Open chest surgery

[megthewonderful]

Don't know if this is the right place to post my concerns, but I was diagnosed with a mass in my chest a little over a year ago. I have scans every 3-6 months to monitor the changes in the mass. I have gotten many opinions, and have been told that it is not cancer. However, my next scan is coming up in about a month and the doctor is leaning towards removing it. I am scared since it requires open chest surgery. Anyone out there ever have open chest surgery and what was the recovery like?

 

[karen l]

I don't have info to offer - just wanted to wish you good luck with
the upcoming scan.

 

[frdeb1999]

Sorry I have no info either. Although my thoughts and prayers will be with you.

 

[sm04]

I happened to read one of your other threads, and your story is eerily similar to mine.. PM me if you have any specific questions. I'd be happy to share my experience with you

 

[Mackey Mouse]

I am not sure exactly what that means.. open chest... is that like the surgery they do when you have heart surgery??? That they would have to crack the chest???

If so, other than my Mom having open heart surgery many years ago.. and my husband having a Whipple procedure, which leaves him with a huge scar right down the middle of his chest.. that is my only experience with these types of surgery.

If you want my opinion, if I had a mass growing inside of me.. benign or not, I would have it out.. JMO

 

[sm04]

I'm glad we got to chat! Sending positive thoughts your way...

 

[megthewonderful]

Open chest surgery...they are cracking the chest open. They do not need to do any work on my heart or lungs. They can not go through the neck or between the ribs due to the size and location of the mass. The mass is causing me no problems. It was an incidental finding when I went for a chest x-ray when the doctor thought I might have pneumonia. The mass is considered a congenital birth defect. So, it's been there for 31 years and I never knew until a little over a year ago. It hasn't caused me any problems yet and the mass shows signs of shrinking. So, the doctors have all agreed to keep monitoring it. However, the doctor wants to talk this time more about the surgery, what I need to do to get ready for it and the recovery time. So, I am doing a lot more research and looking to talk those with a similar experience.

Thanks to sm04! It was nice to hear from someone who experienced something so similar and is now looking forward to a wonderful Disney trip!

 

[Regina]

I'm glad you found someone who can share her experience and help you with this decison.

Whatever you decide, know that we're here for you.

 

[megthewonderful]

I'm glad you found someone who can share her experience and help you with this decison.

Whatever you decide, know that we're here for you.

Thank you! I appreciate everyone's kind words and helpful thoughts as I look ahead to meeting with the doctor once again in a few weeks.

I will keep everyone posted once I get the results of my latest scans and the doctors latest opinion on the situation.

 

[LouDisney]

I will keep you in my prayers.