I am very overwhelmed right now and hope someone out there can help me figure this out. Any help is greatly appreciated.

I was admitted to the hospital with bacterial pneumonia 12/30. Large pocket of pneumonia on bottom of lung, 5 visible nodes in the middle of lung which lung doctor said could be cancer, abscess at the top of the lung. Had a cat scan and series of chest xrays in the hospital confirming all this. IV antibitoics helped with the infection and I went home 1/4.

Went for a followup this Tuesday with a GP and the 5 nodes were referred to as cancer. Pneumonia still there but better. Not sure about abscess since the GP didn't do a chest xray. He chose not to do the xray when he saw on the report from the hospital a 10cm lesion on my liver was discovered during the hospital cat scan. He gave me the name of an oncologist and told me to get familiar with the word cancer. He also ordered a cat scan of my liver for Feb. 1st. GP also told me the trachea lymph node was prominently sticking out and all 3 things (lymph node, 5 lung nodes, and lesion on liver) were likely connected.

I have an appointment with the lung doctor this coming Monday. I went on the web and pulled a list of questions for the lung doctor and another list of questions about liver cancer. Now I don't know what to do. I am trying not to jump to conclusions but.....

I will be 37 February 5th, smoked for 22 years and went on the patch this Tuesday. I have always had good health until back problems and surgeries within the past year. Any ideas or advice for me?

Someone....please....any thoughts on all this? I'm desparate to hear someone tell me anything.

How can they say cancer without a biopsy? Did you have a PET scan? I had a nodule on my lung and also one on my liver..the liver one was just a cyst, whcih was determined by an ultrasound...

I know you are scared...does MASS in your name mean Massachusetts? I am from Massachusetts...

Yes, I'm from Chelmsford, Massachusetts. And very glad to live where I do if I have a battle ahead of me! It's heart wrenching reading this board and seeing that people have to take a plane to a hospital in another state for treatment. I am only about 45 minutes outside of Boston where some of the best doctors are.

The lung doctor and my general practioner agreed the 5 nodes were likely lung cancer based on the 3 chest xrays and the cat scan. Plus I have a family history of cancer but not of lung cancer and all have been men.

The thing that bugs me is that the 10cm lesion on my liver was seen on the cat scan but not reported to me while I was in the hospital. It was discovered by accident Tuesday when the doctor was feeling my ribs (2 are cracked from the coughing and pneumonia) and I mentioned some tenderness when he reached the bottom of the ribs. He then felt my belly some and it hurt even more. He then grabbed the report to read and told me the lesion was discovered during the cat scan and was labeled as suspicous due to the suspicous 5 nodes on the lung they attributed to a carcinoma. This is 2 weeks after the cat scan and 3 chest xrays. Right after that he checked all the lymph nodes and mentioned the protruding trachea node on the left side. I can feel it since it's really sticking out there.

It was at this time he told me to get used to the word cancer and gave me the name of the oncologist. I don't know what to do. The oncologist won't see me until the lung doctor does a definitive diagnosis and I don't know what to do about lining something up about the liver. I just don't know anything anymore.

Mom, did the lung doctor not do biopsies? Or schedule any? If not how do they know for sure and if so what kind? It would need to be identified so the oncologist will know how to treat it. Is this the same Dr you had in the hospital? Good luck and hope things go well for you.

No biopsies of anything yet. I will see the lung doctor Monday and he is the same doctor I saw in the hospital. I instantly liked him because he was straight forward and very matter of fact. I don't know what to expect from that appointment but my husband will be with me. I'm not sure why both doctors seem to think it's lung cancer but this is what they have told me. I can't help but feel unsettled by it all since they both feel very confident it's cancer. I do plan to ask about biopsies and blood work. I am curious about the size of the nodes on my lung.

Hang in there...your appt is not that far off..you are awfully young for lung cancer so keep that in mind. If it is cancer you are right...Boston is a great place to be.

I don't know what to tell you - my liver and lung lesions were benign - and yours may be too...so hang onto that possibility until you hear otherwise.

My best advice right now is exercise. Talk long, long walks. Eat right, and keep the patch on. I know how hard it is to sop smoking. I smoked as long as you did and I have not smoked in 4 months (since my surgery to have the lung nodule removed). And one of the best things you can do is spend alot of time with friends that make you laugh - stay away from negative people - they will bring you down - you can't afford to be depressed right now!

If you need to vent I am hear to listen - hang in there...

