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New Here and need to learn fast
Lung Cancer | Last Active: Oct 31, 2023 | Replies (69)Comment receiving replies
One more thing.. Thank you for all the detail on the PET Scan and what lights up and what they will be looking for! Very Helpful!!
If there are any questions you’d recommend I ask please share. I have no idea what to ask. I’m just stunned that the surgeon doesn’t want to wait for the Pet Scan results so he has more info.
Replies to "One more thing.. Thank you for all the detail on the PET Scan and what lights..."
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As a Stage 4 lung cancer survivor, I'm starting to give talks on Lung Cancer Awareness and Prevention. Based on my experience, I'll offer a couple of points.
1. Don't do research. Or, if you do, don't take your understanding too seriously. You're not going to replace a medical degree with a Google search.
2. Probably the most useful questions are those that ask your doctor what he/she is thinking, planning, believes is a possible explanation of what's going on, etc.
3. If or when you get a cancer diagnosis, be ready for the whirlwind, as I call it in my presentation. Once they know you have cancer, they want to get it out!
4. Don't overreact to words like "suspected metastatic ...". I had that in late July. I've been getting a CAT scan, brain MRI, MUGA scan (heart), and blood tests for 2 or 3 doctors every 3 months for the last 3 years. Two successive CAT scans showed lymph nodes that had grown by 50%. I had another blood test, specifically looking for tumor markers and a PET scan. Then I went on vacation! I told my wife, "Until I'm diagnosed with lung cancer again, I'm still cancer-free." I enjoyed my vacation, came back, met with my Oncologist, and all tests came back negative. Don't worry until you know you have something to worry about! Negative emotions harm the physical body.
5. A PET scan shows where the body is sucking up sugar. There are three reasons a body does that: inflammation, infection, and metastasis. When I was first diagnosed in 2018, my Pulmonologist said he had seen an infection absorb more sugar than my nodule was. Nonetheless, the biopsy showed my nodule was cancerous. In your case, you're being prescribed antibiotics. Maybe infection is causing all of your problems. Realize that statement is complete speculation and should be valued accordingly.
It's important to remember that in these circumstances, we're not in control. We're just along for the ride. Trust your doctors. I agree that waiting is the hardest part, but we certainly don't want a rushed judgment. Look on the bright side. You didn't know you had a partially collapsed lobe, and now it's being addressed!
Best of luck, and hoping for a positive outcome!