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phranc2002

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  1. Thanks for the replies. They have helped with this anxiety. To know there are people out there to confide in makes you feel better. I know it could be a multitude of things. It's just that history scares me. I will try not to beat myself up over the smoking thing. Going fishing with my neighbor now...Maybe a day on the water will help clear my head. Have a great Sunday everyone! Frank
  2. I joined this site back in 2007 when a PET scan which came about from a cancerous lump removed from lip revealed the following: Thorax: No evidence of abnormal hypermetabolic activity or suspicious nodule. There is a 2.9cm soft tissue density just left lateral to the AP window. This demonstrates borderline hypermetabolic activity of SUV 2.5 and is non-specific. Had the CT's done on schedule to watch for 2 years. No changes. Everything ok. I was a pack a day smoker then and only an occasional smoker since (but still smoked!). Anyway over the past 3 weeks I started feeling odd (Burning lower back, light headed) . At first it felt like a prostate infection (which I've had before). Went to Urologist. Said no infection. Thought it may then be new blood pressure meds my Family Doctor put me on or a Kidney infection. Went to him, he took me off the new BP pills and things seemed to feel better. Put me back on the old BP meds. Urine was clear. Now, Yesterday at work, My vision seemed blurred (like I have sinus pressure in my face), lower back pain back, some burning in chest front and back, and some very very slight coughing, but not real shortness of breath. I am going to see my family doctor Monday 1st thing and ask fot the works...blood tests, xray, ct, etc! So of course now, you know whats going through my mind. I had weird dreams last night too...probably because the LUNG CANCER sign is flashing in my brain and I can't concentrate on anything else! I am worried that the "thing" on my lung has decided to "activate" and now it may be too late. I sit here Saturday morning not being able to concentrate on anything else! I found comfort here last time, so I'm back. I am not looking for a diagnosis (we'll let the doctors do that). I am just looking to tell someone what's going on. I think about my family if something happens to me! Will they lose the house, car, or whatever? How long can I continue to work and keep the household working? Will my ST disability and LT disability be enough to keep us going? Social Security? I know I am jumping the gun! I am a Catholic and have tried to give my worry to God, but it keeps comming back to me! I think "Why did I ever put a cigarette in my mouth!" What an idiot! I know you will tell me that there is no reason to be upset or anxious without a proper diagnosis, but what else could it be? Thank you for letting me write this. I feel better just writing this. I am going to try and take my mind off of it this weekend. Daughter has soccer games today and grass needs to be cut. Maybe part of the pain and sensations is the anxiety in my head! I hope I can report good news next week. If you are inclined to reply, I would like to how to cope at this point! Words of wisdom? Thanks for the opportunity to be part of this awesome site!
  3. Hi Val, I ditto the earlier posts! The people here are great! I don't know how I would have made it through the anxiety without their help. Keep fighting! God Bless! Happy New Year!
  4. Thanks Ned. Not quite sure how to answer the question as to what kind of cancer was removed from my lip. The reports indicated small cell carcinoma - if that's what you mean. The PET scan only revealed the one spot in my chest. Wouldn't the scan have picked up other spots if it had spread or is the PET not that accurate? The PET I had was a full body scan. They went to the knees. I guess cancer is not found below the knees. I would like to believe that had the lip cancer spread to or from another site in my body, that the PET would reveal that site. Is that incorrect?
  5. Hi all, Not sure if my postings should move to another area, since I am not a "newbie" anymore. Anyway, GP says he is 99% sure that it is not cancer. He consulted with radiologist who says there was no change in size of the spot since the PET scan in November. Said something about the lymph node being abnormal size. Not sure what that means. Said SUV was 2.5 and that they didn't worry til number was at 4 or 5. Seems like smeone made mention of that here in this post earlier. Wants to watch it and check it in 3 monts. I asked about removing it so that I can have peace of mind. He said that the radiologist thought the surgery to remove was more risky than watching it because it was not growing. Check it in 3 months? That seems like a long time. I was not comfortable waiting 3 months. Does that seem unreasonable for me not to wait the 3 months? He offered to refer me to a pulmonologist. I told him that I would like to go ahead and do that. I am waiting to hear about the appointment now. Will keep everyone posted. Thanks!
