Guest mch566 Posted June 2, 2005 Share Posted June 2, 2005 Hi, I'm new to this. After pain in arm, leg and back and several doctor visits, they did xrays that showed a large mass =(7cm)in my left lung. Since then, I have had a bronchoscopy and bone scan. Today I see the pulmonary specialist with results. I know its bad since they said to bring a family member. I'm scared and I am in pain constantly. Only taking ibuprofen. If the pain were gone, I could do anything. I've had no other health problems - not even a cold until the aches started in April. I really need help with insurance. I work for a 2 person company, with me being the only enrolee in the health insurance plan. If I leave, I have no insurance - and I want to relocate to east (Im in CA), where all my family is. I guess I'll know more after seeing the doctor today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patkid Posted June 2, 2005 Share Posted June 2, 2005 We will start by sending you encouragement and support for your doc visit. We are all here for you......please keep us posted and know we care. Brian and Pat O Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ginnyde Posted June 2, 2005 Share Posted June 2, 2005 Welcome to our caring and supportive family. Hope you get only good news today. You should be able to get Cobra for your insurance and in some cases you can do this for up to 36 months. Wishing you well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justakid Posted June 2, 2005 Share Posted June 2, 2005 Hang in there and ask for some pain medication! You have to get the pain under control so you can function! Keep us posted! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doughnut Posted June 2, 2005 Share Posted June 2, 2005 Wishing you the best for the appointment. Once they know what they're dealing with I'm sure pain relief will be on its way. Dee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhutch1366 Posted June 2, 2005 Share Posted June 2, 2005 Write down your questions before you go in, and write down the answers as you go, if you cannot take anyone else with you. Esp. if you're in pain. No reason to be in pain in this age of wonder. Ask your doctor, and keep phoning in to report until you have something that WORKS for you. It may be a combination of several different things. The whole world looks different when you're out from under the pain and can sleep at night.... XXOXOXOXOXOX MaryAnn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Wood Posted June 2, 2005 Share Posted June 2, 2005 Welcome! We are definitely here for you, as we all walk this journey together. Let us know how we may support you. Don Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wfshaw Posted June 2, 2005 Share Posted June 2, 2005 Not necessarily bad because they said to bring someone with you. They recommended that because the patient is scared and upset and may not hear everthing clearly that the Dr's tell him/her. I had to take my wife with me on all the initial visits due to the fact I thought I had cancer and it was a death sentence. All I heard was "You have lung cancer" and that was it for me. My wife was calm and took detailed notes at every Dr's visit. It is not a death sentence as I found out on this board and from my Dr's. It is in some cases curable, and others controllable and you need to first off, have a positive attitude and look at all your options. Believe me you are not alone when you say you are scared. We all are at the onset of being told "you have cancer." I was a mental wreck, depressed, could not sleep, anxiety and terrified in the beginning. You will get a ton of support and knowledge from this board. Keep us informed of your diagnosis and plan and we can all support and help you get through this. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Good luck. Bill in PA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stand4hope Posted June 2, 2005 Share Posted June 2, 2005 Hello and WELCOME! Just thought I'd let you know that my husband also had a 7 cm. mass in left lung, lower lobe. They had to start with brain radiation before treating the lung mass because he was having severe headaches form the brain mets, but after that he got radiation to the lung mass and chemo at the same time, and it knocked that lung mass dead to this very day. Please report back to us and let us know what you find out. God bless you, Peggy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flacrakr Posted June 2, 2005 Share Posted June 2, 2005 Welcome mch. Hope all goes okay with your consultation and diagnosis. As for insurance, I was kinda in the same situation. I had left my employer for another company that provided no insurance. So I took my insurance with me via COBRA. 6 months later I was in the ER being told I had lung cancer. So you can be insured, if you leave. Hope this helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbays Posted June 2, 2005 Share Posted June 2, 2005 Welcome, but I'm so sorry you have to be here. Good luck with your consultation. I will be praying for good results. Please let us know how everything goes. Barb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Lamb Posted June 2, 2005 Share Posted June 2, 2005 Welcome to our support family.You will find lots of knowing and caring people here. There is a lot of information available among our many members and usually just about anything that comes up,someone here has been there and done it and may be able to advise you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maryanne Posted June 3, 2005 Share Posted June 3, 2005 Hi, Listen to what everyone had to say. Ask questions and have someone with you to take notes. Do not jump to an conclusions until you have all your test to confirm what exactly it is. It could very well be benign mass. Keep us posted when you know more. If it turns out to be LC...Remember very very important. LC is NOT a death sentence. It is treatable. Good luck, Maryanne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shineladysue Posted June 3, 2005 Share Posted June 3, 2005 I just want to welcome you to our family here. I guess by now you have gotten your results from the pulmonologist. The beginning of this journey is so scary and overwhelming. It gets easier to cope with especially once you have a plan of treatment arranged. The more information you can share with the group, the more people can begin to help you. You will find this to be a wonderful group of very compassionate and helpful people. My best to you. Let us know how we might be able to help you. Sue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mch566 Posted June 3, 2005 Share Posted June 3, 2005 Well my visit to the doctor resulted in referral to another doctor - biopsy indicates