Cancer return

[Lovey1000]

What does that mean?? Is my cancer back?? Ugggghhh

[JanetteR57]

I know these letters/reports as if they're in Double Dutch but they're designed for clinicians not patients even though we can receive copies. I suggest you contact your medical team or cancer nurse specialist to explain and translate this into plain English/lay terms for you to understand. As far as I can see, it reads that there is nothing to report in the head and neck area, chest there is a moderate pleural effusion so an intervention is suggested, the sentence about the soft tissue nodule is worth asking as it asks the question whether what is seen could be considered a single metastatic deposit (spread). The rest relates to the stitches and the changes following surgery. Always ask questions of your medics as every case is different and lung cancer and other lung conditions are very dependent on any other issues relative to the patient so personalised treatment is the usual approach - i.e. what works for one may not work for another. I'd recommend asking questions more around - -so what does that mean for me? what treatment is likely? what would that involve? rather than trying to learn/gen up on all the various complex medical terms within the letter. good luck.

[Lovey1000 in reply to JanetteR57]

Thank you so mich, I talked to my cancer doctor and he said I have upper respiratory infection and I’m on anti biopics, the day I had my pet scan I was sick so the soft tissue has always been there but now it became larger maybe due to my chest cold and my dr sending me to

A specialist for clinical trial cause I have KASA mutation and I’ll do a biopsy on the node. Good news the whole report is NED throughout my organs, so if this node has cancer I’ll do chemo or radiation whatever, I’ll let you know what happens, my lung was removed right upper and middle then it spread to my brain and I had a major cyst removed out of my brain and then mri showed another one 0.5cm so 5 days radiation and I’m still going strong

[JanetteR57 in reply to Lovey1000]

Glad they explained. We need to overcome our fear of asking questions of people in authority especially doctors as we need to understand our condition. Our imaginations often run riot and imagine far worse things than the clinicians have seen due to misunderstand which is very stressful and won't help our health overall. Just ask if unsure. good luck.

[RoyCastleHelpline Partner Ask the Nurse Roy Castle]

Dear Lovely1000

JanetteR57 has provided an excellent response and we would also advise you to discuss the report with your doctor.

If you would like to discuss anything you can call us on our free nurse led helpline number on 0800 358 7200

All the very best

The Roy Castle Support Team