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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsI got some very scary news yesterday
they found a nodule on my lung I see a lung specialist Monday. My Dr sent me to the ER because I had a kidney stone it was a 3.8m stone so they sent me home with pain medicine. They said it was important that I see my Dr the next day, they didn't say why. He told me and said the lung doc would go in and take it out and do a biopsy It was an incidental finding I am very scared I have kids to raise. Has anyone else ever been through this? please tell me this probably isn't what I think it is. My dad died march 13 2013 of lung cancer. They also found many kidney stones that are non active stones. I go to a kidney specialist for that sometime in march, they are focused on this nodule and that is why I'm scared everything is so hurried.
B Calm
(28,762 posts)caught it early. It would be frighting for me too. Will have you in my thoughts, stay positive!
KitSileya
(4,035 posts)I don't know much about these kinds of illnesses, but you have my positive thoughts, vibes, prayers, jedi hugs - whichever you prefer.
66 dmhlt
(1,941 posts)To distract yourself with other activities. There's nothing you can do about it at this point but to fret - which is clearly counterproductive.
I know it's easy to say and hard to do, but focus on something else. And good luck.
bobGandolf
(871 posts)Until you get the biopsy results back you'll be on an emotional roller coaster. It will be draining, so make sure you're taking care of yourself. Please take care and keep me posted....I'll help however I can.
Hell Hath No Fury
(16,327 posts)have had extensive exposure to second hand smoke? If not, the chances the nodule being cancerous go way down.
rbrnmw
(7,160 posts)I quit a few years ago but I am exposed to lots second hand smoke I worked around lots of chemicals when I worked security. The smoking gave me COPD plus I grew up in a small town that was named the most toxic
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2009/06/25/Air_Toxics.ART0_ART_06-25-09_A3_64E9IOF.html
my best friend got cancer my sister did and many other along with breathing and sinus problems I am so glad they tore it down but I wonder if is it still in the river and soil. I grew up in New Boston in the 70's through the 80's
HereSince1628
(36,063 posts)I understand the anxiety this puts you under. At the time I was told of my "nodules" 10 days or so after the heart surgery... and it seemed that every time I had seen a medic I got another serious dx. They had seen it in prep work they'd done for the surgery but hadn't wanted to tell me beforehand.
I related this only as an experience that supports the general notion that not everything that shows up in the lung is cancerous.
For me it turned out to be a scar. One of the scans they used to check it out showed it to be calcified so it was from a long dead infection of some sort...they thought possibly Histoplasma as I had lived in southern Illinois where that fungus is endemic and somewhat common.
pinboy3niner
(53,339 posts)The VA found some scarring on my lungs, and there had been new research on that being caused by a virus. When they said they wanted to do a biopsy, I asked them what treatment that could lead to for me. Turned out they had no treatment, but they said I could get inhalers if I ever got short of breath. I turned down the biopsy.
rbrnmw
(7,160 posts)I don't know what that means
ScreamingMeemie
(68,918 posts)Last edited Sun Mar 2, 2014, 01:20 PM - Edit history (1)
Calcium deposits form on healing tissue (like from an infection) and tend to show up brighter on an X-ray.
rbrnmw
(7,160 posts)Ilsa
(61,690 posts)I understand that fear of leaving one's children prematurely.
rbrnmw
(7,160 posts)my kids need a mother
pinboy3niner
(53,339 posts)It's natural to fear the worst, but no one has told you that you won't be around for your kids. That's always a possibility for any of us, but you aren't there yet--and it may turn out not to be a worry at all.
I have friends who beat lung cancer, despite their direst fears.
abelenkpe
(9,933 posts)tomm2thumbs
(13,297 posts)My dad also died of lung cancer some years ago. So when more recently my mom was found to have it, I was freaking out. However, things have changed, even year to year, and they did the biopsy, went in to operate, removed a section of the lung (without even going through the ribcage) and removed the problem area. She stayed overnight and was home the next day. (Her hospital roommate had a more serious issue an had one of her entire lungs removed and was still out in 2 days!) Things have changed tremendously and you just need to be confident that finding it and dealing with it is what you need to focus on and not circling the what-ifs. Until you know, you don't know. Currently my mom is still doing well and about to turn 80. Doctors keep seeing her and kicking her back out every 6 months -- nothing new to report on her check-ups.
