Hi. i am brand new to this board and to the subject of lung cancer. A few weeks ago my mother in law went to a medical clinic complaining of upper back pain. A chest x-ray revealed a mass in the upper lobe of her right lung, 3 x 4 cm in size. She had a cat scan and yesterday the clinic Dr. told her he suspects lung cancer. He referred her to a pulmonologist and explained the pulmonologist will decide what type of biopsy to perform. I just called the pulmonologist and the first available appt is 2 weeks away. Can we wait that long? We live in a small town with 1 pulmonologist but I will take her out of the area if 2 weeks is too long. Also, is the pulmonologist the Dr. who will direct her treatment from now on? Any guidance you can provide will be deeply appreciated. P.S. She is 68 yrs old with a history of smoking and no other know medical problems.

Hi. i am brand new to this board and to the subject of lung cancer. A few weeks ago my mother in law went to a medical clinic complaining of upper back pain. A chest x-ray revealed a mass in the upper lobe of her right lung, 3 x 4 cm in size. She had a cat scan and yesterday the clinic Dr. told her he suspects lung cancer. He referred her to a pulmonologist and explained the pulmonologist will decide what type of biopsy to perform. I just called the pulmonologist and the first available appt is 2 weeks away. Can we wait that long? We live in a small town with 1 pulmonologist but I will take her out of the area if 2 weeks is too long. Also, is the pulmonologist the Dr. who will direct her treatment from now on? Any guidance you can provide will be deeply appreciated. P.S. She is 68 yrs old with a history of smoking and no other know medical problems.


HI

The exact location of the mass determines the type of biopsy that would be performed. Some can only be assessed via surgery, others through needle bioopsy.

Others, that are of high risk of cancer are further assessed via PET Scan. The PET scan is similar to a CT. They inject a radioactive glucose, and malignant tumors will pick it up and show 'brighter' no the scan, as cancer is 'quick growing' compared to normal healthy cells.

No, two weeks isn't that long to wait, unfortunately. Many are put into limboland for months and months.

If it is indeed cancer, they will then do staging. For instance, stage 1 isn't metastatic (hasn't moved to other areas)

The size, type and all will determine the course of treatments.

An oncologist would likely be in charge if chemo was to be used.