Anyone had or know someone who had a LUNG BIOPSY? Nervous!

[MinnieM3]

Which I had the time to go into more detail, but I've been quite sick for various reasons since around Christmas, thus, my pittling posting amount for he past month. I Miss everyone here and everyone's business so much!!!

Anyone, during my illnesses over Christmas, a 2cm mass on my lung was discovered (by accident!) and so now Frdiay I'm having it biopsied. Y

ou can tell from my siggie I'm a breast cancer survivor (not quite 2 years) and to tell you the thruth I ahven't even entertained the IDEA that this could be cancerous. But, now I'm realizing I guess it's a 50 50 chance.

Anyone had this and have it turn out to be nothing? I'll take any and all advice.

Missing you all so much,
Beth

 

[Dan Murphy]

My very best wishes for you, Beth. Hoping all goes well, you will be in my prayers.

 

[Poohgirl]

I'm so sorry you have to go throught this.. Keep thinking positive. Many prayers and .

 

[scoutsmom99]

, , and prayers coming your way.

I wish I had a better story to share but, In Spring 2004 my aunt had a cough/cold she could not shake so in late May she went to the doctor and they saw nodules in her lungs he reccomended a biobsy. So my aunt had the biobsy done and they told her on a Friday that they were non-cancerous, but called back on the following Monday and told her it was cancerous. My aunt has been battling lung cancer ever since (she was a non-smoker and no one in the family smokes and she did not hang out or have friends who smoked).

 

[poohandwendy]

Beth,

My sister had a mass on her lung (it was larger than 2 cm, but I cannot remember the exact size) that her surgeon was convinced was malignant, due to specific criteria. It ended up being benign. Her mass was found by accident too, they were actually looking at her kidney and saw it. They did have to remove one of the lobes of her right lung to remove it, but we knew that would probably happen either way.

I pray you get a positive result, I know you are scared. Talk to your Dr about your fears and what to expect. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers, let me know if you have any other questions about her experience.

 

[tiggersmom2]

My father had several lesions on one of his lungs a few years back....we just knew it was cancer. After the biopsy we were relieved and so happy to find out it was sarcoidosis. The lesions cleared up on their own in a few months.

 

[Traveliz]

Yes my husband (not a smoker) had a lung biopsy due to tiredness, etc and finding a spot on the lung. It turned out he had a lung abscess and basically had a couple of month recovery period.

Liz

 

[Traveliz]

Yes my husband (not a smoker) had a lung biopsy due to tiredness, etc and finding a spot on the lung. It turned out he had a lung abscess and basically had a couple of month recovery period.

Liz

 

[Meriweather]

We mixx you too, Beth.
Best luck for a postive outcome.
We'll be sending good thoughts your way

 

[alliecats]

No experience but I just wanted you to know I'm praying for a good outcome for you. Please keep us posted.

 

[bsnyder]

My cousin had a lung tumor that turned out to be benign.

I'll be praying for good results for you!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Sending lots of good thoughts and prayers your way, Beth.

 

[Katie]

As a CT techonologist, I do ALOT of lung biopsies with the Radiologists.

As a breast cancer survivior, I assume you have had CT chests before, if this mass is a new lesion that was not present on your last CT scan, than it is IMPARATIVE that you have it biopsied quickly. I do not know your staging of breast cancer, or your therapy after, however, I can tell you that a new lung lesion is nothing to mess around with. At our hospital, we would take several samples and have the pathologist there to check the samples. If the samples were not showing anything malignant, we would do at least 3-4 samples to ensure that we are getting a good sample of the mass. Unfortunely, we assume that the lesion is malignant until proven benign in situations like yours. If the lesion is found to be benign( hopefully it is), i would continue to have CT scans at least every 3 months to document it's size. If the mass gets larger, then have it out. Also, if you have access to a PET Scanner, it can tell you if the mass if hypermetabolic. Most cancerous masses are hypermetabolic. Not every hospital has a PET scanner, but there should be one within driving distance to you.

Now, the good news! My mom had the same history of you. We found a 1.4 cm mass in her rt lung during a routine heart score CT scan. She had a PET scan the next day( helps to work in the radiology department . It was hypermetabolic. OKay, this sounds bad yes! She had a biopsy, actually 3 because I would not let it go, but anyway, it was some very rare benign tumor. Leave it to my mom!

