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ls99 · 12-12-2008, 07:25 AM

Not wanting to pile on Whitestick's thread, by comparison we have it easy.

What follows is a relatively brief chronology, in the hope that at least one person will get the strong hint, if it a'int right get it checked out.

After nearly a year of bugging, cajoling and otherwise trying to get DW to talk with the primary care doc about her persistent cough, finally a bout a month and a half ago she fessed up to the doc.

What followed was predictable tho not as bad as it turned out. Chest Xray showed among other things a small 15 to 29 mm mass at the top of left lung. Followed by CT scan getting better definition but not good enough.

So on to PET scan with its higher resolution showed 20 mm mass with tentacles. Surgeon's learned opinion: very likely cancer. Need biopsy for confirmation.

Fine needle biopsy confirmed cancer, in rapid sequence lobectomy was scheduled. Last Wednesday morning 0600 we showed at the hospital, surgery performed, left upper lung lube extracted with tumor within, along with 10 lymph nodes.

Pathology report identified squamous cell carcinoma 25mm at largest dimension, along with some other thickening. No lymph node involvement, no other evidence of metastasis. Final staging 1A.

The good news, no chemo indicated or required. Once again DW's luck held.

Me being a realist (an optimist with experience) will keep an eye on her well being along with whatever follow ups doc requires.

Having spent much time supporting, helping others in similar and much wors situations, I have been able to apply and use many of the "keep going" ideas and thoughts that are familaiar to those in "careataker" mode.

As Rich In Tampa often noted, these things are often found as a result of looking to fix some more obvious issues or problems. The real lucky part in all this was the timing AND the type, Non small cell carcinoma: much earlier in the 5 to 10 mm mass range, it would liekely have been missed. Another month, and given the doubling rate, it would have been stage 2 with much worse statistical outcome.

Notmuchlonger · 12-12-2008, 07:51 AM

Good luck with this. Hope everything works out for the best.

bbbamI · 12-12-2008, 02:49 PM

Thanks for sharing your story with us. Perhaps this will be a wake-up call to someone that has been putting off medical attention.

I wish you and your wife the best.

Bestwifeever · 12-12-2008, 05:54 PM

Good thoughts and prayers for your wife and you--a frightening episode yet a good prognosis, it sounds like.

Urchina · 12-12-2008, 06:10 PM

Whew! I'm glad it looks like you're done with that.

DW is lucky to have a spouse like you.

**Alan** · 12-13-2008, 07:36 AM

Thanks for sharing your story. I'm very pleased to hear that the prognosis is excellent. There is a statistical correlation with longevity and having a partner (Spouse or otherwise) and / or good social network. This is attributed mstly to reduced stress but obviously having someone around to nag you to go to the Doc when needed is a factor too.

TromboneAl · 12-13-2008, 10:18 AM

Glad to hear that you had good luck, but I know how stressful that stuff can be.

Did I understand correctly that the the tumor was not the cause of the cough, and was just an incidental finding?

Moemg · 12-13-2008, 11:12 AM

Glad to hear it's okay . Your wife is lucky you kept nagging .

ls99 · 12-13-2008, 01:26 PM

Thanks to all for the good comments and wishes. The statistical outcome looks very good, though my prime interest is in the singular successful outcome, my wife's. The initial recovery is going very well.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TromboneAl

Glad to hear that you had good luck, but I know how stressful that stuff can be.

Did I understand correctly that the the tumor was not the cause of the cough, and was just an incidental finding?

Yes, you got it right Al. The cough was the result of bronchitis, had nothing whatever to do with the malignancy. The finding of the tumor was indeed incidental.

jug · 12-14-2008, 08:06 AM

Good luck to you, I wish you both happiness and laughter each and every day.

jug

ls99 · 12-20-2008, 11:02 AM

Progress of DW. Great. She has now driven herself (with me in passenger seat) into town, walked about for fifteen minutes or so, then drive home. She has some soreness of the healing surgical areas occasionally requiring pain med.

So far so good, doing amazingly well, even in surgeon's opinion.

Once again, thanks for all the well wishes.

73ss454 · 12-20-2008, 12:11 PM

Good for you guys ls99, thinking about you this holiday season. Best of luck!

Rich_by_the_Bay · 12-20-2008, 12:17 PM

Tough ordeal, and well handled. Best wishes to DW and you. Serendipity isn't always such a bad thing.

ls99 · 05-31-2011, 02:32 PM

Update

Good news received today. Last week DW had a 2 1/2 year follow up scan. The surgeon called and gave the good news. DW is now cancer free. The particular cancer for which she had surgery to remove upper lobe of left lung is gone.

Resume normal breathing and life.

On the negative side we lost a BIL two weeks ago to lung cancer. While two points do not make for good statistics there were crucial differences in the initial decisions of DW and BIL.

Upon diagnosis and confirmation of the cancer DW opted, with my strong concurrence for immediate surgery. Left decision for other issues that may come up for after healing from surgical wound.

BIL opted to talk to a cancer doctor several times prior to discussion with surgeon. After that discussion his decision with DW's input was to go for surgery first, then deal with the aftermath.

After discussion with surgeon, once again talked with cancer doctor, he got re-oriented to chemical treatment, of which he had three different kinds. Then he had surgery. Two weeks later he was dead. Multiple problems. Immune system was shot due to chemo, hospital acquired staph, MRSA topped off with pneumonia. His surgical wound never healed.

We now have a friend who is vacillating between surgery first, or chemo first. We gave her our opinion. Ie: DW's successful experiment vs. BIL's successful experiment. The later was a successful exit from this world with a miserable 6 month existence.