?'s I'm not sure where to find answers for

Hi,
My husband has been going to the doctor for 1 1/2 years complaining of chest pain. They have tried treating him for depression, anxiety, acid reflex, put him on an asprin schedule and countless other "treatments". The ER is getting to the point where they treat us as if he is crazy or a druggy because we are in there so much asking for just some pain relief. We finally convinced his doctor to have a ct scan done. They found something in his lungs. His doctor told him it could be a virus but with him being a smoker for 15 years that he was concerened it was not a virus. My husband is only 31 years old we never expected this. My question is the doctors want him to wait 2 months and have another scan done to see if it grows, if he has been in so much pain for this long why would they want to wait that long? From what I understand lung cancer needs to be treated early if there is any chance of survivial. The doctor told him this is procedure....can anyone tell me if this is true?

By misself
Posted October 24, 2009 at 11:50 pm
Report post

You can and should get another opinion.This has dragged along.Get a copy of ct and take it with you.They now put it on CD'sPrayers AndiB

By Barb267
Posted October 25, 2009 at 12:05 am
Report post

I wouldn't wait one more minute. Get to an oncologist that is willing to do a biopsy. As for the doctor saying it is procedure to wait and see if it grows. I had a x-ray March 30, a biopsy April 3, dx April 6, upper left lobe of my lung removed April 29. Needless to say, my oncologist did follow you doctors "procedure". I believe that a CT guided needle biopsy is the way to go and if it is possible, get one done.

Blessings,
Barb

By kq182
Posted October 25, 2009 at 12:37 am
Report post

Yes I agree with Barb, a CT needle biopsy is needed to see if it is cancer and what type. It is an out patient procedure, but you will have to see a thoracic surgeon or an oncologist to have the est ordered, please do not wait, get it done ASAP. Karen

By GregGriggs
Posted October 25, 2009 at 12:47 am
Report post

No that is not the procedure
They told me the same thing did x rays they did not show anything then they tested me for TB I was spiting up blood. after three months they sent me to a lung Dr he did a bronchoscopy he found a tumor that was blocking 85% percent of my broncials on the left side. He did a biopsy while he had the scope in my lungs it came back non small malignant.
But you know something I want to ease your mind I did not have any pain ,i smoked for 52 years I was used to being out of breath I guess.
Another sure fire way is a Pet scan,It will show any cancer in your body head to foot.
I am not sure but I don't think cancer hurts till it gets in a advanced stage. But don't wait best to put your mind at ease. I think the power of your mind can make you sick. And no mater if it not real it feels real.
That is just my opinon.
I hope everything is OK push them for a pet scan.
Greg

By HollyJo
Posted October 25, 2009 at 2:09 am
Report post

Normaly a CT will say whether or not it is Believed to be Cancer.
No matter, something is there...
I called the Nearest Major Cancer Center the day after my husbands CT and made an appt for two days later.
They met with us, and scheduled the PET for the following week to get an answer.
I would make a phone call and get another opinion right away.
Holly

By cuddles53
Posted October 25, 2009 at 3:17 am
Report post

I wouldn't wait either, Take this we all wrote and make copies and show that ER department we are not in agreement with their ridicuolus statements that this is standard, bullshit, there is nothing standard about getting cancer except the crappie chemo they have to give us to spare us a few extra months or years. We must take care of ourselves, we all know our own bodiesm,,and yes in the Er they always think people whom are continously coming in for pain medication are only doing that, they tend to not look as thoroughly as they should. I was a nurse in a hospital for many years and I saw this happen again, and agian,. so don't let them lie to you. . You would know the answer to that yourself, andf if he truly is not looking just to get pain medications, and he really is in pain then get another opinion from a cancer specialist, Get an oncology lung cancer specialist to see him, I would call the insurance company, and explain your case and tell them you are going for it, If they will not pay for it you may have to go and pay on your own, and if something does turn up let them know you wil be seeing your attorney.. Maybe this will get them moving. God bless and Good luck I hope it is not anything serious. he needs a chest xray and a PET scan or a CT scan. I would say do it soon.

By patriciad
Posted October 25, 2009 at 7:32 am
Report post

The way I look at it, your husband has waited 11/2 years for this finding(possibly). Anyway, get a bronchoscopy and they can say for sure what it is. Time is of the essence here. I agree with misself-get copies of the CT. My husband had bronchoscopy done by a pulmonary dr. Line up the doctors but do not wait. Next step is definitey the bronchoscopy, though. Good luck.
Pat

By linbur
Posted October 25, 2009 at 9:02 am
Report post

Who cares what the people in the ER think! Go to a different ER if possible. Find a doctor who will listen. Don't wait. Keep bugging them.

