Hi Everyone,
I just had a PET Scan and they found a tumor (3.5cm) on the right upper lung and another tumor on the adrenal gland (1.5 cm) 2 lymph nodes contain cancerous cells and a left perihilum lesionas as well as one in the mediastinal node, these all likely contain tumors. I'm so sad, specially for my (5) kids. Please tell me what to expect, and if there is anyone else with this same kind of cancer. I will be going to a biopsy in a week for the tumor in the lung and adrenal gland.

Thanks and god bless,

Mari

Mari,
Im so sorry to hear about your cancer. I havent had lung cancer but both of my parents did. I hope you stay strong and find support in your family. You will all need each other. Take care

Hi Mari,
I am so sorry to hear you have cancer. You asked him someone else had the same type of cancer and I think once you get your biopsy they can tell you if it is non small or small cell. When my husband was diagnosed he had it in his right lung, brain, adrenal, liver and bones so guess it is similiar to yours, but there are different types of lung cancer. They are going to do a biopsy of the adrenal too or just the lung? My husband only had a biopsy of the lung because the rest of the cancer was spread by the lung cancer.
Please write and let us know what type so then we can give you more information. Stay positive as I know in my husband's situation he has and so have many others and it does them wonders!
A Big Hug for you and Prayers,
Kim

Hi Mari,
As Kim has said, when you find out what type you do have your question will be easier to answer. I have Non small cell lung cancer which has spread to the brain.
The thing you do need to know is everyone is treated differently (medically speaking) and each person reacts differently also. I've only been 4 months into this, but there doesn't seem to be many standard answers to anything. Each and every case is different.
BUt hang in there and let us know your questions, and we'll try to help if we can.
Faith

Thanks Everyone,

I will have a biopsy on Tuesday 4/24 and will give you more info on type of cancer. Meanwhile can you tell me which way can I boost my immune system prior to treatment...I need to stay ahead of the game, if you have any advice it will be well appriciatted or any special recipes!

Thanks and my prayers are with you,

Mari

Kim and Faith- Thanks for the support that you help provide to friends on this board. You are both very kind.

Mari, this disease is very deceptive. However, the research community continues to find beneficial drugs to comfort and stall the symptoms.

As for a boost to your immune system... I'm sure your doctor or nurse oncologist can help you with that. Be well and live strong! Tom
:)

Thanks Everyone,

I will have a biopsy on Tuesday 4/24 and will give you more info on type of cancer. Meanwhile can you tell me which way can I boost my immune system prior to treatment...I need to stay ahead of the game, if you have any advice it will be well appriciatted or any special recipes!

Thanks and my prayers are with you,

Mari

hHi Mari
Good luck tomorrow first of all. Prayers coming at you for the biopsy.
The best immune systems are given proper nutrition. So check with your doctors to see if they have a nutritionist for cancer patients. I ended up reading a lot on cancer and nutrition and did the best I could. I stopped smoking and drinking also, just to help anyway I could and walk when I can.
Lots of info out there, find reliable sources and keep a positive attitude! Boy!
that's the hard one!! LOL!!! But when you can, and you will feel better for it.
THinking of you!
Faith

Hi, I will keep you in my prayers, especially that you might have large cell cancer, as opposed to the small cell which is nasty stuff. My husband, like Kims, has the small cell and even thought he has had a good response to the chemo, it can rear it's ugly head again at any time. Anyway, as for boosting the immune system.. I am no doctor and our oncologist kinda smiles when we tell him this, but I have always believed in natural treatments. On our first visit to the chemo center, a lady who has been going there for years, told us about taking unsulphured black strap molassas to keep up the red count. We have an herbalist in town that put my husband on a tinture of an herb called Astragalus. It is supposed to support the immune system. It comes in an alcohol base which smells and tastes icky and and an alcohol free one that is almost in a glycerine state that is sweet. That one is by Oregon wild Harvest company. Anyway, does it work? Well, the further one goes into chemo the more the blood counts become depressed. My husband has had to delay chemo to bring up the counts, in particular the white. I asked him if he was taking his "stuff" and he admitted no. Well, I insisited he go back on the Astragalus and his white count went up in a week from barely good enough to do chemo to right where a normal, healthy persons count is. My herbalist says it is good to get these things going before any chemo starts if possible. Our oncologist says it can't hurt!! Good luck to you and I will certainly pray for you.

