Hi Kathleen,
Sorry to hear about your mother. I just got off the phone with the doctor who did my mother's surgery in Feb./2003. She too has a suspicious looking spot on her right lung. My mother had told the doctor that she was experiencing pain in her jaw and head. As a precaution he sent her for a PET scan. It showed something in her chest and subsequently he sent her for a CT scan. This confirmed his suspicion. There is a 2 inch spot on her lung and although he is not sure, he is suspicious it is malignant. He said it could be some kind of abcess or infection. Now he is going to schedule her for a fine needle biopsy of the suspcious area with a chest surgeon and he said he thinks that regardless of whether or not it is malignant surgery will probably be recommended. He told her that the biopsy itself is a very uncomfortable procedure to have done. I can only imagine what chest recovery from chest surgery will be like for an 80 year old woman who has been through what she has been in the last 2 years. It was just about 2 years ago that she had a neck resection to start the whole odyssey She was doing pretty well considering all the problems with eating after 1/2 her tongue, right jaw and floor of mouth were removed over a year ago, but this is a big setback for her. I saw her today and although she is giving it her best effort, she is pretty discouraged. I don't mean to discourage you, but thought you might take some comfort in knowing there are others in the same predicament. Let's hope there is a happy outcome for both our mothers, but with each new twist in the road it gets more and more difficult to stay optimistic. Wishing you, your mother and your family the very best.

Vince