1 cm lung cancer tumor with COPD & emphysema: Anxious

Posted by franki24 @franki24, Jan 11 6:26pm

Hi: I am 75 years old and recently diagnosed with emphysema copd and 1 cm nodule that grew 1mm since last year and solidified. I had a pet scan that proved positive for cancer.
My pcp is optimistic that a VATS will take care of the growth as he has determined the copd and emphysema are mild. I typically walk 2 miles mostly up hill almost everyday and am able to breathe quite easily and do all that I need to do.
I am hopefully having a video visit with UPMC surgeon who is highly respected

I am experiencing extreme general anxiety and have been reading many of the comments on here and so appreciate all of you writing about your concerns,success and troubles.

Thank you

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loulou2023 | @loulou2023 | 2 days ago

In reply to @loulou2023 "I don’t have the greatest memory but it was 2-3 months. It is a small amount..." + (show)

Typos lol

franki24 | @franki24 | 2 days ago

In reply to @loulou2023 "I don’t have the greatest memory but it was 2-3 months. It is a small amount..." + (show)

Loulou:

How kind and helpful for you to take the time to write.

I will do everything you have suggested. I promise.

There is a small part of my thinking which leads me to believe for a short period of time that this is not going to be so terrible. I hope not anyway.

If it does I will remember your words and do what you have instructed and inspired me to do.

Thank you again for taking the time to educate and prepare me.

Frank

franki24 | @franki24 | 2 days ago

In reply to @loulou2023 "Typos lol" + (show)

Lou lou.

I perfectly understood and wad elevated by your words

Typo SCHMYPO. HA HA HA

franki24 | @franki24 | 1 day ago

In reply to @franki24 "I saw this story and it lifted my mind and spirit. I thought it might be..." + (show)

Just received a call from the surgeon's office. I am scheduled for surgery on the 11th of February. They have ordered for me to have a nuclear stress test on the 6th. I have never had one of those. Anyone have experience with this?

loulou2023 | @loulou2023 | 1 day ago

In reply to @franki24 "Just received a call from the surgeon's office. I am scheduled for surgery on the 11th..." + (show)

I am your girl again Frank!!!
I had one last month as i was having issues with a high resting heartrate.
They will give you something that makes your heart beat like a freaking racehorse. It didn’t hurt but I sure didn’t like it!!!! Then you get in a machine and they take a bunch of pictures. I was there about 3 hours or more. Afterwards i was jittery for a while. Drink a bunch of water after

franki24 | @franki24 | 1 day ago

In reply to @loulou2023 "I am your girl again Frank!!! I had one last month as i was having issues..." + (show)

Loylou:

Sounds like a lot of fun like everything else about this escapde.

Thank you for the education Lou. Is lou short for Louise?

Lisa, Volunteer Mentor | @lls8000 | 1 day ago

In reply to @franki24 "This is what I wrote. I had forgotten who I was. I once had someone tell..." + (show)

@franki24

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.

Jump to this post

Oh @franki24, What profound words. Most of us go through multiple stages of acceptance after being diagnosed with cancer. We can flip back and forth a bit between those stages over time too. I do, even today, years later. It helps to look back and appreciate the lives that we've lived, while still looking forward to what is yet to come. Hugs.

franki24 | @franki24 | 1 day ago

In reply to @lls8000 "Oh @franki24, What profound words. Most of us go through multiple stages of acceptance after being..." + (show)

Well. I was speaking to someone today who is 84. I mentioned to her something Oscar.Wilde wrote who was the most celebrated man of his time until he wasn't. He wrote upon his release from prison for being gay, he wrote: I only want to know people who know what sorrow is. No one else interests me.

I happen to mentor several people in the 40s and 50s whose expectations of life have gone unmet. They have just now in their 40s adjusted their expectations to what is possible and what is most loving. Their sorrows and regrets have aided them in having empathy and compassion for others.
The way of sorrow according to the most holy and devout men is through sorrow.

Hope you are well

loulou2023 | @loulou2023 | 1 day ago

In reply to @franki24 "Loylou: Sounds like a lot of fun like everything else about this escapde. Thank you for..." + (show)

it is just a nickname I got over the years

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