My Husband was told he had to have a biopsy as he could have cancer,3 weeks later they said he would have to have another biopsy as the first one was very small and they need to take more, another 3 weeks he was told he has cancer but they want another biopsy as the team we looking at his scan and they say a spot at the bottom of his lung so he has to have another biopsy next Tuesday so we have to wait another 3 weeks for the result. My Husband and me are so stressed that he has gone into himself, very depressed and shouts at himself. I think this is a very long wait for a man with lung cancer has anyone else gone through this as i think it's not acceptable to be left this long.
is very worried Wife,
Margaret.
Written by
joeyroe
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Hi Joyroe, it seems they are now trying to ‘stage’ the cancer so as to optimize the treatment plan for his his particular cancer type and cancer stage. That said, it still does seem like they are taking undue time to do so. Suggest you meet with the oncologist together and express your concern about the seeming lack of urgency. Best Wishes. Never give up and Never give in! judg69
We live in naas co. kildare, Ireland. we have not seen oncologist yet as we were told he would not see us until they knows if the spot at the end of the lung is cancer and they we have to go to another Hospital to see the surgeon. this is ireland and they do thing ass ways.
Hi and welcome to the group. You will find that here you will get great support and some of us are experts at this by now. It is an extremely long time to wait, in my opinion. My biopsies (5 primary cancers) were completed within a week.Have to say I would be searching out a second opinion by now - the doc who did the biopsy and twice did not take enough tissue would be the main reason, and I would be concerned about why your doc is using him/her. Find the nearest Comprehensive Cancer Center and spend a day with them. It is worth the journey to find out what is going on and if the treatment being recommended is the best available. A total of 9 weeks waiting would drive me up the wall. I simply would not stand for it! If s/he did not like that I was getting a 2nd opinion that would definitely make me find another oncologist. I go to Roswell CCC in Buffalo, NY and it has been my experience that biopsies can take a week at most. The longest I have ever gone was 9 days from possible diagnosis to starting some sort of treatment, and that was because the surgeon had to plan out the intricacies of a liver cancer where the tumor engulfed other organs. Denzie, Peggy and a few others have more experience with this, so please listen to what they have to say as well.
Depression and anxiety are not uncommon, especially while in the waiting period. Most of us go through anxiety and/or depression at some point. Please call the oncologist and see if there is anything they can recommend to help. Many cancer specialists also know a psychologist or social worker who can help, too. Your husband sounds like he is stressed beyond his max and could use some extra help through medication, talk therapy or a combination of both. Again, 9 weeks is a very long time to be so frightened without a clear understanding of what is happening.
Thanks Lauri-Anne, we have not seen a cancer specialist as all the tests have to be done before he will see my Husband and we have to go to another Hospital to see him. this is the way it's done in ireland which we are not happy about. we can't just go to another hospital and see an oncologist as they would not see him without going through all the tests again. i guess that is why so many People die of cancer in this country. (Ireland).
WOW, Margaret, that is just wrong. I would still be breathing down the doctor's neck to get things moving in the right direction. Perhaps a call every two to three days - the squeaky wheel gets the grease. I am so sorry that this is happening to you in this way. Please do keep us updated about your progress!
I assume they are doing needle biopsies and that is why they keep going back for more samples. My biopsy was done surgically and my surgeon was able to see all in chest area to where it had spread so several biopsies done at once. Your husband has to be so frustrated . When you hear the word cancer, you want to get rid of it as soon as possible. It is scary to know that is inside you and you feel like it is a ticking bomb. But it is important to know what type and what stage before it can be treated. They also have to test for any genetic mutations in order to choose the best treatment for the best outcome. There are so many more ways to treat lung cancer now with successful results. I was diagnosed with stage 4 in 2013 and no evidence of cancer in 2016. If he is not happy with this doctor, he could go to another. The doctor and patient need to be a team. Let this doctor know that all the waiting is stressing him out and he wants things done with more urgency.
Hello Joeyroe, I honestly understand how you feel. My husband waited a month actually before we got his full diagnoses, he also has to have 2 biopsies. I know the wait can be very hard with the unknowing. It has been over two years now and has been on Opdivo the past year. I will send prayers up for you and your husband. As a nurse I had everything possible go through my mind and what could possibly be ahead. Please keep us update.