So although every case is different, I just wanted to let you know that things today are sooooo different than even 1, 2, or even 5 years ago. My only advice for now is that you should try and make sure to have a friend/advocate with you at all times possible just help ask questions, keep notes on the to-do's and information that may just pass you by with all the stress of everything happening at once. Hopefully you have family for this, but friends are just as good. Our doctor let us record everything on tape so we could revisit it later if we had questions. Made things a lot less stressful.
I hope for you the best of what comes, but definitely keep your wits about you and remember it is a new world as far as medicine is concerned. << big huggs >> and keep a journal if nothing else.... keeps the brain from locking it all inside and lets you vent and keep notes about every little thing that comes along.
Hassin Bin Sober
(26,311 posts)My partner was in the hospital last year and it seemed like every time the doctor came in and left my partner and I would have a different idea of what we were told.
tomm2thumbs
(13,297 posts)it can be overwhelming and it makes so much sense... even if you never go back to it, there is some comfort in the fact that it is there as reference
Hassin Bin Sober
(26,311 posts)..... thinking we were causing trouble. Especially after the two endoscopies he had - the doctor would come in after my partner was still groggy from drugs.
My partner was recently looking at his own scans (he works for the hospital and has access) and told me "those fuckers never told me I had xyz lung condition after the surgery" (I forget what it was). I had to remind him the attending doc most certainly did tell us about it and ruled out the more serious possibility and it was just a minor glitch after major surgery. My partner was so miserable at the time with having to keep the nose tube in he doesn't remember much else.
madokie
(51,076 posts)I went through this a couple years back. Luckily for me it was benign.
I aged a few years those few days between the first x-ray and and the results from the biopsy, I know that.
Hang in there more than likely its benign.
emsimon33
(3,128 posts)and many people never know that they have even had Valley Fever. I wish a positive outcome for you. Please keep us updated. If it is lung cancer--worse case--there have been a lot of advances.
onecent
(6,096 posts)and prayers go out to you and your family for some really good news regarding your health.
Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)Hoppy
(3,595 posts)polly7
(20,582 posts)I hope your fears are allayed and the doctors are just being thorough. It really is so hard waiting and not knowing though. I'm so sorry about your Dad.
lillypaddle
(9,580 posts)Monday can't get here soon enough, I'm sure. Wishing you the very best. Please let us know what they find out. Fingers crossed!
MoonRiver
(36,926 posts)I had a CT after surgery, which showed some nodules on my lung. The oncologist didn't think it was anything to worry about. Sure enough, follow-up CT showed the nodules remained the same. It's something almost everybody in the Midwest, probably elsewhere, develops. They also found a hemangioma on my liver, which also stayed the same, i.e. was benign. Not sure under what circumstances they found your lung nodule, but the majority do turn out to be benign.
KittyWampus
(55,894 posts)RKP5637
(67,084 posts)good vibes and good wishes for you! I had a scare like this a couple of years ago with a polyp and it turned out to be benign.
sybylla
(8,495 posts)At least for me it calms. When you know the lay of the land, you at least feel like you have some control and that's calming.
When my mom was told she had a lump, this is what we did.
The National Institute of Health has loads of great information on various kinds of cancer. You can go to their website and search for your particular kind of cancer.
Here's the link to info on lung cancer:
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/lung/
At the NIH, we read about statistics. We read studies. We learned about the various treatments and their success rates. It helped us understand what the doctors were saying. It helped us ask the right questions. And it gave us the information we needed to make treatment decisions.
So even if it turned out to be benign, we went into the doctors office informed and prepared for most anything.
