New Here and need to learn fast

At least you got this done now! Now just wait for the results! There is nothing that is going to change in the next couple days while you wait, so try to be at peace and be happy. Whatever is going on in your body has been going on for a while. I'm glad the message that was sent to you while you were waiting was helpful. I read that and it was a really nice message with a lot of helpful and encouraging advice.
There are so many people out there that are stage three or four and have lived for a long time being that way. And if it is cancer, who's not to say that they caught this early? And there's a lot of times they catch cancer at stage 3, and they can get rid of it. It all depends on where it is, and how your body responds to the chemo or immunotherapy. And this might just be a big. Nothing burger. From your symptoms though. It sounds like something's going on. I was going to tell you that I also have a couple lumps underneath my ribs. I just had my oncologists feel those, I actually have them under both ribs, and sometimes it kind of annoys me because it feels like it's pulling on things. I think one of them is kind of a big little fatty mass and it just kind of pulls on stuff. I don't like it. He said unless it's bothering me though, they won't take them out. But he wasn't concerned about those because there's really not any major organ right there. That's not to say it couldn't be something serious though!!.
I'm thinking of you and I hope you get the results as soon as possible. I'm hoping that it will be some positive news and if it's not the news that you wanted, I'm hoping that some positive news comes with it!!!
These are the times in your life that you need to be really kind to yourself and forgiving and lastly, these are the times that turning to your faith or your higher power will help more than you can imagine. Right now you're like a ship on the ocean and when the wind pushes you off course All you need to do is adjust your sails!

I like to make an appointment with my GP for the day after my appointment with the oncologist. My oncologist is good, but my GP has more time to go over the radiologist's report and answer my questions. I bring along the radiologist's report. I have my questions circled on the report and my GP explains what these things mean.

My GP also has computer access to the scan and my report. He brings up the scan on his computer and we look at it together. This gives me a chance to ask any questions that popped into my head about the scan the night before. My GP has a different "overall" perspective of the situation. I learn much from my GP's interpretation of the scan and the radiologist's report.

I wish you the best of luck on your scan results. The waiting is so hard. So many of can relate.

Pet scans show color where the body has metabolic activity which is any organ like the heart or liver. Also it will show color right up the center of the chest along the mediastinum. One year my PET even picked up a small pimple on my backside. It's that sensitive.

Thank you very much for your response.

I canceled my business trip for next week. The guy who did the PetScan thinks my dr. will get the results today or Mon. because they put a ‘stat’ on the order. My pulmonary Dr doesn’t work on Saturdays so the last thing I need is the stress of getting the call while out of town with clients and coworkers.

I’m so appreciative of this group and the insight shared.

You guys are helping me learn and giving me some peace of mind by sharing your real life experiences and what to be aware of in layman’s terms. xo

The radiologist report will simply note anything suggestive or worrisome for cancer. No one can say it is cancer for sure until someone actually does a biopsy.

My situation was much like yours when I was first diagnosed 23 years ago. My right middle lobe was collapsed. I had lots of mucus and throat clearing. I was a never smoker, so back then doctors didn't automatically think lung cancer. My CT showed a 10-12 cm tumor. My biopsy was taken via bronchoscopy which verified I had adenocarcinoma. That's when I got the call that the news was not good. Yes, if that call comes then you want to be close to home and family.

Your family doctor can prescribe xanex or something like it to help control your emotions. Usually they are more than happy to help lessen the anxiety. I send my best wishes things work out for you.

The best part of your reply was 23 years!!!! Congrats!

I’ve had tons of mucous for many years, throat clearing and burping but all drs. over the years have attributed it to the GERD/Silent Reflux or post nasal drip which I knew it wasn’t.

Of course over this week I’ve asked myself why I didn’t push the topic with a pulmonologist who may have further investigated vs an ENT or gastro who focused on the GERD. I even did a sleep study last year because I wondered if I had sleep apnea and if that could have been causing the coughing, that dr too said it was the GERD but again this has been years with the phlegm and coughing when I sleep so not sure whether related or not plus like I said in my first post.. it happens when I lie down, during sleep and first thing in the morning but does not affect me during the day although now that I think about it, i have noticed that it does after I eat too.

Thank you for your response.. 23 years gives me hope.

I like your idea to go over PET and CT scan reports with your GP. I do the same thing with my PCP. I have found that Specialists don't discuss other things noted in a scan report if outside their area of specialization. So, I have my PCP review reports and ask him if he thinks there is anything I need to follow up on. I am in fact now following up with something that was noted on a scan. I do find the Radiologist reports will suggest when another type test would be needed to determine something.
I had to go to ER last year and they discovered I had pleurisy. I saw my PCP immediately after and he went over the ER reports and then ordered two inflammatory marker tests (CRP and ESR) which the ER had not done. They came back very elevated! That was an important piece of information. The pleurisy decreased and the inflammatory markers went down to normal. When you have multiple conditions, it helps to work closely with your PCP, to keep things from falling through the cracks.

Yes, I call him my General Practitioner but Primary Care Provider is probably more appropriate. I like to keep him involved in my cancer journey. I run every decision by him. It never hurts to have an extra pair of eyes looking over those scans and he takes the time to explain the lung structure, what is normal and what is not.

It sounds like you've had this problem for some time. This mucinous type of cancer used to be called Bronchial Alveolar Carcinoma back in 2000 but then the doctors later changed the name to Adenocarcinoma mucinous. If you've had this mucus problem for years, like me, you have to think it might be a slow growing lung cancer.

They won't know for sure if it is cancer until they get a tissue sample either by bronchoscopy or needle biopsy. Then they can look at the cells and if it is cancer they will be able to tell which type of lung cancer. If/when they plan to do a biopsy you want to make prior arrangements to have some genomic testing on the biopsy so they can determine which treatments will target the particular cancer type. My lung cancer (it returned 2 years ago) is called KRAS G12D which currently has no targeted therapy but they have begun testing. You can read about advanced testing here. The test cost about $2,000 but my insurance paid for it. https://www.webmd.com/cancer/what-is-genomic-testing

Thank you so much very interesting and helpful!

Hi All,

So it ‘sounds like’ assuming I have this right.. the PetScan report will show any tumors and stage? Also suspected or hot areas and that no matter what biopsies will be needed to confirm which is why the Pulmonary Dr jumped on getting me scheduled with the Thoracic Surgeon.

Do I have that right?

Are there any top 5 or 10 questions I should ask the Thoracic Surgeons that I’m meeting with on Tues. that you did or wished you had asked?

As a reminder I have appts. with 2 different surgeons (because the one recommended has a lot of 1 star reviews that he’s condescending, doesn’t listen and rushes patients but my Dr when referring him said he is an excellent surgeon. The other is the 2nd appt I made that my Pulmonologists office also works with and has stellar reviews.

Since I have both appointments I’d like to try to ask the same questions so I can compare before deciding which I will go forward with.

Any guesses for how quickly they try to do the biopsies? Is it usually days or weeks?

I know we keep talking about lots of waiting but so far I feel like I’m in a Hurricane that’s moving really fast.