Hi! I don't have any advice because I am in a situation where I don't know either, but it doesn't compare to what you must be going through right now. The fortunate thing is that medicine today is more advanced than 2years ago. I have always said that God has a reason for everything, and with everything being caught by CT on accident (mine was too) it has been found, no matter what it is and can be treated immediately. I wish you all the luck with everything! I just turned 37 last month and the thought of having cancer scares the heck out of me! One thing that has calmed me is just reading and researching online. If you haven't gone to Lance Armstrong's website...GO there!!! It has so much information on ALL cancer and many links too! www.laf.org
I will say a prayer for you and please...be strong!
Mandy

mwessell.....what was the surgery to remove your node like and how are you doing now? How were the liver and lung lesions discovered?

mandasue....how long have you been dealing with this and when do you think you will find out? And how are you able to be so calm?!

Since I found out I can't relax. Sleep is elusive, my head is going a mile a minute. I finally got out of bed a few minutes ago because my legs were twitching, then my arms. Tossing and turning.

Hi...

I had some swelling and pain in my left collarbone area (I think it was from lifting my daughter's infant seat up into my Toyota SUV a few times a day) and the doctor thought it may be arthritis. He ordered a CT scan because it would show so much more than an x-ray. Well, the lung nodule was on my right lung - so it was found by accident. This is usually the case with lung nodules I guess. The liver lesion was discovered on the same CT Scan.

The position of the nodule allowed the surgeon to remove it with a VATS surgery. This was done with 2 scopes and took about 2 hours. The surgery was not that bad - I had never had surgery before and was terrified (I am 43). I made a pretty quick recovery. I was in the hospital for 3 days. It was benign - probably caused by a bad case of bronchitis or pneumonia that was not diagnosed.

The only bad part was the chest tube. They collapse your lung to remove the nodule and then it is reinflated. The chest tube sucks all the blood and air out of the cavity so your lung can fully inflate. This is an uncomfortable tube - but not painful. Once it comes out - you feel 100% better in a minute or so.

All in all...not a bad surgery at all. I was back in the swing of things within a couple of weeks and the scars are small. I feel GREAT now - still not smoking I'm sure has something to do with it. I am totally recovered except for tingling on my right side. That is normal with any surgery and may take up to a year to go away. No big deal though.

I know how scary this is for you...I had 3 months in between finding the nodule and the surgery - had a hard time sleeping and eating - but you have to keep up your strength for the surgery or treatment - trust me - you will feel better with exercise too...it boosts your mood.

keep me posted...

HI

Ok, here's what I'd do in your shoes.

First- INSIST on a biopsy of the lung nodes AND the liver mass. An x-ray can't positively diagnose cancer, but with many suspicious masses and another in the liver, I can see why they are looking in that direction.

If the oncologist won't see you, find another one. If this is definitly cancer, then it needs treated right NOW. Lung cancer with mets to the liver, or liver cancer with mets to the lung- either way, it needs to be addressed.

Insist that the Pulmonary doc do a biopsy. Either that, or that he gives you a diagnosis to take to the oncologist. Once being treated by an oncologist, he will treat all the cancer, not just the lungs.

If phone calls don't get you moving, present yourself to an ER and INSIST that something be done. Waiting is too dangerous with potential Cancer.

All that said, though, a major infection in the lungs can cause the glands to swell and all that.

Be proactive. Get copies of those CT results and READ them yourself- if you don't know what you're reading, post them on the forum. Someone here will know what it means.

You're young- that's in your favor. But the time to act is now. Do NOT let them tell you 'Let's retest in 3 months". Insist on action now.

Hugs
Patty

Well said Patty! MominMass...Listen to her!!!

Thanks for the words of wisdom and advice. It's very surreal though. All of this. I have so many questions and waiting is the hardest part. Plus, I have 2 kids, 13 and 10 and they're wondering why Mom's still home from work and why the pneumonia isn't gone. I just have no energy or appetite and the doctor said not to go back to work yet. Thank goodness my boss is so undertsanding.

Any chance the 5 nodes on the lung could be spots of pneumonia? Has anyone heard of that happening before?

The spot on my liver actually freaks me out more than the lung. I read somewhere on the web last night/this morning that undetected lung cancer usually spreads to a major organ and by the time it's all discovered it's usually too late for treatment. Hopefully the 10cm lesion on the liver turns out to just be a benign cyst. I used to be prone to ovarian cysts so you never know right?

