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New Here and need to learn fast

Lung Cancer | Last Active: Oct 31, 2023 | Replies (69)

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@sayitisntso

There are no words for how grateful I am to wake up to your response. You just gave me a much needed broader perspective that it may not be the worst case scenario (my biggest immediate fear/concern is definitely around my drs urgency) and rather ‘could be’ a number of things that don’t have to equate to that worst case scenario.

Every word you shared is helpful! Thank you so much!

I am surprised at the partial lung collapse and the ER dr. said that often is the result from a mass pushing on it but it didn’t ‘seem’ to me from what he said that it was the same area where the 1.8cm nodule was seen or anything was seen so that confused me and I want to push getting the external bump removed and diagnosed asap vs holding off.

Question for you- On the PET Scan.. did they let you see it the day they perform the test or not share until they give results to dr? I am scared but at least know to look for anything lighting up or glowing.

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Replies to "There are no words for how grateful I am to wake up to your response. You..."

@sayitisntso, Welcome to Mayo Connect. I wish you were here under different circumstances. Waiting for health-related information can be the most stressful time of your life. Take a moment to pause and try to think about what you actually know. Try to avoid thinking about the worst-case scenarios. The doctors have identified something that requires more investigation, but we don't know that it's cancer. It sounds like they are taking the right steps to get the answers that you need. It's great that they are moving fast with your next appointments, it's less time to wait for answers.
Once you have the PET scan, a radiologist will read the results and write a report. That report will be sent to your doctors, and you may see it post to a patient portal. The report is a communication tool between the radiologist and your doctors, the language can be very clinical and confusing to us patients. So, talking to your doctor is the best way to interpret the meaning. It sounds like the report for your CT came back fairly quickly. You are fortunate, some wait longer for answers.
I wouldn't change any travel plans yet, as long as they don't conflict with the PET or follow up appointments. Your health needs to be prioritized before work, which I know, isn't always easy.
It is interesting that you're not suffering more from the collapsed lobe, did the pulmonologist give any additional info about the collapse?