By Chi-Dreamer
Posted October 25, 2009 at 9:47 am
Report post

Tell your Dr you already waited 1 1/2 years and demand to see a pulmonary Dr. Something must be pressing somewhere if he is feeling pain.
He is young and strong so time is of the essence. Unfortunately this beast does not discriminate against age, as there are children also on this site.
I am not sure how far north you are but I go to Northwestern in Chicago and there are some people from Wis going there. Find a Comprehensive Cancer Center near you.

Good Luck & God Bless,
Keep us informed.
Linda

By ksep
Posted October 25, 2009 at 10:10 am
Report post

I'm glad you joined this site. There is alot of information and support here. I agree with all, get your next step done asap. Please keep us updated. Kathy

By snl53913
Posted October 25, 2009 at 10:14 am
Report post

Thank you everyone for your help! I am going to be making some phone calls Monday morning. I wanted to get a second opinion right away but wasn't sure if I would be stepping over the boundries since I really do not know that much about it. Thank you again and best wishes to you all :)

By Sandy189
Posted October 25, 2009 at 10:39 am
Report post

I wouldn't wait either, I was told originally that mine was not maligant and got a second opinion and found out it was. Got it early and long as I survive the rib mending I will be fine. Hopefully!!!! I even had a fine needle which was they told me was benign, only to find out it wasn't. So it can be a very scary stuff. Get a second opinion with somebody who will do a pet scan. My prayers are with you.....

By lge
Posted October 25, 2009 at 10:39 am
Report post

Please dont wait any longer. Be very persistant with your concerns. See a different doctor if u need to. Do what ever u need to do until u feel u have all the care and answers u feel u deserve. I would not wait another DAY! doctors misdiagnoised my sister for months telling her she has allergies and she went to the ER and seen a compitent doc n he knew what she had turned out she did not have allergies she has lung cancer stage III. BE PERSISTANT!!!

By gesmommy
Posted October 25, 2009 at 11:43 am
Report post

Please, please get a second opinion! While its true that it may not be anything but what if it is. I think a lot of times doctors ignore us because we're younger. As my PCP doctor said to me while I waiting to be diagnosed that it would be "incredibly uncommon for me to have lung cancer" yet here I am today. You must be your own advocate!

By beauwillie
Posted October 25, 2009 at 1:55 pm
Report post

Snl:
Bless your heart! Stand up and take charge. Remember that YOUR HUSBAND is the customer and the medical people are selling their services. If you really sense that something is wrong, get a second opinion from a good oncologist IMMEDIATELY. If it is cancer, you need to learn that and begin appropriate treatment at once. You and your medical team need a clear picture of what you're dealing with, not some hazy guess.
You two are the only ones who can move your case forward and you have to get on the internet and do research (check out the symptoms he has to see what they might mean), see qualified specialists and get appropriate testing to confirm or eliminate a diagnosis. Please don't be put off by medical people who will not cooperate. Go to someone who will listen and check out the symptoms.
Incidentally, pain is not necessarily an indication of cancer. It could be any one of a number of conditions.
Best of luck!
Beauwillie

By HighlandGuy
Posted October 25, 2009 at 9:06 pm
Report post

I cannot believe all the missinformation here.

There are two things here, the pain and the spot on the lungs. The are different and separate.

The lungs do not have sensory organs to produce pain! There is no feelings in our lungs! The pain is not due directly to any spots in the lung!

The pain needs to be addressed and I would strongly suggest that after a year and a half, that you husband go to a pain specialist who simply can go through all the necessary tests to determine what is causing the chest pains. If he cannot isolate the cause, he can provide other relief for you.

The key issue about the spot on the lung is how big is it? If it is in the order of a cm in size, they should biopsy it (if possible). I am assuming it is too small to biopsy. If that is the case, the proper procedure is to normally have further CT scans at 3 or six month intervals to determine if the spot is growing (one of the indicators of a possible cancer) and when it is big enough, to take a tissue sample (biopsy) to determine if it is cancer or not.

There are literally thousands of potential causes of chest pain. A tumor in a lung lobe, is not one of them. The most common causes are heart conditions. (I have had surgery, wear a pacemaker, and take several different pills daily) for chest pains. There can be different cancers or matasticized cancers that can be causing chest pains. Doctors commonly give a PET scan and bone scans, to eliminate most of them. as causes. There are internal organs, muscle conditions that cause such pains.

I have no idea what other tests or how thorough and precisely administered they may have been, but it appears to me that after a year of monkeying around with his current doctors, he needs to go to a specialist who specializes in precisely these conditions.

In the meanwhile, a CT scan should be taken of the lung, although two months may be too soon to determine if there is any possibility that he has a lung cancer. Recognize also that while early detection is critical in lung cancer, at early stages, most lung cancers (NSCLC)grow quite slowly, If it should be SCLC, waiting will not matter since the cancer will in most cases already have matastacized.

In summary, if the CT scan revealed a small sized spot, your doctor's decision is the right one. For the pain however, which is your main complaint, many other tests should be administered and what tests have been made have not been enumerated.