On a brighter note, I finally feel tired for the first time since this crashed on me Tuesday. At this point I've been going on fumes and hopefully I'll sleep tonight. Thanks again to all for your advice and help.

Hi,

Cysts on the liver are VERY common...a fact that I hope comforts you...I did not know this untl after I found out it was a benign cyst. I remember looking for somewhere to throw up when they told about the liver - and I wasn't thinking of myself..just my kids just like you. I have a 1 year old and a 12 year old, both girls.

The liver thing bothered me more too...when I went for the ultrasound on the liver, I remember saying that I could deal with the nodule on the lung, but not the lesion on the liver.

Pneumonia can leave scars/nodules so maybe this is the case with you (I hope).

As k your doctor about something to help you sleep - tylenol PM may not be a bad call - but ask your doctor first.

Hang in there and sleep tight!

Lovely blizzard we're having right now! We are up to 20 inches so far and it's still snowing. Thankfully the Patriots are playing in PA. I can't imagine if they were home the game would be on.

I am operating on a "one day at a time" mentality. I was finally able to sleep Friday night, waking up just once. Saturday morning was the first time in days I felt somewhat normal.

After talking to a friend last night (I slept good again, must be catching up) I decided the 5 nodes on the lung were little bits of pneumonia (thanks for planting the idea in my head!) and the protruding trachea node was related. I just can't find a better explanation for the liver mass. The lung doctor appt. is 3:45 tomorrow and the hospital is across the parking lot. I am going to ask to go right over for the biopsy and get the ball rolling. It's bad enough I have to wait until Feb. 1st for the liver cat scan and that's the one thing wrong with me that scares me the most. I've never been a patient person and the waiting is the worst. The nicotine patch is working great by the way.

mwessell........What was your liver biopsy like?

Hi,

Yeah, great blizzard...cabin fever!!!

I did not have a biopsy on the liver...they did an ultrasound - and then a level 3 ultrasound to be sure - and the radiologist himself came into the ultrasound to let me know it ws just a cyst. I think the tech saw how freaked out I was about it and called him in.

Anyway, the ultrasound can determine if it is a cyst or not - so a very simple test!

I am so glad to hear that you are sleeping and the patch is working. Waiting does suck!!! Of course you are thinking the worst...I certainly did. My husband did a great job of handling the kids while I was a zombie - and my friends were great too. Surfing the internet looking for information is a double-edged sword -yeah it is good to be educated, but it can also be scary to know of all the possible scenarios.

By the way, have they ordered a PET Scan yet? That is a test that will show if there is cancer present or not. Not 100% accurate, but a great test. It is also used to stage cancer...it can tell if it is in the nodes and had spread. It is a painless test. They inject you with radioactive glucose. This will cling to cancer sites and light up on the scan. You just have to lie still for about 30 minutes. I asked for one because I had read about them - not a common thing. So my doctor was kind enough to order one!

Keep me posted!

Oh yeah...and :bouncing: GO PATS :bouncing:

Can't sleep. My head is killing me and my legs are all twitchy again. Plus I feel horrible I smoked. I didn't put the patch on after my shower yesterday. I was feeling stressed out with my brother coming over for the football game and seeing him for the first time since this hit the fan. Plus knowing that today I have another chest xray and I'll take that to the lung doctor late this afternoon. Just too much all at once and I smoked.

I will ask the lung doctor about the PET scan but no, it hasn't been mentioned by any doctor yet.

Oh well. Go Pats! Super Bowl bound again!

Hi,

Don't feel so bad about smoking. It is so addictive - I could not quit before my surgery - the stress and fear were too much. Just put the patch on and start again. It's not just the nicotine in there that is addictive. I am convinced there are more addictive ingredients they put in there - shame on the cigarette manufacturers. They should have paid for all my tests and surgery.

I am so sorry you couldn't sleep - you need to keep up your strength. Good luck today - keep me posted - I will be thinking of you - I remember going through all the same stuff. Be strong for your kids...DIG IN and fight!

Ask for the PET Scan - no one offered it to me - I am the one that brought it up.

And God Bless Johnny Carson - a victim of smoking - died of emphysema. He was my favorite.

I had the chest xray this morning and have the films with me. When I came home there was a message to call the lung doctor. It seems he is stuck in an airport somewhere because of the storm and won't be back for my appt. at 3:45 today!

