1. < Lung Cancer

Just diagnosed with spiculated node in the right upper lobe

Posted by wrmeador @wrmeador, Feb 13 3:09pm

I am a 78 yo male. My pulmonarist said it is very specious because it has grown i n size to 1.5 cm.
I will go to Charleston va hospital soon.
He said a biopsby is not require because it is spiculaüted and grown in 1 year.
I will have a pet scan and then minimum invasive surgery to remove it. Chemo is not
off the tabled. i alsohave DVTs in my right leg, which im taking Eliquist. [second time in 12yrs when i had leukemia. ]
In 1966 i was in the Army basic training, while there i came down with pneumonia and coughing up blood. Since then xrays awayed showed a scar. I read that a lung scar can turn maglignant. sorry for ms.
~

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denzie | @denzie | Mar 31 10:00am

I've had 4 rounds of carboplatin with no mouth or throat issues. Rinsing regularly with a gentle mouthwash like Biotin can prevent that. Also if the have you in Alimta (pembrolizumab), they will have you take folic acid and B12 shots to prevent problems.

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1 reply
guyjeff123 | @guyjeff123 | Mar 31 3:01pm

Thank you @wrmeador . Thanks for the best wishes. May God bless you with healing.

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guyjeff123 | @guyjeff123 | Mar 31 3:31pm
In reply to @wrmeador "Hi guyjeff123, I hope your Oncology appointment was uneventful with no more bad news. My spiculated..." + (show)
@wrmeador

Hi guyjeff123,
I hope your Oncology appointment was uneventful with no more bad news.
My spiculated node will be treated with Carboplatin, which I read is not that bad for side effects. I'll find out after Apr 3, I will have that for chemo.
Wish you the best of care, keep positive.

Jump to this post

I had an unexpected conversation with my Oncologist. He showed me the different angles of the 1 cm node, but he says he doesn't think it's a node at all. He thinks I have an infection right behind or on a blood vessel. He called the pathologist while I was in his office. I heard him tell the Pathologist what he thought, but couldn't hear the response. After the call I asked him what the pathologist said and he stated that he still thinks it's a spiculated node. I trust this doctor. He has seen me through 2 previous cancers. He's also a Hematologist. I have reservations though. He asked me to start on a strong antibiotic, AMOX/CAV 875mg/125mg twice a day for 1 week and he will repeat the CAT Scan in 5 weeks. I asked him point blank that if He is wrong will this affect my possibly advancing to a higher stage cancer and my mortality. He said it would not ??? He pointed to what looked like 2 legs coming from the bottom of the suspected node and said those were blood vessels. I do trust him, but I feel like I'm risking more than he's telling me. I'd really like some feedback on this. Thanks

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2 replies
wrmeador | @wrmeador | Mar 31 5:56pm
In reply to @guyjeff123 "I had an unexpected conversation with my Oncologist. He showed me the different angles of the..." + (show)
@guyjeff123

I had an unexpected conversation with my Oncologist. He showed me the different angles of the 1 cm node, but he says he doesn't think it's a node at all. He thinks I have an infection right behind or on a blood vessel. He called the pathologist while I was in his office. I heard him tell the Pathologist what he thought, but couldn't hear the response. After the call I asked him what the pathologist said and he stated that he still thinks it's a spiculated node. I trust this doctor. He has seen me through 2 previous cancers. He's also a Hematologist. I have reservations though. He asked me to start on a strong antibiotic, AMOX/CAV 875mg/125mg twice a day for 1 week and he will repeat the CAT Scan in 5 weeks. I asked him point blank that if He is wrong will this affect my possibly advancing to a higher stage cancer and my mortality. He said it would not ??? He pointed to what looked like 2 legs coming from the bottom of the suspected node and said those were blood vessels. I do trust him, but I feel like I'm risking more than he's telling me. I'd really like some feedback on this. Thanks

Jump to this post

Your doc seem to really understand your situation .
I hate saying best of luck because science is not luck but facts , so best of facts

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1 reply
wrmeador | @wrmeador | Mar 31 6:00pm
In reply to @denzie "I've had 4 rounds of carboplatin with no mouth or throat issues. Rinsing regularly with a..." + (show)
@denzie

I've had 4 rounds of carboplatin with no mouth or throat issues. Rinsing regularly with a gentle mouthwash like Biotin can prevent that. Also if the have you in Alimta (pembrolizumab), they will have you take folic acid and B12 shots to prevent problems.

