HELP

• By sandy45
• Posted November 2, 2008 at 11:54 pm
• Report post

Hi,
I went for a regular physical Aug. 19, 2005. The doctor informed me that he was 99% sure that I had Lung cancer and referred me to an OC. They concurred and sent me to a needle biopsey which was inconclusive. Also was sent to a lung doctor and a surgeon.They decided it was inoperable due to its location, meanwhile I had two more biopsies before one FINALLY came back with a diagnosis of cancer. Only then did we set up and start the Radiation and chemo. That was October.
I have talked to many people and it is quite common for it to take a while initially. Note: All went very well so the wait did not hurt anything. I was a wreck during the waiting time. I wish I had known about this site then!! I hope this will help ease your mind a bit. Waiting is the worst! I heard the word Cancer and I was sure i would be gone in a short time so that couple of month seemed like a lifetime! I never told my doctors how much it was bothering me to have to wait so long, Maybe someone who has done that will reply and let you know how that went.

Let us know. My prayers and with you. Wishing you all the best and great results..!!!!: )

Sandy

• Reply

• By RoRo
• Posted November 3, 2008 at 8:54 am
• Report post

My husband also goes to the VA, but in West Palm Beach, Fl. He went for a routine physical on July 1st of this year and as part of that they gave him a chest Xray because he was a smoker. We weren't even gone 15 minutes when they called us and told him to come back immediately for a CAT scan as they saw something on his lung. The next day (July 2) results said, yes, it was a mass. Gave him a PET scan the very next day (July 3), but had to wait until Tue, July 7 (holiday weekend) for results. Also set him up for July 15 for pulmonologist. Tue, results said yes, mass lit up in hilar region, but nowhere else. We said we won't wait (actually demanded) until the 15th for pulmonologist, get us in sooner, which they did, the next day (July 8). Set him up for a bronchoscopy on 16th. He could have had it the next day as they do them on Wedsdays and Fridays, but you can't have taken any aspirin products for seven days and he had. Pathology came back next day and got type (nonsmall cell, squamous), but inoperable because of location. However, before we even met with surgeon and oncologist had him do a nuclear stress test and a pulmonary function test in preparation for surgery, if it was possible, but it turned out not to be. Met with oncologist and he was set up for radiation treatments to start on August 1st and chemo to start on August 7th. All this happened from Chest Xray to beginning of radiation in one month. Because it was inoperable, he was a candidate for Cyberknife treatment and had that on Oct. 13-16th. Found out between end of rad/chemo and start of CK that tumor responded very well to the treatment and now we wait for mid-Dec to see if CK did its magic.

I don't understand why they couldn't get a biopsy on your dad as they were able to get it on my husband from the hilar region. Pls. check out about Cyberknife if they end up not being able to operate. This is an amazing machine and they are having incredible results with it.

Keep us informed.

Rose

• Reply

• By colammy
• Posted November 3, 2008 at 5:37 pm
• Report post

Hi Rose,

Can you tell me more about Cyberknife treatment? Did your husband have it at the VA as well? Also, would you mind sharing what kind of lung cancer he had? I really appreciate it, as my father's in inoperable and I would love to mention this option to his oncologists if it's something they can do at the VA.
Thanks!!!
Tammy

• Reply

• By USMCCAT
• Posted November 3, 2008 at 9:36 pm
• Report post

ANY amount of time seems too long, I agree. I had to find things to do. It wasn't easy. My dad's tumor was about the same size. Just keep on them!

• Reply

• By colammy
• Posted November 3, 2008 at 10:44 pm
• Report post

My dad was diagnosed at the VA in West LA in early Oct. with small cell lung cancer in his right lung and surrounding lymph-nodes. He was admitted into the hospital because it was pressing against a vein. He stayed in the hospital for one week and was given his first set of chemo treatment before being released.
He just had his second set of chemo this past week but is very weak and tired.
He is in the extensive stage of smlc, so it is inoperable. He is committed to the VA, so seeking other opinions doesn't seem to be an option. So far the doctors do seem good - but his stay in the hospital was a nightmare. (Three times they tried to give him radiation against the doctors instructions, and they continued to try to give him vicodin - even though we told them it makes him sick and he can't take it.) It appeared to be more of a communication problem (that could have been dangerous had his children not been there) but the doctors themselves seemed knowledgeable.
Good luck with your dad and your husband. This is a very difficult time and I am desperately looking for some positive information and success stories out there!!!
Warm regards,
Tammy

• Reply

• By Sunrey
• Posted November 4, 2008 at 9:47 am
• Report post

My ex was diagnosed with an 11 cm. left lung tumor after being referred for x-ray for having a hoarse throat that wouldn't go away. The tumor was pressing against his voice box. That was the week before Thanksgiving last year. He was ordered to get a CT scan the next day and then we went in for an appt. with a general thoracic surgeon the week after Thanksgiving to be told the what it was and to schedule a biopsy. That took place the first week of December. He was told it was small cell and that surgery wasn't an option. He was then referred to the Cancer Center. He was being scheduled to start chemo and radiation beginning in early January. Then he got septic pneumonia right after New Year's and was hospitalized for nearly a week. We almost lost him before he even started treatment. Once he was better they went in and inserted the Chemo Port and scheduled MRI's and PET scans. By the time he started Chemo and Radiation it was early February.

I have to tell you it was nerve racking. I knew how quickly SCLC can spread and every day that passed I got more and more scared that it would spread.

I don't know what the normal time frame is to get everything going but I know that they did all they could as soon as they could and were very anxious to get him started with his treatment. In the end the cancer had not spread and all went well.

• Reply

• By ronnieandjanet
• Posted November 4, 2008 at 8:52 pm
• Report post

It is VERY frustrating, but unfortunately I think the norm. I am not sure why it has to take so long. We were told that all the appointments needed to coincide. The cancer my mom has is supposedly one of the fastest growing but then we are told a couple of weeks in between appointments won't make a difference?

• Reply

• By Rj
• Posted November 4, 2008 at 11:14 pm
• Report post

dear jj826, i know 5 things.

1, the VA is a slow, horribly slow bunch of paper pushing no care individuals in all states and the district of columbia.

2, medicare ins. is not at all beter.

3,i had/have premier med/health plan.

4, i was diagnosed in dec.05 treatment, radiation/chemo started feb.06 and surgery in may 06. successful removal of left upper lung. and current quality of life issues are good.

5, the squeaky wheel - gets the oil first.

best to you and yours,
Rj.

• Reply

• By jj826
• Posted November 9, 2008 at 9:08 am
• Report post

I just wanted to thank everyone for the support and responses. While we are still in the waiting game, we meet with the surgeon and now he feels a needle biospy is safer then surgical option and we have that set up for Nov 19th. Once again I feel like this is taking to long. I am going to try and call the MD again on Monday and see if we can get in sooner. I hate the waiting and it seems everytime we think we are closer then we have to wait another 1 1/2 weeks to meet the next person. Once again thanks for listening and the advice.
Paula

• Reply

Add to the discussion