Needless to say I freaked but the nurse is trying to get me in today with another doctor in the practice. She understands the torture of being told all this scarey stuff and having to wait what seems like a lifetime.

But.....I looked at the xrays myself....compared 1/01 films (clear) then the 12/30/04 films (with all this trouble) then todays films and I can see a difference! The abscess at the top seems gone, I see what I *THINK* are 3 spots, and then the pocket of pneumonia on the bottom of the lung is much smaller! I won't feel comfortable until someone reads the xrays and report and tells me what the real scoop is though. For all I know I could be looking in the wrong place. But I'll take whatever I can at this point.

I'll put the patch back on after I see a doctor today. I have 1 cigarette so it's no big deal and I'm not going to beat myself up about it.

Appointment with the lung doctor was canceled. No one else in his office will see me. I called my doctor and demanded someone call me back with the report from this mornings xrays, I was on the verge of a breakdown. I also took the opportunity to tell them how mean it was to freak me out with all this and then be so dismissive about canceling and rescheduling the appointments. Said I needed answers and more testing now because I wasn't sleeping and could barely eat. Cross your fingers I get somewhere. I'm not normally aggressive but..it felt good to grab some control!

I hope you get some answers today... By the way, it is not the lung doctor that reads the xrays...it is the radiologist where they were taken. All the lung doctor does is read the report. I think this is right!?!

These people deal with patients all day long and sometimes we become numbers. Hang in there...keep yourself busy - that always helped me.

The radiologist read the xrays and made the report before I left so all the information is there and ready for someone to tell me! I still haven't heard from the doctor though.

I am trying to stay busy as best I can but I have so little energy for too much of anything. Between the pneumonia still being here and not sleeping just showering and dressing wipes me out.

I think I would lose my mind if I hadn't found this board. Just typing what I am thinking and feeling helps a lot. Only a handful of people close to me know what is going on but it's difficult to talk openly with the kids around as they don't know anything. And they won't until I know for sure what's happening. It was especially hard today as those who know I was supposed to see the lung doctor have called to get the scoop but I can't really talk because the kids had a snow day.

Anyway, thanks so much for being here for me.

Just wanted to post here and tell you that a very dear friend of mine who was diagnosed with bacterial pneumonia on Christmas Eve was told a week later that they were also more than 90% sure she also had lung cancer. They did a biopsy and found that she had lung abcesses, which are slowly clearing up from the antibiotics she is taking. Hang in there and know that I, along with many others here I am sure, are praying for you and hoping for the best!

I know what its like to wait. I had a breast cancer scare this summer and had to wait several weeks for a biopsy. I too couldn't sleep and lost 10 pounds in 14 days just because of worry. Just like in your case the doctors just didn't seem to think anything of making me wait. So, I can totally empathize with you on the waiting. Its so hard.

God bless!

Nancy

I hope you get some answers today. I just can not believe a doctor would tell you to get used to the word cancer without even having test results yet. VERY unprofessional to do that...never mind the way he phrased it!

Good luck today - I hope all is well.

Thanks for the encouragement. I had been thinking off and on the 5 spots discovered would just turn out to be bits of infection/mini pockets of pneumonia. Anything else was just unacceptable to me.

I'll keep praying this is the case with the lung since the pneumonia was so large at the bottom of the lung and the abscess at the top of the lung was so large. The 5 spots were in the middle so it is possible it could be infection floating you would think. Maybe?

I just need to know about the lung issue so I can then move on to the trachea lymph node and the liver mass. Never heard from the doctor yesterday about the findings on the xray. I'll give him till noon today and then I'll go nutty.

Not fully awake yet..... Nancy.....glad your scare turned out well for you! With me, the pneumonia and abscess were discovered 12/30 and I was down 6 pounds already. I am normally 110-115 lbs. I was in the hospital for a week and lost another 6. After a week home I gained 2 back. At my followup last Tueday I gained another 2. I have no idea how much I weigh now since my scale is broken. I feel very boney though so I don't think I am back to my normal weight.

Thanks again for the encouraging post about your friend.

mwessell.......thanks for understanding why this is freaking me out and why I am so angry he hasn't bothered to take 2 minutes and tell me about the xray. I hope he doesn't need medical care anytime soon.

Hey,

Unfortunately, I was freaking out too at one point. I had 3 months of waiting and wondering. Here's a couple of ideas...