  6. Thanks all for the support. Hopefully, I will know something tomorrow.
  7. Merry Christmas All! Hope this message finds you enjoying this time with family and friends. I am a bit nervous this morning. My GP called yeterday and got my wife. Said the radiologist needed hard copy of PET scan to compare to CT scan. Without the PET test to compare, the CT alone reveals an "area of concern". What does that mean? How does having the PET scan make the CT scan more or less of a concern? I think back to the ENT telling me not to worry about the spot in the chest that "lit up" in the PET. Said the heart always lights up. It's hard to trust the Doc when he tells you stuff like that. Maybe it's nothing. but what if it's something! What if I waited til I was 40 (another year)? Yikes! I digress... When my wife told me what the GP said, she wasn't emotional. That made me feel better. My wife gets emotional at the drop of a hat. However, the words "area of concern" concerns me. When I tried to call the GP back, his office had closed (half day on Christmas Eve). I immediately called the hospital where the PET was done to get the copies of the PET. To my surprise, the lady in radiology told me to give her a couple of hours and she would have them ready. (On Christmas Eve? I thought that was wonderful!) I arreved a couple of hours later and picked them up. I thought that was a great Christmas Present! I felt better to have them in my hands so that I can get them to the GP as soon as they open. GP told my wife that they would re-open on 26th. Answering service says they will re-open on the 27th. I hope the GP's date is correct. It's been a hard 22 hours since my wife told me the news. All of a sudden, everything bothers me. My chest hurts and my mind wonders. Every time I cough, I get anxious. The sub-conscious mind is a terrible thing. We went to vigil mass last night. The priest's homily seemed to hit home. Like he was talking to me directly. I felt at peace. Christmas with the family opening presents seemed to take my mind off of it. I am getting ready to start cooking Brunch for the family while they enjoy their gifts. The best gift I can get now would be a clean bill of health. I watched my mother lose her battle with breast cancer two days after Christmas in 1988 as a freshman in college. What a horrible disease. I would hate to see my wife and kids go through that. I know all of this rambling is pre-mature, but I am getting ready to fight if this turns out to be cancer. I am thankful for having found this site. Reading the stories and talking about it seems to help. Have a great day!!!! I'll be back later in the week to let you know what they say. Oh one last question... If this turns out to be something bad, How agressive should we be with the treatment? What I mean is, do we go for the big mamma jamma treatment to start or something smaller and build up to the big stuff? Thanks!
  8. Antonella, Click on "New Topic" and start your own post. Your question may get lost in this thread.
  9. Hi all. Sorry I have been away for a while, but you know how the holidays are. My GP ordered a CT of chest. Had it done Thursday. I should know something Monday.
  10. ENT said that there is a spot near the heart that lit up on the PET. Says the heart always lights up. Said I am due for a chest x-ray at age 40 (1 year from now). Said I should have it checked then. I think I will take all the reports to my GP and get a second opinion. Don't want to take any chances. Thanks for all of your support.
  11. Thanks all. I will keep you posted! It feels good to hear that we are not alone in our journey against such a terrible disease. Happy Thanksgiving to all! I am frying a turkey today for the first time. I hope all goes well!
  12. Hi all, Glad to have found this site and hope someone can shed some light on my situation. Long story short... Had cancerous lump removed from my lip, clear margins around site, had PET done then we move to the following... So I go to the ENT's office to p/u copies of medical records for the insurance company that the ENT had ready for me. I ask the receptionist for the records and she hands me an envelope. Now, follow this, my follow up appointment to get the results of my PET was scheduled for 12/4. I was told after the PET that the radiologist would have them read by the afternoon of the test. I asked for an earlier appointment since the results were probably in. She told me they did not get them yet but did move my appointment to 11/26. I get home and am curious about my records thus far. I open the envelope and begin looking through the forms. Well I guess you already know what was included in the records... That's right, THE PET report! So I am asking for some interpretation... Neck: No evidence of hypermetabolic activity. Normal physiologic activity is identified. Thorax: No evidence of abnormal hypermetabolic activity or suspicious nodule. There is a 2.9cm soft tissue density just left lateral to the AP window. This demonstrates borderline hypermetabolic activity of SUV 2.5 and is non-specific. Abdomen/Pelvis: There is no evidence of abnormal hypermetabolic activity. Normal physiologic activity is identified. So my interpretation is that I seem to be clear of oral cancer but now am concerned of something in my lungs? The radiologist writes in the "impression" section of the report, "...further evaluation with a dedicated enhanced CT of the thorax may be helpful as well as close follow-up. A non-hypermetabolic metastatic focus is felt much less likely in this location." Any idea what that means? I now think I need to look into getting to the cancer center to check this out as I believe this is now out of my ENT's realm of expertise. Could this be lung cancer? I don't know. I have been chatting on the oral cancer board these last few weeks. Now I learn of something in the thorax area. Can anyone shed light on the "thorax" part of this report? Thanks
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