Worried & shocked

[Matilda1926]

My husband was sent for a routine chest x ray in relation to his yearly post stroke review by GP.A lung lesion as shown up, he was given a contrast CT scan straight after & had a call yesterday to say h as a 5cm lesion & an inflamed lymph node. He now as to have a PET scan, head MRI & lung function test.

Whats shocked us both, he as no symptoms, no cough, blood, weight loss etc

We're both convinced its cancer due to all these tests & what else could it possibly be. Within 24 hrs our lives have changed. He had the x ray/CT last Tuesday & a call yesterday for these other tests. The person I spoke to said he can take all these tests at his own pace but hes on a 2 week referal, which is telling us they know this is cancer. Shock fear anxiety, we cant even eat, so the chances are he will lose weight now.

[Denzie Moderator Volunteer]

welcome to the Lung Cancer Support page. Please know that lung cancer is not the automatic death sentence it once was. 14+ years ago I was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. There have been so many improvements in diagnosis and treatment in that time.

Getting a complete diagnosis can take a few weeks. Please know there are other things that might look like cancer so until it's confirmed by a biopsy that don't know anything for certain.

I mentioned improvement in treatment. In recent years there have been many changes Targeted therapy being one, immunotherapy another After a biopsy, a bit of the cancer is sent for testing to learn where in the cell division process the DNA broke (mutation or oncogene). Sometimes cancers can be treated with a therapy that addresses that specific mutation. It often comes in a pill form.

Sometimes cancers thrive because the body's immune system doesn't recognize the cancer. An immunotherapy drug is given that teaches the immune system to look for specific proteins on cancer cells and to destroy them.

If this is cancer, the treatments are much more tolerable than they used to be. Many people are able to continue working full time while it treatment, if that's their wish.

Focus on getting each of those tests done In the meantime, lots of garages, drawers and closets get rearranged or cleaned out Find something to distract yourself.

This is also a good time to make sure you do have your affairs in order. Most people wait until there's a diagnosis of some kind or a horrible accident to think of it. This is something that every adult should do, cancer or not. These are not easy talks but need to be had. What type of extraordinary treatment will you accept? Burial or cremation? Medical and financial powers of attorney. When you've taken care of the dying stuff you can focus on living your best possible life.

[Dutchess123]

So sorry for what you are both going through. Most of us have little or no symptoms, personally I had a cough that came and went. Anytime a person has a cancer diagnosis it is the hardest words we ever hear. I did not know of this website till about 6 months ago. I am considered cancer free since I am 5 years clear of my cancer surgery and chemo, I had a 5 cm tumor in my lower left lobe. My surgeon told me that it was very possible that I would be in pain the rest of my life and I am but I am alive. The strongest piece of advice I will give you is make sure you get a second opinion, I didn't do that and I am not sure if there was a better surgical option that I might have had a better outcome (maybe not live in pain). I was in a rush to get the cancer out of my body, I saw what it had done to my father. I am praying for your husband and for you.