When you go to the doctor's office, bring a box of candy or something small for the receptionist. This will make her remember you, and when you need another appt she will be more receptive to you. Do this at all the doctor's offices you go to. This will make them remember the face when they see your name or hear your voice on the phone.

If you feel like you are gonna freak out on someone on the phone, have your husband make the call. I remember one call mine had to make because I was sitting in a parking lot sobbing after a test. I insisted he not go with me because I felt like a burden to him, and it backfired on me. He had to come and get me and call the doctor to get some answers. I had driven about 5 miles before I pulled into this lot and I have no recollection of getting there.

I know EXACTLY how you feel. It is ok to be scared. I felt like I was falling into a deep hole and the walls were closing in on me at the same time. I kept looking at my husband and asking "what is happening?" But somewhere down the line you will be surprised when you muster up that inner strength and find that the days go by easier than they do now.

Read this book: "How Not to Be My Patient" by Dr. Edward Creaghan. This helped so much before my surgery. Even if it was malignant, this book helped me so much!!! Great advice in it from a cancer specialist.

And no offense to cotongal, but an imaginary hug from a white cartoon dog on your website advertising your business isn't what someone in MominMass' position needs right now. I am sorry if that sounds mean, but if someone wrote that to me when I was waiting for my diagnosis, I would be scratching my head wondering "what the heck does that have to do with the fact that my girls might grow up without a Mom?"

Keep me posted MominMass...

Mary Ellen

Mary Ellen....The doctor's office called at 10:25 this morning to tell me the doctor would call me with the xray report. I guess they fially got around to returning my call from 2:30 yesterday afternoon. I am STILL waiting for the xray report! :o At this point, the idea of bribing a nurse with some candy seems to be the only shot I have at getting some answers. Unfortunately, I have to wait for them to tell me when I can come in again! :o I am SO angry right now.

I know what you mean about not wanting to be a burden to your husband. I went to the followup without mine last Tuesday and I fell apart in the car on the way home alone. I ended up at a friends house and don't remember how I got there. Since that happened I've decided he has to be with me from now on since I feel so overwhelmed with it all. I'm also afraid I won't remember what the doctor said.

The fact that I am having trouble sleeping is probably connected the the burden issue too. We haven't really talked any of this through yet. Fear and lack of opportunity with the 2 kids around I imagine. Plus he is a black/white with no in-between sort of guy. A gray area does not exist is his world! We usually go upstairs and watch the 10pm news in bed and fall asleep with the timer on. I end up awake by 11:30-12:15, lie there and sob or come downstairs and sob. It's sort of like I instinctly know I have to wait until he is so asleep he won't hear me cry.

I will look for the book you mentioned and thanks for your comments about that website. I went there and was like :confused: I thought it would be best not to make a remark thinking there was a good intention there somewhere. But.....you read my mind. Thanks.

Sherry

HI

I have a standard operating procedure with any tests. I go and personally get copies of the test/x-rays and the reports and read them myself.

I have a medical background, so usually know just enough to scare myself, LOL. But, at least I can read what is being said.

I've discovered over the years that the doctors aren't always completely honest with us about what reports read.

I found out about the enlarged nodes and hilar changes by reading the report, not from the doctor.

Go get copies of your reports. You're in charge of your health, not them. You need to know what is happening. And you need to know now.

Yes, it's possible that the gunk is left over from the infection you had- but you have the right to know that.

Get the reports and demand that the doctor explain them to you if you don't understand what you read.

I found many of my health problems by reading my reports and demanding explanations of them.

Good luck

Hi...

I feel bad that you wake up after your husband is asleep and spend time alone crying...I did the same thing and it sucks! It is a lonely place to be for you right now...but please remember that there are others that have gone through what you are going through now...you are really not alone...it's just that those closest to you don't know what you are feeling.

Geez, ya think maybe these doctors can give you some info???? I think it is cruel to leave you hanging - the reports are done - get someone on the phone to talk to you. They become desensitized (sp?) as to what the patient is feeling. Your report is sitting on a desk and they are not losing any sleep over it...that ticks me off too.

Here's some more advice...watch a VERY funny movie...a favorite - laughter helps!!!

Let me know how make out!

Mary Ellen

Another snow day for the kids today. I bet this is the day the doctor is going to call with the xray report too. It has to be. Just my luck too. The kids are home and I won't be able to ask any questions.

