richinsdakota

Welcome; keep coming here for great info and support...folks here wont let u get discouraged... Hang in there, one day at a time. Rich B.

Yes; sounds like a 2nd opinion is in order here, to clear up the issue if nothing else. Someone else may offer other options..? Id check it out with cancer specialists somewhere. Good luck and hang in there...Rich B.

Hi; I was concerned about my voice just before I had an MRI last year. Report said it was probly just some pressure on the laringeal nerve due to things re-arranging in there after my lung removed. Just another possibility...take care...Rich B.

Welcome Rod...youve found a great place for info and support. Just a thought...youre entitled to copies of all medical test reports, films, anything they test. When going for 2nd opinion, these could help avoid duplicate testing, if they'll accept them. Some docs prefer to do their own tests, some dont...worth a try..? Good luck..Rich B.

So sorry to hear...hang in there, the great folks on this board will help you get thru all this...take care...Rich B.

Heheh...thats our Debi! Glad u got great news and shared it here. Shoot, I didnt know either...how could we when the surgeons dont bother to inform us. Anyway, enjoy ur newfound body part..Rich B.

Hi Gina and welcome...youll get great support and info here, soon as the weekend slowdown is over. Try not to be too fearful till you learn more, as cancer is not necessarily a death sentence anymore. Katie is right, of course, take it one step at a time. All you know now is there is a mass that may be malignant. Lot more to go before exact diagnosis and treatment options can be known. The more you learn, the more control you regain over the situation. Make sure you find docs you are comfortable with and who are good at it. Ask questions till you get the info you want. And 2nd opinions are valuable sometimes, if there is any confusion or doubt. Keep posting here and asking any questions you might have...lots of folks here happy to help you with anything u ask about. We've all been thru the shock and fear of that initial diagnosis, (and were still here) so ask away. Well look forward to your posts. take care...Rich B.

Nice to see yall...thx for pics. Rich B.

Thx girls; yea, I also sought advice from a phys. therapist, did some similar excersizes for awhile. Afraid I didnt stick with it long enuff. (hate labor intensive things). heheh I have been thinking I should push docs for possible coronary issues tests, since I pass pulmonary function test,etc., with flying colors. Might be my prob. too. I see a pulmonologist in late July, I hope, so will pursue this possibility with him. I know a number of folks here have required stents after the thoracotomy, seems to be a side effect or something. And it actually causes shortness of breath, huh? Didnt know that. Yes, Debi, that "thingy" we breathe in is called a spirometer. heheh Anyways, thx for that info, ladies. Rich B.

Thx Carol...Yea, it seems they get u up walking fast to avoid blood clots, etc...but I think they tend to forget the little things that might contribute to the patients comfort and degree of function later...dunno. I wish, and recomend, Id used the spirometer (breathing excercise), longer and harder, and streched for like 18 mos. or so ...to give my chest maximum expanding capability..feels restricted now. Anyway, thx again. Rich B. (sheesh, my spelling..heheh)

I wondered if anyones post-surgery instructions included stretching or "range of motion" excercises. And did u get instruction on how to do em? Noone ever mentioned it to me after surg., and consequently I believe I healed with a tight restriction across chest muscles, which contributes to shortness of breathing as well as discomfort. Scar tissue, I assume..?? Just curious if this is unusual, to not get excercise ordered post-surgery. Thanx...Rich B.

Yep...Kudos to you all...great idea and efforts...Rich B.

Not familiar with Moffitt, but Ive heard some here speak well of it. Im sure some will be along who are more familiar. Take care...Rich B.

Yea, folks have curious and differing reactions to our illness. I was afraid my neighbors would find out before I went into hospital...not sure why, heh. But these issues seem to resolve themselves after you get back home, then I didnt care who knew. But yes, if u need a tranquilizer or something to get ur rest, Id sure ask Doc. Hang in there...once surgery is over u can relax and concentrate on recovering comfortably as possible. Take care...Rich B.

Hi and welcome; You've found the right place for support and info, as u already see. Like you, I was in a panic and it sure was good to hear that cancer is not necessarily a death sentence...many survive long or are even cured now, depending on the circumstances. Good tips above...cough pillow, epidural for pain, ask for more pain meds if needed,...also, I found it more comfortable to sit up, even slept in my recliner for 9 mos. Jus had an aversion to lying down, risking rolling over on tender incision, etc. Everyone's different, so select the ones that help you. Dont hesitate to call Doc. for any issues you have problems with. Good luck and keep us posted...Rich B.

Ok...glad u got things set up...yea, its painful but probly not much worse than the others, I wouldnt think. Slow healing process tho..patience is needed there. I had to sit up for 9 mos., took nearly 2yrs. to get healed up well. Hit us up for advice post surgery, if u want too. Good luck....Rich B.

Welcome...glad u found this helpful site. Rich B.

Hi and welcome; Before my first appt., I wrote down every question that came to mind for couple weeks. Took a cousin along to help me remember what was said, etc. Good luck , hope u get good treatment plan. Rich b.

Hi again; Sorry to hear of all the confusing probs. I had my surgery in Aberdeen...St. Lukes hospital. It was pretty straight forward...xray showed mass in lung, bronchoscopy and needle biopsy confirmed adenocarcinoma, surgery scheduled within a couple weeks. Dr. Conklin is the Oncologist there, Dr. Iwerks did the surgery. While they are not very personable, I guess they get the job done. Dunno if you are being treated there or another place, or why so much confusion, ...must be more complicated than my tumor was, maybe. Anyway, hope u get answers and good treatment...we certainly understand your frustration with the med. process. Take care and good luck....Rich B.

Thats great! keep happy and healthy...Rich B.

Hi and welcome...I too am in S. Dakota... Have gone thru pretty much the same things...Try not to be too fearful, it may well not be as bad as u might fear. I lost one lung, but lot of times it can be only a part of lung, depends on how the tumor is situated, etc. You have found the right place for gobs of info and support from lot of great folks here. Keep posting and ask anything you need to know about. Good luck w/surgery if necessary, and take care. Come here often if u can...helped me more than I can say. Rich B.

WOW!..That's great! See if you can throw a curve at cancer...like you do here! Sometimes, during the game, they will show a brief clip of the pregame ceremonies...during a pitching change or delay of any sort. Ill try to watch...Congrats!!! Rich B.

Hi Liz, sorry to hear of the diagnosis. But you found a great site for info and support...many here have outlasted a similar outlook, so keep asking , posting...sure some will be along to confirm this. take care...Rich B.

Hi and welcome...Rich B.

Hi and welcome to this great site for info and support...Rich B.