After a year and a half however, I would certainly considered being seen by a pain specialist, a doctor specializing in eliminating all the possible causes of your chest pains.

I really sympathize with you. I had strong chest pains that required open yeart surgery, a pacemaker that is imbeded in my chest. After removal of as many lymph glands as I have had resected, I would be in constant pain without the strong medications I am on. I know what you are feeling.

lHighlandGuy

By mkubee
Posted October 26, 2009 at 1:47 am
Report post

Ya know Highland Guy.. you really sound like you know what you're talking about and everything, so please don't take this the wrong way but... I think you're full of it.

A pain specialist... really?

The man has something showing on his lung and is having chest pains... he's been to a doctor several times and I'm sure heart was the first thing they checked when he showed up with the symptom of um., chest pains.

I could really give a flip about what some doctor's procedure is(sometimes you can get around them, other times you can't) -- if the man is having chest pains and they've done all of the test, then a CT turns up something in his lung it really doesn't take a rocket scientist to send up the red flags -- and in my humble opinion chest pain and 'thing on your lung' need to be conflated in lieu of a more obvious answer --

See, this is the problem with so many doctors -- following their procedures and protocols -- their test --their scans --their blood work and not listening to their blinkin' patient that's sitting right there in front of them... it really ticks me off. I personally think a doctor that thinks he/she can run through the motions, follow the prescribed script like you're outlining here needs to go get themselves a job with lab rats. Because yeah, everyone knows cancer does the same thing in every person, every time... urgh.

So to snl...You're right, chest pain...and CT showing something in the lung... do go together, they might be unrelated, let's hope they are and both are completely benign -- but they might not. Although, HighlandGuy gave a very thorough, if not antiseptic run down of what the procedure is, you can get that kind of reasoning out of any book... it's a good thing to know, I'm not saying it isn't, its just emotionally vapid and cuts past the obvious to ignore the pink elephant in the room... there seems to be a lot of that in the healthcare profession these days ... my advice to you is to go with your gut and that's push forward with trying to find out what it is, don't follow that doctors advice to wait... Your gut is telling you that you should question that advice or you wouldn't be here. Two months does matter, don't let anyone tell you that it doesn't... if it's just the mind game of stress and anxiety of waiting and wondering what may or may not be growing in your body --

Sorry, if I'm prickly about the entire subject, I just get tired of people that actually deal with cancers ... ignoring the total obvious to go off on these whole body expeditions... rule out the obvious first. Which is why I'm just completely flummoxed by the suggestion of a pain specialist... I just can't follow that.

By madwife
Posted October 26, 2009 at 6:21 am
Report post

If it is non-small cell, it can be treated successfully (yrs of survival) if caught early. An ex spouse of a family member kept going to the doc for back pain and given all kinds of meds and tx but no x-ray. At age 35 he died from lung cancer. My mother had a cough that kept getting worse. Idiot Indian doc treated her over a yr for allergies, then sent her to a hear doc. She died from small cell a few months after a lung doc finally did a simple, inexpensive x-ray. If you have chest pain or a cough that lingers for a month or more, don't ask - DEMAND - an x-ray.

By HighlandGuy
Posted October 26, 2009 at 12:18 pm
Report post

mkubee,

There isn't a clinic of any size in this country that doesn't have a specialist or department specializing in pain care and management.

I am no supporter of the omnipotence of the medical profession. Nor has the writer of this post indicate what tests have been made to really determine the root cause of this pain. Her complaint is that their doctors have been treating for depression, anxiety, and giving pain pills, when they should be diagnosing the cause of the chest pain in order to effectively treat it.

The spot on the lung needs to be considered. You don't biopsy what is too small to biopsy! A basic characteristic of cancer is that it grows and it is dangerous to life when it grows and spreads fast! The average VDT (Volume Doubling Time) of adenocarcinoma NSCLC is 182 days.

Why would you perform life-threatening surgery on a tumor that is evidently very tiny (mm size) and there is no evidence that it is growing? You don't treat a person for cancer wheen there is no evidence of cancer. A very large percentage of people have nodules on their lungs that are not cancers.

In 2000 my spot on my lung turned out to be cancer. It was large (2.5cm) and my lung lobe was removed. Nine years later I have new spots in both lungs, that are too small to biopsy. In my case we are waiting six months to take another CT scan. If they have grown significantly in that time, we will have biopsies and if they are cancer, treatment will be commenced.

I stand by my post.

HighlandGuy

By SARALEONIE
Posted October 26, 2009 at 6:52 pm
Report post

Get a second opinion. We need to put our trust in the medical profession - but only if we're confident that such trust is not misplaced. Getting a second opinion will help you come to that decision. Don't delay. Take control.

Welcome to Inspire!

Explore topics in this discussion:

25 replies

Add to the discussion

Help from Lung Cancer Alliance

You