I slept better last night. It seems that after 3 nights of being up in the middle of the night on the 4th day my body just crashes from exhaustion. I didn't have any weird dreams either which is a plus! We were watching a couple of funny shows and we were laughing which has a downside for me actually. The 2 cracked ribs are getting better but it still hurt like hell when I laughed. It was worth it though.

After I find out what is definitely going on I plan to leave this doctors office and go somewhere else. I had already made up my mind when this hit last Tuesday. Then I plan to write a letter to the HMO explaining why I left. I've also considered asking the doctor if he has had a health scare like this and how he would feel. How would he feel if I were his daughter going through this and being at someone's mercy for answers and information?

No kidding! Making you wait is ridiculous. Thank you by the way for responding to my whiney posts. I know that we each are different, and my turmoil is mine, as your's is yours. However! You don't even have to write a letter to your HMO you can call them today, and immediately get them to change your physician. I have done it, and they can do it for you. Especially if you tell them what's been going on. They are obligated to help you with your care. Then, AFTER this Dr. gives you your results, go in the bathroom and ask questions if you have too. Let him have it as well, make him feel what you've been feeling, and giving him a little taste of what you've been feeling will do him plenty good. I wish you well, Please keep us informed. You push. You push for your rights, you push for your care, you make things happen. You are your best care giver. :wave:

Hi Sherry,

Any news today?

Mary Ellen

After 2 phone calls made by me today I have a semi answer. All they would say is the xray shows some improvement. That's it. Nothing about how the pneumonia may be reduced, if the abscess is reduced/gone, nothing about the 5 nodes. And they think this is an acceptable answer?! After he yelled at me to get familiar with the word cancer and to call the oncologist just a week ago?

Good news for sure (I'll take it) but I can feel the improvement myself! I can breath better so I know the pneumonia is going away! It was just a nasty call to the office talking to a nurse. She was rude beyond belief and actually tried to make me feel bad for calling. Apparently the doctor was called away for a death in his family. I do feel bad for his loss but she chastised me for being impatient with him not calling me back yet. I didn't know why he wasn't calling me back until she yelled at me. Just unbelievable and I am getting angry just thinking about it again. And to top this off, they still haven't sent the xray report over to the lung doctor I see this Friday afternoon.

Thank goodness the people in the lung doctors office have been so wonderful and understanding. They aren't too happy with how I've been treated by my regular doctor and assure me their office doesn't operate that way. The nurses I spoke to were relaying everything going on to the lung doctor. They called me and said he would be personally calling my regular doctor for the xray report. At least I have one medical professional who is kind!

I plan to take the improvement as a positive sign. Denial maybe but at this point I don't care. I am just going to operate with the thought that the nodes are bits of pneumonia or bits from the abscess and all this is just going to blow over. Then I can deal with the 10cm liver lesion. THAT has scared me more than the chance of this lung cancer. And I plan to find a new doctor starting Monday!

Hi Sherry,

I don't think you are in denial...no one has made an official diagnosis! So all you know is that there are nodules on your lungs and something on your liver and you don't know what they are! They do not have to be cancer!

I can't believe your doctor hasn't ordered a CT scan yet...check into that! The CT scan will show better waht is there...believe it or not stuff on the x-rays could even be shadows!

Your regular doctor and the nurse in his office both sound like jerks...don't let them push you around... YOU are the customer here..YOU are paying for their services...

Things are good so far...hang in there...I hope what I write here helps you with all this...I stuck around this board to help others that have not been diagnosed yet and helping them maintain hope!

Make sure to bring the lung doctor's office a small token of your appreciation...they will love it and when you need something they will be there for you...I brought donuts to my pulmonologist and they loved them...


Hang in there..the answers will come soon!


Mary Ellen

Hey Mary Ellen,

Thanks for your encouraging words. They really do help. I woke up just about 20 minutes ago and feel normal for the first time in weeks. Great sleep last night but I think it's mostly my attitude change. I am all done being afraid of this. I think I'll go shopping today!

I wouldn't be so freaked about the lung cancer if both doctors didn't drill it into my head. Everything they found showed up on 3 xrays and the cat scan too. I initially dismissed the nodes as being part of the abscess or pneumonia when they told me in the hospital. But then the lung doctor said that was irresponsible for me to think that way and I had to consider the very strong likelihood it was. I still dismissed it and didn't even bother telling my husband when he came to the hospital to take me home. Then in the followup with the regular doctor 2 weeks later (last Tuesday) he said the same but grabbed my hands and shouted at me. Then he told me to call a specific oncologist. Then the liver issue was discovered accidentally. I then told my husband everything.