Read my old posts for my history. Age 69, nsc lung cancer. Exposure to agent orange, not a smoker. Receiving excellent care at the Veteran's Affairs hospital in Minneapolis since Dec 2017. Had 6 rounds of chemo and 5 days of targeted radiation to my head. I'll be on "maintenance" chemo every 3 weeks. So far I'm doing pretty well according to the PET scan. (Had 2 pets and going again next week.) The docs like to get enough tissue so that they can zero in on mutations. I had 1 from a bone and 2 from the lung. Dang near collapsed the lung trying to get to the last sample. I don't think it pays to second guess the docs. My testing and radiation was all done within a couple of weeks so it pays to have a major clinic or hospital do the workup. Don't be timid about making treatment decisions either. The day I got the big diagnosis I booked the radiation and 3 days later I was having radiation. There are tips in my old posts about managing side effects. Good luck and I hope this helps a little.
This is too long of a wait. My oncologist sent me for a PET scan, and for a visit to my thoracic surgeon. The almost 2 cm spot on my lung lit up during the scan making us all pretty sure it was lung cancer, he went in, took out the tumor, sent it to the lab, it came back malignant, so he removed the upper right lobe.
Maybe talk to his oncologist, let him/her know how you feel. If they cannot come up with a good reason for all these tests and delays, he may need to find a new oncologist.
He should also go for a second opinion (maybe even a third). It cannot hurt anything, and it just might make your hubby a little less stressed.
Go to your nearest cancer center. Mine was two hours and half drive from where I live but was well worth the drive. I never had to wait more than 3 days for results. I had stage 3b NSCLC. In about 5 weeks from the diagnosis of lung cancer, I began my treatments. As with any cancer, time is of the essence. If you feel the process is taking too long and I must admit that I agree, find a new oncologist. I was seen by a pulmonologist first and the. A coordinator handled all of the necessary testing before I met with my oncologist.
Welcome! It can cometimes take 6 or more weeks to get results here as well. Most oncologists in the US will not see a patient until the staging process is completed.
Healthunlocked.com has another page you might want to visit. It’s a UK site called Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation. There’s an excellent chance that you’ll meet others there who’ve dealt with your same hospital or doctor. Please continue to visit us here as well though. I like reading both boards.
Hi, joeyroe it took about 2 1/2 month waiting for my husband before he can get the treatment, from x-ray, biopsy and so many GP's appointments. We beg one of the surgeons who did the biopsy to please put him in one of the oncologists when he did the oncologist told us that it seems my husband somehow lost in their system. He will then have the treatment right away. He had Stage 3 SCLC. Remission for a year now still have side effects. Enjoying the Sunshine States One Day at a Time.
Maybe you should get in touch with a health advocate or yr cancer foundation seems very lax for a man so unwell good luck hope you get a positive outcome
Hi -- not sure about the time period with private doctors since I go to the VA for all my needs. Sounds like about 9 weeks so far and nothing has begun? Even for the VA that sounds a little slow. The VA diagnosed my first cancer in my left lung on July 3, 2015 and removed my lower left lobe on August 7, 2015. Then my second cancer was found Feb 11, 2017 and they removed my middle right lobe March 4, 2017. The VA is known to be slow but they jump on cancer (Houston Regional VA is where it all took place). So, nine weeks for a private doctor does sound slow. God bless - may He watch over you and yours.
Margaret, I was sorry to hear that things haven't gotten any better for your husband (and you). I agree that you should seek help for him, his emotions have to be all over the place (understandably) and there are medications and therapies that can ease how he is feeling. It does all sound like this is taking time, I think getting on the phone and trying to speed things up couldn't hurt. It is hard to know how your medical system works, so difficult to advise, but you are being a wonderful advocate for your husband - so keep it up! Keep learning too - the more you know the more power you will have in conversations. Bless your hearts, will be praying for both of you. Please don't feel discouraged, feel empowered to get the answers you both need. Caring hugs.
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