Don't know what to think

[babylove91297]

Hi everyone,

I wanted to let you all know that I spent the night in the hospital the night before last. I tore a muscle in my calf and they thought it was a blood clot. They tried to keep me last night too but I talked them out of it. I have to go see the orthopedic specialist tomorrow for a bone scan and MRI on my calf to see how bad the damage is, he said they will probably put it in a splint, but for now just on chrutches.

I called my oncologist while in the hospital yesterday afternoon. He told me they had been waiting for my call all day, that I was supposed to start my chemo yesterday. I told him that I didn't understand that the surgeon had told me he was going to get a second opinion on my lung biopsy, then we would decide what to do. He told me that he had a lengthly conversation with my surgeon on Friday while I was in the surgeons office and they had decided to just do the chemo and no surgery. But that isn't what the surgeon told me. I just can't understand this.

Anyways, the oncologist told me to get my leg taken care of and as soon as I could to call him back and we would set up my chemo. I am so upset about this. I want to scream. Why do they keep giving me the run around? I am going into pick up the referal for the oncologist this morning and am going to call both him and the surgeon today, to try and get some real answers. From what the oncologist said the surgeon was going to do the surgery only if there was no significant change when he got the results of the ct scan. Well, from what I was told it has only gone into 1 lymphnode, and it is still considered limited. But the oncologist said that is why he won't do the surgery. But to me that isn't a good enough reason, it's still limited, why not take it out??

I wish my insurance would allow me to go to a cancer treatment center, but right now they won't. I feel like I should be allowed to go wherever I want but we all know that isn't true. So I guess I will have to keep on fighting to get any results.

I will let you know whatever I find out.

Bobbie

[babylove91297]

I just got off the phone with my primary physican's office. They gave me an appointment to see him in the morning. So I will be able to get copies of all the results when I go in. They said they will try to have the referals to the oncologist and bone specialist by then. Hopefully they will have some answers to all of my questions as well. Will keep you posted.

Bobbie

[alexan]

Bobbie, praying so thing get easy for you.

Best wishes

hugs bucky

[nonni]

Geezzz Bobbie...sorry you are going thru this...This desease it BAD enough without you getting the run around...this is all so confusing to me too...both doctors have conflicting stories...that can't be...I hope your GP can give you some answers'...if not...DEMAND answers from both your doctors...or change them both...grrrrr...prayers for brighter day's for you...hugs..nonni

[Suzie Q]

Bobbie,

Sometimes the surgeons consider the cancer to be systemic once it is in the lymph nodes, and surgery to remove the primary may not improve the survival. The surgery itself has risks and a recovery time to consider, so if it will not help survival rate, the thinking is why risk the surgery? The important thing is to attack the circulating cancer cells and prevent them from settling in somewhere causing metastatic tumors, whether in more nodes or in other sites. This is what the chemo will do, along with hopefully knock out the primary tumor.

My mom had a hard time with this, because she really wanted the primary OUT! But after her onc explained it this way, it was clear that she was better off with no surgery. And I must add thet she did have extensive metastatic disease in both lungs; hers was definitely not limited to one node. So keep in mind that each case is different, and certainly it is a benefit to get a second or even third opinion.

Hugs,

Karen

[Connie B]

Please keep in mind that small cell lung cancer responds very well to chemo. Are you sure it's Small Cell Lung Cancer and not Non Small Cell Lung Cancer? I also wish to suggest NEVER GO TO YOUR APPOINTMENTS ALONE! We don't always honestly hear what is being thrown at us during those very stressful appointment times. It's very important to have someone (family or friend) with you OR take a tape recorder with you.

If your not clear as to what kind of lung cancer you have, have the doctor write it down for you, or ask him to spell it out so you can write it down.

I wish you ALL the best Bobbie and I hope this medical garbel will be cleared up for you VERY SOON, because it's important that you start your treatments (chemo) as soon as possible if this is small cell lung cancer.