It's scary. But knowing what you're facing can make a difference.
I wish you and your family the best.
LuvNewcastle
(16,834 posts)Hassin Bin Sober
(26,311 posts).... that previously would go undetected. So it's a good chance it isn't anything to worry about.
Lefta Dissenter
(6,622 posts)The information upthread is very helpful and encouraging. Of course you're scared. But do whatever you can to distract yourself through these days.
My son had cancer that was diagnosed a week after he graduated high school. That was almost fifteen years ago. He's been cancer-free since his surgery and chemo, and is now a Diplomat in the Foreign Service.
I hope that the worst that comes out of this is that you have these days of incredible stress and worry, just to be told that it's scarring, or some other benign cause. But regardless of the diagnosis, be sure to lean on the people around you, and just keep putting one foot in front of the other.
Lebam in LA
(1,344 posts)They found it on an xray. The sent me for cat scan and MRI. When I got there a nurse asked me when I was diagnosed with cancer. I freaked out. My doctor had never said anything about cancer. Turned out it was benign. Hoping your diagnosis is the same. Hang in there.
rbrnmw
(7,160 posts)I love my DU family you are the best grouphug:
Response to rbrnmw (Original post)
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raven mad
(4,940 posts)Came out with "something on my lung". Duh. Smoker of 45 years (that's how long I've smoked).
Be careful with yourself. Don't panic, don't give up, and DO get a second opinion from someone not affiliated with your health care group/organization. The "something" turned out to be a shadow from a radiology tech who didn't get her hair out of the way. Shit happens. Not her fault. Mine, for scaring myself.
I'm pretty well on the way to death, myself. But it didn't happen because of fear. I'm old.
Do NOT let fear rule you. That's the worst thing you can do to yourself. And your kids.
rbrnmw
(7,160 posts)raven mad
(4,940 posts)It's pretty obvious your kids are your focus. Do that. It's all you can give to this world, and means everything to this world. Remember - bad thoughts come back at you 3x. Good thoughts do the same.
Love is love. You've got it in spades, friend. Here on DU, and elsewhere - you give it, you get it.
I know I'm weird; have been since birth. You'll get through this - one way or another. I live with pain and no medication daily. Sorta (got taken out to dinner last night!)
Love is love. Give it. Get it.
rbrnmw
(7,160 posts)My main focus in life are my kids They give me a reason to get out of bed. I have been through a lot the last 17 mos. It doesn't seem to be letting up it is just making me stronger
raven mad
(4,940 posts)LiberalEsto
(22,845 posts)They sent him home from the ER with pain medicine.
I did some looking up on the internet and read that drinking glasses of water with a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar a couple of times a day seems to help some people pass their stones. I got my husband to try it and he was fine in a couple of days. Can't prove it was the vinegar, but you never know.
So sorry you're going through all this at once. Hang in there, DUers are here for you.
Please keep us posted on what's happening.
Auntie Bush
(17,528 posts)rbrnmw
(7,160 posts)I feel less nervous now
Rowdyboy
(22,057 posts)rustydog
(9,186 posts)turned out he had Lung Cancer. It scared the crap out of us. He had a good doctor in the Cancer Care group in Yakima.
He has been cancer free since. Just because Cancer took your father doesn't mean it will take you.
keep your hopes up and FIGHT!
rbrnmw
(7,160 posts)if it turns out to be malignant
840high
(17,196 posts)survivor. Fight like hell. I'll pray for you.
hootinholler
(26,449 posts)It turned out to be a calcification from a histoplasmosis infection. I had a hilar mass that showed on an xray with nodes showing in the lungs. The initial diagnosis was possible non-hodgkins lymphoma with involvement of the lung.
The down side was either the mass or the biopsy pinched or cut the frenetic nerve on my left side so that part of my diaphragm doesn't work so well anymore.
Best of luck to you. My Dr has been trying to kill me for years and I'm still around