lung mass

[ruger243]

Hello folks, im new here and first time have posted. this is where im at and very nervous.had a ct scan and a 3.5cm mass was found in the upper left lung.it is not speculated .there were two small  nodules also below the mass went for a pet/ct scan and the mass lit up suv9. and there was a spot on the left side of my prostate also lit up. there where no other signs of hot spots.think that what they would be called. i have had the spot on the prostate ruled out as being cancer.phew that was great news.i had an biopsy done after pet/ct on the lung mass.the lab couldnt make a 100% diagnosed. and need to do further test.and they need more tissue samples.omg came close to falling over when the doctor told me that. ive had lots of test echo pft ekg blood work. im thinking that is in case i need surgery. Any input is greatly appreciated

[Robert Macaulay]

I had three biopsies before the got all the information they required one was a needle. They want to be sure before they go to the next step same for most people.

Bob

[LexieCat]

Hi, ruger, and welcome.

I'm sorry it's been so frustrating to find out what you're dealing with.  Sometimes it seems like NOTHING is ever simple.  The fact that nothing else lit up is good news.  It means that even if it turns out the mass is cancerous, it does not appear to have spread outside the lung.  And yes, the tests you have received are to ensure you are healthy enough to have surgery.  Oddly enough, when you're dealing with lung cancer, having surgery is a positive thing.  Generally they will do surgery only if there's a chance that surgery will remove the cancer entirely.  And having one lobe of the lung removed is, believe it or not, not that big a deal.  I had it done last year and was back at work in a couple of weeks.  I recovered quickly and have no lingering effects (pain, shortness of breath).  

When are you supposed to have the further biopsy?

Hang in there--this is a great group and you can feel free to ask anything.

[ruger243]

lexiecat,thank you for your reply and also Bob. i have a appointment with the surgeon tomorrow.where he is going over a few different procedures to get a biopsy. im thinking and hopping for this to happen this coming week.

[LexieCat]

Good luck, then, and be sure to keep us posted!

[BridgetO]

hi Ruger,

I agree with all that LexieCat has said. I usually do, she's a wealth of information and support!. I also had a lobectomy, in November 2016, and so far as surgery goes, it wasn't bad and I recovered fairly fast and don't need any further treatment. Being a candiate for surgery for lung cancer is really a good thing! My surgery was VATS (video assisted thorascopic surgery) and required only  3 small incisions and has faster recovery and less pain than the traditional open surgery.

Keep us up to date on what's happening with your diagnosis and treatment. And ask any questions you want. We're here for you.

Bridget O

[Tom Galli]

Welcome Ruger!

Waiting is unfortunately my worst experience in my lung cancer journey. And I’ve had a long journey — almost 15 years of survivorship.

Lung cancer claimed my entire right lung. Then I had lots of chemotherapy. But, despite my treatment experience, I’m alive and enjoying life on one lung. Your take away from my treatment experience: if I can live, so can you. 

My input: with a PET SUV of 9, you have metastatic cancer. Likely lung cancer but only a biopsy can confirm cancer. I do hope your doctors get enough tissue to get a diagnosis. That allows a treatment plan to be developed. 

You’ll likely have questions and this is the place. We are not doctors but are experts in surviving lung cancer. 

Stay the course. 

Tom

[ruger243]

update to this Fridays meet with the surgeon. His thoughts are  that the pet/ct scan only lit up the mass in the lung. and during the biopsy that they also took samples of  lymph nodules. And them came back as negative as well. So the plan he laid out  was to put me to sleep and small incision in the throat and go in and test  a few other lymph to be sure of no spread and biopsy the mass at the same time. And while I'm still a sleep they will test them right then in there. if the nodules come negative and the mass is positive it mean that it is contain in the lung. at that point he will going in and remove what part of the lung he needs to. if  both test come back positive he stops and I will have to do chemo then  go in later to remove  the lung. 

[LexieCat]

That sounds like a reasonable game plan.  If there are positive lymph nodes you'd need chemo in any event.  

Do you know when you'll have the surgery?

[Robert Macaulay]

Yes they want to be real sure before anyone gets on the cancer train and no second guessing with your plan of attack.

Bob

[ruger243]

im getting a second opinion this tuesday. that i have had lined up. i did feel comfortable with fridays meeting.im still going to hear the other surgent out.as to when week of the 18 th

[LexieCat]

You're going about this in a very sensible way.  And it sounds like the first surgeon is a good choice unless you like the second one better.  You should be in good shape.

Keep us posted!

[Tom Galli]

Ruger,

Your biopsy method (small incision at the base of the throat) was exactly the method my surgeon used on me to obtain a biopsy.  They used what is called a rigid bronchoscope to get samples of my nodes and primary.  The surgeon later said I was in the operating room for a number of hours (under anesthesia of course) while he snipped nodes and sent them to the pathologist for real-time testing.  Recovery was a piece of cake.

Stay the course.

Tom 

[ruger243]

Hi folks im back to fill you all in. I did get a second opinion and it was pretty close to the first one. only deafferents was he wanted to go in  VATS  and remove the upper lobe and the lymph node then biopsy every thing .and  he could do it that Friday which was only 3 days away do to a cancellation. where as the other one was going to be up to a month out. So I went with my guts that's been telling me get that thing out of my body. operation went as planned nice an smooth  first night was the worse night. then got pain under control and ive been fine ever sense a bit sore but im good with it. Well yesterday I went in  for check up up for the operation had and x-ray of chest. and get biopsy results. this is where my chin hit my knees. the lung nodule was positive for small cell carcinoma and of all the lymph nodes only one tested positive for the same. was told that it was rare to find this at such and early stage?? at pT1c N1 lt least stage 2 b..  any input would bee great thank you all

[LexieCat]

SUPER glad you grabbed that early appointment.  Small Cell is a challenge, for sure, but they are making progress with treatment for that all the time, too.  And early stage is AWESOME.  

I'm glad the surgery went so well--it really is amazing how fast one can recover from VATS.

When do you meet with the oncologist for a treatment plan?

[BridgetO]

Glad you got that thing out of there!  Keep us up to date.