Living with lung cancer - Introduce yourself & come say hi

Welcome to the Lung Cancer group on Mayo Clinic Connect.
This is a welcoming, safe place where you can meet people living with lung cancer or caring for someone with lung cancer. Let's learn from each other and share stories about living well with cancer, coping with the challenges and offering tips.

I'm Colleen, and I'm the moderator of this group, and Community Director of Connect. Chances are you'll to be greeted by volunteer patient Mentors and fellow members when you post to this group. Learn more about Moderators and Mentors on Connect.

We look forward to welcoming you and introducing you to other members. Feel free to browse the topics or start a new one.
Let's chat. Why not start by introducing yourself?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Lung Cancer Support Group.

@merpreb

@alamogal635- Awww. You are such a sweetie. Thank you.

Jump to this post

@merpreb I mean what I wrote. Hope you have a wonderful weekend.

REPLY
@merpreb

@hgregory- Good morning Greg. I must warn you that stem cell treatments for COPD is very new and that there really only trials being offered. It's important to find legitimate information about the trials and those that are just scams. There are a lot of bogus clinics offering all sorts of promises that are just not science based.
https://www.webmd.com/lung/copd/features/copd-new-treatments#2 - This will give you some understanding of your interest.
I would recommend looking into this: https://www.mayo.edu/research/centers-programs/center-regenerative-medicine/patient-care

Jump to this post

I'll check out your site recommendations thanks for the input.

REPLY
@alamogal635

@merpreb I mean what I wrote. Hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Jump to this post

@alamogal635- I know that you do.

REPLY

@lady1lake- Hello. It's been quite a while since I have heard from you about your cancer status. The last the I read was about your successful lens replacements. I love mine. How are you doing?

REPLY

Hello Everyone.
I have found this group as I have nobody to talk to in respect to my wife and her terrible scare.( I am sworn to secrecy) About a week ago she had a chest x-ray and we were notified by the Dr's office that they wanted to talk to her ASAP as they had seen something that was of worry. It appeared that they discovered two growths or nodules on her right lung. One being 1.7 cm and the other 3 cm. They immediately booked her in for a CT scan within a week and that was on a Sunday. It is now Tues and the had pre booked us for an appointment for what I believe is to discuss what the CT scans reveled . My wife is the love of my life for over 28 years and I am so scared as she is as well. Does anyone have any encouraging words or advise as I don't know what to do.
HELP!

REPLY
@scoop2365

Hello Everyone.
I have found this group as I have nobody to talk to in respect to my wife and her terrible scare.( I am sworn to secrecy) About a week ago she had a chest x-ray and we were notified by the Dr's office that they wanted to talk to her ASAP as they had seen something that was of worry. It appeared that they discovered two growths or nodules on her right lung. One being 1.7 cm and the other 3 cm. They immediately booked her in for a CT scan within a week and that was on a Sunday. It is now Tues and the had pre booked us for an appointment for what I believe is to discuss what the CT scans reveled . My wife is the love of my life for over 28 years and I am so scared as she is as well. Does anyone have any encouraging words or advise as I don't know what to do.
HELP!

Jump to this post

Good morning @scoop2365, welcome to Connect. I have no medical trading. I have been and still am a caregiver for a cancer patient and I can share experiences that may have value for you. You are expressing so much love and compassion for your wife. I recall when my life partner first got the results of the scan and biopsy. He turned to me and said, “now Chris, we don’t have to share this with anyone”.

He also did not want to read test reports on the patient portal at Mayo. When we were in with the surgeon, he actually said, “Well, I can’t do this until after my fishing trip”. I finally got through to him and realized this was denial. Then came the anger about the interference with his life, his projects.

Finally he agreed to see a therapist and things got better. That might be helpful for you two. His outlook was dreary because both his father and grandfather had the same affliction.

So what did I do? I practiced active listening when he chose to talk. I gathered information from Connect and other sources to share with him. At first he refused to listen, still in denial. He said that if he didn’t know then he wouldn’t be scared. Slowly I convinced him that knowledge is power.

That’s chapter one. Post surgery is another chapter. Hold on to your hat.

May you both be free of suffering. I know that other members may be in touch. They bring knowledge and understanding. What is your greatest need right now? Chris

REPLY
@scoop2365

Hello Everyone.
I have found this group as I have nobody to talk to in respect to my wife and her terrible scare.( I am sworn to secrecy) About a week ago she had a chest x-ray and we were notified by the Dr's office that they wanted to talk to her ASAP as they had seen something that was of worry. It appeared that they discovered two growths or nodules on her right lung. One being 1.7 cm and the other 3 cm. They immediately booked her in for a CT scan within a week and that was on a Sunday. It is now Tues and the had pre booked us for an appointment for what I believe is to discuss what the CT scans reveled . My wife is the love of my life for over 28 years and I am so scared as she is as well. Does anyone have any encouraging words or advise as I don't know what to do.
HELP!

