1. < Blood Cancers & Disorders

VATS lung biopsy

Posted by lenascott67 @lenascott67, Jul 22 8:14am

I had a VATS lung biopsy a few ago. The pathology came back Hodgkins “like” but not meeting the threshold for diagnosis. Although the surgeon said he took 2-3 times the normal amount of tissue- the oncologist is saying it needs to be repeated. I am not symptomatic.
Anyone experience this?

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Mentor
Patty, Volunteer Mentor | @pmm | Jul 22 11:34am

@lenascott67
Greetings and welcome to Mayo clinic connect. When they’re doing diagnostic testing, no matter what the issue, there is always a lot of information to absorb.
I always hate it for patients when a tiny piece of information is thrown out there that serves to create anxiety. Especially when they don’t share the connection of the dots of their reasoning with us.
Whenever my doctor suggests a new treatment or diagnostic procedure, I want to know what is it that causes them to make this recommendation? What will we learn and most importantly to me…what is the risk and how will the benefits outweigh the risks?
Can you ask for an appointment with the oncologist to ask these questions and whatever else will help you make a decision?
We are each different with different diagnoses, co-existing conditions, age and stamina, but we can all relate to the anxiety of not yet knowing exactly what we are facing in the future.
If you don’t mind me asking, what caused them to do the VATS Biopsy to begin with?

REPLY
1 reply
lenascott67 | @lenascott67 | Jul 22 11:40am
In reply to @pmm "@lenascott67 Greetings and welcome to Mayo clinic connect. When they’re doing diagnostic testing, no matter what..." + (show)
@pmm

@lenascott67
Greetings and welcome to Mayo clinic connect. When they’re doing diagnostic testing, no matter what the issue, there is always a lot of information to absorb.
I always hate it for patients when a tiny piece of information is thrown out there that serves to create anxiety. Especially when they don’t share the connection of the dots of their reasoning with us.
Whenever my doctor suggests a new treatment or diagnostic procedure, I want to know what is it that causes them to make this recommendation? What will we learn and most importantly to me…what is the risk and how will the benefits outweigh the risks?
Can you ask for an appointment with the oncologist to ask these questions and whatever else will help you make a decision?
We are each different with different diagnoses, co-existing conditions, age and stamina, but we can all relate to the anxiety of not yet knowing exactly what we are facing in the future.
If you don’t mind me asking, what caused them to do the VATS Biopsy to begin with?

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Thank you. I had a CT scan in January and then another in May. A lymph node near my aorta had grown quite a lot between the two. Follow up PET scan showed activity in the same spot.

REPLY
Mentor
Patty, Volunteer Mentor | @pmm | Jul 22 1:27pm

@lenascott67
There ought to be a response to comments that reflects “I’m sorry you are going through that.” When I “like” a response like that it feels disingenuous.
Hugs is much better.
I was confused about the “Hodgkins like” conclusion from the biopsy but I see the connection better. Thank you.

REPLY
1 reply
lenascott67 | @lenascott67 | Jul 22 1:31pm
In reply to @pmm "@lenascott67 There ought to be a response to comments that reflects “I’m sorry you are going..." + (show)
@pmm

@lenascott67
There ought to be a response to comments that reflects “I’m sorry you are going through that.” When I “like” a response like that it feels disingenuous.
Hugs is much better.
I was confused about the “Hodgkins like” conclusion from the biopsy but I see the connection better. Thank you.

Jump to this post

Thank you

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