I'm just going to put the lung issue out of my head and go with my original thought and instinct from almost a month ago. That is.....it's nothing major and connected to the pneumonia. I'll ask the lung doctor if he has any pull to get me the cat scan of the liver before Feb. 1st.

I just heard from the jerk face doctor an hour ago after 3 days of calling. With plenty of attitude and a dismissive tone I might add. He finally read the xray report from Monday and said it showed signs of improvement. The abscess and pneumonia are still there but seems to be getting better. When I asked if I needed to be on antibiotics again to get rid of the abscess he said it wasn't necessary. He wants me to follow up with him in 6 weeks and have another chest xray.

When I mentioned I would see him sooner than 6 weeks he was confused. I HAD to remind him about the 10cm liver lesion on the cat scan he told me about! Can you believe this?! He totally forgot about that but wouldn't you think he would freshen his memory with my chart BEFORE he called me? Like I'm going to see him for a follow up. Anyway, I see the lung doctor tomorrow at 2:45 and hopefully he will have some information about the 5 nodes on the lung and the trachea node.

I'm taking this as a positive sign things are going to be okay with the lung. Keep your fingers crossed the liver and lymph node turn out to be nothing.

Keeping you in my prayers. My sister was diagnosed about a year and a half ago and she is feeling fine today. Of course, she has to go in for check-ups every 3 months.

A dear friend of mine is in the hospital now and they are biopsying nodes in her lungs today. She also has liver problems which they have diagnosed as hep c. There are other health issues also and it is overwhelming to her as well it should be. I hope you get the answers you need and that they are the ones you seek. Have strength and faith.

I just ordered 10 bracelets from the LAF site, and 10 more from the American Cancer site. The Lance Armstrong bracelets say Live Strong, I believe. The bracelets for lung cancer say Live Free Smoke Free. I have friends and family that I will give these to. The money goes to cancer research and is money well spent.

God bless.

Hi Sherry,

I think you are going to be fine...it is too funny though...you said exactly what I did about being done being afraid of it all...it does take a toll on you.
Congratulations on finding that inner strength!!!

And remember...cysts on the liver are very common.

And I am so glad to hear you are feeling better! Now if we can just warm up this weather a bit...these poor kids are gonna be in school until July if they have any more snow days!

Keep me posted!

Mary Ellen

Thanks for the encouraging words KareFree. I already have the bracelets. Bought them in the fall when a friend was dealing with brain cancer. He's doing okay now.

MaryEllen...I literally woke up a different person yesterday morning. I was ready for the jerk doctor when he called and gave the attitude right back. :nono: I had many more questions but he cut me short. No matter. I'm seeing the lung doctor this afternoon.

The cold really stinks :eek: but so far my kids have had just 3 snow days. The snowbank is so high near my mailbox it's covered and we had to dig an opening for the mail man.

My parents left for Hawaii for 2 1/2 weeks at 5:30 this morning. Now I can tell my other sister what's been going on and I'll tell my brother when he gets back from Miami Monday. It's been hard dealing with this and not having all the support from my family. Being the oldest, my sister would have felt everyone had a right to know and made what we call a "family proclamation". But if they knew, my brother and parents would not have gone on their vacations. Not fair to them at all. And now that I think of it, I need a warm, tropical vacation when this is over! :cool: Hopefully today it will be done. Unless he wants to do a biopsy. Then I need to worry about having that done and someone NOT telling my parents. They will leave Hawaii and come home without a doubt.

Anyway, dealing with the lung issue today and putting that to bed and then on to the liver issue for Feb. 1st. I have 2 new doctors to call this morning to see if they will take me on quick. I won't go back to my doctor who seems to forget everything!

9 days to the Super Bowl....Go Pats!!!!!!! :bouncing:
Love these icons by the way.... :wave:

Hi again,

VERY smart not to tell your parents because you know they would NEVER have left if they knew what was going on. When it turns out to be nothing more than a good health scare for you (and I know it will!), you would be kicking yourself in the butt if you had told them. You may have this all resolved by the time they get back!

I told my mother when I knew I was going to have the surgery...If I could have gotten away with not telling her at all, I would have. She is THE BIGGEST WORRIER!!! Get this - - - when I came out of surgery and they got me into my room, the phone was already ringing - yup it was Mom - she had got herself into such a frenzy worrying about me during my surgery, that she went into atrial fibrillation of the heart (can be caused by stress) and was admitted into the same hospital as me. She was one floor below me and we could not see each other because she was ordered to stay in bed and I had a chest tube in. she ended up staying in longer than me!

