1 cm lung cancer tumor with COPD & emphysema: Anxious

I had a upper left lobectomy in 2015 for stage 1 adeno lung cancer. I also have CoPD.
The surgery was VATS. Yes, it was painful, yep, took a while to recover. But I went to my normal life….no limitations.
Played pickleball avidly, taught a senior exercise class. Our bodies are amazing at overcoming obstacles if we can remain postive and hopeful. I didn’t have anything further as far treatment then.
Be thankful you have been given this opportunity to hold onto life.
More to my story…10 years of cancer free scans!!!

Oh WOW: Your comments came just as I was catastrophizing my situation. Firstly, I am so happy for you. Your story gives me hope. Thank you so much for taking the time to write.

If I may, how long was your recovery?

THANK YOU AND AGAIN I THANK YOU.

I saw this story and it lifted my mind and spirit. I thought it might be helpful to you.

Comment posted by @loulou2023 on discussion "1 cm lung cancer tumor with COPD & emphysema: Anxious".

I had a upper left lobectomy in 2015 for stage 1 adeno lung cancer. I also have CoPD.
The surgery was VATS. Yes, it was painful, yep, took a while to recover. But I went to my normal life….no limitations.
Played pickleball avidly, taught a senior exercise class. Our bodies are amazing at overcoming obstacles if we can remain postive and hopeful. I didn’t have anything further as far treatment then.
Be thankful you have been given this opportunity to hold onto life.
More to my story…10 years of cancer free scans!!!

When I meet with the surgeon this week,I’m sure he’ll schedule for a biopsy. And no, I have not had a pet scan. How is this different from a cat scan?
I am encouraged to know there is new technology for lung cancer. I am dreading the treatment. I was taking interferon for my Hep-C for 2 years and it made me extremely tired and my hair looked awful and yes it did work, thank God.
Thanks for the encouragement, I really need that😊

CONGRATULATIONS!

@franki24, I hope you saved the writing. I sometimes jot down thoughts related to my cancer in my phone's notes app. They can be short entries or lengthier depending on the day. It's nice to look back on them, or on my posts here from years ago. It gives me a perspective of where I was mentally at the time, and how far I've come.
The process of writing can be helpful, even if it's never shared.

@carolman210, The biopsy is important to confirm the makeup of the mass. Most lung masses are not cancerous. 1.5 cm is nothing to brush of, and your doctors will take the next steps to help determine the makeup of the mass.
The CT scan shows an image of your lungs and surrounding areas. A PET scan can be another piece of the puzzle in determining the makeup of the mass. The PET can measure how active the nodule is. Generally, cancer is very active and will have high 'uptake' of the glucose that is used during the scan, while inflammation and infection can have a lower level of uptake.
Try not to get ahead of yourself with the possible treatments. First, they'll need to confirm if the mass is cancerous. Try to focus on today and what you know today: there is something suspicious, and it needs more investigation. The diagnosis process can take a while, which is also frustrating, but it gives you time to process at each step too, so in some cases the waiting for appointments can be helpful. It's a marathon, not a sprint. Deep breath.

More on PET Scans: https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/pet-scan/about/pac-20385078

This is what I wrote. I had forgotten who I was. I once had someone tell me, we are what we repeatedly do. Anyway....

Hi Lisa: it is so sweet of you to take the time to write.

I have been able to process this event in the past few days. I was just telling my dear wife, I have led an extraordinary life. I have experienced extraordinary creative moments. I have loved and lost. I have been betrayed and been dishonest myself and experienced regret. I have known both joy and deep sorrow. Most of all I have been loved deeply and loved others deeply.

The actual truth of my life is that it has been in many ways miraculous. When I write miraculous I genuinely mean miraculous. There is no other way a man of my worldly limitations could have survived 75 years of a privileged and celebrated life.

Many years ago I was called to a meaningful spiritual experience which at the time seemed utterly insane after living my life in work that brought me before the public eye. This spiritual experience was not something I either planned or sought. I was in essence and actuality delivered to it. It took me far from the maddening crowd and instilled in me a humility one cannot experience through one's own understanding of how to accomplish becoming humble.

My apologies for endlessly going on but in that time I came to accept the promises of what some might refer to as the universe and some might refer to as God.

In my previous panic it was as if I had completely forgotten the miraculous experiences of that time out of the world of security and significance. I am pleased that I have a world renowned surgeon who assures me all will be well but my acceptance of what is happening and the calm I am experiencing is not because of him or an appointment for surgery but what I was shown in my time of coming to see life for what it is and what it could be but more importantly my perception of what I had to endure to know true joy and love as well as truth itself and the promise of life everlasting.

Thanks so much for the heads up, I really appreciate the information. It gives me an idea as to what to expect.

I don’t have the greatest memory but it was 2-3 months. It is a small amount of time for ridding my body of cancer!!!!
Get out the bed as soon as possible and walk the halls in the hospital. When you get home use the Spirometer they will you…RELIOUSLY do it. It will help speed Take your your recovery tremendously!!!
Take your pain meds as directed…if you wait until you hurt it’s too late. Getting comfortable sleeping was a challenge.
Obviously you are a active guy. Work on fighting to get your life back to as it was before. It is achievable!!!!
Anything I can help you with I would be honored to do!!!!
YOU GOT THIS Frank!!!