When is it enough? - Cancer: Lung Message Board

RedMan1972 · 03-21-2007, 09:03 AM

I really don't want anyone to take offense to what I'm about to say. I have all of you and your loved ones in my prayers daily for recovery. You have helped me through some of my own fears and issues and I thank you all for that.

As an update, I had a bad case of bronchitis last year. It sent me into a tailspin of panic and anxiety because I thought I had lung cancer. I had several x-rays performed, all clear. I kept coming here for advice and was alwasy told the best way to be for sure is a CT Scan. I finally had one of those done at the beginning of the month. It came back completely clear as well.

I came here the other day to give some advice to Traveller in Florida because she was going through the same thing. I see the responses about 'no, PET scan is the way to go.' And now I feel that anxiety and panic comeing back and dont' want to go through this again. Everything I've found on a PET scan is that it is used as a secondary diagnostic once the cancer is discovered to see if it spread or a tumor is possible cancerous. So how far is too far? If you have clear Chest X-Ray and CT Scan what would you do? Would you go through all the panic and anxiety again? Please help and let me know what you think.

Thanks!

Darlene-CA · 03-21-2007, 11:45 AM

Hi Redman,

I'm not an expert, but I will tell you how my Mom was diagnosed (she passed away 2/7/07

) Anyway, her doctor ordered a routine chest x-ray because she was a long time smoker - no symptoms. The initial x-ray showed a "nodule" on her left lung. He then sent her for a CT scan, which comfirmed the 3cm nodule. She was referred to a pulmonologist, who ordered a PET scan, which if the nodule "lit up" on the scan it was presumed to be cancer, which it did. My Mom's cancer was caught early, it hadn't spread to the lymph nodes etc.....however, the after surgery pain she had, from the date of surgery until the day she died left her never wanting to go back for any follow up testing. She passed away from a variety of reasons, all of which I believe were due to her weakness from the surgery. she just never recovered, she was so frail...anyway, I believe if I were you I would rest assured that I didn't have lung cancer. You seem to have had ample testing.....relax, if I've learned anything, it is to enjoy every moment of every day (I'm still not there yet, but trying)...

Darlene