Jump to this post

That is really reasuring , thanks

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Mentor
Lisa, Volunteer Mentor | @lls8000 | Mar 31 6:05pm
In reply to @guyjeff123 "I had an unexpected conversation with my Oncologist. He showed me the different angles of the..." + (show)
@guyjeff123

I had an unexpected conversation with my Oncologist. He showed me the different angles of the 1 cm node, but he says he doesn't think it's a node at all. He thinks I have an infection right behind or on a blood vessel. He called the pathologist while I was in his office. I heard him tell the Pathologist what he thought, but couldn't hear the response. After the call I asked him what the pathologist said and he stated that he still thinks it's a spiculated node. I trust this doctor. He has seen me through 2 previous cancers. He's also a Hematologist. I have reservations though. He asked me to start on a strong antibiotic, AMOX/CAV 875mg/125mg twice a day for 1 week and he will repeat the CAT Scan in 5 weeks. I asked him point blank that if He is wrong will this affect my possibly advancing to a higher stage cancer and my mortality. He said it would not ??? He pointed to what looked like 2 legs coming from the bottom of the suspected node and said those were blood vessels. I do trust him, but I feel like I'm risking more than he's telling me. I'd really like some feedback on this. Thanks

Jump to this post

@guyjeff123, The balancing act when determining next steps on some of these nodules can be tough. Waiting can be incredibly difficult, but also beneficial. You mention that you trust this doctor, you've been though a lot together. I have to believe that he's correct, that waiting another 5 weeks isn't going to make much difference if it is cancer.
I have stage IV lung cancer. I also have a 1cm nodule that was biopsied and identified as a fungus. It's still there and appears on my quarterly scans. My body seems to have a propensity to having cancer (I also have breast cancer), but I also have other ailments too. Maybe, just maybe, yours is an infection. Hopefully.
Did your doctor talk about trying to biopsy the nodule? Or is it in a location that's difficult to access?

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1 reply
Mentor
Lisa, Volunteer Mentor | @lls8000 | Mar 31 6:17pm
In reply to @wrmeador "Well, things have changed after having biopsy of the nodes, it has spread to a lympth..." + (show)
@wrmeador

Well, things have changed after having biopsy of the nodes, it has spread to a lympth node near the center of my chest and its classified as stage 3. Not sure of the sub class. My doctor now says chemo, immunotherapy, then surgery to remove the upper right lobe.
I will start chemo Apr. 1. I've had cemo in 2011 for leukemia and i had all of the bad side effects then.
This time my anxiet med Lorazepam may help.

Jump to this post

@wrmeador, I wish you had received better news, but I'm glad that your doctors were able to biopsy the nodule and have a plan in place for treatment. They are jumping right into action. Wishing you the best tomorrow as you start chemo.

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guyjeff123 | @guyjeff123 | Apr 1 6:30am
In reply to @lls8000 "@guyjeff123, The balancing act when determining next steps on some of these nodules can be tough...." + (show)
@lls8000

@guyjeff123, The balancing act when determining next steps on some of these nodules can be tough. Waiting can be incredibly difficult, but also beneficial. You mention that you trust this doctor, you've been though a lot together. I have to believe that he's correct, that waiting another 5 weeks isn't going to make much difference if it is cancer.
I have stage IV lung cancer. I also have a 1cm nodule that was biopsied and identified as a fungus. It's still there and appears on my quarterly scans. My body seems to have a propensity to having cancer (I also have breast cancer), but I also have other ailments too. Maybe, just maybe, yours is an infection. Hopefully.
Did your doctor talk about trying to biopsy the nodule? Or is it in a location that's difficult to access?

Jump to this post

He mentioned it, but talked about the dangers of biopsy near or on a blood vessel and the complications, including death that can occur. Thanks for the reassurance that waiting a few more weeks isn't really going to change things that much, but jumping the gun, even in light of evidence could be a serious mistake. God Bless you.

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guyjeff123 | @guyjeff123 | Apr 1 6:37am
In reply to @wrmeador "Your doc seem to really understand your situation . I hate saying best of luck because..." + (show)
@wrmeador

Your doc seem to really understand your situation .
I hate saying best of luck because science is not luck but facts , so best of facts

Jump to this post

@wrmeadow. Thank you for the confirmation. My Oncologist is very good and I am trusting him. I don't really believe in luck. I'm a Christian and I do believe if God chooses to heal me He will. But I do appreciate the the facts of the situation. Thank you.

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56899t52 | @56899t52 | Apr 1 8:29am

Did the biopsy of the tumor show a mutation that can be treated through a targetted therapy drug? For example, if you have the EGFR mutation, Tagrisso, taken daily, can target the cancer, to the point of no evidence of disease (NED). I have been on Tagrisso for five years, have been NED, until recently, still taking the drug as the spread is indolent at this point in time. I wish you all the best in figuring out your situation. One definitely has to advocate for oneself.

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