Had quite a scare with Jim - he's been spitting up blood & tissue (about a tablespoon an hr.). His oncologist said there wasn't anything that could be done since he cannot be radiated in that area again and no chemo. Went to radiation Dr. and he ordered a CT scan. Seems like there's a tumor on his trachea and that's what's causing the bleeding. Report reads "tracheal involvement with neoplasm along the left lateral and postero-lateral trachea and may account for the patients slow hemoptysis". Now what does that mean in laymen's terms??? So next steps - go to a pulmonologist to see if he can do a day surgery procedure and hit it with a laser beam....I think they need to name cancer "The Neverending Story"....changed sheets last nite (3) times as he is sweating profusely and drenching the bed. This is becoming more of the norm than ever! My washing machine cringes when I walk up to it....seems to be saying "ENOUGH ALREADY"!!!

I dont have any knowledge of what those technical terms mean. I just wanted to say you both are in my thoughts and prayers.

My thoughts and prayers are with you both. Didn't the radiation dr. suggest anything that could be done? Maybe go back to him and ask him to explain that mumbo-jumbo to you and what steps can you take now for some relief for Jim. Who mentioned a pulmonologist and laser surgery? I hope you can find a solution soon.
julieann

My heart goes out to you. I have no idea what any of the medical jargon means, but you are in my thoughts and prayers. I also have the night sweats all the time, and no one seems to know why. In that area I know that it is very annoying. I can't even sleep three hours straight without having to get up and change clothes and place towle on the bed because it is so bad.

The radiation Dr. is sending him to a pulmonologist....I looked up all the terms...it simply means he has a tumor on his tracheo which is likely causing him to spit up the blood....why don't they just say that on the reports. According to the Dr. the sweats are caused by cancer...so we both get a laugh out of it to see who is going to wake up first...him from sweating from the cancer or me from sweating from hot flashes!!! My washing machine really got a work out this weekend!

You and Jim are in my thoughts and prayers.

The pulmonologist Dr. appt. didn't go well, but I don't think any of them are going to go good since coming home from the hospital. A tumor has broken thru his trachea & that's where the blood is coming from; there's another tumor in the lung that wasn't there 7 days ago. Dr. asked Jim's permission to "speak frankly with your wife"....it wasn't pretty what he told me, but I was grateful as at least I know what "may" happen or "may not". We took the "Beast" (Challenger) on a drive thru Arkansas and Oklahoma this weekend; just to get away. I am living in a fog and suffering from what I call "anticipatory grief". Jim & I are confused about PEG tubes...I thought there was only one kind that went thru the stomach...are there other types out there? If so, can someone explain it to me. I stopped asking questions at the Dr., it just got too much and I don't want to call them over such silliness (should have asked at the appt.)...things just a little overwhelming...

My thoughts and prayers are with you. Again, I cannot thank the care givers on this forum enough for helping us. You do not have an easy row to hoe. Take Care

My thoughts and prayers are with you too....Treasure every moment you have with each other.

Hugs to you both,

Shelley

I'm so-o-o sorry for what you and your husband are having to go through and am adding my prayers to the others' here. I hope that you and Jim can find some peaceful moments to share and the strength to cope in the days ahead. I don't know about the different types of PEG tubes but someone else will probably have a more experienced idea on this. Please keep us posted whenever you can.