pleasehelpme Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 My mom claims that she's "always had breathing problems" (she used to have asthma) but a doctor told her today that there was a shadow on her lung from an X-ray. She's not a smoker, but she's been working as a janitor for the last 13 years, so she breathes in a lot of chemicals from cleaning products. She's also the one who does all the cleaning around the house, so even more time spent around cleaning products. She's been having some trouble breathing lately and she sneezes a lot. There used to be a time period like four years ago when she used to cough a lot, but then she just stopped. She also had breathing problems back then, but then she just stopped complaining, so I don't know if it got better or what. What do you guys think? Is it possible to get cancer from those products? She's only 49, and I'm really really scared. I asked her if she thought it was cancer and she looked at me like I was being ridiculous, but I'm extremely scared. I think I'm going to be crying myself to sleep until I know for sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ts Posted April 1, 2009 Share Posted April 1, 2009 You can get lung cancer and never smoke or be exposed to excessive toxic chemicals (me for instance, though I do clean my own house.) But don't get ahead of yourself or your Mom. It's difficult to wait and see, but let the doctor do the next thing and test to find out what's going on. It very well could be an infection or scar tissue or something. If they have any concerns, you bet she will be tested. It's okay to be scared, but better to have good info before drawing a conclusion. And, as you will see if you look around here, many people are living after having received a cancer diagnosis and treatment. There's a lot of progress being made in this area. Good luck, and let us know how your Mom is. She's lucky to have you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SandraL Posted April 1, 2009 Share Posted April 1, 2009 Hi there. A shadow on your mom's lung is certainly something to be concerned about. But it could be oh so many things. So try not to get too scared right away. It's the not knowing that really takes a toll on our minds. So hopefully the x-ray is being followed up on properly with perhaps some other tests and you guys can find out what is really going on. Hang in there, the waiting is so hard. Sandra Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pleasehelpme Posted April 1, 2009 Author Share Posted April 1, 2009 It's just that I've been worried about this for so long. Like five years ago, I was convinced my mom had cancer because of the products she uses and I told her and she said<' No, don't be silly. I try to buy things that have very little ammonia and I try not to inhale them." But I mean, unless she'd holding her breath while she after she sprays everything, she's syill inhaling the products. Then for a while, I was convinced that I'd been wrong and this girl in my school had her mother die of lung cancer and I thought, "I'm so luky I was wrong." But then today when I heard this, I thought that there is no way it can't be cancer. I feel like I've known this forever and it's finally showing itself. I always get ahead of myself with my mom, because she's the most important person in my life. Without her, I'd feel all alone. Like I thought she had colon cancer for a bunch of reasons, but then the doctor saw the shadow while doing the test for the colon and had my mom do the x-ray. If my mom had to get cancer I wish it would've been colon cancer. I feel like I'd be too lucky if I was wrong again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fillise Posted April 1, 2009 Share Posted April 1, 2009 A shadow on a chest x-ray is something to be concerned about, but it could be many, many things. Take a deep breath and take it one day at a time until you know more. What follow-up is she being given? Susan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick C Posted April 1, 2009 Share Posted April 1, 2009 X-rays aren't the best indicator, but any abnormal result says you HAVE to do further tests. Hopefully the doc feels the same way. I'm no doctor, but I would be encouraged to hear the next step is a spiral CT scan. The scan will give a clearer image and doctors can often with greater reliability say "looks like" or "doesn't look like" let's do/not do more digging. Please keep us informed of what the next step is, but my thought is hopefully a spiral CT for greater discernment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pleasehelpme Posted April 2, 2009 Author Share Posted April 2, 2009 My mom was told to set up an appointment with a pulmonologist so that someone with more expertise could do tests on her, however I'm getting very frustrated. It seems like it's impossible to set up an appointment with our hospital and she's getting so fed up that she's decided to start looking into a private doctor, because she doesn't want to be dealing with these kinds of delays in the future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SandraL Posted April 3, 2009 Share Posted April 3, 2009 Most unfortunately many of us here have experienced frustration in getting needed tests done to confirm our diagnosis. It just seems to take forever and the waiting is excruciating. If your mom is able to see a private doc that would be great. If not, keep being pushy about getting the appointments you need. Navigating the medical system can be quite a challenge. So hang in there and try not to worry too much. Sandra Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pleasehelpme Posted April 8, 2009 Author Share Posted April 8, 2009 OK, yesterday my mom went to a pulmonologist, and he made her do a bunch of breathing tests. He said that her breathing showed symptoms of asthma, but when he made her take some medicine and re-do the tests, she didn't improve, so he said it's not asthma. He told her that it appears that she's got some kind of bronchitis or something. Today she went to the hospital and spent three hours there doing a whole bunch of things. I don't really have many details, because I just talked to her briefly on the phone, but she told me that she still has one more test to do on the 24th this month. She doesn't really sound too concerned, but I'm still worried about that she's underestimating it. Is it normal for so many tests to be necessary? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flyman35 Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 Plese try not to worry yourself too much until it's time to worry. Yes it is perfectly normal to have so many tests. My husband also started with a breathing test followed by a CT, PET SCAN, Bronchoscopy, MRI'S and X-rays before everything was finalized. Hang in there and keep us posted. Denise Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fillise Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 It often takes a lot of test, and quite frankly you want them. When they tell you it isn't lung cancer you will know they looked thoroghly. And on the off chance that it is, you want them to find it sooner than later. It can be frustrating to wait, but the tests are important. Susan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pleasehelpme Posted May 6, 2009 Author Share Posted May 6, 2009 My mom got her diagnosis today, and I'm happy to say that it's not cancer. She does have an illness, but the doctor said it's nothing malignant. I think she said that she's got some sort of emphysema, but she also has very severe allergies that need to be controlled. Also, she's got anemia which is also responsible for some of her breathing problems. They're making her get a shot every six weeks for the next six months, and she's also been told to buy two types of medicine, but I don't have details on what they are. I just want to say thanks for all your words of comfort during this time that I was so scared, and I hope that all of you are getting good news as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ts Posted May 6, 2009 Share Posted May 6, 2009 Thank you for letting us know about your Mom's dx. Best wishes to both of you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fillise Posted May 6, 2009 Share Posted May 6, 2009 Great news!!!!! You can let out a big sigh of relief now. Susan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kristi Posted May 11, 2009 Share Posted May 11, 2009 I'm so glad it's not cancer. (((hugs))) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick C Posted May 11, 2009 Share Posted May 11, 2009 I'm sorry there is still an illness, but I am so pleased when anyone here can post it isn't cancer. That's wonderful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaminkw Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 Sorry your mom still has other medical issues to deal with but BEST NEWS EVER that it's not cancer. I agree she's lucky she has you there loving and caring so much for her well-being. Judy in Key West Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barb73 Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 The report that your Mom's diagnosis was NOT cancer is so very good to learn. She will have someone loving there to help her through for that which she is being treated. Above all, she and you will know that you each have the very best medicine - each other. Your Mom is so fortunate and blessed to have a concerned and caring daughter. Wishing you all the best, Barbara Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pleasehelpme Posted September 21, 2009 Author Share Posted September 21, 2009 Hello all. I'm back again with new worries. I'm afraid about the possibility that my mother may have been misdiagnosed. The medicine that the doctor prescribed for her made her feel worse for a while and she discovered that he had prescribed the wrong thing. Ever since that she hasn't been back for any help and is convinced that her problems are not that serious. The shot she got for her allergies did work, though, however the allergies are returning as she was supposed to her six shots and has only gotten one. Ever since I found out that the doctor apparently gave her the wrong medicine, I've been unable to trust his word on anything. Is it logical for her to have emphysema as a nonsmoker? And could the shadow on her lungs be caused by this? The doctor also told her that she had some liquid in her lungs, and I'm wondering how this could have happened. She works with a lot of powerful cleaning products as a part of her job and has done for over the past decade, so could these things be the source? The tests she got done were an X-ray, a CAT scan, and breathing exercises. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RandyW Posted September 21, 2009 Share Posted September 21, 2009 I amso happy that she does not have cancer!! That is great news.... You Might want to put that one to Dr West at Cancergrace.com. You will get some answers here but our medical Oncologist is at Cancergrace.com here is the Link !! http://cancergrace.org/ D. West is gracious enough to donate what little time he has to helping with Our Medical questions. There is no charge and many of us are over there as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick C Posted September 21, 2009 Share Posted September 21, 2009 I see the latest...I would recommend a second opinion...totally diff doc, if possible at a different facility. Also, CAT scans are typically WAY better indicators than an x=ray, and if she got a cat, I would have that image sent over to a new doc and have him/her take a look. Finally, breathing, although sometimes an indication of Lung Cancer, can be a whole host of other things too. And LC often is there with no breathing problems. But one step at a time, see if you can have those CAT results shipped to another doc and go from there. GL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RandyW Posted September 21, 2009 Share Posted September 21, 2009 the other reason being the original CAT scan is a great Base exam if need be. There is a starting point in case!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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