The risks of lung biopsies are minimal. The most common occurance is a pneumothorax.(collasped lung). IF IF this happends, it can be repaired easily. Sometimes, a small pneumo will fix itself, sometimes a chest tube has to be inserted, in which case, you would have to spend a night or two in the hospital. I would say about 20% of lung biopsies end this way. Your chances increase if you are a smoker or have empysema.

Good luck!

 

[MinnieM3]

Thanks for all the kind words, stories, and prayers.

Katie, I'm lucky you're here. You sure have a lot of great info!

Here's how this all started.... went in Dec. 16th for stge 2 of my DIEP reconstruction and port removal as this was the END of this long cancer journey! not! The reconstruction was perfect. No problems.

Got home, ran high fevers, had breathing trouble, (even though I had been breathing into that blue coily thing) coughing,etc. and was told to go in to see a pulmonologist (who happens to be our good friend) to rule out pneumonia. Got the basic chest x ray and Wayne found a "troublesome" area and ordered a CT scan right away. Got the CT scan that confirmed a 2cm lump.nodule in my lung. I don't even remember which one.

Katie, my breast cancer was Stage 3 due to size and agressiveness of tumor. No nodes postive. Had total mastectomy, dose dense 6 months bi-weekly chemo, and 6 weeks daily radiation. I go every 6 months now for check ups. Can't take tamoxfen or those things because I was the 'wrong" way... ER.PR neg. I think. Nothing has ever been seen on my lungs before. I found the breast tumor myself.

No smoking, never around the slightest bit of smoke my whole life.

After we got the lung diagosis, something went whacko with my back (I had thought it was the hospital bed), so I ended up at a spine speciliast and they were sure I had crushed vertebrae that "appeared" for some unknown reason right after the surgery. (myself, I was picturing some kind of episode of ER when they dropped the heart on the floor....maybe they "dropped" me somehow!! LOL!) So I went through a complete bone scan, another CT scan, and 2 MRI's. Mind you this is AFTER I had my port taken out that I'd had for 2 YEARS since I thought Dec. 16th was the end!!! ARGH! Fidning veins was impossible and truly excruciating. They finally had to go to my foot one time and had to try so many times the other times. I cried and cried.

The back thing was reviewed by several specialists who were confounded. It seemed to "just" be a case of extreme inflammation in the lumbar reason. So I was put on a Medrol dose pack, (strong steroid, similar but worse then prednisone) which does WORK, but for me, personally, is like absolute poison. Got through one pack and was fine for a day when it came back. Despite morphone and valium, no pain relief and had to do another Medrol dose pack immediately aferwards. It was hell.

So now I finally was able to go back to school this week ( missed 3 weeks!!!) and I'm doing pretty rough. Not sleeping well. Not with it at school and I'm an organized freak and alll my school stuff's all over the place.

So there's the story that I'm sure no one's read to the end! LOL! I'll keep you up to date.


Beth

 

[disneynutt1225]

Beth, I read your story to the end, and while I have no words of wisdom for your situation, I will say that you'll be in my thoughts and prayers. (Man I'm praying a lot lately, LOL!). Good luck with your biopsy.

 

[kilee]

I have no advice. I just want to send prayers for a good outcome.

 

[LBAK]

Thoughts and prayers coming your way!

 

[MerryPoppins]

I wish I could tell you something about a lung biopsy, but I'm clueless. I don't think I've ever known anyone who had to have one. But I'll pray for you my friend. Please keep us informed. GAGWTA!

 

[LauraR]

I'm wishing you all the best. Try not to let the anxiety get to you (easier said than done, I know!) I'm so sorry you're having to go through this, after all you've already been through.

 

[MinnieM3]

I wish I could tell you something about a lung biopsy, but I'm clueless. I don't think I've ever known anyone who had to have one. But I'll pray for you my friend. Please keep us informed. GAGWTA!

I'll sure try to update you or get DH to. Katie, ifyou see this, how long does the whole biopsy thiing take? I know I have to be pretty much put out, but not paralyic,....just a lot of versed (gotta love versed) and I have no clue what else they do or anything. DH says a couple hours afterwards in recovery. I'm going in to school Friday to teach, drop my class to PE at 1, drive to hospital, have parent pick kids upfrom PE at 2 which is when my thing's scheduled, and they'll be dimissed at 3, so no biggie. I'm sure I'll be home early evening for a nice restful weekend. I'll see my onc. on Monday after school and hopefully she'll have some results.

PS...Poor DS17 ended up NOT making Carolina Crown DCI, but gained a lot of experience. Also missed regional...they took the 1st 2 and he was #3. He did his best, though, so I'm proud!