thank you for the advise,
I guess I won't know what kind of CANCER I have till after the biopsy (small cell or non small) But I do pray it's non small cell...I have faith and hope! the Lord is Grand and I belive in miracles too. I have been reading a book called SURVIVING CANCER by: Dee Simmons, when she was battling with cancer she really got into nutrition...she knew she would not survive without boosting her immune system...so anyway she now specializes in selling these nutrition product for cancer patients, so I called today to ask a little about their products. ...they might be helpful, but i still haven't tried them...I ordered some of her products to start taking it to improve my immune system cause I'm also Diabetic as well...so i need an extra boost, I have a strong will and strong mind, but a weak immune system and I know i won't be able to fight this war with a weak immune system.


I pray for Wisdom, Strength, and guidance!!!!!!

I want to thank all for your advise and my prayers are with you all!

Mari

product names are allowed - websites are not, as per the posting rules

This message is for Kim,

Hi Kim,
I was wondering if you are happy with you doctor and if you would recommend him/her as you know I live in Temecula, CA and we are somewhat close, I use to live in Irvine (Westpark Area) last year but moved to the Temecula wine country area. I'm trying to be proactive and I'm looking for specialist and cancer center, I thought you might have a good idea of some good doc and a cancer ctr. I would certainly appreciate any help I can get!

Or if anyone knows of any good doc and cancer ctrs in this area Southern California please let me know.


Thnks for all your help and advise, my prayers go out to you all!

Mari

Hi Mari

Yes, we are very pleased with Stan's doctor and actually since Stan started seeing him sadly enough we have 2 other friends that now see him. Can we use names of doctors? Oh shoot, I have no idea...Stan's doctor is with the group called Orange Coast Oncology & Hematology and believe they have a website you can read. His doctor is Dr. Semeniuk. Isn't it far for you to commute though? Maybe if you don't want to travel that far maybe you could call their office and see if they could suggest a doctor/cancer center closer to you.
Now for the funny thing...we live in Westpark! (very small world)
Anyway, anything I can do to help you let me know.
You take care and don't blame you for being proactive as you would want to proceed fast once you get the resutls.
Stay strong!
Kim

Hi Mari
Just wanted to send a quick hello to you to check on you to see how the biopsy procedure went on Friday. I do hope you are doing well.
May God Bless You and I will keep you in my daily prayers,
Kim

Hi Everyone,

Thank you so much for caring! I had the biopsy on Friday 4/27/07 and everything went well...now it's just a matter of waiting for the dr to call, they told me about a week...I'll let you all know.

Thank You so much and my prayers are with you all!

Mari

Hi Mari
I know this week has been a long hard week of waiting for you so thought I would pop in to say hi, and that I was thinking of you.
We're all here when/if you feel the need to "talk".
Hope the results of the biopsy were better than expected and I am keeping you (and everyone here) in my prayers.
Faith

Stay in prayer with God and with your children. Through time you will find answers to your uncertainties and peace for all of your fears. This will not overnight but it will come.

Hi Mari-
Just wanted to check in to see how you are doing and send you some big hugs.
Kim

Hi there, also just checking in to see how you are doing. I am still working (thank God my husband is doing well enough for me to leave him alone all day) full time so time is limited for me. Just want to let you know I know everyone on this board is pulling for you and are here for you.
Bright blessings.

Hello Everyone,

First I would like to thank everyone on this site, I don't know what I would have done without your support...thank you...thank you...thank you...so so so much.

