| | Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 14 Member | OP  Member
Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 14 | Hi all, just met with thoracic surgeon regarding spot in lung which has been showing up in CTs. Recent PET in that area also lit up. Has grown a little since last August CT scan. I have been told it is not a candidate for needle biopsy. Suggestion is to undergo a VATS treatment to get it out and see what it is...... Any advice as to how to proceed. Thanks in advance.
SCC left tonsil dx 8/15/09. finished 7 weeks chemo and rad. on 11/20/09. PEG tube 9/18/09 to 4/17/10. HPV 16+; non-smoker. CT Scan and F/up PET on 4/5/11 showed positive mass in R. Lung. Surgically removed and biopsy negative 5/16/11.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 6 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 6 | A second opinion at a cancer center would be a good idea.
Im unfamiliar with the VATS procedure is.
ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive  | | | | | Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 14 Member | | OP Member
Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 14 | Hi Christine, my RO referred me to this surgeon. VATS is just shorthand for Video Assisted Thoracic Surgery. They would remove the suspicious area of the lung (lower right lobe) check margins and biopsy the sample. There is really no other way of knowing for sure what it is.....a possible met or other mass of unknown origin. Thanks for your concern.
SCC left tonsil dx 8/15/09. finished 7 weeks chemo and rad. on 11/20/09. PEG tube 9/18/09 to 4/17/10. HPV 16+; non-smoker. CT Scan and F/up PET on 4/5/11 showed positive mass in R. Lung. Surgically removed and biopsy negative 5/16/11.
| | | | | Joined: May 2010 Posts: 638 "OCF Down Under" "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "OCF Down Under" "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: May 2010 Posts: 638 | Hi Jackhoar
The only advice I can put forward, is to talk to the surgeon or nurse about any post surgery after effects. For example will there be pain and if so, for how long and what sort of pain management do they have in mind? What are you allowed to do afterwards and how long before you will be able to return to full movement? I am biased and would rather talk to a nurse who is more likely to sit you down and talk you through any fears or misconceptions.
My Alex had lung surgery for a different reason (repair a tear in the lower left lobe after a lung collapse which required removal of a part of the lung) so this may not be quite the same, but we were both suprised how long the effects of surgery lasted. He was in ICU for 4 days and was on a triple combination of some serious pain killers and tranquilisers and continues to get twinges after lifting 9 months out.
For us, the pain was completely manageable but you need to know about it so you CAN manage it. Because we didn't know, Alex thought he was some sort of failure or wimp, or even more disturbing; that the surgery had somehow gone wrong.
Good luck
Karen
Karen Love of Life to Alex T4N2M0 SCC Tonsil, BOT, R lymph nodes Dx March 2010 51yrs. Unresectable. HPV+ve Tx Chemo x 3+1 cycles(cisplatin,docetaxel,5FU)- complete May 31 Chemoradiation (IMRTx35 + weekly cisplatin) Finish Aug 27 Return to work 2 years on 3 years out Aug 27 2013 NED Still underweight
| | | | | Joined: Aug 2010 Posts: 72 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | | Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2010 Posts: 72 | Hi,
My husband had a mass in the lower right lobe last December that showed up on a follow-up CT. His RO was really concerned and even looked at the scan itself, rather than just the report. The RO is a pessimist and tends to jump to the worse case scenarios. I tuned out all the scary talk and asked for next steps. He sent Tim to a pulmonologist, with the staff wishing us a Merry Christmas on our way out. Bummer of a holiday weekend.
When we saw the pulmonologist he agreed that IF the mass was cancer, it would be a very bad thing. The area is not good for a needle biopsy. He gave us two options � a more invasive biopsy or treat it with antibiotics.
His logic was that the lower right lobe is where aspirated gunk ends up. Metastasized cancer is usually closer to the middle of the chest (has anyone on here heard that?). Even though Tim had no other symptoms of pneumonia, he was put on a strong dose of antibiotics for three weeks. It turned out to be an infection. Yippy! He had a follow-up x-ray this week and the only thing left is a bit of scarring.
I pray that you, too, are going to be fine.
Susan
Susan, CG to husband, diagnosed April 2010, age 56, non-smoker, no HPV
Mandibulectomy on left side May 2010 followed by 30 radiation, 3 cisplatin treatments.
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 14 Member | | OP Member
Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 14 | Thanks to all who replied. Surgery is Friday. Lower right lung "wedge" dissection. Minimally invasive thorascopic procedure. Camera hole and two holes for instruments.. Expecting negative result and will post when able.
SCC left tonsil dx 8/15/09. finished 7 weeks chemo and rad. on 11/20/09. PEG tube 9/18/09 to 4/17/10. HPV 16+; non-smoker. CT Scan and F/up PET on 4/5/11 showed positive mass in R. Lung. Surgically removed and biopsy negative 5/16/11.
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 14 Member | | OP Member
Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 14 | Biopsy showing negative. Procedure went very well. Thank you.
SCC left tonsil dx 8/15/09. finished 7 weeks chemo and rad. on 11/20/09. PEG tube 9/18/09 to 4/17/10. HPV 16+; non-smoker. CT Scan and F/up PET on 4/5/11 showed positive mass in R. Lung. Surgically removed and biopsy negative 5/16/11.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 6 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 6 |
ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive | | | | | Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 875 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 875 | WONDERFUL NEWS, jack. Congratulations!
julieann
Julieann Nov 2007 SCC on right tonsil following tonsillectomy. Was smoker, QUIT. (Stage IV T2 N2b) 7 weeks radiation one day/wk chemo (carboplatin and 5-FU). Allergic to Taxol; PEG in, lost 30 lbs. TX completed January 2008. PEG out mid- 2008. PET/CT 1/17/2011;2/3/12 NEGATIVE for cancer | | | | | Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,406 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,406 |
David 2
SCC of occult origin 1/09 (age 55)| Stage III TXN1M0 | HPV 16+, non-smoker, moderate drinker | Modified radical neck dissection 3/09 | 31 days IMRT finished 6/09 | Hit 14 years all clear in 6/23 | Radiation Fibrosis Syndrome kicked in a few years after treatment and has been progressing since | Prostate cancer diagnosis 10/18
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