lung cancer with met to bone. Shoulder blade, rib and possibly a small spot on spine. Now they want MRI for spine (may relate to the pain in left leg) and brain scan and liver scan. An referral to another doctor for the radiation. Wants to start radiation as soon as MRI results are available and then allow for chemo in a month or so. Since I am relocating to east coast, doesn't make sense to start chemo here. So much to learn, so much to do. For now Vicodin is controlling my pain - but I'm a little spacy. Doctor said average life expectancy 1 year. I should do better since I have no other problems. I'm still struggling with the grief of the prognosis. Thanks to all for the kind words. I know you must all have similar feelings, fears and grief. How to get past this ....If my life will be short, I want joy in as much of it as possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maryanne Posted June 3, 2005 Share Posted June 3, 2005 Hi Mch, I am so sorry about your prognosis. Please know that this is the scariest and worse time you are having right now. It will get better when you start treatment. When you first hear LC you think of a death sentence. Please, do not listen to stastics. I don't care how wide spread it is, there is always hope. People are told 1 year, and 3ys, 5 years, 8 years down the road they are still going strong. You can and WILL beat the odds. You have to put your boxing gloves and get ready for the fight of your life. You want to be the winner in this match, not the one down and out! You can do this, we will help you get through this. You must have faith and believe whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can acheive. We are here for support and knowlege. Please use us as we are a family that feeds off each others needs, strengths, and lots of prayers. Please tell us a little about yourself. You age, where you are from, married etc. We would like to get to know you a little better than MCH. When you can, fill in your profile, so we can read at the end of your post what you are and have gone through. Keep us posted about your test results and treatments. If you have any concerns there is always us, who have been through all those feelings you are having, we can help you. All you have to do is ask. A- ask and ye shall receive S- seek and ye shall find K- knock and the the door will be open upon you. Prayers sent to you for healing vibes. Maryanne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
star Posted June 3, 2005 Share Posted June 3, 2005 The hardest part is the waiting and then comes decision time which is hard for me to do. I still don't have a confirmed stage yet and they are still undecided what to do for treatment. Hang in there and someone from this board is sure to come up with the right solution for you. Keep putting one foot in front of the other and don't look back. Star (Pat) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daggiesmom Posted June 4, 2005 Share Posted June 4, 2005 Don't give up. You've just begun to fight. Don't listen about one year...... That's alot of gunk! Everyone is different, and everyone responds differently to treatment. I thought I was a gonner three years ago... I'm still here and going on vacation! Take it one step at a time; talk to the dr. about your treatment, take the treatments and continue to enjoy your life. No one can tell you how long you have to live. Enjoy your life now, it's important. Joanie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Posted June 4, 2005 Share Posted June 4, 2005 Welcome to our caring family. I am sorry that you have to be here but welcome... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nushka Posted June 4, 2005 Share Posted June 4, 2005 Let us know when you get your results. Most of the time it is prefered that you bring someone with you to appointment. That, in itself, is not a bad omen. I wish you the best of luck. I am so glad that you found this board. It is a wonderful place for support, information and finding friends. Nina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don M Posted June 4, 2005 Share Posted June 4, 2005 Welcome: I see you have already gotten good adivice about ignoring the statistics and all. More and more these days, advanced lung cancer is being managed as a chronic disease like diabetes. One learns to treat it and live with it. I have never had radiation, but it is my understanding that it should give immediate relief form bone pain. Don M Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pamm Posted June 4, 2005 Share Posted June 4, 2005 It's nice to have you join the forum. I have ext SCLC since October 2004. I have finished chemo and am waiting for next CT scan in July. I feel fine and went back to work recently (which is great) I refuse to give in to negative thoughts. I am living my life pretty much as always. I am even going on vacation at the end of the month. Taking my family with me, even my brother-in-law is coming from Florida. I am not a pessimist and I won't listen to statistics. I figure I can be a survivor, too. I still have a 15-year-old at home to see through manhood. I try; I have a sense of humor (I am told) and you can make it, too. Keep the faith and try not to dwell on negatives. I find the worst time for me is in the a.m. when I wake up. I immediately start thinking; I put on the TV and watch the news and that helps take my mind off the bad thoughts. Pls keep in touch with us, the people here are inspirational! Pam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ry Posted June 4, 2005 Share Posted June 4, 2005 The average prognosis isn't your prognosis. Once you start treatment it will help the pain. Good luck with the move. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Lewis Posted June 4, 2005 Share Posted June 4, 2005 Mch, Welcome and good luck with the future appointments. As many have said, this is not a death sentence! Lots of survivors here to support that statement and to offer you support. Best part is reading the GOOD news when someone has a remission and can share that with the board. You are in my prayers.. Michael Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cindi o'h Posted June 4, 2005 Share Posted June 4, 2005 Hi Mch. Just to welcome you. You are not alone. We have many experiences to share with you. If you have questions, one of us will probably be able to help. There also is a special site where real live expert oncologists and nurses will answer any medical questions that you will have. Welcome to our group. Like it was stated previously, this is the toughest part...it does get easier with just a little bit of time. Cindi o'h Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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