Dear Diane,

Please don't panic. My husband also had a "hot" spot show up in his lung. This was during his first scan following treatment (rad and chemo)

The tumor was very suspicious, singular, with no way to prove whether it was malignant or not, until it was out.

No doctor worth his weight in salt would sit and wait at this point, if it meant a possible cure, if it happens to be cancer.

We had a great thoracic (sp?) surgeon who removed the upper third of Dennis' lung, and it was BENIGN. Apparently, a product of living close to the water, of all things! Seems there are certain lung cysts caused by the coastal environment. After asking his doctor about this, following surgery, he said that up to 75% of his hospital staff would show these cysts if given a a scan.

Not to overuse a saying, but, it's not cancer, until they say it is.

Please, keep looking up, and know that I'm praying for the same outcome for you.

Love,
Mandi

Husband diagnosed with stage III tonsil and floor of mouth cancer in August 2002. Three rounds of chemo/42 RAD treatments. Upper right lung lobectomy in March 2003. (Benign)