Wellness

[kitty4me]

I would like to start with a little background on myself. In 9/24 2014 I suffered a Heart Attack at that I was told I had to stop Smoking and I did. After that I was Diagnosed as a Type two Diabetic. Then on 12/26/16 Went into ER for my Blood Pressure and they did a Chest Xray and then a CT Scan and told me they found a Nodule (Tumor). On 2/9/16 I went to see a Thoratic Surgeon he said I had Stage1b Lung Cancer. He said he was going to remove the 3.5 cm Tumor that was in the Right Upper Lobe. He took the Lobe and Two Lymph Nodes and no Cancer. After he released me I got a call from my Bow Oncologist Office they want me to come in the next day. We went in and he said you need four rounnd of Chemotherapy.so I did that ended on 8/10/16. After that my Labs and Scans for 15 months have been great nothing. Then on 10/23/17 I had my latest CT Scan. On10/27/17 Was my results day. My Husband and myself go in and he tells us your Cancer is Manageable I said huh? He said oh I mean I everything looks good. As I stand and we get ready to leave he smaoles and laughs and says I think I cured you. So we leabe head Home and about 30 minutes later my Cell Phone Rings and it's . I put him on Speaker so my Husband could hear and this is what my Oncologist said. I saw something on your Scan he said it looks like a Swollen Lymph Node with something in it. I said do you thonk it's Cancer? He said well you recently were sick and on an Antibiotic I think it could be from that either Scar Tissue or Infection and he said it's less than an inch. He then said I'm recommending you get a Pet Scan. I was in shock and have mamy questions I wish I had asked. Now I have had time to ponder and worry and think all kinds of crazy things and I'm so scared. Tomorrow or Monday is my Test.

[Carol Diane]

Wow, I'm totally confused. Did you or did you not have cancer?  Your doctor's responses have my head spinning. Have you thought of getting a 2nd opinion?  Try not to worry - (I know, easier said than done) - My sister's friend had lung cancer and something shows up on her CT scan so they've monitored it and it hasn't increased in size. They believe it's scar tissue. My friend also has something in his lung that they believe is from a bad respiratory infection he had.  Whatever it is, get it checked out but it could be something totally benign.  Good luck, I will keep you in my prayers.

[kitty4me]

@CarolDiane yes it was Cancer Stage 1b.

[kitty4me]

Thank you.

[chrystaltree]

It's tought, I know and it's easy for me to say but try to stay calm ad just focus on what you do know.  Don't let the "maybes" freak you out.   Your doctor told you the truth, a swollen could be from your recent illness or could be just a swollen lymph note.  Happens sometimes.  At this point, you have no reason to think it's cancer.  Go for the PET scan, wait for the results and take things one step at a time.

[OnlyShopsOnline]

@kitty4me  It could very well be a reactive lymph node, from your recent illness, so try not to panic...easier said than done.

I had surgery in May for thyroid cancer.  I was told that it was a small cancer, easily treatable, and 99% cure rate.  No worries.

Then an enlarged lymph node showed up on one of my pre-surgical ultrasounds.  I panicked.  I worried myself sick.  My doctors kept saying not to worry...easier said than one.  I was just recovering from an upper respiratory infection that I had a few weeks prior to the ultra sound.

As it turned out, thank God, it was just a reactive lymph node.  These things happen at the worst times and just complicate situations that are already stressful.  

Hopefully, this is just a little bump in the road for you also. 

[trenet]

@kitty4me

 If I am understanding you correctly, the cancer was in the lobe tumour but not the lymph nodes.  

I wonder why they didn’t do a PET/CT scan? One of the types does a full diagnostic CT along with the PET.  

I agree with @Carol Diane that you might want a second opinion, especially if you feel at all uncomfortable with your oncologist. 

Write down as many of your questions as possible before you talk to your doctor.  And, if you think of more after you talk to him, 

email or call him.  (If he has a certified oncology nurse, they can be a great contact person) 

Your swollen lymph node may be a result of your having been sick but, since PET’s are such an easy test, it is good to get it done and find out what is going on.  

Yes, It is difficult not to worry, I know, but, try to relax as much as you possibly can - plan a treat for yourself after your PET and other appointments.  

[My experience with cancer has been 24 years of ongoing treatments for a chronic

form of non-Hodgkins lymphoma - stage 4 at time of diagnosis (because it is in my bone marrow)

and 2.5 years of metastatic invasive lobular breast cancer - stage 4 at time of diagnosis because it had metastasized (to my spine).]

Cancer treatments are so different and more focused than in the past. Diagnostic tests are easier and more specific with cell types and cancer markers.  The more information your doctors get, the more precise the diagnosis which will aid in the most appropriate treatments.

Take good care of yourself @kitty4me.  Wishing you all the best.

trenet

[kitty4me]

I did have a Pet Scan before my Surgery and after my Chemotherapy I have had three CT Scans prior to this past one in October and both Labs and Scans were fine. While I have been trying to keep busy and keep my mind off this it does give me concern.

[kitty4me]

Thank all for your responses. You have helped me a lot.

[wagirl]

kitty---holy cow---I am amazed at all you've been thru in such a short amount of time---my head would be spinning!!!  I am so sorry for all this. I am wondering how you manage to know what the heck is going on and with who? Do you have access to your medical records? And do you have a medical person, like a primary care dr, that can go thru everything and help you figure out what is what? Not that you are not capable but it would be nice to have someone to bounce things off of. I went thru breast cancer, surgery to remove breast and a few lymph nodes,  rads and chemo in 2012 and that was a whirlwind of tests and scans and drs and opinions. I go to a nurse practitioner for my primary care, that I've known for nearly 30 years and she was the one I would go see for any info I needed to have explained.

I would do the PET scan too.

So hard to maintain your sanity over all this.

Good luck to you!!