It all started with a pair white sandals that had a (three inch) wedged heel. It was a Labor Day sale and I just had to have those shoes. While wearing the shoes one day, I got out of the car and stepped incorrectly. This resulted in twisting my foot. A few days later, my back started to hurt and it got worse over time. I went to the doctors for a back X-ray and everything turned out fine. While I was there, the doctor wanted to take advantage of my presence and complete my yearly exams. One of these tests included a chest X-ray.
My X-ray showed shadowing on my upper left lung that was not there last year. Due to the fact that I was recently sick, the doctor was not too concerned but wanted to follow up with a CT scan. Especially since I showed him my red cherry finger tips, I thought I had an allergic reaction to finger nail polish remover. I found out later it was a sign of lung distress. At my follow up appointment, the CT showed a mass on my upper left lung. This led to a PET scan and the golf ball sized mass glowed, indicating that the mass in my lung was more than likely cancer.
My appointment to the Pulmonologist was a week away. In the meantime, I started experiencing panic attacks and severe chest pain. I ended up in the hospital for a week where I underwent a biopsy of the mass. This was when it was confirmed that at the age of 50 I had stage 2 lung cancer.
After discharge, the chest pain continued. This landed me back in the hospital where I had a cardiac catheterization done. It was determined that a tiny capillary in my heart was constricting during my panic attacks.
My treatment plan was radiation twice a day, five days a week for six weeks, chemo the first and last week of radiation. I handled it pretty well except I lost my beautiful curls.
I thought I was in the clear, it has been two years and all the follow up PET scans were good, and my Dr. said that there was nothing left but scar tissue. That was until my scan a few weeks ago. I glowed. It was in the same area about the size of a dime. I had my biopsy yesterday and I will not get the results until Thursday….
hopefully it will be all good.
Written by
Kmkat
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You said they found a shadow,but did they call it a mass to begin with?The reason I am asking is that I am waiting for them to read my CT scan.But was told that the first one showed a nodule the 6 cm in size.But they also a breathing test done before reading test result on scan.I believe they should of told me that the first scan they were going to watch,but was told nothing .Except that I had appointment with lung Dr. 3 months down the road.But I missed that because I had a cold at that time.So needless to say,it wasn't until the next time I went to family Dr. about still having shortness of breath,that he looked at my chart and asked if I had ever saw the lung Dr. So that is when I was told about the size.And sent this scan.Much going on,Have just been diagnosed with COPD and Pulmonary Hypertension.Mamagram(spelling). And had foot surgery about a month ago.But hope all goes well for you in the future.
My primary Dr (actually a nurse practitioner) is the one who actually ordered the chest x-ray and he said it showed a shadow and sent me for the CT scan. At my follow up appointment that's when he told me there was a mass,the "about" size and that is when I passed out on him! Thankfully my husband was with me.
Lobectomy, Chemo, Radiation after chest xray ordered by primary after first appointment, first time I met him just happened to get a physical as wanted to make sure I was OK to care for my wife after open heart surgery. She passed January 2013 from congestive heart failure.
Make sure you take time to smell the roses with your husband and family. Life is short. Chemo and radiation screwed me up on top of my wife's death at 54. Worked through it all to no avail.
Sbrt radiation on other lung in April. Find out after cats can Monday meet with Oncologist Wed. Hoping for good news so I can continue the fight of my life. Immunotherapy is my next stop if further treatment needed. No more chemo/poison for me.
Nobody deserves this, yes I smoked for a long time. Try to keep smiling a lot of progress in last 6 years. Prayers have helped me to get through this. It is very saddening that cures etc. have and are being withheld because big pharm $.
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Suspected lung cancer
My lung cancer 
7cm mass
Pet Scan lights up.
Stage 4 lung cancer
