire lobe of my lung I have begun to wonder how that determination is done.Thanks

I think I was grasping for hope and at straws.My appt with the surgeon is this saturday and I am getting really freaked out. Keep thinking there is some mistake maybe another scan will show its all gone... Dare I ask for another one? what questions should I ask? I feel fine and have no symtpoms.I am a non smoker ( although my DH of 20 years smmokes) Huge family history of cancer .... BUT I simply cannot even fantom that I could have lung cancer . This is so not real to me..I am trying to figure out if teh PET and CAT scan could havebeen wrong.If there is another test I could take. Less invasive something ... why surgery?? Seems so drastic.I have read about everyone and the hope for a cure is surgery.If only I knew for certain....I am clinging to a hope that its all a mistake . The queen of De-nial here. Thanks for responding you seem to be such a life line here.I appreciate being able to be so open and frank with a doctor..usually I am freaking out.Can you tell I am a basketcase now??

I opted for one after being told my 6mm nodule found on CAT scan would never be visualaized.well guess what it was not only visualized it lite up!! Had Uptake.Now I am seeing a surgeon this week and it measured 8x9mm larger than CAT said it did.Also wanted to say that reading through this thread someone mentioned that cancer cells are not metabolic.Thats an error they are and that is why PET cans light up. They show hypermetabolic cells ( probable cancer) because cancer cells love sugar!! So everyone who has cancer is indeed of course very sweet.a little levity here folks... JUst my research if I am wrong I'd love to read about that.But if I were you I'd get he PET scan irregardless of what the doctor says will or wont light up or be visualized.I am proof they are wrong.Not sure what I have and may not know for sure till after surgery.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm My nodule noted on cat scan 1/25/07 in ER and revisted 2/10/07 in PET scan is getting avist this week to a throacic surgeon, as I was told it had SUV uptake..Hmmmmmm makes me wonder if its possible ( since I feel fine now) that he stupid little bugger just went away?? wishful thinking onmy part . They have my surgery scheduled for MArch 13th.Maybe I should request another scan just to be sure its still there ??? I don't think all doctors will just wait and watch.I am a non smoker.But apparently a PET scan with uptake is a big deal? Good luck!

My mom and dad both went to sloan , I was not impressed but that was 20 plus years ago.Apparently they did not consider your urgency in their routine planning and necessary paperwork.Is there someone you could call there to help you navigate the system? A patient advocate or someone??Is there a particular physican that you can contact and actually speak with? I think most docs have excellent "gatekeepers" that keep them far removed from personal involvement with their patients its purely cvlinical that way. I wish you good luck getting some answers... I think you are definitely entitled to a second and even third opinion. I'd call the insurance company after you research a bit and see who else you can try to see.

Question what is teh differnce betwen saying saying something is a nodule? as opposed to what? A Mass? , growth, tumor??Cancer?? Just curious to know when something goes from being a "nodule" to something worse...any ideas???

What test did they do to diagnose him? Unless he had surgery or a biopsy??