I had the biopsy done last week and got GREAT NEWS!!!!! It's NOT Cancer; God is grand, but there is something growing inside of me and they don't know what it is...so they are doing a few more tests with the sample from the rest of the tissue, I should know something by the end of this week.

I will keep you all informed and God bless you all for the support and all the wonderful prayers!

Hugs to all and my prayers are with you,

Mari

Oh Wonderful news that it's not cancer!!! I really hope they get to the bottom of what it is and it's easy to fix! Good luck!!!!!!!

God is truly great. I am so happy for you. Bless you!

Mari,
What a blessing to hear it is not cancer!! It is so nice pulling up the posting board to find some good news! I do pray though it is nothing else too serious. You continue to take care of yourself and keep us updated as to what they find out!
Kim

Oh Mari!
That is the best news I've heard in a long time!! Praise God...He is good.
I am ecstatic for you! I do hope they find out soon what it is that is growing, but glad you received that sigh of relief knowing it isn't cancer.
How awesome!!
Faith

I'm sorry you got some bad news. My dad was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. If yours has not spread too much, you will be able to live a long and satisfying life. My dad did radiation first.

Hello Everyone,

I was scheduled another biopsy...they can't find what it is!!!! It's NOT TB, VALLEY FEVER, or VIRAL INFECTIONS. So, I guess is more testing...they think it's a chromic Infection...which I've have had for a long time over a year! I have an appt. with pulmonologist in June.

Kim...how is your husband...I do pray his doing better!

Blessing going your way,

Mari

Did they test you for Histoplasmosis?

No, what is that! Well, I'll do some more research to see what that is! But now they want me to get a sputem test..we'll see if anything comes from that test.

Prayer are with you all!

Love,

Mari

No, what is that! Well, I'll do some more research to see what that is! But now they want me to get a sputem test..we'll see if anything comes from that test.

Prayer are with you all!

Love,

Mari

Hi Mari
Nice to see you again, and glad they are keeping on top of your condition and trying to figure it all out. Have they mentioned Lady Windmeres' Syndrome? I think another name for it is mycobacterium avium complex or something like that. The mycobacteria live all over our environment... in the air, in the dirt, in the water...so it can get trapped in the lungs and cause problems.
They tested me for that back in november, and were really leaning toward that, but the bronchoscopy showed otherwise.
I think you already had a bronchoscopy haven't you?
Well, Good Luck and pryain gthey find the answer.
Faith

No, what is that! Well, I'll do some more research to see what that is! But now they want me to get a sputem test..we'll see if anything comes from that test.

Prayer are with you all!

Love,

Mari

Hi, Mari--
Histoplasmosis is from a fungus, which is relatively common especially if you grew up in the Midwest or Tennessee Valley area. Histo can be found where birds congregate and also in caves. It ends up in the soil, and then the affected soil dust is inhaled. Apparently, if one has had exposure to the fungus, the nodules in a person's lungs may look similar to those of TB. You may or may not have symptoms if you inhale the fungus. If you do, they may be similar to a cold/mild flu.

Docs recently found several lung nodules in my chest Xray after I recovered from walking pneumonia. I tested negative for TB. My bloodwork was negative for an active Histo reaction. Nothing showed up on my PET scan. Histo can be confirmed with a biopsy. I am scheduled to have my second CT scan soon.

Hope this helps and that your test yields some good information.

Hi Everyone,

Kim how is your husband doing? Faith, thanks for repling and it's nice to hear from you!

Thanks to everyone for helping me to find what's wrong...I've had one biopsy and schedule for a sputem test...then if that does'nt result to anything...then I'm having a bronchoscopy. With the biopsy with the needle through the lung, they did'nt get enough tissue so they only ruled out TB & viral Infection.

So there you have it, that's were I stand right now!

My prayers are with you & sending lots of love your way,

Mari