I am Scared

Hello Everyone, My name is Marty , a 51 year old female with a detailed family history of Lung Cancer (Father, age 47, 2 sisters, ages 48 and 50)
My Father passed in 1964, a couple of months after his dx. I can only imagine what medical technology had to offer in 1964 (eeeekkk)

Anyway, I'll try to make a long story short, I have COPD for 3 years now. Had a bad bout about a week ago with bronchitis and ended up in the ER having an IV with that miracle drug (???, a steroid) to open up my breathing airway. I had an chest XRAY and was told a had a 5.33 nodule in my left lung. I was sent home with CIPRO and Prednisone. Also, the ER doctor asked me If I would like to speak to the Chaplain, and gives me her personal cell phone number, In case I have any questions, or just want to talk.

I had a CAT SCAN on my chest the very next day. My family doctor calls and says abnormal nodules are present via the CAt scan. she sets an appointment up with a Pulmonary Doctor in a near-by City. I see him Feb 5th.

5.33 is not large, right? why do I fell like I was told I have cancer, but yet I was not "told" that.

By the way, I am feeling much, much better today than a week ago.
Thanks in advance for your reply.

Regards
Marty

By jmlavey
Posted January 20, 2008 at 2:54 am

Hi Marty,

I had 3 sisters with LC. I was diagnosed 3 yr. 8 mo. ago. 5.33 is considered large, but you don't know yet. Make sure you ask for a PET scan. I hope it's an infection and not LC. Good luck.
Best wishes, Joyce

By Toddy
Posted January 20, 2008 at 10:05 am

Dear Marty,

It's to early to know what you may be dealing with but starting with a Pulmonary Doctor is a recommendation I hope you follow even though your feeling much better.

I'm sorry that you had the need to find this site but please know if the new's is such that you need to stay here please know that many will share their experiences, answer questions and be as supportive as possible.

All the very best to you, and I hope you will continue to let us know how you are doing,
Toddy

By martym56
Posted January 20, 2008 at 12:51 pm

Hi Toddy
Thank you for the welcome and the encougaging words.

I will be lurking around, I feel like this is a very comfortable forum.

I forgot to include in my original post that the size of the "nodule" was 5.33 mm, not cm.

Regards
Marty

By martym56
Posted January 20, 2008 at 12:55 pm

Hello Joyce,
Thank You for your comment.

I should of said 5.33 mm. Not cm. How are you doing being almost 4 years into your dx?

Have you had surgery? treatments?

My very best to you

Regards
Marty

By jmlavey
Posted January 20, 2008 at 1:30 pm

Hi Marty,

I'm glad to hear that it's 0.533 millimeters. Still a good idea to ask for PET scan. Had upper left lobectomy followed by chemo with cisplatin and taxol for 4 rounds. Everything ok since 2004. have CT scan every 6 months. will have one on Wed., Jan. 23.

Best wishes,
Joyce

By Chum
Posted January 21, 2008 at 10:10 am

5.33 mm is considered small. Supposedly they cannot see anything smaller than 8 mm using regular chest xray. So I don't understand how they could have seen anything unless it was solid and they were specifically looking for it.

Anything less than 3 cm (30 mm) is staged differently than anything over 3 cm. Of course staging is based on more than the size of the nodule - they also look at lymph node involvement and metastases, with the best (after nothing and in situ) being T1 N0 M0.

Nodules are present in lots and lots of people - and most of them are NOT cancer. A PET might prove helpful - see what lights up.

But I am amazed that they could pick up something that small using xray. If they didn't mention unusual lymph nodes, these might just be benign nodules.

Wait for additional tests - I think they are being cautious because of the family history. In MOST cases they will find nothing worse than "nodules."

Courage

Chum

By Bette_Tx
Posted January 21, 2008 at 10:28 am

Hi Marty,

If the nodule is 5.33mm it is very small. A 5.33cm one would be large. Your pulmonary doctor will most like want you to have a PETscan to see if these abnormal nodules are anything to worry about. I hope they are residue scar tissue from infections or something like that. When my CTscan was done, there were other nodules that showed up that were not malignant. They were benign granulomas from previous bouts of pneumonia.

As for telling you it is cancer, most doctors won't say that. The CTscan and PETScan are accurate tools for detecting abnormal nodules - ones that light up. But even after I had the PETscan, I still had to have a biopsy to confirm the nodule was malignant.

Best wishes and I hope all goes well for you. Let us know.

Bette

By buffyhelp
Posted January 22, 2008 at 10:52 am

I had the very same fear as you,it was 3 wks before i got my actual answer.I think the largest of the tumors in my lungs was 2.7 cm at the time of my dx,the waiting is hard,but try to focus on something else,i am hoping for an infection for you.I got my dx in april,and am doing pretty well,just hold out for an infection and please try not to let the fear drive you insane,I know i thought i was going there myself.
I am rooting and praying for you!
Deb

By a_white_rabbit
Posted January 22, 2008 at 1:13 pm

..don't be scared, well ok, a bit, but really get cross and face up to the possibility that you may have cancer..

..use that anger to make sure you get prompt and correct treatement, i really mean prompt / immediate. Use the panic to do your research so that you can talk on their level..

..be prepared to fight..

..i hope for your sake that it's nothing much..

By utleymud
Posted February 11, 2008 at 6:33 pm

Why be scared? Pray about it. Am 77 years old (78 on April 10) and am not ready to give up to anything like this. I also have COPD and had pneumonia in early January. That's how we found my neoplasm which turns out to be malignant. I know in my heart and mind that I am going to survive as long as the good Lord needs me on this earth.. Having outlived two husbands (one had cancer and died at age 21 in 1952, other dropped dead from a heart attack completely healthy according to the doctors test in 1975). Just be sure you trust the doctors who are working on you and GOOD LUCK!

By CHammett
Posted February 18, 2008 at 2:21 pm

Hi, Marty.

In my case, the "not knowing" was the scariest part. Once I was diagnosed, I calmed down rather quickly. :-(

I strongly suggest that you DEMAND a PET scan immediately! Even though they don't like to make a diagnosis on PET scan only (rather than biopsy), the PET scan is most likely to give you immediate results.

In the meantime, best of luck to you!

Carole

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