laflood

Hello everyone. I truly am sorry that I've been MIA the past few months but there has been so much to catch up on and it seems as tho I've been running in circles since the last time I talked with any of you. I began having pretty bad headaches the past couple of weeks - some of them waking me up from a sound sleep. Then my equilibium started going a little funny by me getting dizzy each time I got up from a sitting position or bending over. It finally got to the point where I needed to see someone (and also to get d/h to quit naggig at me) and because of the quirky holidays weeks, I ended up in the Emergency Ward for diagnostics. The CAT Scan came back with a minumum of 3 brain lesions, the largest at that time was 38.3 mm and placing quite abit of pressure on the cerebelium point where it releases the brain fluid to the spine. They are giving me a year. I have since been hospitalized for two days and given two radiation treatments (in one day), another CAT Scan which showed at least 5 lesions, an MIR, a chest xray, steriods, percoset and I'm sure that there's something else I've forgotten. So it seems a little foolish to continue to send out our Xmas letter saying we beat this thing when we really didn't. My CAT Scan in September showed me all clean but it didn't scan my brain. Lucky Me! So, as is usually the case, I'll be seeing more of you........it's really based on need, isn't it? And I'm sooooo sorry to be coming to you again now when that need is present for me. I should have been here all along but was hoping against hope that this chapter of my life was over.

Hi Everyone - I'm here too. I lurk often but don't have a lot to say lately. I'm doing well. The docs gave clearance for us to take off on our boat for the summer so we're leaving next week and will be back in time for the CAT scan in September. Hope the summer is good to all of you. Lynne

Can anyone tell me an approximate timeframe for recovery from a lobectomy? My surgery was on 3/22 and I've been home since 3/29. I am still extremely tired and lack energy. I keep thinking that I should be further along but don't really know for sure if that's appropriate at this stage. I'm not used to being laid up and it's making me feel bad watching my husband do most of the work around the house, etc. Thanks!

Received my pathology report yesterday and it was ALL CLEAR!! Cancer was caught at Stage 1a and completely removed during surgery. All nodes, margins, etc. were clear and no need for chemo or radiation. 80% five year survival rate given. Treatment is now complete! Recheck in 1 month, 3 months & and again at 6 months. This is a nightmare turned dream come true. Thank you for all of your support!

Hello! Thought I'd bring you all up to date about what has been happening to, with and for me the past couple of weeks. My last entry was meeting with Dr. Wood of the U of Washington Medical Center and the scheduling of my lung surgery for 3/22. Well, met with the surgical team and everything was good to go....ooops not so fast! Needed a cardiac consult and release for surgery. Neither my cardiologist nor the only other cardiologist locally could get me in before the surgery date so off I went looking for an alternative cardiologist. Found one at the hospital my daughter works at, got in 2 days later, took all the tests, passed and good to go for real this time! On 3-22, I checked in and waited for my number to come up. Had managed to score a bumper sticker from a lumber guy reading, "Wood is Good" (my doc's name is Dr. Wood) and had the surgical nurses tape it to my incision site and it brought the desired result. Laughter just prior to the incision and a relaxed mood for my slumber. I later awoke to the news that it was a successful surgery. Only the upper left lobe had to be removed, the mass was gone, the lymph nodes all looked good but one was sent for pathology along with the other goodies. My "scar" will be minimal, it is actually an amazing sight to see. I was regularly attended by a pain management team approach, respiratory care team, a superb nursing staff and the dignity and care expected from such a quality medical center. So, all in all, I have gone from death's door in the initial local diagnosis to a future I'm am anxiously looking forword to. I may be jumping the gun at the moment cuz' we're still awaiting the pathology report on our first post-op meet and greet next week. But right now, I've been blessed. Gotta go rest now everyone but I am very happily ensconced right now in my home king sized bed with my dear hubby and getting set to watching a movie with buttered popcorn! Number 1 and most important thing to take note of: If for any reason other than to just do it - GET A SECOND OPINION or keep going until you AT LEAST feel comfortable with who you are dealing with and WHO IS DEALING WITH YOU! Gone are the days where we were taught that doctors were Gods and we were just to accept their words as the God's written rule. We have choices now. Of course one of those choices is to accept whatever is told to you. Personally, if I had made that choice, I think I'd be dead before this time next year. Lucky me, I made a different choice.

I just got home from meeting with the doctors at U of Washington. Dr. Wood, the head doc, feels 70% certain he can remove the tumor and only a partial lung and that there was no cardiac effect. This is not what I had been told locally, in fact, the local doc was concerned that the heart would have to work twice as hard and that one lung couldn't support me! I am having surgery next Thursday (March 22nd) and he will also be biopsy-ing lymph nodes and doing another bronchostopy. I am sooooooooo glad I followed my guy instinct and sought a second opinion. Of course, he may have to take the whole lung once he gets in there and I'm okay with that if that's the case. But, the most important thing to me right now is that I have more hope than I had yesterday and I feel myself beginning to come to an understanding of my situation. That's enough for me right now.

Don't know if this is the most appropriate place to ask this but will do so anyway. How long does it take for "it" to sink in and every day isn't an emotional (crying at the drop of a hat) roller coaster? I'm not usually this emotional and have always felt that I handled stress fairly well (of course, it's usually been my husband who has been sick). I'm trying as hard as I can but I just can't seem to get a grip on my emotions. Is this normal?

After meeting with a the pulmonolgist who was to do my biopsy, my husband and I decided to be referred to the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle. They are in the top 10 of the country and have the latest technology. We just felt that the pulmonologist was too skeptical about being able to get results, kept saying that he would be "going in blind" and has a real risk of hitting the artery AND has only been in practice since January of this year! Didn't want to hurt his feelings but if I'm going to have this type of procedure done I want someone who has done it 1000 times! The second reason was that the U of W has a team approach - from diagonis to treatment to follow-up. I like that approach better than hoping individual doctors share all of my information and needs in a timely manner. I meet with the doctor and team next Wednesday. Keeping our fingers crossed till then. Lynne P.S. To put your medical "timeline" down, do you put it in the signature box?

Hello - my name is Lynne Flood and I was diagnosed last week with lung cancer. I am 57 years old and smoked for 30 years. I quit smoking a month and a half ago. I can't say that this is necessarily coming as a surprise but the timing has. So far a bronchostopy has only validated that the mass has not broken through the bronchial wall but I will have another bronch this week w/a needle biopsy. The mass is located at just about the junction of all the blood vessels so the surgeon feels that a total lung removal would be necessary. I have a couple of complications however - a heart condition (heart attack in 2000) w/two stents and I'm high borderline in the breathing tests. They feel that it is probably "more Stage II than Stage I" and we are not sure what type of cancer it is yet. Maybe....just maybe what the Pet Scan lit up was a lingering bronchitis infection I had the first part of Feb. Don't think so but if wishes were fishes....... We are reeling right now and I'm still trying to come to grips with all of this. I don't know what will happen next.........the funny part of this is....I feel fine. Thanks for letting me share and I hope to talk with all of you again.