I am so glad you feel better - just like me - waking up one day and having enough of it all!

I have had it with the snow...just too hard bundling up the one year old - she hates coats and hats...ready for the spring!

See ya,

Mary Ellen

I have the worst headache and I am so sick to my stomach. I just want it to be 2:45 and the appointment in process. I can't decide if I should pack a bag or not just in case I can get a biopsy immediately. I know he wants to do one but I wish it would be today or this weekend. I would like to get it over with, heal, and be home before my parents get home from Hawaii. Plus I need to be home when they call from Hawaii for my birthday 2/5.

I think we have the same mother. When I had spinal surgery in June '04 my mom was beside herself and would not leave me be! Even after I came home from the hospital she called constantly until I had to tell her she woke me up everytime she called. Only then did she backoff.

The waiting for my husband to get home so we can go to the appt. is making me nuts. I'm going to go clean something. Will come back and update tonight.

You poor thing...I remember this all too well!!! The waiting is the worst of all!

Remember this is going to make you a stronger person (trust me it does) and you have quit smoking!!!!!!!

I wish I had some suggestions on how to pass the time, but, I paced back and forth all the time - I am the worst when it comes to patience!!!

Good luck today - I will be thinking of you - it's 2:00 already - not long now!!!

Mary Ellen

Hey Sherry,

How did the appointment go...I hope the fact that you haven't been on for an update is good news...

Sorry it's taken me this long to get back here. The news is good! There is no cancer the lung doctor told us. He has no idea why his colleague told me that and why my doctor agreed with it. He was also very disturbed with everything my doctor said to me and agrees I need a new doctor. And that 10cm liver lesion.....the lung doctor went back and looked at the cat scan and read the report....it is actually a 1mm cyst and he thinks I was probably born with it! So everything just turned out to be wonderful yesterday. He suggested I go to the scheduled cat scan of the liver though just to ease my mind and put it all to rest. I will go back for a checkup and xray in March and he thinks I can go back to work the end of February.

The abscess and pneumonia are still there and very large but it is improving. He thinks I had the pneumonia for about 8 weeks and thinks it will probably take that long to get rid of it. Until then, rest, relax, eat, and get healthy.

Making the phone calls with the good news was awesome. Very emotional though. There were a lot of happy tears. I called a good friend at work with the news and she said she had a surprise in the office for me and asked if I could come in. When I got there 2 of my bosses were there and a few other really good friends with wine to celebrate. I was shocked!

Wow...]SO HA[/B]PPY for you...what a scare though!!! I still start to cry when I tell people about my liver and lung lesions...so glad you did not have to have surgery like me...it sucked...

SO HAPPY FOR YOU...CONGRATUALTIONS!!!!!!!!

Mary Ellen

WHAT A RELIEF! I know you dont know me, but I have been following your posts and praying for you! I can only imagine how you must feel with this burden lifted from your shoulders! Congrats on your new lease on life!

IM so HAPPY for you... what a haul doing the waiting game!!! Time to sigh....As we use to say down south your "walking in high cotton now gurl"
yeaaawhooo..... Mattie

Hey Mom in Mass....I'm so glad to hear that all is well with you...I came across this board and have been following your diagnosis...etc.. ever since....It's like a book that one just can't put down...I anxiously awaited for a response/post from you each and everyday.....It is such a relief knowing that you will be fine.....Now you can get on with your life....I have yet to wonder why we go in certain paths during life....some of them happy, sad, ..etc....I know how stressful life can be and when faced with other challenges, such as health...it can be only more stressful.....Best of Luck......As always, bigbaz

This really is an incuraging post, knowing that even when things look bleak. They can still turn out ok...
I hard concept to hold on to, in the misdt of a scare like this.

take it as a chance to stop smoking. :angel:

Thanks so much to everyone for their good thoughts and prayers. It's been the most trying time in my life! I couldn't have gone through this without the support of everyone who replied to my post and the many prayers said on my behalf.

I had a positive end result and it could happen for many others on this board too.

Sherry

I am so happy for you! I have been concerned about you since I first read your post. It sounds so much like what my friend just went through. She had pneumonia, then they thought it was cancer and it turned out to be an abscess.

Great news and I am thrilled to hear it!

Nancy