Jump to this post

@scoop2365- Hi Scoop-- You aren't alone and you have every reason to be frightened. Being told that there was something picked up on a CT scan is pretty darn scary. I am a mentor for Mayo Clinic's Connect Lung cancer and disease groups and I welcome you.
Your wife's nodules are small. They are respectfully about 1/2" and the larger one just a bit over 1 ". Did they tell you if they were in the same lobe or not? You have three in your right lung and two in your left. Each lobe can be taken out, if necessary, leaving plenty of lung tissue for a full life.
I am a 22 yr lung cancer survivor. I actually go for a follow-up CT scan tomorrow. And I'm nervous, even after all this time.
There are several things that you might anticipate. First list any and all questions that you might have down and make sure that they are answered. You both have the right to know everything about your wife's condition.
I know that you know very little right now because it will depend on what her lesions are but I'm sure that you will have a million questions buzzing around. Right now try not to get too carried away with anticipation if possible. Try and keep busy, if your wife is able too.
Try and keep your chins up. So far the only thing that you know is that there are lesions, not that they are cancerous. When is her next appointment?

REPLY
@artscaping

Good morning @scoop2365, welcome to Connect. I have no medical trading. I have been and still am a caregiver for a cancer patient and I can share experiences that may have value for you. You are expressing so much love and compassion for your wife. I recall when my life partner first got the results of the scan and biopsy. He turned to me and said, “now Chris, we don’t have to share this with anyone”.

He also did not want to read test reports on the patient portal at Mayo. When we were in with the surgeon, he actually said, “Well, I can’t do this until after my fishing trip”. I finally got through to him and realized this was denial. Then came the anger about the interference with his life, his projects.

Finally he agreed to see a therapist and things got better. That might be helpful for you two. His outlook was dreary because both his father and grandfather had the same affliction.

So what did I do? I practiced active listening when he chose to talk. I gathered information from Connect and other sources to share with him. At first he refused to listen, still in denial. He said that if he didn’t know then he wouldn’t be scared. Slowly I convinced him that knowledge is power.

That’s chapter one. Post surgery is another chapter. Hold on to your hat.

May you both be free of suffering. I know that other members may be in touch. They bring knowledge and understanding. What is your greatest need right now? Chris

Jump to this post

Today I put up this post as I need knowledge and support. This is all very new to me and I have never dealt with anything like it. My wife is quite calm and easy going and is patiently awaiting her results this Thursday. I am the weaker one and I show more fear then her. I don't believe that she is in denial keeping this a secret. I can say that the secret is being kept from our two daughters. My step daughters The girls are 45 and 49 and there biological father died from lung cancer a few years back and they were devastated. She will tell them when we find out more information. I ask for prayers.
Thank you

REPLY
@merpreb

@scoop2365- Hi Scoop-- You aren't alone and you have every reason to be frightened. Being told that there was something picked up on a CT scan is pretty darn scary. I am a mentor for Mayo Clinic's Connect Lung cancer and disease groups and I welcome you.
Your wife's nodules are small. They are respectfully about 1/2" and the larger one just a bit over 1 ". Did they tell you if they were in the same lobe or not? You have three in your right lung and two in your left. Each lobe can be taken out, if necessary, leaving plenty of lung tissue for a full life.
I am a 22 yr lung cancer survivor. I actually go for a follow-up CT scan tomorrow. And I'm nervous, even after all this time.
There are several things that you might anticipate. First list any and all questions that you might have down and make sure that they are answered. You both have the right to know everything about your wife's condition.
I know that you know very little right now because it will depend on what her lesions are but I'm sure that you will have a million questions buzzing around. Right now try not to get too carried away with anticipation if possible. Try and keep busy, if your wife is able too.
Try and keep your chins up. So far the only thing that you know is that there are lesions, not that they are cancerous. When is her next appointment?

Jump to this post

Hello Merry
We go to the Dr,s this Thursday to find out what the Ct scan reveled. The nodules are in the right lung in the middle half to the best of my knowledge. Thank you for the advice and best of luck to you with your tests.

REPLY
@scoop2365

Hello Merry
We go to the Dr,s this Thursday to find out what the Ct scan reveled. The nodules are in the right lung in the middle half to the best of my knowledge. Thank you for the advice and best of luck to you with your tests.

Jump to this post

Scoop- Thank you. I read your latest post and I'm glad that your wife is staying calm. I'm glad that you only have couple of days to wait. i hope that you will keep me up-to-date. I will do my best to help guide you through this journey. Please don't hesitate to ask me anything.

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.